Wa Ora Montesorri School

General Notices 

Kia ora Koutou, 

Over the past two weeks I have had the opportunity to spend time with our ākonga (students) and kaiako (teachers) in the classrooms across all disciplines. I have seen how hard our ākonga, teachers and staff work. I have been impressed by both the talent and contributions made by our ākonga and kaiako. 

This week we also had our parent teacher conferences for subjects. I  really enjoyed the kōreros and meeting you all. Thank you also for the offers of help and continued support for our school community. 

Ngā mihi nui

Katy Cottrell 

Key dates for your diary’s 

• NCEA information evening at High School- Monday 27th March 5.00-6.30 Please RSVP to the school office.

  

Careers – Zena Kavas

We had Glenn Horsfall from Waikato University come to talk with us last Friday. He spoke and answered questions about tertiary education in general, the difference between certificates, diplomas and degrees, various forms of tertiary education and of course, what Waikato University offers. 

A number of our ākonga have enrolled in the Basic First Aid course, either as a refresher, or the full course. This will be held on Tuesday 4th April here at Wā Ora. They will be receiving the on-line component of the course very soon. This needs to be completed before they do the practical component on 4th April.  Ākonga are signing up for a Work Ready Barista course which will be run on 11th and 12th April, the Tuesday and Wednesday of the Easter break. 

Level One Subjects

Art – Fleur Sadlier

The last two weeks have continued to develop drawing skills and experiment with materials and methods while recording information. Students are focusing on observational drawing within their theme, for artworks contributing to Visual Arts 1.2 and 2.2- with progress assessments of these week seven.

  

BCATS – Kieron Harding

The last two weeks in BCATS we have been constructing our tool boxes, mastering our joinery skills. I have been impressed with the standard of the joints produced in the class and looking forward to what these skills can help build toward in our next project/s.

Big History – Rose Langridge, Stuart Mason and Zena Kavas

We spent a few sessions away from space and looked at how we try and stay alive and the way that medicine has been involved in this endeavour over time. The class then had to sell us their own medical cures, taken from the idea of the snake oil salesmen and quack cures of the past. We then looked at the concept of significance and how historians decide exactly what should be considered and what should be overlooked and how this is different not just across time or countries but even from historian to historian.

We have begun to look at assessment options which will see us through to the end of the term. The class has done a few practices of the physics practical and this will be offered on Wednesday the 5th of March (week nine). The class also has the option to continue to focus on their work for the physics external preparation for the exam in term four.

For those wanting to begin honing their history skills an inquiry standard is on offer. The task is to choose an event from history and analyse the event. They then will work through the inquiry process for the rest of the term and will have multiple opportunities for feedback. The assessment is due at the end of the term. 

 

Digi Tech – Michael Draper 

The level 1 digi-technologists have put together briefs for their design projects, and researched ways others have addressed similar problems. They are now finalising their analysis and findings from their research and working on creating a range of conceptual designs that will, with feedback, provide the basis for the final design they will develop.  This is often a challenging step for ākonga, as it requires them to look beyond their first ‘good’ idea and generate alternative ways they could meet the brief. One or more of these alternatives may prove even better than their original idea or contribute ideas that will improve the overall design.

 

Drama – Lucy Brownlee 

The Level 1 Drama students are continuing to learn how to express themselves through the dramatic techniques of voice, body, movement and space to convey dramatic intentions to an audience. They are working in pairs for this 1.1 assessment and have chosen a poem to dramatise. Students are working to memorise their lines outside of class, so in class time can be spent rehearsing and annotating their poems. 

Mandarin – Lisa Chin

The level 1 Mandarin students are continuing to learn the content for 1.5 writing portfolio assessment. This will be internally assessed in class throughout Term two. Students are currently working on their speech presentation (1.2, 4 credits). This assessment is due to be presented by the end of the term or early Term two. Please have all the required materials ready on the presentation day: cue cards, props etc. 

Please remember to listen to all the audios on the Google Classroom on a regular basis as it will help you prepare for this presentation.

 

Te Reo Maori – Louane Ngataki

 

The level 1 akonga are currently working on the first part (of 2) of their Korero strand.  Recording will be in week 8 and 9 of this term.  A final grade will be awarded once both parts are completed as they cannot be graded individually.

 

Maths – David Starshaw

The level 1 maths students are continuing to learn the content for 1.1 Number. This will be internally assessed in class on Thursday 30th March (T1W8). Other details for the year are included in the study guide sent earlier in the year. If you have any questions, feel free to be in touch.

