Springfire
Celebration of Learning ....... Gifted and Talented Students at RNIS
Thursday 12 August 2021
Brain Busters Update
Last term, twenty-four students took part in the 'Brain Busters' programme at Rāroa.
The programme presented the students with an open-ended challenge to solve creatively and critically: We no longer have letter U in our spoken or written language. In teams of 6, you have to create a 10 minute presentation on why the letter U has gone, why it should be retrieved, and how. You will include a conflict, a resolution and a sense of U’s character during your presentation.
The students had 6 weeks to complete the challenge which also required that many complex criteria be met, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, no help, advice or feedback could be given to the students by anyone, staff included. The finale was an evening where the Brain Busters shared their solution to the challenge with judges, family and friends in a dramatic form.Congratulations to the students for their time management, focus and openness to develop many new skills over the term: Soumya Tyagi, Lucy Simmonds, Evie Heath, Nina Ross, Zoe Cursons, Jasper White, Lincey Jiang, Madeleine Caylor, Ruby Easton-Smith, Iris Polaschek, Frederick Wragg, Francesca Layburn, Ezra Shaw, Jasmine Harvey, Oliver Stacey, Jack Podmore, Ivy Guo, Luca Lavigne, Miki Inoue-Palmer, Mitchell Jenkins, Theo Verkade, Valeria Kostynchuk, Thisaja Ariyasinghe and Bee Tran.
Huge thanks to our judges: staff member Jimmy Steele, and Year 11 Onslow students Alex Hay & Louis Reynolds (pictured below). A few of the students' reflections on their learning are below:
- We showed and further developed our skill of collaboration. We did this by starting out as pretty much strangers to each other. After a couple sessions of spending time together, we became somewhat friends, and better-yet, true teammates. Sharing our ideas and opinions, we worked together and improved from it.
- One other skill we used is creativity. In fact, it was a crucial part to make our plan work. We came up with ideas, built off those ideas, then improved them even more! Each and every thought was amazing and original.
- I improved my confidence throughout by sharing my ideas
- I had to work outside my comfort zone a lot during this experience. This has helped to develop my courage.
- Being in Brain Busters has definitely helped my problem solving and critical thinking skills because it brought up a lot of challenges that I had to solve.
- Sometimes my curiosity definitely took over as well and it really helped when exploring the aspect of an idea.
- I certainly asked lots of questions and explored all of the parts of a problem. I asked around all the flaws and errors, and tried to improve them.
We also had to develop our teamwork skills as we hit a few roadblocks during the idea planning phase.
We developed the major skills of initiative and independence because we had to keep track of where we were at and take initiative to finish something in our own time. As well as timekeeping as we had to keep track of where we were and where we needed to be
Saturday 17 July 2021
Ext(reme) Writing: Timetable changes for Term 3
Please note that there are some time changes for some teams. This is because Motuhake and then Manawanui have a Monday afternoon DPE Inquiry programme at some point in Term 3.
So here are the times for Term 3:
Block 2 Mohio, Manawanui & Motuhake,
Block 3 Whai Wahi & Whakaute
Stay Dry!!
Hope you are all having a dry and interesting holiday break.
There will be a few changes to the timetable so there will be an updated version put up here before Term 3 starts.
Saturday 12 June 2021
New times for Ext(reme) Writing for the rest of the term
Please note that there are some time changes for some teams. This is because Whakaute has a full day at the DPE Inquiry programme on Mondays for the rest of the term. So here are the times for the rest of this term:
Block 2 is now Whai Wahi & Mohio
Block 3 is now Manawanui & Motuhake
Photography Competition - closes 30 June
You need to choose an emotive word to support the theme of Thriving as Gifted. Then take a picture that illustrates this word.
Go here for more information.
NZ Writing Competition - Closes 30 Jun
NZ Competition - write one sentence competition:
You need to write one sentence that supports the theme of Thriving as Gifted, or life as a gifted person. Go here for more information
It is harder than it looks! But check some of these out...
Sometimes I don't wanna go back.
Worked and chiseled but still imperfect.
Dreams tightly held, even when broken.
Change is always a breath away, we will get there.
Send your entries to Tinyurl.com/GAWwritingcomp Closes 30 June
Friday 21 May 2021
That's Interesting...
You’ve seen glasses filled with water played as a musical instrument? Here’s a glass played in a sink of water!
Watch till the end....
Wednesday 12 May 2021
Thursday 29 April 2021
Welcome Back to Term 2!
I hope you have all had a refreshing break and are looking forward to catching up with each other again.
