Term 3 2015
Homai Campus School and Residential Services
Rāranga ai te tuakiri o te tāngata kea whatu i ngā koingo o te iwi hei taupe kit e korowai o te ngākau.
Weave the identity of the people, sow the desires of a nation, thus to be adorned by the cloak of the heart
Kia Ora, Ni Hau, Talofa Lava, Kia Orana, Malo e lelei, Salam Alaikum, Namaste, Ni Sa
Bula, Fakalofa Lahi Atu and Greetings.
Term 3 has been incredibly busy with our teachers providing our children with a wide raft of experiences, both in and out of the classrooms. The subsequent learning has been significant and many of those experiences outlined in the following stories. We are extremely proud of our s tudents’ achievements this term.
On the 26 th August families were invited to the campus to help provide information to shape the future of BLENNZ. We are always looking to improve and hear the thoughts of family and whanau. The following questions guided the discussion:
1. What is BLENNZ doing well for you and your child?
2. If you could change one thing about BLENNZ to improve learning for your child, what would that be?
3. Think of BLENNZ in the future…what would you like to think we were doing that we aren’t now?
This input will help us to shape the future of BLENNZ and to improve services for children.
Students have also been asked the same questions. The results have been provided to the Board of Trustees to help develop the BLENNZ strategic direction.
Barbara Whitley
Senior Manager
School and Residential Services
HOMAI CAMPUS t.
09 266 7109 / f.
09 267 4496 / w.
www.blennz.school.nz
2 McVilly Road, Manurewa / Private Bag 801, Manurewa / Auckland 2243

Over the last year Tui students have participated in the Nga Kupu o te Wiki programme.
This involved them in learning a word a week for the past year. Every Wednesday the class had a Te reo lesson with Matua Becker where the word for the week was introduced.
During the rest of the week this has been reinforced most days. All of the students have learnt many of the 50 words and are retaining them. On many days the students would spontan eously test each other’s knowledge and pronunciation of the words. They are proud of their achievements.
Here they are with their certificates for participation
This term our theme was Growing and Changing. As part of the theme we:
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Measured the height of each other and showed the results by ordering them from shortest to tallest in a photo and stick format.
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Drew around the right shoe sole of each student, cut them out and placed them in order from longest to shortest.
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Recorded the age of each student and showed it in a linear graph format.

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Drew around our hands and found objects which would fit into the palm and objects which were too big to fit in the palm.
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Created play dough birthday cakes and counted out the correct number of candles to put in.
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Used playdough to roll balls for eggs to put in a nest and rolled long caterpillars to place on a leaf.
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Made butterflies with teaspoons of paint on a paper which we folded and cut into a butterfly shape.
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Explored daisy plants and created our own flower with leaves, a stem and a flower.
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Explored how water changes when it is put into the freezer.
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Looked at the new leaves on the trees in the playground.
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Had a lot of fun.
This term Takahe students have been preparing to host a small number of Manuhiri
(visitors) from the Auckland BLENNZ roll. The visiting students were aged between 5 and
10yrs. The Takahe students learnt different parts which they performed at the Pōwhiri
(welcome ceremony). They made polymer clay Tikis (neck ornament) as taonga (precious gifts) for the Manuhiri.
The visitors, staff and Takahe students had an interesting day of learning and sharing which was led by Matua Becker. Tamati from James cook assisted the students in the preparation and coached them in the different roles that they would play on the day.
Natalie from Kickstart assisted with coaching Adrea in Karanga (to call) and instructed the visitors on waiata (singing) on the day.
The students were given a tour of the school building focusing on the carving and the murals outside the classrooms. They got an opportunity to feel and look at patu (club), poi
(a light ball on a string of varying length which is swung or twirled rhythmically to sung accompaniment) and woven harakeke (flax) putiputi (flowers).
At the end of the day the students were welcomed at a Powhiri by Amandeep reciting his mihi whakatau (speech of greeting) and the remaining students performed the haka pōwhiri (ceremonial dance performed to welcome visitors). The afternoon session took the form of a traditional Pōwhiri with a response by the Manuhiri and waitata. The Manuhiri were then given their Taonga to remind them of the significance of the day.

Logan supports his group of Manuhiri at they explore the carvings and he demonstrates using the poi.
The Manuhiri enter the room and Amandeep delivers the mihi whakatau.
Nuku and Adrea making the Tikis.

