Mokoia Intermediate
This the blog for the whole learning community at Mokoia - teachers, students, ancillary staff and caregivers - anyone who wants to learn about us or become a digital learner! In fact, even you - our global community!
Article posted July 20, 2011 at 09:35 AM GMT0 •
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A successful science fair at Mokoia Intermediate last week was the culmination of a term’s work in scientific method and critical thinking skills.
All students had the opportunity to work through a science investigation and develop their understanding of scientific method. The results were spectacular, with most of our children represented by the exhibits in the hall, which were completed in pairs or individually. Many chose to look at issues that affected Rotorua residents, like lake water quality.
The first place winner in the science section was year seven student, Matthew Gatenby. His investigation, “Travelling Trout”, looked at the necessary conditions for trout to spawn.
“I worked on it for two months. I’d taken up fly fishing with my dad. We’d seen news articles that said that they thought the reason was to do with water temperature. So that became my hypothesis.”
The top technology exhibit was the creation of year 7 student Hamish Dodd. He looked at inventing an air pump that didn’t cause back strain, after his dad asked him to inflate an airbed that they needed to check. “My next step is to look for advice from an engineering expert,” he reflected.
The science exhibits were judged by the principal, Mrs Deborah Epp, who has a science teaching background, Mrs Janet Nairn, former Head of Science at Rotorua Boys High School, and Mrs Barbara Jenks, a former Science teacher at Rotorua Lakes High School.
Students at Mokoia Intermediate are being prepared for a world “where science and innovation will be an increasingly important part of daily life,”(Lesley Middleton, Ministry of Science and Innovation). A recent report by Sir Peter Gluckman, the Prime Minister’s chief science advisor, suggested that “a forward looking science education system is fundamental to our future success in an increasingly knowledge-based world.”
Top exhibits will be entered into the BOP Science Fair in September.
Place-getters:
Science Category:
1st – Matthew Gatenby, “Travelling Trout”
2nd – Olivia Wilson and Jessie Heke, “Swimming in Lake Rotorua”
3rd equal – Tom Waldin and Paddy Baylis, “Bilingual Brain Gym”
3rd equal – Liam Mowbray, “Blazing Fire”
Highly commended – Kirsten Purdie, Jaime Thorby, Monica Stevenson, Tenaya Chater, Debra Edwards, Samantha Meredith and Abbey Lawrence
Technology Category:
1st – Hamish Dodd, “The Super Pump”
2nd – Paula Lee, “Algae Eco Friendly Paper”
3rd – Rose Pickernell and Charlotte Ennor, “Comfy Cleaners”
Highly Commended – Luke Gordon, “Instant Life Jacket”
Article posted July 20, 2011 at 09:35 AM GMT0 •
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Article posted July 13, 2011 at 05:05 AM GMT0 •
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Our cross country team had a lot of success at this year's inter-school event:
Placings:
YR 7 GIRLS
Ella Fookes - 2nd
Libby Carr - 11/42
Eve Battersby - 18/42
YEAR 7 BOYS
John Richardson - 2nd
Hayze Perham - 15/39
Hayden Everiss - 26/39
YEAR 8 GIRLS
Tasha Goodwin - 15/41
Annaliese Heuvel - 24/41
Priyal Jeram - 17/41
YEAR 8 BOYS
Jack Sargison - 2nd
Josh Sargison - 19/39
Jeremy Whiting - 21/39
Article posted July 13, 2011 at 05:05 AM GMT0 •
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Article posted June 19, 2011 at 09:41 AM GMT0 •
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Every year the Reading Association holds the Daily Post Newsteam competition at the Sportsdrome.
We entered two teams - Mokoia 1 members were Paula, Arjhan and Emma with Madison as reserve. Mokoia 2 was Paddy, Matthew and Kirsten, with Isobel as reserve.
Our Year 7 team came up trumps with a second place - not bad!
Thanks to Gaye Comber, Sharon Joyce and Clare Baylis for their coaching.