A few changes in timetable coming up; here is the one with the usual times...
Please note:
- Mathletes Whai Wahi - a change to Monday Block 1
- Manawanui Philosophy - also doing some Springfire learning (more info later)
- Ext(reme) Writers - 2 classes this term
- Whai Wahi & Mohio - Block 2 Mondays
- Manawanui, Motuhake & Whkaute - Block 3 Mondays
- Brain Busters is starting in 2 groups (see above)
Monday 12 April 2021
Brain Busters Squad Announced
Meet Mrs Dunn Thursday Block 2 this week | Meet Mrs Dunn Wednesday Block 2 this week | |||
Soumya | 1 | Ezra S | 11 | |
Lucy S | 2 | Jasmine H | 14 | |
Evie H | 2 | Oliver S | 17 | |
Nina R | 2 | Jack P | 17 | |
Zoe C | 5 | Ivy G | 14 | |
Jasper W | 5 | Luca | 21 | |
Lincey J | 5 | Miki | 22 | |
Madeleine C | 6 | Mitchell J | 23 | |
Ruby | 6 | Theo V | 23 | |
Iris P | 6 | Valeria K | 24 | |
Freddy W | 7 | Thisaja | 23 | |
Francesca | 8 | Bee Tran | 23 |
Monday 5 April 2021
Writing/Art Comps and Submissions closing...
Just a reminder...
- Beyond, Beneath, Below Competition closes this Friday (9 April
- Toitoi submissions for Art and Writing must be in on the last day of term
Monday 29 March 2021
Home Learning: Philosophy (Manwanui) before 12 April
Driverless cars
Sunday 21 March 2021
Friday 19 March 2021
Brain Busters: First Trial on MONDAY
Those students who showed interest in trialling for Brain Busters, please come to Learning Support Room at lunch morning tea on Tuesday Monday for the first trial.
Sorry about the change - I forgot I was on duty on Tuesday
Photographer Extraordinaire!
Photographer, Australian Ray Collins shares incredible photographs of waves in various stages of crashing.
Our planet is AMAZING! Check them out in the link above.
As an extra, Ray is colour-blind so light, water and contrast are central to his photography.
Tuesday 16 March 2021
Springfire Video
This video promoted a lot of in-depth discussion today
at Springfire regarding common misunderstandings.
Sunday 14 March 2021
Philosophy: Manawanui - Prep for Week 7
What is real/not real?
Is ignorance bliss?
Watch this video...
- How can we know if something is real or not?
- How is it possible that people can believe in illusion and accept it as reality? And why?
Friday 12 March 2021
Tournament of Minds Meeting on Monday 15 March
Anyone who is interested in finding out about the Tournament of Minds programme in 2021 needs to come to a meeting in the Learning Support Room at morning tea on Monday. If you can't make the meeting, please email Mrs Dunn as soon as possible.
Any students who have done Tournament of Minds before are welcome, as are any students who are involved in any of the Extension programmes.
Come and find out what it is all about!!!
Mathletes Home Learning for Term 1
Now that Overnighters are the Mathletes, activities for Home Learning will begin. These will be explained in class before you start them.
In your Mathletes Student Folder in your Drive, are four activities to be done over the next 5 weeks of Term 1. Copy the document and share it with Mrs Dunn.
These activities are in preparation for your learning in class.
See or email Mrs Dunn if you have any questions.
Monday 8 March 2021
Love Chess? Wanna learn Chess?
If you feel like a game, come to the Learning Support Room Monday lunchtimes.
We just started this week!
Mathletes: Home Learning - Whai Wahi and Whakaute
Now that Overnighters are behind Whai Wahi and Whakaute, activities for Home Learning will begin.
In your Mathletes Student Folder in your Drive, are four activities to be done over the next 5 weeks of Term 1. Copy the document and share with Mrs Dunn.
These activities are in preparation for your learning in class.
See or email Mrs Dunn if you have any questions.
Sunday 7 March 2021
Ext(reme) Writing: Home Learning Week 5
Complete the publication of your Opposite Day poem and Abstract Noun poem. The presentations for those can be found in the EW: Student Stuff folder that has been shared with you.
Saturday 6 March 2021
PhiEd@Raroa
Philosophy Education group will be starting up this week - beginning with students from Manawanui.
Taking Action for Well-being:
PhiEd (Philosophy Education)
Phi-Ed Raroa
Philosophy education promotes critical thinking, insightful questioning, reasoned argument, metacognitive reflection and problem-solving skills, as well as improving students’ social competence and self-management.