Festival flower blooms

Matahui School creates a sustainable sunflower.

Read the full article on the front page of Katikati Advertiser, Thursday September 16 2021 below.

Bursting into spring is giant sunflower – not quite the plant species – but a creative one made of upcycled plastics and reuseable materials, that will be displaying during Katikati’s Festival of Arts in October.

Matathui School’s giant yellow sunflower is one of 111 large wooden sunflowers that have been distributed to preschools and schools in the area, to be decorated for the Festival of Art, hosted every two years by Katikati Open-Air Art.

Festival organiser Jacqui Knight says is was a real gift to see the sunflower from Matahui School, iwth all the Covid uncertainty about what events can and cannot be run at the upcoming festival.

“I think it is absolutely amazing, I don’t know here people get their ideas from, this one is fantastic!”

“I can not wait to see the others too.”

Designed to reflect the bright community spirit that surrounds Katikati, the Matahui School community has been working as a team – staff, students, parents and community members – on the giant sunflower. The students played an active role planning the project aimed at utilising reusable materials and upcycling plastics.

Principal Mary Woods says the focus on upcycling was thought to be the best use of plastic, as no further resources are required to process or recycle the plastic, it goes directly into another use – the ultimate in reducing consumption.

“It’s incredible the things that can be created out of a plastic bottle, can or glass container if you put your mind to it.”

The students reached out to the community for donations towards the sunflower which was painted before lockdown. They took their investigation of sunflowers a step further by examining them in great detail, up close, to find and develop the aesthetic and design.

During the lockdown “MrsB”, Kathryn Burtenshaw, teachers of the year 7 and 8 class worked on the project while communicating remotely with the students about here parts were glued on. Each piece was strategically placed to add character to the sunflower.

Students and families from Kauri Point village donated an array of plastic items, some from children’s toy boxes, and adults delved into their plastic recycling. Mrs B often found packages of plastic bits in her letterbox during alert level 4, a contactless delivery from community members.

“Every time the students see the flower they try to hunt down and identify where their donated piece is glued.”

“it’s almost like a Where’s Wally activity – one can spend hours looking at all the parts of the flower, so many different items have been collected and used.”

Mary says it has been a huge community project bring people together. “It represents more that just an art project. It shines a brightness on our community as we move forward into spring and summer.

“A time of colour, vibrancy, abundance, fresh food and good health.”

The sunflower will join others, soon to be on display at the Katikati library showcasing the talented work of our local children.

Chris Steel, Katikati Advertiser.

Parents as Educators – Mindset is Everything

We recently published tips and tricks for parents to make online learning work for you and your family in the Katikati Advertisers newsletter. You can read the full article below.

Parents as Educators – Mindset Is Everything

Donna McDonald – Junior Room Teacher at Matahui School

Practical advice from educators at Matahui School as we reflect on home learning over the past 3-4 weeks.  

During lockdown many parents were feeling the pressure. Breadwinner, caregiver, chef/cook, cleaner, enforcer and all things in between.  Add teachers/educators to this list! That’s a lot of roles to play and it’s been even harder for working parents and business owners. The teachers at Matahui School have learned a few things over this and last the lockdowns and want to share a few practical tips parents can use to bolster their educating skillset. 

  1. Modelling a problem solving mindset.  We’ve all had to do a fair bit of problem solving lately. As parents or teachers, we can’t always be there to solve every problem for our children. In fact, this isn’t our job. Our job is to TEACH our children how to solve problems by themselves. This way, they can become confident, independent, and successful individuals.  When YOU encounter a challenge, do a “think-aloud” for the benefit of your child. MODEL how to apply the same problem-solving skills you’ve been working on together, giving the real-world examples that she can implement in her own life.  At the same time, show your child a willingness to make mistakes. Everyone encounters problems, and that’s okay. Sometimes the first solution you try won’t work, and that’s okay too!  When you model problem-solving, explain that there are some things which are out of our control. As we’re solving a problem at hand we should focus on the things we CAN actually control.  Naturally, these abilities go hand-in-hand with a growth mindset.

Matahui School has a proud tradition of instilling problem solving skills – our senior class recently won the EPro8 science and engineering competition where their problem solving where put to the test against other schools in the Bay of Plenty Region.

