Final Blog Post For Room 18 Online 2009

The kids have met their new teacher for 2010, they've taken home their report cards, and they're now happily at home enjoying the holidays. Room 18 now sits empty and bare for the summer, waiting for a new teacher to move in.

I thought I'd take the opportunity in this final blog post to thank...

The students. You have achieved so much success this year and have come so far with your learning. We've had a lot of laughs in Room 18 and it's been awesome to work with such great little peoples. So, thanks Room 18...you've been fantastic to teach!

The parents and caregivers. Your support, wonderful words, and interest in what makes Room 18 such a great place, has been lovely. Thanks for your help this year and it's been a pleasure getting to know you.

To you, the audience! You may be an Auckland-based parent or a student in Room 18...you may be a distant relative in Christchurch, or a grandparent in Bermuda/the UK/Korea...you may be a teacher in Egypt or a kid in a very remote part of India. I really appreciate how you've helped Room 18ers understand that their learning is so important that people from all around the world are tuned in with fascination. So for your interest and comments, thank you, audience!

Merry Christmas, everyone. All the best for 2010. (-:

Mr. Nash

Interview With Mr. Hill

Our interview with Mr. Hill went very well! It took place in the final hour of school for 2009 in the food tech room. We even had extra audience members!
To listen to the interview and to find out more about Mr. Hill (A Y7/8 teacher), please select the interview from our podcasting box on the right-hand side of your screen.

Downloading Webcasts

There have been several parents requesting instructions on how to download the Room 18 Online Webcasts that have been produced this year.

The easiest way is to download the free version of RealPlayer. This is a trusted piece of software and will not harm your computer.

Click here to download it: Realplayer Free Version

Once you have downloaded and installed it, you can head back here to Room 18 Online. When you move your mouse over a webcast, Real Player will make a pop-up button on the upper right hand corner of the webcast, offering you to download/save the video.

If there are any questions, please feel free to come in to see me, either on Monday, Tuesday, or early in 2010.

Webcast Finale 2009

This is the last of our webcasts this year. Our super spectacular Christmas Holidays episode!



Tune in for some special wishes and some groovy new Christmas music. (-:

Athletics Day Pictures

Room 18 had a stunning day yesterday with Athletics followed by swimming. Everybody gave their very best at each station.
Below are some pictures of Room 18ers participating in the events.

Christmas @ Room 18

Room 18 is definitely in Christmas mode!

We've mailed off our letters to Santa Claus. We used our persuasive writing skills to convince Santa that we deserve presents! We also sent him our wishlists so that he'll know what to get us! We're hoping for a reply from Santa later this week or early next week.

As always, Ginger has been celebrating with us. Ginger came in this morning all decked out in garland, lights, and baubles!

Reindeer Snacks

Yesterday, Room 18 made reindeer snacks. Those students who had paid their baking fees were able to take them home. For those people who would like to make more reindeer snacks over the school holidays, here is the recipe...

Reindeer Snacks

Ingredients
3/4 cup of sugar
2 tablespoons of honey
125 grams of butter
1/4 cup of mixed fruit
2.5 cups of of popped popcorn

Method:
1) Melt sugar, honey and butter in a pan. Bring to a boil.
2) Simmer for 2 minutes.
3) Toss together fruit, nuts, and popcorn.
4) Pour butter mixture over fruit mixture and mix.
5) Put spoonfuls into paper cups.
6) Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Swimming

The Hobsonville School Pool is now OPEN. Room 18 has been invited to use it on Wednesday afternoon after our Athletics. Students have been given an option of using the pool if they bring their togs and towel on Wednesday.
Parents, if your favourite Room 18er is wanting to make use of the pool, please assist them with organising their togs and towel for Wednesday. (-:

Some parents prefer to take students home after Athletics. Wednesday IS a full day of instruction with the school open the usual hours, however, if you would like to take your Room 18er home at lunch, please let me know so I can avoid any panic!

