Market Day

Teaching Spanish

On Thursday the 19th of November some Year 8 students went to Paparoa St School to teach Spanish! This event was organised by the Spanish Leaders as their community event for Leadership.

The Spanish Leaders organised 3 different Spanish activities for the Year 3-4 students. There were 16 groups with about 12 children in each group. The first one was a circle activity where students were taught to say their names; Me llamo _____ (“My name is…”)  and how they were feeling; ¿Cómo estás? (“How are you?”) feliz (happy), emocionada

(excited) or cansada (tired). Then they did a quiz about learning Spanish and where it is spoken. Put your hands on your cabeza (head) if you want to try it below!

Spanish Facts (Cabeza or Cadera?) by ProProfs » Online test maker

The next two activities were about numeros (numbers) and colores (colours). Playing Pelota Loca (“Crazy Ball”), the students learnt the numbers 1-15. The next activity, Roba los Colores (“Rob the Colours”) the students learnt basic Spanish colores such as verde (“green”), orange (“naranja”) and red (“rojo”).

All the Year 8’s did an amazing job of teaching at the school and we are sure the Year 3 and 4s enjoyed playing the fun games and learning the words!

Prototype Day

Christchurch Schools' Music Festival

It’s been around for over 75 years, schools from all over Canterbury drive to be in it, and it features songs from around the world. Can you guess what it is? It’s the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival!

This year, Selwyn House had 6 girls in the Senior and Junior Representative Choirs, with four of them receiving Four Year Medals, which is for four years of service to the Christchurch Schools’ Music Festival’s Special Groups. Also, three girls were Comperes for the show. This meant that we would get to introduce parts of the performance, songs, and conductors, which was lots of fun!

Building up to the performance, the choirs had 11 practices together- 6 on the weekends, 3 days at a holiday course and 2 dress rehearsals. It doesn’t sound like much, which meant we had to do lots of practice at home. We all had lots of fun on the nights, with our theme of “Ring of Fire”, which showcased songs from all over the volcanic circle. Our favourite songs were probably “Here Comes the Sun/ Let it Shine” or “Slice of Heaven”, a kiwi classic.

Here’s a video with highlights from one of the three evenings.

By Hattie

FPS Nationals!

Chloe's Passion Project

Nature

 in the Spotlight

My Goal: Learn how to use Manual Mode on my camera effectively and share my photos in a creative way by creating a blog, postcards and cards.

My Purpose: I chose photography because I wanted to find out more about how to use a camera and take photos accurately. Also I wanted to share my photos and product in a creative way.

My Process:

• Research, research and research
• Create a blog, Twitter and Google +
• get a camera
• Know how to use Manual Mode on my camera
• Take hundreds of photos
• Email my expert
• Go to Photo & Video and print out my photos
• Go to Warehouse Stationery and buy cards and tape
• Print out more photos at Photo & Video
• Create my product (Postcards and cards)

Check Out my Passion Project blog: http://2015photographypp.blogspot.co.nz/

Reflection: One of my goals were how to use my camera effectively which I think I completed very well. The most important skills when meeting with my expert and mentor were, how to communicate with my expert and also time management skills when planning mentor meetings. I am so happy with my final product (postcards and cards) because people love the photos and I enjoyed making them.

Harriet's Passion Project

Pencils to Pixels

My Goal and Purpose

My goal was to independently create three run cycles using the 3D animation program Maya Autodesk and to create an accurate and descriptive documentary on the history of animation. My love for Disney and all things animated inspired my project. Art and computer science are a few of my favourite things- how better to combine them than in the form of Computer Generated animation?

My Process

• Arrange a meeting with an animator
• Download an easy to use 3D animation program
• Create 3+ run cycles
• Visit the Auckland Animation College
• Create a documentary about the history of animation

My Skills

Over this time, I have gained skills in Time Management from having to organise meetings and make sure that everything was complete by a certain deadline. In learning to use Maya Autodesk, I have gained skills in both design, and animation. I’ve learnt how to use keyframes, Move, Scale, Rotate and how to use the Graph Editor. I’m really looking forward to continuing my project, even after I’ve finished!

Have a look at my documentary below!

By Hattie C-M

Isabella's Passion Project

My Goal

My goal was to record a song and create a music video to the song. I chose this because I love to sing and make videos.

My Process

•Book a recording studio session

•Record song

•Research how to make a music video

•Film music video

•Edit video

•Upload to YouTube

Reflection

I have learnt a lot about what it takes to make a music video and I have gained skills like filming, editing, getting things done on time and many more. Passion Project has been a given me a feel of the kind of thing I would like to do when I get older and I will definitely be making more videos in the future. Overall I am very proud of my project and can’t wait to continue with my project!

Georgina's Passion Project

Lily's Passion Project

Amy's Passion Project

Jumping For the Sky

My Goal & Purpose

My goal was to be able to canter a course of jumps. I chose this goal to help my process with confidence with jumping and because jumping is something I’ve been focusing on for a while and trying to improve with my position and technique while cantering into, over and out of jumps.

