Sustainability - Beautifying areas with portable gardens?

For Rich Task this term we will be continuing with the design process we have been exploring.

This term (through the idea of legacy and what we leave behind) we are creating/designing and building a portable garden, staying true to the theme of sustainability and reusing and recycling materials. This will also require us to use scientific procedure to understand more about the order of nature and use it to assist our attempts to recreate it.

Another part of our learning this term is the gardens and we will be hoping to plant, grow and harvest produce to sell at the farmers market on September the 13th.

It is a short term, so let’s hope for perfect growing conditions.

Portable? Beautiful? Get your thinking caps on Room 18!

Balmoral School Android App

This app has been designed to help keep our school community and afar up to date with our latest news and events. It also allows for reporting of absences and easy communication to our school.

UPDATE - This app has now been deleted and it awaiting update.

Then the rain came down...

Hi Room 18! I hope you are enjoying your holiday break where ever you are and what ever you are doing. If you were in Auckland today you would have noticed we had a pretty good rain storm and many places had flash floods - including our own school!

Trish Ramsay was working in her room when she noticed these amazing scenes and captured these great pictures.

slideshow | Viewer

Athletics Day 2010

The Auckland weather treated us well and the Whetu and Hiringa syndicate enjoyed a day in the sun with our annual Athletics day.

There were some fantastic athletes amongst the group, but also most importantly everyone enjoyed themselves.

Check out these great pictures.

Balmoral Art Festival

The amazing art festival ended with a magnificent art show. In these images you will witness the great art produced by creative students and inspiring teachers.

Balmoral Great Day Out

Once again the famous Balmoral school fair is set to rock Auckland with a range of events and activities designed for ultimate fun.

Whether you are old or young there is something for everyone at this years Balmoral Great Day Out to be held on November 13th.

Be there!

Room 18 is currently collecting BBQ themed gifts for the fair. We have a box set up in our room and hope that you can send along any new goods you have to help raise funds for our amazing school. Thanks!

Balmoral Intermediate Japan Trip

14 students, Matt and Mary are now on their way to Japan. What an amazing experience for everyone involved.

If you are interested in keeping up to date, following and commenting on their journey then check out this site.

BALMORAL JAPAN 2010

Haiku

Room 18 is finishing the year with haiku.

They have been making some wonderful poems, with beautiful words and images.

Room 18's Pouch Pocket

On Saturday November 14th Balmoral school will be hosting their Big Day Out. This is a great day for the family, with a range of fun fair activities, food and drink, and a wonderful selection of entertainment.

As part of our learning in Term 3, Room 18 designed a technology product and chose to produce the 'Pouch Pocket'. This term they have also been studying aspects of advertisement in the form of print, sound and moving image.

Here are a few samples. If you are in Auckland ... be sure to come along to the Big Day Out and get yourself a funky Pouch Pocket.

Pouch Pocket Advertisements

Room 18's Podcast

Well done Zach!!

We have some great news regarding a competition we entered called 'Doodle for Google'. One of our awesome students has been successful in getting into the top 20 for his age group and with enough votes - he can make it into the final!

Our school has the chance to win an interactive whiteboard and $10,000 worth of technology equipment. So your vote is very important - support Zach in his achievement and support our school.

VOTING HAS NOW CLOSED - BUT GO AND CHECK IT OUT!

http://www.google.com/intl/en_nz/doodle4google/vote.html

Rich Task - Our Inventions and Innovations.

Room 18 has had a busy term looking at inventions and innovations. The children were placed into groups and within these groups had to come up with a product that could be made and sold at this years Balmoral Big Day Out.

Each child had to take on a role in this collaborative technology effort and a number of considerations had to be taken into account. Such as cost, sale price and profit, the ease of creation, the design and materials, whether it suited a particular market, whether it was a need or a want, how it worked and the promotion of the product to our class. We had seven great ideas - The Pouch Pocket, The Broominator, Velcro Rope, V - Belt, Sticko-Towel, Beads and Bracelets, and even the Funky Brush.

Room 18 this task is to comment on the invention or innovation you and your group have come up with. It does not matter whether it was the one we will make as a class or not.

Tell us about your role in the group and the information you shared with the class – Cost/Profit, Need/Want, Market, What it does, How it is made and so on. If it was your job, post about it – the world should know!

Some other inventor/innovator might want to know about it…maybe you will be world famous!

Carey Park Camp 2009

I hope everyone has recovered from our awesome week at Carey Park Camp in Henderson Valley. The weather was great, the activities amazing and the children 100 % top class.

This task is for you to reflect, discuss, share thoughts and feelings about your experiences. Be honest and let us know about challenges you faced and over come, highlights that will stand out in your memories for years to come, or just any random thoughts you have about Carey Park Camp 2009.

Looking forward to reading your responses Room 18!