Article posted June 19, 2011 at 09:41 AM GMT0 •
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Article posted June 19, 2011 at 08:57 AM GMT0 •
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The rain held off...so off they went! After weeks of training, including several whole school road runs, the annual cross country took place. It included a circuit of neighbouring farmland. Thanks to teachers and parents who manned the course, supervising road crossings, making sure the course was well marked, holding first aid kits and cycling alongside to encourage our runners.
Jack Sargison and Tasha Goodwin were first Year 8 male and female students; John Richardson and Ella Fookes were first Year 7 students. John had the quickest time overall and Ella was fifth fastest.
Thanks to Jane Hull and Del Porter for their magnificent organisation.
Well done to all our runners...many of you managed to complete a personal goal.
Article posted June 19, 2011 at 08:57 AM GMT0 •
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Article posted May 14, 2011 at 07:40 AM GMT0 •
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Mrs Hyde went to some of our winter sports to see our students in action. In spite of a day which gave us dense fog in the morning and some very heavy showers, the weather held off for these events...phew!
Article posted May 14, 2011 at 07:40 AM GMT0 •
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Article posted April 27, 2011 at 12:26 PM GMT0 •
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What a huge surprise!
We knew we had a special assembly with a presentation from the SPCA - but we didn't know that Norm Hewitt was coming! Ex All Black, captain of the Hurricanes and winner of "Dancing with the Stars", Norm and his companion Shelley kept us enthralled with their message about the importance of pets - "one of the family".
You will see by the faces that the students were thoroughly entertained by the stories of Norm's childhood. He used humour to give us some important messages about having goals and looking after family.
At the end, Mrs Hyde and Mr law had to dance, followed by Norm with Chetique from K3.
Our students farewelled Norm and Shelley with a heartfelt haka. He completed the morning by being photographed with the House Captains to whom he had presented badges.
What an amazing way to finish the term!
Article posted April 27, 2011 at 12:26 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted April 27, 2011 at 12:13 PM GMT0 •
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All of our girls have the opportunity to do a one and a half day self defence course. Everyone thought it was useful and fun. Students who missed out this term will get an opportunity to compklete the sessions in Term 3.
Article posted April 27, 2011 at 12:13 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted April 27, 2011 at 12:00 PM GMT0 •
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Each learning centre participated in a two day programme at the Aquatic Centre. Activities included team activities, using everyday objects as flotation devices, using kayaks and saving others using a rope. These photos were taken on Kaituna's trip.
Article posted April 27, 2011 at 12:00 PM GMT0 •
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Article posted March 27, 2011 at 10:39 AM GMT0 •
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It was the turn of student councillors in Puarenga Learning Centre to organise the fundraiser for the Christchurch Earthquake appeal. They had a wacky hair day with spot prizes for the best hairdo in each class. Even the staff got in on the act. We earned about $139 from gold coins (remembering that Waiteti were still out at camp).
Article posted March 27, 2011 at 10:39 AM GMT0 •
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Article posted March 27, 2011 at 01:30 AM GMT0 •
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Puarenga set off for Lake Rotoma in Week 6. They were lucky to get magnificent weather as shown in the photos. Whether kayaking, finding out about bush insect life, playing team games 0or carrying out camp chores, everyone seemed to have a great time.
Article posted March 27, 2011 at 01:30 AM GMT0 •
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Article posted March 3, 2011 at 11:00 AM GMT0 •
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What a great day! Lots of students had a go at a range of events. The most popular, of course were the fun events, including one hilarious event where the teams had to exchange and dress in a soaking wet shirt.
Our student council used the opportunity to raise money for Christchurch by charging everyone for wearing mufti - in house colours, of course!
We made $350.40 - not a bad effort.
We'll announce the champion swimmers and houses next week.
Article posted March 3, 2011 at 11:00 AM GMT0 •
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Article posted March 3, 2011 at 08:24 AM GMT0 •
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We were honoured to have a free performance from a magnificent troupe of performers from Shang Hai in China. This group is made up of university students studying the performance arts.
