Students From Lifou, New Caledonia visit Balmoral!!

This morning we welcomed 3 teachers and 11 students from Laura Boula School in Lifou, New Caledonia to Balmoral. Even though the weather wasn't playing nice, our school band performed and we received some gifts from our new friends. I am sure they will have a great time visiting Balmoral and New Zealand.

So, what is the importance of cultural exchanges between schools? Write a comment and share your thoughts!

R Rates Movies And Songs With Inappropriate Content.... What's The Big Deal??!!

Hi Team,

So what is the big deal? We are gonna be old enough to watch and listen to them eventually so why does it matter when.... Censorship.
Often in the media you hear about people who behave in a certain way based on what they see at the movies or on TV and what they hear through lyrics of songs. Mainly it is a result of excessive violence and bad language. But if it doesn't affect you does it matter how it affects others?

Post a thoughtful comment about your views on this issue. If you don't care too much and think you're cool for doing these things all the time that is fine but think about the bigger picture...

Mayor Len Brown visits Balmoral

This week we were lucky to have Len Brown visit our school to talk about the "Tick For Kids" campaign. He spoke to us about kids being a very important part of society. After he spoke he met with a small group to discuss issues that affect kids living in Central Auckland. 

Post a comment about the visit or leave a question that you may have had for Len or a concern about Auckland City. The photo above is of Seamus and Len having a stare off:-)

Ch..Ch..Ch..Ch..Ch..Chopper Challenge!!!

Hi team,

It's nearly time for the Chopper Challenge and so you all need to get online and register!
Click on the link below to register and have a good look around the website. Remember this is one of our charities for the year and also a great way to get fit!
http://support.arht.org.nz/bal-pri  

A WRINKLE IN TIME

Madeleine L'Engle

Summary

A Wrinkle in Time is the story of Meg Murry, a high-school-aged girl who is transported on an adventure through time and space with her younger brother Charles Wallace and her friend Calvin O'Keefe to rescue her father, a gifted scientist, from the evil forces that hold him prisoner on another planet. At the beginning of the book, Meg is a homely, awkward, but loving girl, troubled by personal insecurities and her concern for her father, who has been missing for over a year. The plot begins with the arrival of Mrs. Whatsit at the Murry house on a dark and stormy evening. Although she looks like an eccentric tramp, she is actually a celestial creature with the ability to read Meg's thoughts. She startles Meg's mother by reassuring her of the existence of a tesseract--a sort of "wrinkle" in space and time. It is through this wrinkle that Meg and her companions will travel through the fifth dimension in search of Mr. Murry.

On the afternoon following Mrs. Whatsit's visit, Meg and Charles Wallace walk over to Mrs. Whatsit's cabin. On the way, they meet Calvin O'Keefe, a popular boy in Meg's school whom Charles considers a kindred spirit. The three children learn from Mrs. Whatsit and her friends Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which that the universe is threatened by a great evil called the Dark Thing and taking the form of a giant cloud, engulfing the stars around it. Several planets have already succumbed to this evil force, including Camazotz, the planet on which Mr. Murry is imprisoned.

The three Mrs. W's transport the children to Camazotz and instruct them to remain always in each other's company while on their quest for Mr. Murry. On Camazotz, all objects and places appear exactly alike because the whole planet must conform to the terrifying rhythmic pulsation of IT, a giant disembodied brain. Charles Wallace tries to fight IT with his exceptional intelligence but is overpowered by the evil and becomes a robot-like creature mouthing the words with which IT infuses him. Under the control of IT, Charles leads Meg and Calvin to Mr. Murry and together they confront IT. However, they, too, are unable to withstand IT's power; they escape only at the last minute, when Mr. Murry appears and seizes Meg and Calvin, "tessering" away with them (traveling via another tesseract) to a gray planet called Ixchel inhabited by tall, furry beasts who care for the travelers. Charles Wallace remains possessed by IT, a prisoner of Camazotz.

On Planet Ixchel the three Mrs. W's appear once again, and Meg realizes that she must travel alone back to Camazotz to rescue her brother. Mrs. Which tells her that she has one thing that IT does not have, and this will be her weapon against the evil. However, Meg must discover this weapon for herself. When standing in the presence of IT, Meg realizes what this is: her ability to love. Thus, by concentrating on her love for Charles Wallace, she is able to restore him to his true identity. Meg releases Charles from IT's clutches and tessers with him through time and space, landing in her twin brothers' vegetable garden on Earth, where her father and Calvin stand waiting. The family joyously reunites, and the Mrs. W's visit the happy scene en route to further travels.

Shinano Junior High School at Balmoral - 2013

Hi team,

So we have just had another group of students visit our school from our sister school Shinano Junior High School in Seto, Japan.

Although it was a very brief visit, we had the chance to interact with students from a very different culture and also give them an insight into the "Balmoral Way" and our Kiwi way of life.

What do you think are some of the differences between Japanese schools and New Zealand Schools?

Leave a comment:-)

Marking in the tropics!!

And.....Dance!

The Balmoral Karakia

Learning the Balmoral Karakia is an essential part of our school's history. Let's learn a bit at a time and work on the correct pronunciation. Small steps at a time people!

Karakia Te Kura o Te Roto a Rangi

Tēnei mātou te whanau
o Te Kura o Te Roto a Rangi
Here we are the community and
family of Balmoral School

Whakakahangia mātou ki te
manaaki me te tiaki i ētahi atu
Strengthen us and our ability to
respect and look after others

Whakakaūngia mātou ki ā mātou
mahi katoa kia whakapūmautia
ai ngā akoranga o tēnei rā
Help us to persist in all that we do
so that we enjoy the benefits of
our learning

Tiakina hoki tō mātou kura me
tōna taiao
Help us to work together to look
after our school community and
its environment

Tihei mauriora
Life force!

Writing Machine + Instructional Writing

Hi team,

Writing Machine activated.... now chuck in some instructional language.... what do ya get??

Even awesomer writing!!

Everyday We're Shuffling!!!!

Hi team,

Post your comments about Stepz Dance so far:-)

Brian Falkner and a girl from Room 4.75!