Baking Day

This upcoming Monday (Dec. 7th), Room 18 will be making reindeer food! This will be taking place after Morning Tea @11am for about 30-45minutes. We'd love to have some help, so if you are a parent or grandparent of a Room 18er, please feel free to show up at the classroom doors for an 11am trip to the food tech room. (-:

Thanks,
Mr. Nash

Webcast 18

This is the first of our Christmas webcasts! We were racing the Morning Tea bell today, so this webcast is especially snappy!

Webcast 17

We have decided that this is OUR BEST YET!

Art Exhibition At The Trusts Stadium

Room 18 went on a trip today to the Trusts Stadium in Waitekere City! We saw lots of artwork done by many other students in West Auckland. We were also happy to see some artwork from Hobsonville students there as well!

Webcast 16

Joel P At Skytower

This is me up the Skytower. Alex got to go to see "Oliver" on stage so when we dropped her off with Mum we decided to go up to the top. Firstly we had to pay to get into the Skytower and when we were at the gift shop I heard one of our jump jam songs.
Secondly, it was so awesome at the lift because when I was getting up to the top I got to see a whole giant view. It was so fun.
Thirdly, when I got to the top I said to Dad, I'll walk around the whole thing and find him again and 'voila' I did it, I found him.
Lastly, I'll have to go back on my birthday and go into the café that goes round and round.
From Joel P

Interview Update

And the votes are in! In a close final day of voting, Mr. Hill had 7 more votes than Mr. Nash. Room 18 will be asking Mr. Hill for an interview sometime next week.

Interview Who should we interview?
Mr. Hill	49.2%	120
Mr. Nash	46.3%	113
Mrs. Leitch	2.5%	6
Mr. Couch	1.6%	4
Mrs. Okkers	0.4%	1
total votes: 244

Webcast 16

Interview Polling

You may have noticed the polling on the right side of our blog. This is for Room 18 students and their audience (YOU!) to vote on who would be an interesting person to have a chat with. Feel free to vote for your favourite! Voting closes this upcoming FRIDAY morning.

Mr. Nash

Parent Help

Parents,

We've finished 'Getting Muddy' in our Inquiry process with technology, and now we're launching into our 'Getting Busy' phase. This involves blenders, newspapers, filters, water, and a whole bunch of additives later on in order to make our own recycled paper. If you could spare your time to help us out on Tuesday from 10am-11:15am (our Inquiry/Library/Pod time) it would be appreciated. The students would benefit from some additional help during this very industrius time. Please see me if you can help out, even just as a one-off.

Thanks,
Mr. Nash

Writing from Week 4- Should we perform plays in Room 18?

I think Room 18 should most definitely do more plays.
Firstly, some people have already done a play in front of the class. And it will be fair if other people get to do a play in front of the class as well.
Secondly, plays are sooo much fun.
Because there are lots of fun plays to do.
Thirdly, I think lots of people like plays, and the people that are not doing plays can listen to the very cool play.
Lastly, because people can come inside with a smile on their face because they have just seen a very cool play.
I think Room 18 should most definitely not stop plays!
By Anouska

Room 18 must definitely be able to do plays.
Firstly, I love plays because they are sooooo much fun!
Secondly, I like practising plays, even if we miss out on super silent reading.
Thirdly, I love performing plays, I don’t care if we have to start all over again and if the audience has to wait. I don’t care.
Lastly I don’t care if my group can’t be first to perform plays.
I like doing cool,cool,cool,cool,cool,plays.
That’s why I think Room 18 must be allowed to do plays.
By Ruby

Room 18 most definitely should not have plays.
Firstly, it would take forever.
Secondly, I’d rather not let everyone wet their pants or socks or shorts.
Thirdly, I hate plays!
Finally, everyone will get annoyed and very very angry.
I think room 18 should not have plays.
By Summer