  1. The mind is powerful and your mindset shades the way you see the world 

We’ve all heard the saying “Whether you think you can or can’t – you’re right!”.   This is important to Mrs McDonald, junior Teacher at Matahui School.   “This term we’re focussing on building a “growth mindset” and using the power of the word “yet”.  “If your child says, ‘I can’t do this’, we add the word ‘I can’t do this yet’ to build self confidence”, says Mrs McDonald.  The word “yet” can change disparaging sentences into positive ones, promoting growth.  This linguistic trick works especially well with sentences that include “can’t” or “don’t,” because it reverses the negative connotation.

What’s happening in the Junior School at Matahui this term? 

This term’s inquiry project is all about “Light”.  Where does it come from? What is light? How do light sources work? What is energy?  Who would have guessed that 5-7-year-olds would be so interested in physics, astrology and electricity – budding scientists in the making who thirst for more knowledge – they really are developing a love of learning through their own inquiry.  

Next week we’ll cover the importance of play in learning and how you can encourage a love of learning in your children.
For more tips or to find out more about Matahui School – visit our website www.matahui.school.nz or visit our facebook page here

An Individual Approach to Education

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Here is an article we had published in the Hauraki Coromandel Post, explaining Matahui’s unique approach to the education of each individual student, you can read the full article below.

At Matahui School we understand learning takes many shapes and forms and all children are individuals and learn in different ways.  This is the reason why we have built a school ethos that acknowledges and values the different strengths of each student.  Instead of asking ‘Is this child smart’ we ask ”How is this child smart” Instead of fitting students into a box, we celebrate individual brilliance, we call these ‘super-powers’.  Dr Howard Gardner’s theory of Multiple intelligences is embedded in everything we do to find students ‘smarts’ or ‘super-powers’.  Is your child word smart, logic smart, do they have strengths in math, music, drama or are they a natural scientist or palaeontologist? Are they fascinated with insects; do they care for  the environment? All of these are ways of being smart and we make connections with these intelligences and forest the in a safe nurturing environment where students can be themselves.

As we prepare our students for their futures, we teach them how to think and problem solve through our interdisciplinary approach.  Core subjects are integrated across different areas of learning to create relevant meaning for each individual student.  Students are able ton connect and gain understanding of concepts through engaging hands-on activities.  Our teachers at Matahui School guide students in their understanding key concepts while encouraging each student to think creatively, collaborate with their peers and teacher and be free to experiment and take risks.

Education outside the classroom, EOTC, is an important area where learning take place beyond the four walls of the classroom. Matahui School students are involved in a number of camps during the year where they are challenged to reach their physical and mental potential.  Another opportunity for EOTC is our Guardians of the Forest programme which allows students to have real-life experiences in a natural environment where they can play, learn and create; explore land and water and become guardians of our natural environment. Matahui School offer school tours every Wednesday during school terms, for anyone who would like to learn more about the programmes Matahui School offers students.

A Journey through Kowhai Class Term 1 2019

posted in: Class Blogs, Kowhai yrs 0,1,2 | 0
Self portraits by Charlotte
Can you see which one is happy, sad and excited?
Self portraits by Sammy, showing sad, angry and happy expressions.
We went to the Tauranga Art Gallery to see Emma Prill’s flower art. By Callaway
We made our own 3D flowers. Here is my crab flower. By Charlotte
The Chinese New Year celebrates the Nian dragon.
By Emma
Here are our stories about the Chinese dragon. By Anna
The Chinese dragon by Tyla
Here are our Chinese scrolls. We wrote our name in Chinese and our Chinese new year animal. By Emma
Chinese scroll by Luna
We had a great day on Boat Day at Omokoroa Beach.
By Isabella
We learnt about Impressionism in art and in our paintings we used little brush strokes to show light, dark and movement in the water. By Phoenix
We read the Maori legend ‘How Maui Caught the Sun’.
By Anna
We used the Koru design. By Luna
Can you see how the sun is feeling? By Isabella
How Maui Caught the Sun By Phoenix
We compared 2 legends – The legend of the Taniwha….
By Callaway
And…The legend of the Chinese Water Dragon. By Callaway
The legend of the Taniwha dragon. By Sammy
The legend of the Chinese Water Dragon. By Sammy
We wrote a bubble poem. By Tyla

Kowhai class would like to share some of their learning with you over Term 1 2019.

