Enviro Warriors @ Makaraka

Tawhirimatea and Tanemahuta went to the Enviro Centre.   We had a great time and learnt heaps about how to do our bit for the environment. 

We had 6 workshops with 3 teachers, Kauri, Kirsty and Steph. 

In the morning we participated in: 

• Gizzy Kai rescuea -  team of volunteers who reuse kai from supermarkets to give to the needy. 
• 6 R's - Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Replace, Rot - which order do they go in for the environment?
• Mara Kai goodness - Grow delicious veges for your dinner! 

After morning tea in the beautiful Mara Kai garden we had 3 more workshops: 

• Beeswax wrappers - How to make them.
• No Waste Lunchboxes - How many pieces of rubbish are in each lunchbox? 
• Enviro friendly school events - What is harmful and how to have fun for the environment! 

Call in to the enviro centre any time to buy eco products and also recycle some difficult item like tooth brushes, pens etc.  You can also make more bees wax wrappers and learn about all the things mentioned above!  

A great resource for Gizzy! 

Folk Dancing - food for the soul!

Last week we began a folk dancing unit for Friday Programme. We are very lucky to have an expert come in and work with us! Jane is very passionate about teaching and dancing with many different culture's music! 

Why folk dancing you may be thinking?  

Well let me tell you what it can offer. Folk dance is exactly what it says, dance from the folk or people of the country it is from. These dances tell the story of their cultures and offer a way of being and having fun socially. This type of dance is how people socialise and connect with one another in an everyday setting. All cultures have their own form of dance in this way and by learning some of the dances we are connecting in a multi-cultural way! 

 We connect with each other using music, holding hands and making eye contact. By sharing together in this way we are celebrating what it is to be human! Musically these dances follow a steady rhythm and beat and teach us how to listen for patterns and count! By being in tune with these sorts of things we are training our brains to be more connected across the mathematical, creative and physical side! 

So basically - why wouldn't you?! 

 Here are the dances we learnt last week, different year levels learnt different ones so have a look at each other's dances too!

 

Abandoned - the story of the found puppies...

In the early morning dawn I ran along the dunes of the beach.  I do this most mornings.  This morning vaguely made out a mewling sound in the long grass.  Rustling in the breeze was a plastic rubbish sack.  Cautiously I walked over to the sack.  As I approached I could see movement inside it.  Weak movement.  Slight bumps pushing out of the plastic in many directions.  Soft cries came from within the sack almost sounding weaker and weaker.  

Carefully I opened the sack pulling the cords apart.  Oh no, not again.  Anger coursed through me in waves!

Who did this? Why? How can we stop this?

Never fear Tawhirimatea's new mission is to help with this problem! Check out our blogs for the rest of the story.