Wayfinders

What an awesome week of Astronomy we had in the Senior Hub. We were so lucky to have a visit from SMART (Society of Māori Astronomy Research and Traditions). A group of five Wayfinders came and demonstrated to us how they navigate around the oceans on sailing waka using only the stars, moon, sun, sounds and birds.

They told us some pretty important things. Like did you know that the Wairarapa was known as a very special place of knowledge about navigating by the stars? A whare wananga, not far from Gladstone, was one of the premier places in Aotearoa for holding that knowledge.

There are different ways that they navigate during the day and night, but none of it is done with modern technology but rather traditional knowledge.

 One of our visitors was a Māori Astro-Physicist: Wow!

We felt very grateful for the special knowledge they shared with us. Ask us some questions about it and we will see what we can answer!

What can you see?

This photo was taken at 4am last Thursday morning in Collingwood. What can you see in the pre-dawn sky?

Making a compass

Astronomy

Last week we really got into astronomy. What is happening in the skies above us? How does that affect what is happening on Earth? How can we use the skies above to find our way around? How have people before us (without GPS etc) known about and used astronomy?

One of the things we realised was that we weren't always sure of what direction was what way. So we made our own compasses. This knowledge is also handy if we get lost in the bush and need to build a compass to help find the right direction.

Maisie is working on magnetising her piece of metal

Harry and Jasper also working on magnetising one end of their metal stick

We put the metal through a piece of cork and floated it. How would that help us to find North?

Which way is it going to go Rahiri and Kayla?

Senior Leadership

Yesterday three Year 8 students took up the opportunity to return to Kourarau Dam to talk to a group of students from Carterton School about the kaitiaki action we all took part in last term. Anika, Lily and Tessa represented Gladstone School so well. They described to the students what actions we took on the day (planting, water quality monitoring, plant and species monitoring) as well as other ways of thinking about this special place on our whenua (land). Well done to these three for their leadership and willingness to learn new skills.

Holiday Chickens

The Senior Hub are in charge of being kaitiaki (caretakers) of the chickens for the holidays. Thank you to all the families who have given their time to look after the school pets. Enjoy the eggs!

Chicken Holiday Schedule

Sat 8/7	Sun 9/7	Mon 10/7	Tue 11/7	Wed 12/7	Thu 13/7	Fri 14/7
Rutene	Gardner	Hyslop	Hyslop	Gardner	Thomson	Hintz
Sat 15/7	Sun 16/7	Mon 17/7	Tue 18/7	Wed 19/7	Thu 20/7	Fri 21/7
Hammond	Hammond	Rutene	Gardner	Gardner	Staff	Staff
Sat 22/7	Sun 23/7
Gardner	Gardner

Tukutuku Panels returned to Hurunui-o-Rangi Marae

We were proud, on Wednesday night, to be able to give the tukutuku panels back to Hurunui-o-Rangi Marae. This was a very special project that the whole school was involved in last year and now that they've been finished and framed they look amazing.

Tau ke! Good work everybody.

Matariki begins to appear in the classroom

Matariki has started to appear in the Senior Hub. Art work and ideas from last year have made an appearance and at the students request we have got down to some awesome new learning:

Jasper and Hamish working on their star clocks

Alice and Shianne busy at work

More focussed artists

This group is getting taught how to make woven putiputi by Oshaya

Today paper...tomorrow harakeke!

Oshaya is an amazing teacher

This is tricky business. We are making kono (woven food baskets) and they require all of our patience and concentration.

Working it all out on paper first

They're on their way to some fantastic kono.