We have been learning to write persuasive texts.  They are trying to convince you which art form was the best way to express yourself.  Read their arguments and then you can decide!


My favourite art form is drawing. Drawing is the best because you can draw things that aren’t real.  You can use any colour. It looks like it’s real but it’s not.  You can use different types of pens. 
It is so fun. By Tyla

My favourite art form is painting. You can use little brush strokes to show light and dark and movement in the water.
You can paint whatever you want. I like painting. By Phoenix

My favourite art form is dancing.
You get to twirl and dance and jump.
Dancing is the best!
By Isabella


My favourite art form is painting. I like it because you can blend colours.  You can make different colours. You can make whatever you want.  You can take your art home and keep it forever. I love painting! By Anna

My favourite art form is drama. I love drama because you can act characters and I love making people laugh.  I love dressing up and I love being brave and calm in front of lots of people.
When I act, I can tell a story.
I love drama.  It is the best!
By Emma

My favourite art form is drawing.  We can draw things that are the best.  We make awesome pictures.
I feel creative!
By Luna

My favourite art form is music.
Music is the best because you get to listen to all different music.
Music is the best because you can play different kinds of music.
You can play ‘The Wind and the Sun’.  The wind is really loud.  The sun is really calm.  Butterfly Fly Away is very calm too.   What Does the Fox Say is very loud.
Music makes me feel happy.
By Callaway

My favourite art form is music.
You can dance to music.
You can play the piano and close your eyes.
By Sammy

My favourite art form is music.
The music is very nice because it is very beautiful to listen to music. 
I love to sing.
Music makes me feel safe and sound.
By Charlotte

Puriri Camp

What great fun Puriri had at Redwood Valley Farm Park Camp last week. We fed the pigs and chickens, played games, wrote a diary, had fun on an awesome waterslide and rode the river on tubes. Thank you to our parent helpers for their great support and fantastic meals.

 

Puriri Term 3 Art Auction

For the auction at the Mexican Fiesta we made a collaborative piece of art. We found out how Piet Mondrian used colour and geometric design to make his abstract art and used a heart shape to make our pieces. We all had one of our hearts included in the final art piece.

 

Production

We were very busy this term getting ready for our school production (The Point). Everyone had a speaking part, so we had lines to learn as well as songs. We helped to make our ‘rock cape’ costumes by sewing our hoods using a sewing machine. We also had to make up a dance. We loved performing for the audience and are looking forward to the next production in 2 years time.

 

Poetry

We have been learning about different forms of poetry and would like to share some of our Haiku and Cinquains with you.

 

Bubble Art

We had fun blowing bubbles and then drawing them. Enjoy our wonderful pictures.

 

 

 

Kowhai Class in the Matahui School Production ‘The Point’

Congratulations Matahui School on a fantastic school production!

Kowhai class was in the forest scene for the production ‘The Point’.  We were autumn trees.  Here are  paintings of ourselves in costume,  photos and stories:

 

Matahui School is putting on a show called ‘The Point’.   I am an Autumn tree. I look sparkly with my leaves -orange and yellow. I say “We have a point!” I love to sing. The show is brilliant! By Charlotte
Our school did a play called ‘The Point”.  I am an Autumn tree.  I’ve got red and gold leaves on my headband.  They glisten.  It’s treetastic!  I’ve got leaves on my body.  They are gold.  I say “No, you didn’t think!’   I feel that the play was treetastic!  By Cameron
Matahui School is doing a show called ‘The Point’.  We are Autumn trees.  We have yellow and orange leaves, with sparkles.  I say “It’s a time of magic and excitement!”  I love the singing and the dancing.  By Emma
           I am an Autumn tree.  I liked how the parents were watching me.  I look sparkly with my Autumn leaves.  I say “Pointless!  Pointless!”  I felt happy because it was my first school show.  By Anna
     The show is fabulous.  I love the dance.  I say “Pointless! Pointless!”  I am an Autumn tree.  I have orange, brown, and red leaves all around me.  The show is cool.  By Phoenix.                                                                                         I am an Autumn tree.  I look like an Autumn tree, with orange leaves, yellow leaves, red leaves.  I say “Oh my boy!  You have a lot to learn.  Tell me, where are you three from?”  The show was cool.  By Callaway       I love how the people were clapping.  I am an Autumn tree.  I have yellow leaves on my head.  My favourite line is “Yep! It’s timing! Ha ha ha!”  I felt nervous and happy. By Aroha
Matahui School is putting on a show and we are Autumn trees.  I look sparkly like a tree.  I have a headband with sparkles on my headband.  We also have yellow leaves.  I like singing the song.  I say “No roots!  No roots?”  I feel happy and shy.  By Kaida
  I am an Autumn tree in the play.  I have Autumn leaves, yellow, red, orange.  I say “You and your dog will work like dogs.”  I was happy because my Mum was watching me.  By Saxon
  We are Autumn trees.  I have yellow leaves sparkling around me.  I have leaves sparkling in my hair.  I say “For the love of a horse, what are you trying to do?”  I felt scared and happy and brave.  By Payton
  I am a beautiful Autumn tree that sparkles.  I love being an Autumn tree that sparkles.  I say ‘You know, leaves like that do not just grow on trees.”  I like how we did the singing.  I wear yellow leaves around my body.  I looked great and fantastic.  I wear red leaves on my head band, sparkling up on my head.  I felt excited.    By Tyla.
  I am an Autumn tree.  I liked how the parents were watching us as Autumn trees.  I looked fabulous because I have golden leaves – they sparkle and shine.  That makes me feel proud of myself.  I say “For crying out loud, would you get out of there!”  The show was great!  By Darcy