Room 18 must definitely stop plays.
Firstly, if we had Ginger letters and the play was long, we would have to sit soooo long.
Secondly, if some people make mistakes they might start again, and that is bad because you’d have to wait sooo long.
Thirdly, if I want a movie of the Little Red Hen I will get a DVD.
Lastly, when we wait so long for the play, we might miss out on super silent reading.
I think room18 has to definitely not do plays ever again.
By Dimas

I think we must definitely do plays.
Firstly, plays are so much fun, and you don’t often get to do plays.
Secondly, it’s good practise for our reading, if there are really big words in the middle of the plays.
And that tells us that we did a really good job.
Lastly, it wouldn’t be fair for the people that didn’t get to do a play.
That’s not fair because it would be sad for those people.
I think plays have to stay.
By Sophie

Room 18 must definitely have no more plays ever again
Firstly, I don’t want to see people wet their pants, because seeing people wet their pants is gross.
Secondly, if I want to see the three little pigs, I would see the movie.
Thirdly, I won’t get super silent reading for points.
Lastly, it’s not fair if another group is doing a play.
I think no more plays forever.
By Joel.P

We should most definitely be allowed plays as long as we like.
Firstly, In Term 2 in Madison’s other group, they got to do a play.
And it wouldn’t be fair if we don’t get to do a play.
Secondly, listening to plays is fun.
Thirdly, we could make a paper book of our own and copy and take it home so we can read it to ourselves.
Finally, if we listen we could make our own play with some words that the kids used in their play.
Room18 shall definitely be allowed plays forever.
By Jessica

Room 18 must not do any more plays.
Firstly, plays are very cool but some people might not like it.
Secondly, plays are not very cool because people want to go home.
I think room 18 has to definitely not do plays.
By Jordin

Room 18 must never do plays ever.
Firstly, when we do plays everybody has to be quiet.
Secondly, our group has only one book that is a play.
Thirdly, everybody has to sit down and fold their legs and their arms, and be respectful to everyone.
Lastly, checking the right words, this helps us with our reading.
Room 18 definitely should not do plays ever.
By Martin

I think Room 18 should do more plays.
Firstly, it is fun.
Secondly, everyone can do it.
Thirdly, because I like plays.
I think room 18 has to do more plays.
By Jean

Room 18 must not have anymore plays.
Secondly, plays waste time.
Thirdly, it makes us tired.
I think we should not have plays.
By Tiaan

We should definitely have no more plays!
Firstly, we don’t want to sit around all day.
Secondly, it is sooo long.
Thirdly, they might wet their pants.
Lastly, we can go home faster.
We must stop doing plays.
By Joel. W

I think we should definitely have more time off plays.
Firstly, it would take sooo long for your turn.
Secondly, we will miss out on our super silent reading.
Thirdly, we might be nervous in front of the audience.
Finally, we would be told to come back into the room.
That is why I think we should not do plays.
By Rachel

Room 18 must definitely not be allowed to do plays for ever.
Firstly, it wastes learning time.
Secondly, people will be nervous and they might wet themselves.
Lastly, I think we should have no more plays.
By Jayden

I think Room 18 should not do anymore plays.
Firstly, it would sometimes take sooo long we wouldn’t be able to do super silent reading.
Secondly, sometimes people get nervous and they have to start all over again.
Thirdly, people might wet themselves.
Lastly, it is bad because you have to wait a long time.
I think Room 18 most definitely should stop the plays.
By Savannah

I think we should most definitely have plays!
Firstly, it is fun.
Secondly, we might get to dress up.
Thirdly, it is cool to do.
Lastly we can bow.
I think we should have plays forever.
By Ciara

We should most definitely have no more plays.
Firstly, people will do something wrong.
Secondly, I don’t want to watch people wet themselves at school.
Thirdly, they will be crazy at the play.
I think we should have no more plays.
By Madison

Sophie and Cookie Muncher