Music – Michael Stebbing 

The Level 1 and 2 music students are continuing to develop their understanding of theory and harmony, working towards composing their own music. We have acknowledged that this is a steep learning curve, but students are making good progress and have started to put pen to paper (fingers to keys, picks to strings, etc!). A reminder also that all students will need to have a piece ready to perform during the last lesson of term, as part of 1.1 Solo Performance.

 

Physical Education – Lucy Brownlee 

Each week, the L2 PE students are continuing to ‘participate actively in a variety of activities and explain factors that influence their own participation’, as per the Achievement Standard 90962. As a class, we have moved to focus on ako – learning and teaching together. This looks like students practising leadership and organisational skills to share a sport or physical activity which they are confident in, and teaching it to their peers. We have also been exploring how three team talks (pre-game, half-time and post game) boost levels of manaakitanga, team work, participation and overall morale.

Level Two Subjects

Art – Fleur Sadlier

The last two weeks in Art our akonga have been continuing to develop drawing skills and experiment with materials and methods while recording information. Students are focusing on observational drawing within their theme, for artworks contributing to Visual Arts 1.2 and 2.2- with progress assessments of these week

seven.

 

BCATS – Kieron Harding

The last two weeks in BCATS we have been laminating our timber and rotary cutting for our chairs. They have also done joint and material testing for their portfolio work. I have been impressed by their contributions and the level of skill demonstrated in the workshop. 

 

Biology – Zena Kavas 

The L2 biologists have completed their first unit and I am now marking their reports on the ecological community of the takahē. They have looked at the impact of introduced mammals on a bird that evolved in a mammal-free environment (apart from our native bats). 

Our next unit, on animal adaptations, will include a visit to Wellington Zoo for a workshop looking at the range of adaptations in response to diet. This trip will take place on the morning of Wednesday 29th March. 

 

Chemistry – Stuart 

The Level 2 chemists are continuing with their study of organic chemistry. How does one remember that a haloalkane will undergo substitution if the potassium hydroxide is dissolved in water, but elimination if the potassium hydroxide is dissolved in alcohol? That is one of the recent challenges for students.

 

Digi Tech – Michael Draper 

Our level 2 Digitech student is continuing their training in cybersecurity. For their practical project, they are currently building a server for digitech that will be able to host cybersecurity experimentation and testing environments.

 

Humanities – Rose Langridge 

The class is focusing on their assessments now. Those completing the history assessment are focusing on a movement/ event looking at protestors and dissenters. There has been a rather large array from nuclear-free to anarchists.

 

For the social studies standard, there are enquiries into recent social movements ranging from pay equity to the blue lives matter movement.

 

The class will be working towards these reports for the rest of the term and will have multiple opportunities for feedback. The assessment is due at the end of the term.

Mandarin – Lisa Chin 

The level 2 Mandarin students are continuing to learn the content for 2.2 speech presentations (4 credits). This will be internally assessed in class in early Term two. Students are currently working on their speech script, writing about their ideal day. Please remember to listen to all the audios on the Google Classroom on a regular basis as it will help you prepare for this presentation. 

 

Maths – Michael Draper 

The level 2 Maths (algebra and calculus) ākonga are continuing to hone their general algebra and geometry skills, and progress their Trigonometry and Algebra learning.  There is no assessment this term. Instead, students work on developing long term mastery of the mathematical learning and skills used in later learning and assessments.

 

Music – Michael Stebbing 

The Level 1 and 2 music students are continuing to develop their understanding of theory and harmony, working towards composing their own music. We have acknowledged that this is a steep learning curve, but students are making good progress and have started to put pen to paper (fingers to keys, picks to strings, etc!). A reminder also that all students will need to have a piece ready to perform during the last lesson of term, as part of 1.1 Solo Performance. 

 

Physical Education – Neville Paul

This week in PE we have continued to reflect on ourselves as peers, leaders and how we can help others. We have also looked at levels of participation. We are currently working through standard AS91334. Our akonga have also looked at options for potential events for our community. 

Physics – Michael Draper  

The level 2 physicists are finishing their learning of Nuclear Physics and will be doing assessments on this on the last two Tuesdays of the term (28 March and 4 April). IN preparation for this they should be preparing revision notes and completing the questions provided in the Scipad workbook. Additional questions are available in the ESA Study Guide.

