In the holidays....

During the school holidays I went to Vietnam, on an intrepid journey. I tried lots of different food like chicken pho (soup) and prawns and drank snake wine. Travelling by overnight train was memorable, as I had to clamber up to the top bunk which I shared with cockroaches and a mouse! Eekkk. My favourite type of transport was by motorbike up into the mountains to see a pagoda, and the Perfume River below. My smile was firmly in place when I road my bike through rice paddy fields and villages around Hoi An, dodging potholes. I met an old man called Mr Sun who is 94 and still farming along with his wife who is 89 years old. They live with their extended family with four generations in the same house. I won't forget their smiles, especially Mrs Sun's. One night I slept on a boat under the stars, it was peaceful, after I had kayaked through the bay in the early evening. To get through the jungle in the Mekong Delta I went on a four-wheeler where I got slapped by coconut palms and banana leaves in my face...it was raining too! Once we had finished lunch of fish and rice I got into a dug-out boat (sampan) to travel through the waterways back to our Dragon Boat. To get from place to place I travelled by bus and plane too.

How many types of transport do you think I used in Vietnam?

 

 

Happy Holidays

How I learn best

I visited the seniors this afternoon and they were putting their multiple intelligence test that they did into their blogs. So, I decided to do mine too. I found out the way I like to work best is Interpersonal (with other people) and Linguistic (with words). I agree with this!! I also found out that I am not musically smart, that's not me at all!

My Multiple Intelligence Test

This week has been really wet, lots of rain! I have really enjoyed visiting classrooms and sharing your learning with you. I enjoyed a play in Room 6, Cade was a great fox and Kaya acted as a clever Chicken Licken! The whole school listened well on Wednesday at the assembly practice....making today's assembly one of the best! On Thursday I got to take a workshop in the senior school, we are making colourful abstract masks. I am looking forward to next week when we finish them. At lunchtime on Thursday the library was packed with children exploring at Makerspace with Mr Lobb and Mr Arnold - I saw some children taking apart a microwave and others building and collaborating together on building with Klikko. The disco was my highlight of the week. Everyone who came looked like they had fun...I did!

Wed 9th March, Hamilton

WEDNESDAY 9th March  2016
I can't believe it is Wednesday already! Today we started learning at 8.30am at the Claudelands Events Centre, finishing at 5.00pm. We spent a lot of the day in our Learning Groups where we talk and ask questions, so I have to think a lot. In my group there are Principals and DPs from Hastings, Auckland and Rotorua. I have driven the furtherest to get here. We are discussing all about the schools we learn in and what is the best way for each school to make sure you have the opportunity to be Active Learners.
* Perhaps you might like to think about what it means to be an Active Learner and share your thinking with your teacher. I look forward to talking with you about this when I get back on Friday.

TUESDAY 8th May 2016
This morning I visited a brand new school here in Hamilton called Endeavour School. Have a look at the photos and see what differences you see, and things that are the same as West End. I talked to a lot of the children about their learning and what they like about school. They like the choices they can make and the brain breaks where they can eat while they are working. What do you think about that?

MONDAY 7th MARCH 2016
Today I am at the Claudelands Events Centre in Hamilton (can you see my friend Gill in the picture?). There was this interesting statue in front of the centre. I am meeting with about 50 other principals to talk about Innovative Learning Environments. I have been sharing with them about all the great things we do at West End and how engaged our children are in their learning. I have told them how you  make choices about what you want to do and need to do. I have shared how we share our learning with blogs, and that you lead conferences to share your learning with your families.

I thought I would share with you my food, it's delicious!! No, I didnt eat all the lunch food...yummy bacon and egg pie and Moroccan chicken pita. And green tea which is my favourite hot drink, when I am not drinking a latte!

SUNDAY 6th March 2016
On my drive from New Plymouth to Hamilton on Sunday afternoon I spotted some interesting things to share with you. When I stopped to see the Three Sisters (rock formations in the sea near Waitara) I saw this interesting fence, where the owners had nailed on different types of shoes. What do you think??

I stopped for a coffee at a place called Otorohanga and saw this colorful wall showing kiwiana, can you see the different things New Zealand is known for? How many can you see?

At the cafe I went to they had reused something to make an 'open' sign. Can you guess what it is?

On Sunday morning I visited the zoo in New Plymouth with Ava and Brooklyn and the rest of the family. The lion was a favourite of Brooklyns, he took some great photos! Ava was scared of the ducks and chickens, which came running up to her. She loved the donkey and the lizards the best.

SATURDAY 5th MARCH 2016
On my way to Hamilton on Sunday I had the weekend in New Plymouth with Mr Larsen (Robert), my son Scott and daughter-in-law Kelly and Grandchildren Ava and Brooklyn. We explored along the rocky shore looking for crabs, enjoyed a swim in the warm waters of the ocean along the foreshore, climbed over the playground at Pukekura Park and ate icecream cones which dribbled down our chins in the heat of the afternoon.

Thank you for looking at my blog. I will share what I get up to, with you.