Matariki Interactive

Give it a try and see if you can find Matariki.

Click Here!

Matariki Art Ideas

Picasso Who?

Yesterday we researched who Picasso was and found out some pretty interesting stuff. Some of our our students created presentations of their information which we will update this post  with later.

If you would like to create your on Picasso masterpiece you can follow the link below.
Create your own Picasso by clicking here!

After having a go at this we will create our own Pastel Picasso Masterpieces like these below.

Weekend Recounts @ Glory

The kids went to Glory Cottage. When we were there Ryan did a wee on all the boys. He thought it was funny.

By Paige

In the weekend I went to Glory. Almost everyone at Pitt was there. It was so much fun. We played Hide and Seek in Glory Cottage. Ryan had a really good hiding spot. It was up the stairs on a chair facing the wall.

By Mark

The school went to the cottage at Glory on Saturday. We had lots of fun there. We were roasting marshmallows and my one was yuk because it was over cooked.

By Peace

On Saturday we Glory and I got two of my own paua. We roasted marshmallows. My first ones weren’t burnt and the second time I forgot to cook them. Then we went to play in the red Glory Cottage. We played Hide and Seek and it was very fun. Then we mustered the sheep. I fell off the back of the quad and rolled on the ground which was funny. After that we went to Mark’s house and we played Blind Man’s Bluff.

By Olli

The whole school went to Glory Cottage. At the cottage there is a big black and green old anchor. We got our photo on it.

By Thomas

On Saturday morning all the school and some of the adults had a bbq at Glory. The sun was glistening on the water as we collected paua, but the paua were stubborn because it was almost high tide. The Glory Cottage was right next to the camp so all the children played Hide and Go Seek. All of a sudden the floor creaked as everyone was hiding while being quiet and the door opened and I got found straight away. After that Ryan, Rueben and I went upstairs and we played a game while we were playing a game. We finally finished the game and had a delicious lunch. Then most of us moved the sheep and that took a very long time.

By Brooke

On Saturday morning I got bit by a snake with arms and legs at Glory. I yelled in laughter but it didn’t hurt. Its teeth were like and paper with thousands of tiny grippy sand paper like teeth. After that we went into the red cottage again and played Hide “n” Seek. I just sat on the seat right next to the door and I think Olli didn’t see me. If he didn’t see me then he must be dumb, but anyway after that we went back and had burgers. Then we roasted marshmallows above the hot active fire. I was catching my marshmallow on fire. Rueben was roasting his ones on mine because mine were on fire and Olli was by far the best at cooking them.

By Ryan

In the weekend Nana and I watched my mum leave on the Gun Island aka Rokas boat. After my mum had left I got to drive Nana’s quadbike and my thumb began too throb! By the time we got to Bluff my thumb was totally numb. After lunch we had to clean because my mum and my uncles had left it in such a horrible state. The oven wasn’t even working so Nana had to pull it to bits.

By Rueben  

Build your own hangi

Click on this link!

Give it a go and see if you can get the hangi cooked in time for the birthday.

Traditional Maori Instruments In Action

Glory Cottage by Thomas

The whole school went to Glory Cottage. At the cottage there is a big black and green old anchor. We got our photo on it. 
By Thomas

Matariki Food

Matariki Music

Matariki Intoduction

What Goals Do You Have?

What would you like to know more about?
What would you love to be able to do?
Where would you love to visit?
What would you like to get better at?

Some goals are big and some goals are small.
Some goals may may take a short time to achieve and some goals may take a long time.

What will I need to do or learn to achieve my goals?

Who could help me with my goals?

Moriori Design

Koru and Maori Design

Some Important Designs

“The koru pattern is the most recognisable shape in the Maori design.” 

“KIORI (turning back on self): This arrangement is the most popular and makes the design instantly recognisable as being Maori.”

“MANGOPARE (Hammerhead Shark): this pattern is a popular main beam pattern in a meeting house as it shows the strength of a tribe.” 

“NGUTU KAKA [NB C]: This pattern was probably an extension of the spiral pattern also. However the name suggests the beak of a kaka as its form. Another design Kowhai Ngutu kaka refers to the red kaka beak plant.” 

Time ,,,, Can you make me?

Here is a simple clock to practice making times with. Try making some half past and o'clock times.

Click Here

Hickory Dickory Clock

Hickory Dickory Clock

Feed the mouse by reading the analogue clocks. If you get it wrong the cat will be after you!

Click Here

Objective: 
To read an analogue clock, including half past, quarter to and quarter past.

The stars of Matariki / Ngā whetu o Matariki

If you would like to make flax stars please follow the link below.

For flax stars click here!