 

Psychology – Zena Kavas

The L2 psychologists have looked at the different perspectives of psychology, the different ways that can help to explain our behaviours.  They are now writing a report focussing on a particular behaviour or issue, and explaining this from three different perspectives. I am excited to read these reports and get a better understanding of issues and behaviours such as dreaming, obesity, PTSD, anxiety, depression and memory. These reports are due at the end of Term 1. 

Statistics – David Starshaw 

The level 2 statistics students have finished the assessment for 2.9 Inference and will now start learning the content for 2.10 Experiment. Other details for the year are included in the study guide sent earlier in the year. If you have any questions, feel free to be in touch.

Level Three Subjects

Biology – Zena Kavas

The L3 biologists have completed their first unit of work on homeostasis, how an animal maintains a stable internal environment, despites external fluctuations. They have written a report in the context of a Coast-to-coast endurance athlete who runs, kayaks and cycles from Kumara Beach on the West Coast, across the main divide, to Sumner Beach in Christchurch. They discuss how the athlete maintains a stable internal temperature, despite  competing in extremes of temperature and other challenging conditions. 

Next week we are beginning the learning for our Speciation topic, which will be assessed at the end of the year as an external exam. We will be looking at how and why animals evolve into separate species. This will include a trip to Wellington Zoo for a Speciation Workshop using the animals there to demonstrate the various types of speciation. This outing is booked for the morning of 27th April. 

Chemistry – Stuart 

This week the Level 3 students have been assessed in Chemistry 3.2 by interpreting infrared spectra, 13CNMR spectra and mass spectra to identify organic structures, with written justifications for their answers. Next week they will be back to learning more organic chemistry, this time some properties and reactions of haloalkanes and amines.

 

Digitech – Michael Draper 

Our level 3 Digitech student is working on one of the most essential parts of any project brief: ensuring you have a clear and accurate definition of the problem for which you plan to develop a solution.  This involves both developing a conceptual understanding of what the problem might be, and talking with stakeholders to understand their perspectives on the problem or issue. Once a clear understanding of the problem is obtained, then work can commence on identifying where the greatest needs or opportunities for improvement may lie – the next step in this process.

 

English – Rose Langridge 

The class has watched their two films and is now choosing two scenes to dissect and put under the microscope. The purpose of honing in with such precision is to unpack the creative talents of the director. In summary to discover what makes a film Burtonesque.

 

The class will be working towards these reports for the rest of the term and will have multiple opportunities for feedback. The assessment is due at the end of the term.

 

History – Rose Langridge 

The focus is on analysing an event of significance to Aotearoa and generating a report to discuss this event. The events chosen are from within the context of World War One. There have been far ranging choices from Maori women and their response to war, Passchendaele and The primary industry.

 

The class will be working towards these reports for the rest of the term and will have multiple opportunities for feedback. The assessment is due at the end of the term.

 

Maths – David Starshaw

The level 3 maths students have finished the assessment for 3.15 Systems of Equations and are now learning the content for 3.3 Trigonometry. Other details for the year are included in the study guide sent earlier in the year. If you have any questions, feel free to be in touch.

 

Physical Education – Neville Paul

In level 3 PE we continue to work through standard AS91498. Here we are questioning and challenging assumptions on the potential impact of experiences on lifelong well-being. We are also making coherent and insightful judgments that build on the questions and challenges.

 

Physics – Michael Draper 

The level 3 physicists are completing their revision of Modern Physics in preparation for their final assessment opportunity on Wednesday (22 March). Once they’re finished with this, they’ll move on to learning about waves and beginning level 3 Mechanics.

 

Psychology – Zena Kavas

The L3 psychologists have learned more about the perspectives of psychology, focusing on the biological perspective which looks at the structure of the brain and the neurotransmitters, and how these can impact certain behaviours, and how certain behaviours can impact the structure of the brain. Ākonga are now writing a report focusing on a particular behaviour or issue, and explaining it from two different perspectives, and discussing the interaction between these perspectives. I am looking forward to reading the reports and learning more about addictions, PTSD, eating disorders and schizophrenia.

 

Social Studies – Rose Langridge 

The class has finished their quick dips into various social movements and have now chosen the subjects which they will deep dive into for their analytical inquiry. The choices have been the gun control movement in the USA, the response to the Deep Horizon oil spill and the demand for climate action.

The class will be working towards these reports for the rest of the term and will have multiple opportunities for feedback. The assessment is due at the end of the term.

Statistics – David Starshaw 

The level 3 statistics students are continuing to work on the 3.10 Formal Inference assessment. Other details for the year are included in the study guide sent earlier in the year. If you have any questions, feel free to be in touch.