My Process

1. Get confident trotting jumps
2. Get confident cantering over poles
3. Canter after a jump
4. Canter a few strides before the jumps and canter over it
5. Canter a course of jumps

Skills I’ve Learnt or Improved

I’ve learnt a lot of skills such as patience and perseverance, but some things I’ve learnt can’t be put under everyday skills. For instance, I’ve learnt how to stay on better and that is a huge skill. I’ve also learnt about how to be able to help my pony tell when to take off and to keep her from running out.

MeiMei's Passion Project

Here are two videos I made with clips I got from my Scuba Trips, Enjoy!

-MeiMei

Annabelle's Passion Project

Click here to see some more pictures

Amelia's Passion Project

Photogenic Blossoms

Goal/Purpose: My goal was to make 10 small stacking blocks to give away and 1 whole set to keep. I chose to do photography so I could see the different perspectives of photos and find out how much effort it  takes to take a perfectly focused photo.

The Process:

1. Choose my Photography Theme
2. Get a camera
3. Learn how to use my camera
4. Take lots of photos
5. Choose my product
6. Build My Product                                                                                     
7. Plan out my presentation
8. Present

Reflection: I am very proud of my photography skills that have developed over the year and also the blocks I made that turned out perfect. I found it difficult to hold my camera still without a tripod, so I would usually try to balance my camera on my knee or on the ground. If I were to do photography again I would most likely take a wider range of photos instead of just flowers. Passion Project has been such a great experience that I am just so glad it is compulsory as it teaches you how to organise yourself, do things yourself and of course think for yourself.

Amelia Adriaens

Isabel's Passion Project

Bell’s Bubbles

My Goal: Was to make bubble bath and flannels.

My Purpose: Is to sell to bubble bath and flannels and give some of the money to the SPCA.

My Process:

• Research

• Go up to Auckland to make Bubble Bath

• Make Bubble Bath

• Buy materials to make the flannel

• Make Flannels

• Sell Bubble Bath and Flannels

My Reflection: I have learnt lots of new skills while doing my passion project like patience (which I have learnt you need a lot of) while making bubble bath. I have really enjoyed doing Passion Project and it has helped me a lot for getting ready for high school. I have loved having this experience and would love to do it again some time.

Lucy's Passion Project

Reilly's Passion Project

Evie's Passion Project

From Egg To Omelette

Goal/Purpose: My goal was to breed chickens, build them a chicken coop to grow up in and have them grow up healthy and strong. My purpose was to breed chickens as I am interested in animals as well as wanting to witness the growth and development of the chicks.

Process:

• Choose a topic
• Research chicken breeding
• Research where to get a chicken coop
• Get fertile eggs
• Find out where to get an incubator
• Meet with my expert and mentor
• Build a chicken coop
• Get the chickens’ food
• Take photos of the chickens

Reflection:

I have learnt so much about chickens and how to breed them at home and in a incubator. I know that in the future I will breed chickens again and I will keep Maisy, Meredith, Missy and Minky and they will be a part of the family with our other chickens. Breeding chickens took a lot of time and effort but I have learnt so much that will help me in the future. In the end I think all of the hard work has payed off and I am very proud of what I have achieved.

By Evie Eaton

Joanna's Passion Project!

Animals In Focus - By Joanna

Goal:

My goal was to improve my knowledge and understanding of different ways to take photos of animals.

Purpose:

The reason I chose this topic is because ever since I got given a basic camera for Christmas when I was 7, I have found an inner passion for photography and wanted to expand my knowledge and thoroughly improve what I know about photography. The reason I wanted to narrow it down to just animal photography was that I have grown up around all sorts of animals and wanted to do a project on animals and photography.

Process:

• Decide topic
• Research about topic
• Start blog
• Take photos
• Research
• Keep updating blog and diary
• Research
• Print out photos and info
• Present my project!!

Reflection:

Overall my project has been a quite a success and I have gained lots of skills like:

• Photography (action and focus)

• Organisation (organising mentor meetings)

• Time management

• Independence

• Knowledge about how different cameras work

I will definitely keep on taking lots more photos and look forward to learning heaps more!!

Me with my board:

Two of my photos:

Kathleen's Passion Project

Goal:

My goal was to successfully run team building sessions for the girls going to AIMS Games, and to design and order personalised hoodies for the team.

Purpose:

I chose to do this for my passion project because water polo is definitely my passion. As AIMS Games was coming up, I thought it would be worthwhile to do a project based around it. I thought that we could benefit from some team building activities and they might improve the way we played together as a team.

Process:

Term 1:

• Research, research, research!
• Design hoodies
• Meet with Dr. Bird and Mrs Taylor

Term 2:

• Choose hoodie supplier etc.
• Get hoodie info

Term 3:

• Order hoodies
• Create training calendars
• Run team building night
• AIMS Games!

Term 4:

• Essay
• Present

Reflection:

I’m really proud of my entire project. I have worked so hard on it and it was pretty successful. The highlights for me are still seeing girls wearing their hoodies after AIMS, and also the fact that the parents and coaches decided to get their own hoodies after seeing ours. This project has meant a lot to me because I have learned so, so much, developing and learning many skills. My project means a lot to me and has been a great experience because of what I achieved. Overall I have loved doing this project and now I’m so glad I chose this topic.