This term, students in Kiwi class have been learning about growing and changing. We have had discussions about things that grow, like plants and flowers. We talked about how we all grow and change.
Students have enjoyed listening to stories and poems relating to the theme. The story about the Very Hungry Caterpillar was a favourite for this term. We read a tactile book from the library.
Students explored tactile pictures, real objects and models of the caterpillar, the cocoon and the food that the caterpillar ate while listening to the story about how the caterpillar grew and changed. All the students took turns to participate in telling the story. They used switches to fill in the words from the story.
Students enjoyed listening to poems and songs while exploring tactile pictures of butterflies and caterpillars.
We also made grass caterpillars. We planted grass seeds in the egg cartons. Students took turns to water them regularly and it was interesting to watch them grow and to feel the
‘fuzzy hair’
Salvie Naidoo and Ernestine Muller

Elizabeth and Joseph have been busy with a SPEC module planning their edible summer garden and have planted out some early varieties in time for an early summer harvest.
Carlton and Amitoj’s SPEC unit is Personal Finance while Tamati and Paige are busy completing a Te Reo unit of work.
The students started two new business enterprises this term: Big Biscuits and Rubba Dub
Dub. They are learning the many skills needed to run a small business and at the same time the money they raise goes towards EOTC expenses.
Elizabeth, Joseph, Paige and Amitoj started Big Biscuits; they specialise in Afghans and
Melting Moments. Tamati and Carlton started up a second car wash business specialising in top quality results.
Everyday a student takes on a key leadership role. As Rangatira for the day they are responsible for announcing the programme and leading the class throughout the day. We have challenged ourselves to learn new kupu and short phrases when we are giving instructions or beginning and ending a lesson. Whaia Marie’s favourite phrase is “ Mahia te mahi” “Do the work”.

On Friday we went to the Auckland War Memorial Museum. There was an interactive table where a torch was used to find treasure - such a great use of an interactive surface in my opinion! At the Cook Island Maori drumming workshop we learnt that the cell phone was invented years ago – they used drums to communicate from village to village. We also had an opportunity to play the drums. It was a really cool experience and certainly entertaining! We had lunch in the Atrium. Seeing all the old things was so cool! I showed the others my relative Frank's name on the wall. He went missing in
Gallipoli 100 years ago…… Emile Secker
Kia ora all. This term the Kickstart group went to Butterfly Creek for one of our outings. While there, we came across a variety of different animals from deadly crocodiles all the way through to the beautiful butterflies. All in all we really enjoyed it.
Ngarangi Burton
Friday outing was so fun! To be honest, I didn’t think it would be as fun as it was. The
Butterfly House was hot but it was so beautiful. I was holding a butterfly that stayed with me for most of the time I was in there. It was so amazing I just wanted to bring it home with me! Then we went to see the crocodiles and man they were ugly. There wasn’t much to look at. All they did was turn from side to side. The bugs were ugly too. I couldn’t stand looking at them even through the glass. I felt squeamish. We watched the crocodile get fed, that was cool as it made the weirdest noises and jumped high to get food.
Seirosa Akeimo

Our big adventure for this term was the recent trip to Rangitoto Island. It was an extra early start to the day with students getting up at 5am, breakfast, organised and out the door by
6am ready to catch the train into the city. From there we caught the early bird ferry for the
30 minute trip across the Waitamata Harbour to Rangitoto. Then the long climb and the many steps to the top!
Students enjoyed the sound of the native birdsong, the peace and quiet. After having morning tea at the top we then started the descent, a lot easier than the climb up. We had lunch and had time to explore around the jetty area while we waited for the 2.30pm ferry to take us back to the city. There were some tired people on the train trip back to Homai.
Below are the students’ reviews of their Rangitoto experience.
Michael Going up Rangitoto, I never expected it to be as hard as it was. It was a long and hard climb but I really enjoyed it. I was glad I made it to the top, I never thought I could really do it.

James It was hard getting up at 5am but really good to see the sunrise when we were on the train. We got a good view of Rangitoto from the ferry. I didn’t realise how huge Rangitoto was until we landed there. I had flown over Rangitoto in a helicopter earlier this year and it had looked a lot smaller then. Overall it was a good use of a day
Ko Paige toku ingoa ahau. This term, Nikau students went out to Rangitoto Island. We had to get up at 5am. I was happy that I was going to Rangitoto for my very first time. I remember when I got onto the ferry Nichole said to me, that if she needed to be sick, she would spew in my hat!! I said back to Nichole, keep dreaming! When we eventually got climbing up
Rangitoto, I did not believe how far it would be until I saw the top of Rangitoto from the bottom. I was so excited that I was going up Rangitoto, no matter what! Not even half way up, I kept moaning and moaning, when are we ever going to get there?! I kept sitting down, moaning that I don't want to go any further. Chris said we can turn around if you want, I said no; I'll keep going. Eventually when I got up to the top, I was exhausted. It looked so beautiful up the top. On the way down I did the same thing that I did on the way up - moaned and moaned and moaned! That day it honestly felt like summer was finally here. I'm so happy about my achievement.
Carlton It was awesome as. The boat trip was my least favourite part
– I hate boats but I loved the challenge of the walk up to the top of Rangitoto. I really enjoyed it. I would love to go back. I would definitely go back.