Sunday 18 September 2016

Poipoia Te Reo

Kia ora Whānau!

Birchwood teachers, staff, parents and community have been invited to learn or brush up our Te Reo! See the poster attached. 

You can click below to contact the kaiako:
taiagoad@gmail.com

Ka kite,

Damian
damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz 

Wednesday 14 September 2016

Parent Focus Group Hui

Kia ora Koutou!

Birchwood School has an excellent Parent Focus Group who meet fairly regularly to discuss successes and next steps for our kaiako and our akonga. 

We're meeting again this Wednesday 21 Sept at 630pm in the staffroom. Feel free to come along. It's informal, and if you have something to say, or if there's something you want to hear, then you need to be there!

For more details, talk to Damian in Kahikatea/ Room 9.

Ka kite

Damian
damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

Sunday 11 September 2016

Tipu app can help you learn and improve in Te Reo

Kia ora Koutou!

I came across an app called 'Tipu' that helps you learn and improve Te Reo on your phone. 

Here's a link with a little more information:

It'll be cool when I learn how to make a link on the picture.




I added the on-line Māori dictionary because (1) it's a really useful resource, and (2) you might like to look words up on the app.

Having said that, the app does tell you the answers if you need it. It's not a test, it's there to help you improve in confidence and ability.


Ka mau te wehi, Tipu app!



Ka kite

Damian
damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz



Saturday 10 September 2016

Problem with "Waiata" page

Aroha mai, whānau, I've just been made aware of the fact that not all links to kupu for waiata work. Rest assured we are working hard to fix this problem!

Ka kite,

Damian
damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

Thursday 1 September 2016

A Ha Ka Ma vowels

Kia ora e hoa!

I learned a new way to remember how to say Māori vowels yesterday. "Are there three or two".... a e i o u. What a clever idea. Would love to take credit, but that belongs to Bex. She also taught me that you can learn to say a new word by going backwards. Backwards! 

Māori vowels don't change sound: 'a' will will be 'a'. They can sound a little different when vowels run together, but actually even then the sounds are the same.

Here's a google slide that (I hope) explains this further.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/13Ize7ZpValds_3mp-0h9d-xoBUaepaqHt5pbFHt_mg0/edit?usp=sharing

Ka kite

Damian
damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

Sunday 20 March 2016

Waiata Page Updated

Kia ora Koutou!

We have filmed and uploaded a new version of Te Kohika a Kaakati (a.k.a. Hoturoa) which you can find on the waiata page.

Ka kite

Damian

Tuesday 15 March 2016

SWPB4L Signage

Kia ora Whānau!

School-Wide Positive Behaviour for Learning (SWPB4L, or PB4L) is a highly successful initiative that promotes and recognises positive behaviour of students and teachers. It encourages teachers, support staff, other adults in the school, as well as the students themselves to speak the same language, or use the same vocabulary, when talking about expectations of behaviour. I have seen this programme used successfully in a couple of different schools and can assure you the benefits are tremendous!

One of the things we at Birchwood want to do is create signs that promote our learners qualities: we'd like your help with this!

Below is a lovely looking table showing three columns: the principal's challenge, or learners' quality; a proposed Māori translation; and a whakataukī to complement the learners' quality.

We have a couple of questions:

(1) Are 'direct' translations appropriate to use, or are whakataukī better to use?


(2) If 'direct' translations are appropriate, are these translations appropriate?

We do have a parent hui coming up later this term, but the Signage Team is meeting soon. Any comments or queries can be made to me (Damian) or your child's teacher (who will probably refer you to me, or Chris, or Kim).

Ka kite

Damian Hardman
damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz


Principal’s Challenge
Māori Translation (proposed)
Whakataukī (already in use)
Be a problem solver
Kia kairaurau raru
I orea te tuatara ka patu ki waho.
A problem is solved by continuing to find solutions. 
Be physically active
Kia ngangahau
*** propose Tama tū tama ora, tama noho tama mate
An active person will remain health while a lazy one will become sick.
Be an effective communicator
Kia ata whakawhiti kōrero
He aha te kai ō te rangatira? He kōrero, he kōrero, he kōrero.
What is the food of the leader? It is communication.
Be creative
Kia auaha
Ka pū te ruha, ka hao te rangatahi
The old net is cast aside, while the new net goes a-fishing
Take responsibility (be responsible)
Kia noho haepapa
(Be responsible)
Haere taka mua, taka muri;
kaua e whai
Be a leader not a follower.

Tuesday 23 February 2016

Updated Pages

Kia ora Koutou

The Waiata and Phrase of the Week pages have been updated.

Ka kite

Damian

Monday 22 February 2016

Karakia mo te kai.

Kia ora Koutou

I'm sure you know that the annual Board of Trustees barbeque is this Friday. We'd like to say a karakia over the kai, and hope you'll be able to join us. It's a simple one that Melanie Saville in Room 1 taught us. Thanks Mrs Saville! 



E whakawhetai ana mo ēnai kai

E whakawhetai ana no o mātou hoa



We are thankful for the food we share

And thankful that our friends are here

This video was shot in 2014. Some of the students shown are much larger now.

Ka kite
Damian / Mr H 

Thursday 18 February 2016

New waiata

Kia ora Koutou!

Birchwood School is learning a new waiata- Haere Mai. You can see kupu and a sound recording on the Waiata page.

Ka kite

Damian

Wednesday 10 February 2016

Mihi Whakatau

Kia ora Whānau!

Birchwood School welcomed new students and their whānau to school on the first day with a Mihi Whakatau. It was a really nice way to bring new people to our school, especially because they enter as "strangers" and leave as family.

A Mihi Whakatau is like a pōwhiri, but less formal. There was a karanga (thanks Bec!), whaikorero (thanks Shep!) and waiata (thanks Birchwood students!)

A special Kia Ora to Shep, whose brains we picked. He supported Chris by sitting beside him on the paepae and guiding Chris's mihimihi. It is wonderful to know we have such strong support in our community!

Speaking of support, "we" are going to be calling "you" for a hui later on this term. The focus will be "appropriate representation of Māori culture at Birchwood school". This sounds like a mouthful, but basically we're wondering how we can use things like signs or poupou around our school.

Lastly, Te Rakau Whakapapa has started up for the year with a massive 88 students wanting to be involved. That tells us that Becks is doing a fantastic job in quality and motivation. You can read more about Te Rakau Whakapapa here.

Nga Mihi

Damian Hardman

damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz
Please comment below or email Damian