I Have to Write a Poem

I Have to Write a Poem

I have to write a poem but I really don't know how. So maybe I'll just make a rhyme with something dumb, like "cow."   Okay, I'll write about a cow, but that's so commonplace. I think I'll have to make her be... a cow from outer space!   My cow will need a helmet and a space suit and a ship. Of course, she'll keep a blaster in the holster on her hip.   She'll hurtle through the galaxy on meteoric flights to battle monkey aliens in huge karate fights.   She'll duel with laser sabers while avoiding lava spray to vanquish evil emperors and always save the day.   I hope the teacher likes my tale, "Amazing Astro Cow." Yes, that's the poem I will write as soon as I learn how. --Kenn Nesbitt

Matariki Poetry

Clues to modifying our Porotiti

I wonder if anything in this video might help us with getting more sound out of our porotiti?

Simple Paper Kites

Give it a try and see if they fly! We made these for Matariki.

Click on this link!

The Black Robin - A Chatham Island Story

Wow this is pretty neat.

Just Dance The Gummy Bear

Where on Pitt is this?

Musical Instruments

These are some of the musical instruments that we could remember:

Trumpet: Paige
Ukulele: Brooke
Tuba: Ryan
Harp: Rueben
Guitar: Mark
Pürerehua (Bull roarer); Olli
Piano: Peace
Drums; Ryan
Flute; Brooke
Cello: Rueben
Electric guitar: Paige
Keyboard: Peace
Tambourine: Mark
Organ: Olli
Violin: Brooke
Beat boxing (voice);Ryan

Bang on Time

This is a neat little activity to help teach reading time.

Click here!

Does the sun move?

How do we get day and night?
What about the seasons?

This video might help explain it and you could even recreate it for yourself!

What bug have you got?

What Bug!

Click on the link above if you would like to find out about a bug you have found.

Watch Me

The Fox

That Power

Pitt Island's in the News

Former Pitt Island nurse inspires granddaughter to become a doctor

Tuesday 24 May 2016, 2:21PM

Tara Millar’s grandmother was the nurse on Pitt Island for decades and inspired the young woman to become a doctor.

Ms Millar spent part of her childhood living on the island and says her grandmother, Eva Lanauze, was often the only health professional on the island.

“People would go to her for everything – she was the doctor, dentist and nurse.”

Mrs Lanauze was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal in 1989 for her services to the Pitt Island community in the Chatham Islands.

Pegasus awards 21 scholarships to health students

She would no doubt be proud of Ms Millar, currently a fifth-year medical student at the University of Otago’s Christchurch School of Medicine who has just received a Pegasus Health scholarship.

Pegasus awarded 21 scholarships to health students from Maori, Pacific and migrant and refugee backgrounds last week.

Ms Millar’s iwi affiliations are with Ngati Mutunga, Te Ati Awa, Ngai Tahu and Moriori.

Missed third-year exam because giving birth

Ms Millar was always interested in becoming a doctor, but after graduating from Canterbury University with a Bachelor of Science, she worked in a food laboratory.

While working in the lab, she did further postgraduate studies gaining a postgraduate diploma in microbiology, before applying for medical school.

Ms Millar says she is grateful for the scholarship as her family’s main source of income is the student allowance while her husband, Robin, stays home to care for their four children, aged 10, nine, four and 18 months.

Challenging with children

She admits studying is often challenging with a family, especially having to shift her children from schools, but she is grateful for the support of her husband.

“I was actually pregnant during my third year and gave birth on the day of my last exam, so I missed my exam. I was able to do it two days later though – and passed.”

Pegasus has awarded the scholarships for a number of years – initially to students from Maori backgrounds. Later it was extended to Pasifika students and, in 2014, to migrant and refugee students.

This year, six scholarships were awarded to Maori students, seven to Pasifika students and a further seven to students from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

In applying for a scholarship, each of the winners had to write a 1000-word essay about their backgrounds and their reasons for pursuing a health career.

Pegasus Health marketing and communications manager, Georgina Hunter, says out of respect to the recipients Pegasus is not prepared to disclose how much the students receive.

But as well as the one-off financial contribution they are able to participate in mentoring and connection into primary care once they have graduated.

Lets dance with Han Solo

Welcome back to Pitt Island School

I am very excited about spending the next couple of weeks with you here at Pitt Island School. Olli and I can't wait to get to know you all and we are looking forward to getting to know you and learn about this very special part of New Zealand that you call home. We are going to have a great couple of weeks and I will be using this Blog to help keep a track of some of our learning and use it as a spring board to help us find the places we may need to go during our learning and expeditions. Ricky Baker may not join us but we are sure to have a cracker of a time. Please don't tell your teacher but I did get her truck stuck outside Rueben's house but luckily his uncles came to my rescue. Shhhhhhh!