Elmer the Elephant

As you know, our calendar art this year featured Elmer the Elephant using water colours.  The journals, cards and calendars were distributed yesterday and looked fabulous.  Thank you for supporting the school fundraising and displaying school art at home.

You can read the stories we wrote about our very own Elmer on the Writing page (click on 'WRITING' above).  Here is one sample::

Written and illustrated by Daniel R

Farewell to Mr Lomas

The last day of school was tinged with sadness as CockleBay farewelled Mr Lomas who is retiring after 11 years as principal at CBS. The third term finished with a special assembly in his honour.

Wacky Mufti Day

We did indeed look Wonderfully Wacky on Wacky Mufti Day (and it wasn't even a Wet Wednesday)!

Lolly Butterflies for the CBS Carnival

Every class was responsible for making a particular treat for the carnival.  Room 19 made lolly butterflies.  After we had spent so much time and effort making them, many class members bought one in the Willy Wonka Sweet Factory on carnival day - Mrs Bear even bought two!

Paula wrote our beautiful signage for the Willy Wonka Sweet Factory

A finished lolly butterfly - (almost) too good to eat!

First we wriggled into surgical gloves, and then we choose 20 lollies - there were HUNDREDS to choose from!

It was important to make the butterfly wings symmetrical so we chose two of each colour and grouped them in two identical piles.

To make the wings, we carefully placed one half of the lollies in one corner of the bag, and the others in the opposite corner.   

We folded the bag in half and then clipped on a peg for the body.  We curled pipe cleaners to make antennae.  Zinay's Grandma helped us glue sparkly pompoms and googly eyes on the body with a hot glue gun.

When we had used up all the sweets, we counted how many lolly butterflies we had made - 88!  Then we calculated how much money we would make if we sold each one for $2.  Different people used different strategies to work out the correct answer - $176.

Butterfuly Art at the CBS Art Expo

The CBS Art Expo this year had a focus of textiles and materials.  Room 19 drew and painted Monarch butterflies on fabric using dye and wax.

Here is our display at the Art Expo

Mr Cuddles recovering well

We are delighted to report that Mr Cuddles has recovered well from surgery to repair extensive injuries to his left shoulder and brain.  The medical team worked tirelessly for four sessions before school to complete the surgery.  Mr Cuddles has recovered sufficiently to leave ICU (Intensive Care Unit) to return to light duties in the classroom library.  A big thank you to the medical team.

Room 19 had a little lamb, little lamb

We were lucky enough to have a surprise visit from not one, by two, little lambs.  They were both very well behaved, and even wore nappies in case to an embarrassing accident.

Science Tournament

Cockle Bay sent a Year 3 team and a Year 4 team to the Science Trumps Tournament 2016 at Point View.  The teams rotated around ten stations and played against ten teams from different schools.  It was a fabulous way to network with other schools who were also interested in Science.

We had to work out how to use magnetic forces to throw rings into the air.

We had to answer questions as a team to gain points against our opponents.

We were awarded the maximum of 10 points when we instructed the robot to walk with us around the set course.

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Archeologists working in Room 19

When we went to the Auckland Museum, we found out how important artefacts from ancient civilisations were in helping archeologists piece together how people lived and worked long ago.

We practiced working at an archeology dig by carefully skimming each layer of sand to find all the parts of Mrs Wulff's special china plate.

Ancient Rome

In our theme, Ancient Civilisations, we are learning about Ancient Rome.

We made catapults using soft drink cans, forks and rubber bands.  They projected tinfoil weapons in a similar way to the military catapults used by the armies in Ancient Rome.

Instead of books, people in Ancient Rom read from scrolls.  We made our own scrolls so we could read Roman numerals and phrases in Latin, like 'Adsum" which means "I am here" when we answer the roll.

Fathers' Day Tie Shop

For Fathers' Day, everyone designed a tie to present to their Dad, Grandad, Uncle or brother - there was a great range of colours and patterns in our 'tie shop'.

Water Safety at Lloyd Elsmore

Everyone had a go at wearing a life jacket and jumping into the deep end of the pool to see what it might be like if we jumped overboard of a boat at sea.

 We floated  on our backs with the life jacket making a little pillow to keep our heads free of the water.  then we gathered together in a circle to stay safe and warm in the water.

We would like to  thank Natania's Mum who was our life saver for this activity.

Kayaking at Lloyd Elsmore

When it was out turn on the kayaks, we learned the safe way to enter and exit a kayak.  After we had a few turns at getting in and out, we had a go at an eskimo roll.  When we were underwater, we had to tap on the side of the kayak to signal we wanted to come up again.

We would especially like to thank all the Dads who braved the cold water to help us learn to kayak.

Snorkelling at Lloyd Elsmore

When we went to Lloyd Elsmore, each group had a go at snorkelling, kayaking and learning about boat safety.