THERE IS NO “I” IN TEAM….

posted in: Class Blogs, Principal Blog | 0

It is often said that… THERE IS NO “I” IN TEAM….

Two weeks ago, Leo Holley, Henrietta Davenport, Bridget McGirr and Hugo Bruning proudly represented
Matahui School at the first round of the EPRO8 challenge, which this year, was held in Katikati. They had
every reason to feel proud, as we are of their achievement because they won the event. An outstanding team
achievement and so I thought I would interview the students to see if the old adage is in fact true. Read on.

What made you all want to be of this team? It seemed like it would be fun, especially as you get the
chance to invent and experiment with making things like robots and other mechanical devices.

How did the team prepare for the challenge? (initial burst of haughty laughter). Actually we didn’t really
prepare which didn’t worry us – except Bridget. We probably should have because we would have been able
to save time because we would have had a better understanding of how to wire things up. We also wasted
time constructing some framing as we didn’t recognise the importance of using triangles in the construction
phase.

So given you didn’t prepare as well as you might have, why do you think you were so successful in
the end? We worked so well as a team. Everyone was good at something different so we were able to
divide up tasks and shared the responsibility of completing each challenge we faced. We listened to each
other without criticising. We collaborated and co-operated, probably better than some of the other teams.
When you learned you had won what emotions did you experience? A whole range – happiness;
excitement; surprise and delight.
Where will this success take you next? We will be heading to the semi-finals and if we do well there then
it will be on to the finals.

What do you think you learned from this experience? We need to do some preparation this time so that
we are more organised. We found out that we need to spend a little more time planning before we launch
into creating and making. And, we learned the value of effective teamwork.

So, it would seem that there is no “I in team, certainly not if you are in a Year 7/8 Matahui School EPRO8
team!

FOOTNOTE: According to the judge who scored the EPRO8 Challenge, the scores reached by the top
eight teams at the Katikati event was so high, that they would have scored in the top three at any of the
other events held thus far. WOW!

Year Seven and Eight students celebrate a great term at Matahui

What a wonderful term Team Kauri, the Year Seven and Eight students have had at Matahui School.

The students have been learning to build and learn within a team and advance their ability as leaders. This has been achieved through an amazing array of outdoor activities including two camps, and skill building activities such as swimming, a deep-water confidence day and kayak skill development at Waimarino.

We have studied of the life of William Shakespeare and written a short biography. Following this we traveled with the Year Five and Six students to Auckland to see ‘A Comedy of Errors’ at the Pop-up Globe Theatre.

Other E.O.T.C. experiences have included our infamous boat day and a whole school beach education day.

In the classroom we have focused our mathematics on number and algebra. There are several budding mathematicians! We have buddy read a book called ‘A race to the pole’, a chance for our accomplished readers to share with and support their peers. This book was also part of our inquiry this term which has focused on the motivation to discover and explore. The high standard of presentations that concluded the inquiry are well worth visiting the classroom to see.