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