Our Visit to Mr Edward's Class

On Monday during lunchtime, Féline looked out the window and said “Oh look there is Mr Edwards”. The other girls became very interested but it wasn’t until Zoe asked “Who is Mr Edwards?” that we were reminded that not all the girls knew him. A wonderful conversation followed. “He fixes our TV” said Féline “and the computer” offered Tess. “He is a Judge, and comes to judge our pizza” said Jacqui.

The girls wondered where his classroom was and they were keen to visit him.

They decided that they would write Mr Edwards an email to ask if they could visit him and his class and if he could tell them where his classroom was.

He replied with a very warm welcome to them, and provided clues for them to follow to find the classroom. The girls set off for their adventure. “It’s like a treasure map” said Féline.

When the girls arrived at the classroom, they were warmly invited in to meet the girls and look around. The year 6 girls were very pleased to see them and asked them if they would like to draw pictures, read books and admire their pet turtle in its aquarium. It was lovely to see how the older girls made the Foundation girls feel so welcome in their classroom.

When the girls got back to class, they were talking about their new friends in Year 6. It was so lovely to hear this and you could feel the Dio spirit in action!  

 Creating a sense of belonging as a member of the Dio community is an important aspect of starting school. In the Foundation Class, the girls become connected to the older girls very quickly. Sisters, buddies and ‘old girls’ are always keen to pop in to see their young friends. The girls’ relationships with other teachers are also fostered.

Conversations about the Wind

Today at morning meeting we had a really interesting conversation that became an important catalyst for explorations up on the mountain today. We wanted to share it with you. Not all the girls joined in the conversation, but they were all really interested in what was being discussed.

 "I wonder what we will find up on the mountain today? Do you think the fire will be still there?" asked Mrs Lambert (the fire that someone made has been a wonderful inspiration 

for play and stories for many weeks now).

"The fire might be gone down 'cause sticks are stronger than the wind you know. The fire has been standing there for more than 2 days!" Féline

"Wind is stronger than trees. The leaves can fall down. When the leaves falls down that's when the trees are stronger than the wind". Tess

"Trees are stronger than the wind but sticks are not as strong as wind". Zoe

"When all the leaves fall down the people brush the leaves away 'cause they don't want them". Féline

"They are supposed to fall down - the colour turns brown - then they change from green". Zoe

"Why do you think the leaves fall down?" Mrs Lambert asked

"They are just supposed to. That's just what happens." Zoe

"Maybe when the leaves are falling down they cover the doors and you can't come out to play. 

That wouldn't be good would it?" Féline

"They fall off the trees 'cause they are cheeky! They climb into my bedroom. 

They are just so cheeky!" Olivia 

"I think the leaves are stronger than the wind. The flowers and leaves fall down. 

That's because they are strong. Houses are stronger and trees are stronger too. 

Yes flowers and leaves are stronger you know". Tess

"I think whichever is the heaviest is the strongest. Trees are very heavy so they are strong. Sticks are not so heavy so they are not so strong". Zoe

"The wind is stronger than the houses. It can blow the houses down". Féline

"The ground is strong but not the flowers, they are not strong enough... they just fall down". Tess

On our walk up to Mt St John the girls continued discussing their theories about the strength of the wind. When they came across a hedge of beautiful white Camelia flowers they noticed that it's leaves were all over the path. After some conversation Tess looked at me with a little smile and said "the wind is stronger than the flowers I think".  Then the girls came across leaves 

on the ground and Tess said 

"I think the green leaves are stronger than the brown leaves because the 

wind has blown the brown leaves down". 

The girls were so excited when they went through the gate and saw that the sticks of the fire had all fallen down. They were all talking at once about the wind being stronger than the sticks and they

took off at speed running down to the fire.

When we were walking around the crater, the wind was very strong and the girls were testing out whether their bodies were stronger than the wind.

What a wonderful morning we had and we can see the possibilities of where these 

rich conversations may go.

We were astonished at how well the girls managed the steep slopes today. We

ventured to a new part of the mountain and they led the way.

Although there were a few comments about it being too hard, they all soldiered 

on showing great persistence.

Kairavi and Olivia were the most hesitant to start with but their faces

just shone with pride when they got to the bottom or top of a slope they were climbing on.

The girls aren't the only ones who will sleep well tonight!

Our Visit to the Art Studio

We have all come home tired and happy after our very successful visit to Filipe's art studio. 

There were so many interesting sculptures to look, feel and learn about. Filipe was a wonderful teacher and at times when the girls were involved in hands on exploration of the sculptures, the adults were listening to all his stories that weave such a rich tapestry of the sculptures. 

We are so grateful for all the time that Filipe and Hillary put into our visit. The wonderful 

morning tea was so appreciated by us all.

Thank you SO MUCH!

We then visited Filipe's sculpture that is

outside the Onehunga Library

What a perfect day for a picnic lunch at Cornwall Park,

for meeting friendly dogs and their owners...

...playing in the woods, climbing trees and collecting sticks and treasures,

... and feeding the sheep was an unexpected highlight!

Many thanks to Rosie and Martha who joined us. Without your help

our trip wouldn't have been possible.