Our lovely Prisha turned 9 on the last day of the school holidays! She kindly invited everyone to her birthday and everyone who went had a fabulous time. Prisha was also kind enough to share a whole bag of treats with the class! There are so many treats that the tamariki will enjoy them for the rest of the term – Ngā mihi nui to Prisha and her lovely whānau for thinking of our class.
We love seeing kids discover the joy of reading — not just for learning, but for fun! That’s why we borrow books from the National Library to bring fresh, exciting stories into our classrooms.
When children read for pleasure, it helps them grow in so many ways. It builds confidence, boosts their language skills, sparks imagination, and even helps them better understand others. Whether it’s a favourite series, a graphic novel, or a non-fiction book about something they love — it all counts!
With the National Library’s support, we can offer a variety of books that inspire children to read just because they enjoy it. And when kids enjoy reading, they’re more likely to become strong, lifelong readers.
We’d love your support — talk about books at home, read together, or simply encourage your child to pick up a story they enjoy. Because reading for pleasure really is a gift that lasts a lifetime.
Last Friday our school celebrated Matariki alongside Awanui School, Waihārara School, Pukenui School, Ngataki School, Te Hapua School, and Te Kura o Te Kao. It was a wonderful day which reflected each of our Paparore School Values of Porihanga, Rereketanga, Hiranga, Ngakau and Kaitiakitanga! Our whānau came to celebrate with us and it was so fantastic to watch each of the kura stand proud and passionate during their performances. We finished the day with a delicious hāngī. A huge thank-you to Awanui School for hosting this year’s Matariki Festival. We can hardly wait for next year.
Mānawatia a Matariki!
Check out Simeon’s writing:
Last Friday we had a performance at Awanui School. Our school’s performance was second to last. It was so good, there was such a big crowd. My dad and my mum were there. I was in the front with the big boys when we did the haka. I had to be in the middle of my line because I am one of the leaders in the haka. I was proud to let my voice out for my family to hear. I was so proud to be one of the leaders in the front. I was standing up straight and as proud as can be. I love performing the haka and doing a pukana!
Logan and Kylo turned 8 today!!! The class were treated to delicious cakes and lollipops – YUMMO.
Ngā mihi nui to Logan and Kylo and their lovely whānau for the special sweet treats….
What a way to finish our ANZAC Day learning journey! Today our class stepped back in time to experience what it might have been like to eat like a soldier in World War 1.
On the menu:
🥣 Bully beef stew – today it was bully beef, onions and a little soy sauce.
🥖 Hardtack (just like the old-school army biscuit!) – recipe at the bottom of the post
🍪 ANZAC biscuits (the sweet ones we all know and love) – recipe at the bottom of the post
First up was the bully beef stew—a tin of corned beef turned into a hearty dish. While some wrinkled their noses at first, a few brave tamariki gave it a go… and were surprised at how much they liked it! Some even asked for seconds (and thirds!)
The hardtack was very tasty and enjoyed by many! We learnt that ANZAC soldiers would sometimes soak it in tea to make it softer. We didn’t have tea today but some tried their hard tack with a little jam which was very tasty!
Finally, the students had an ANZAC biscuit—golden, very sweet, and crunchy. These are very different from the hard, dry original army biscuits.
These were some of the words they used to respond to their eating experience;
Be honest, thumbs up or thumbs down?
The students asked for the recipes for Hard Tack and the ANZAC biscuits so here they are:
Hardtack Recipe ( I doubled the recipe for the class)
2 Cups – All Purpose Flour – Do not use self-rising flour
3/4 Cup – Water
I didn’t cook ours for too long as did not want them to be too hard. They were softish but firm.
Edmonds ANZAC Biscuits – I quadrupled the recipe for our class
The tamariki explored a fun and creative way to write a piece of poetry. The exemplar provided an excellent scaffold for students to reflect on and share memories from their holidays. We began by reading an example of the poem and discussing how its rhythm, repetition, and simple sentences help to paint a picture of personal experiences.
From there, each student planned and wrote their own version of That Was My Holiday, capturing the moments that stood out for them — whether it was whānau time, outdoor adventures, or hanging out at home.
The next step was publishing, and this is where they were able to use their creativity!
Using Google Drawings, students learnt how to;
Learning these tools takes time, but it’s always worth it. There’s a lot of clicking, experimenting, and sometimes undoing — but they stuck with it. Tau ana, tamariki mā!
There are 5 more to be completed – watch this space!
As part of our ANZAC Day learning, our class explored the importance of remembering those who served in WWI and WWII and learning about whānau who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces. Students were encouraged to talk with their whānau about relatives who took part in the wars, and many brought in taonga to share, such as photos, medals, and special family stories. It was a meaningful way to connect with our history, honour the courage and sacrifice of those who served, and reflect on the legacy they’ve left behind. We felt proud to learn more about our whānau and remember them together as a class.
Click on the link to check out our ANZAC Day learning.
This is Kyle’s great, great, great uncle Cyril Royston Guyton Bassett. He was a New Zealand recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC), the highest award for gallantry “in the face of the enemy” that could be awarded to British and Empire forces at the time. He served in WWI and WWII and there is a lookout in Auckland named after him.
Pink Shirt Day is an important day to spread aroha and kindness and end bullying! On Pink Shirt Day we wear pink to stand together against bullying and show kindness to everyone. It is important for everyone to treat others with respect, celebrate differences, and create a safe, inclusive environment! By wearing pink today, we show that we care about each other’s well-being and are proud to stand up for each other!
Support Staff Day is a special time to thank the amazing people who help our school run smoothly every day. In our class, we are especially grateful for Whaea Darlene, our wonderful teacher aide. She supports us in so many ways—helping with our learning, encouraging us when things get tricky, and always showing kindness and patience. We appreciate everything she does to make our classroom a better place, and we want to say a big thank you for all her hard work and aroha. Ngā mihi nui, Whaea Darlene!
This week we celebrated New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) Week with a special visit from Billie-Jean and Leah from Te Puawai. They taught us how to sign the alphabet and how to introduce ourselves by saying, “My name is…” and signing our name. Everyone had a turn sharing their name with the class—it was fabulous! We also began learning how to sign the Duffy Song and our kai karakia. What an awesome way to celebrate one of Aotearoa’s official languages!
Click on the link to our class site to learn more about NZSL
