Duathlon Postponed to Thursday 8th March

Adios Cecilia, Beatriz and whanau

We were sad to say ‘adios’ to the Perez family recently.  They left their lives in Barcelona, Spain, to spend close to a year in New Zealand while Señor Perez worked at Massey University.  They immersed themselves in the New Zealand and Riverdale experience.

I asked Cecilia why they chose Palmy to live instead of the big cities like Auckland and Wellington.  She said they wanted a break from big cities because Barcelona is a giant place.  They needed to get away from all the traffic and all the people.  That is why they chose Palmy.

Cecilia says she really liked our school.  The best parts were that the playground is really big and it has grass!  They don’t have grass in their schools in Spain.  She liked the learning here, too.  I think Beatriz liked the friends she made at Riverdale.  They both always had a smile on their face.

I really want to go to Barcelona for a year, go to school there and see the Perez family.

by Grace Waterland and TC

(L to R) Beatriz, Mrs Harland and Cecilia being farewelled at Assembly

Papa Jack talks to Skyscrapers

The Senior Skyscrapers were fortunate to have Papa Jack as a guest speaker recently.  His talk was about some of the ways Maori used the bush as a source of food and medicine.  An example is the aka (or aka aka) vine, which had many uses.

1. It could be woven into a basket to catch eels.  The basket was designed so that eels could swim in, but not out of the basket.
2. It was boiled down and used as a poultice to heal cuts and grazes.
3. When applied directly to the skin, it would help to heal broken bones

Papa Jack likened the bush to a chemist shop.  Whatever was needed to heal could be found in the bush.

Part of the Senior Skyscrapers’ inquiry will be to try to research what plants can be used as food and medicine.

Duathlon Postponed: NOW! Thursday 1st March

Duathlon

The Duathlon will take place on Thursday 23 February.  Entry forms have been handed out and need to be to the office by Friday 17 February.

Duathlon Maps

Right Choice Reward

What a day!  Thanks to the Manawatu Standard photographers for these great photos.

Year Six Farewell

We farewelled our Year Sixes on Tuesday night.  Congratulations to all Year Sixes and especially to Ana and Luke,  joint winners of the Bergerson Trophy for all-round excellence and Sara who was awarded the new Arts Trophy. .

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Thank you Campbell, for these great photos.

Junior Neighbourhood Support Winners

Congratulations to Saul and Natalya for winning the BIG prize.  Enjoy some of their writing about the day.

My Moment

It is the day I find out if I will get my big chance. It’s 11:50 – 40 more minutes until the Junior Neighbourhood Support winners are announced. “Dang,” I think.

  “Its going to be a longer assembly today so we are going at 12.15,” says TC, my teacher. 

  “This is great,” I think in my mind. I look at my watch. It’s 12.00. I know that time is moving but it seems like it it’s just, well, stuck. Come on… five more minutes until assembly… two more minutes… one more minute… Ding Ding Ding!!!!

 My palms are sweaty as I enter the school hall.  My brain is racing, my heart is pumping. I go to sit down and I can’t feel my legs.  I’m

just numb with excitement.

   ”Ok now everybody, here are the two winners of the big prize.  The first is a Year Five from LC13.”   I have this in the bag. “Saul Pasene.”

This is great. This is wonderful. I think its the best thing in my life.  This feeling flies and sparks in  my stomach.  It is my moment.

by Saul

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Now it’s my big day and as I come out from the office all I can hear is children and teachers saying, Good luck”.  I get my big helmet on and I am struggling to see.  Suddenly the police officer lifts me onto his 1000cc BMW motorbike.  I am trembling like someone shaking a drink. I’m off like the speed of lightning.

In the nick of time I am at the airport, ready to go to the rescue helicopter.  I’m soaring through the sky, seeing the awesome views and looking at small schools.

Next it’s to the council to have some yummy morning tea at the mayor’s office.  I am scared because Jono and some police officers are sitting by me.

At ten pin bowling I come 1^st at bowling out of the girls and 2^nd out of everyone.  Yeah!  It’s time to go to one of my favourite eating places: Breakers.  I am only one to have a kiddy meal.

Finally at the squash gym we have some lessons on how to hit the squash ball.

And that’s my neighborhood support day.

by Natayla, LC13

Choir Prize Winner

Congratulations, James, and thank you for being such a loyal reliable and enthusiastic choir member for so many years.  We wish you well as you head to Intermediate and hope you continue to enjoy the joy of music.

Athletics Day

The rough weather moved aside so that Riverdale students could enjoy a huge day of running, jumping and throwing at the Massey Athletics Track on Tuesday.

Thank you Mr McCallum and your trusty team of assistants for all your hard work and organisation.

More photos (taken by Mrs McCallum)

House Competition Results:

1st: Tui

2nd: Kakapo

3rd: Kereru

4th: Takahe