Our language assistant, Zhu Dan, also from ShangHai, started the same day. She teaches Mandarin to students from places like the University of Virginia. We look forward to sharing her expertise in our Chinese language classes.
Article posted March 3, 2011 at 08:24 AM GMT0 •
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Article posted February 16, 2011 at 09:49 AM GMT0 •
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New Zealand hosts world’s best secondary school debaters
Released by the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council
This February, New Zealand school students will have a rare opportunity to witness some of world’s best secondary school debaters as they tour the North Island as part of the Russell McVeagh International Schools’ Debating Tour 2011. The tour is being run by the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council.
The tour runs from the 13th to the 20th of February and will work its way from Wellington to Auckland via Palmerston North, Hawkes Bay, Rotorua, Hamilton and Whangarei.
Teams will be competing from New Zealand (Winners of the World Schools Debating Championships in Athens 2009), Canada (Winners of the World Schools Debating Championships in Doha 2010) as well as other world class teams such as Australia, the USA, India, South Korea and Malaysia. A New Zealand Development team of Year 11 and 12 students will also compete.
There will be eight rounds of debating followed by semi finals and a final. Teams will exchange arguments on important topics such as the merits of Wikileaks, China's one child policy, electing central bankers and the solitary confinement of prisoners. They will also compete in debates where they receive the topics just one hour before debating.
Debates will take place at secondary schools.
New Zealand will be represented by team captain Kieran Bunn (Logan Park High School), Sophie Boot (Christchurch Girls’ High School), Nick Orr, (Auckland Grammar) Aric Shakur (Palmerston North Boys’ High School) and Duncan McLachlan (Wellington College).
The New Zealand Development team includes James Penn (Whanganui High School), Kimberley Savill (Nayland College), Tim Robinson (St Bede’s College) and Michael Prendergast (Kerikeri High School).
President of the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council Christopher Bishop says “NZ is delighted to be hosting some of the world's top
student debaters and we're sure that the teams will receive a warm
welcome at the schools they visit. And of course we hope NZ continues
its run of recent success and takes out the title!”
The New Zealand Schools’ Debating Council is a not for profit organisation which seeks to promote secondary schools debating at a regional, national and local level. Each year it hosts regional debating competitions culminating in the Russell McVeagh New Schools Debating Championships - to be held in May this year in Wellington. The team selected at that competition will go on to represent New Zealand at the World Schools Debating Championships in Dundee, Scotland, in August 2011.
This is a great way to start the academic year and we encourage media to attend.
For further comment on the tour or information on either of the teams representing New Zealand please contact:
Desley Horton (Vice President, New Zealand Schools' Debating Council) 027 531 0520, desleyhorton@gmail.com
Or Yogesh Patel (Executive Officer, New Zealand Schools' Debating Council) 027 345 6204, yhpatel@gmail.com
Russell McVeagh International Schools’ Debating Tour 2011 on PhotoPeach
Article posted February 16, 2011 at 09:49 AM GMT0 •
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Article posted February 16, 2011 at 09:14 AM GMT0 •
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Our client schools, Horohoro and Upper Atiamuri, enjoyed their first experience in the Hard Materials class. They learned about wood properties and constructed a useful box.
Article posted February 16, 2011 at 09:14 AM GMT0 •
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Article posted February 10, 2011 at 11:25 AM GMT0 •
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The highlight of week 2 was the Meet the Teachers evening, which saw a large number of our families coming along to take up this opportunity to form some important learning partnerships.
Meet the Teacher Evening - Tuesday 8 February on PhotoPeach
Article posted February 10, 2011 at 11:25 AM GMT0 •
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Article posted February 10, 2011 at 11:20 AM GMT0 •
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The year started with sorting classes in the school hall. After an hour with their new teachers and classmates, the students prepared for the formal powhiri or welcoming ceremony.
First Day of School - the Powhiri on PhotoPeach
Article posted February 10, 2011 at 11:20 AM GMT0 •
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About the Blogger
My name is Annemarie Hyde and I'm a deputy principal of Mokoia Intermediate. I'm keen to share my knowledge and take others on the e_learning journey.
