Daffodil Day

Thanks for the generous support for Daffodil Day! We raised $391! A very good contribution!

Learn the Maori seasons of the year

The Seasons

Koanga

Raumati

Ngahuru

Takurua

Koenei nga wa e wha o te tau e

He Koanga, Raumati, Ngahuru, Takurua e.

Rivers

Purpose: to inform the reader about New Zealand rivers and the importance of keeping them healthy

Rivers are wonderful sources of power and water but some of us take clean water for granted!

Most rivers in New Zealand used to be clean enough to drink but now there are hardly any!

Now it is very rare to find fresh drinking water in rivers!

Rivers provide an excellent habitat and food for wildlife. Lots of rare plants grow near or in rivers and some can clean the water and provide nutrients. Rivers are really good at providing energy on the steep hills where water runs fast. Rivers also provide transport for boats and kayaks.

There are so many things that can pollute the water- fertiliser runoff, (chemicals for plants etc), pollution from factories that can get in the water table, and people in boats releasing waste in the water like oil. One of the worst ways water can get polluted is from farms or just from senseless people dropping rubbish that ends up in the water!

If we all care more about the water this wouldn't be a problem but some of us don't be careful around water. If factories find a way to produce less waste this wouldn't be as big as a problem. We could try to use more eco friendly products and have a stricter rule for dropping rubbish like in Singapore where they fine you heaps of money for dropping rubbish. We could make this rule in New Zealand as well.

Rivers are amazing but we shouldn’t take them for granted. We need to have stricter rules on dropping rubbish and try to be more eco friendly.

BY CALEB

Peace Week

THIS WEEK IS PEACE WEEK. THE OLYMPIC GAMES IS A GREAT WAY TO PROMOTE THIS MESSAGE!

        OLYMPIC MOVEMENT PROMOTES                          PEACE WORLDWIDE

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FURTHERING THE PEACE CAUSE TODAY

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) actively pursues the goals of protecting the interests of the athletes and sport in general, and contributing to the search for peaceful and diplomatic solutions to the conflicts around the world.

 Through the International Olympic Truce Foundation, the IOC aims to:

• Encourage political leaders to act in favour of peace
• Organise conferences on sport and peace
• Mobilise young people for the promotion of the Olympic ideals
• Develop initiatives with other organisations specialising in the field of peace, including the United Nations
• Develop educational and research programmes to promote the Olympic Truce

And more generally:
• Create a window of opportunity for dialogue and reconciliation, separate from any religious, economic or political influence.

THE DOVE, SYMBOL OF PEACE

The Olympic Truce is symbolised by the dove with the traditional Olympic flame in the background. In a world that is plagued by wars and animosity, the dove represents the IOC's goal to build a peaceful and better world through sport.

“By throwing a bridge over continents, by standing above differences of race, social regime or political system, [the Olympic Movement] can bring hope and togetherness so often and so deeply torn apart,” says IOC President Jacques Rogge, who chairs the Olympic Truce Foundation. 

RESPECT

The "Olympic Truce" was established in ancient Greece in the 9th century BC by the signature of a treaty between three kings. During the Truce period, athletes, artists and their families could travel in total safety to participate in or attend the Olympic Games and return afterwards to their respective countries.

Rubbish at Trentham School

An information report on 'Rubbish at Trentham School'

by Alexander Worth.

Rubbish is a problem around the world. People make rubbish wherever they go. Trentham School has its own problems with rubbish and systems to try and deal with these issues.

What kinds of rubbish/waste is there at Trentham?

Well, the main rubbish that is a problem is plastic. Kids are eating a lot of things out of plastic wrapping more than anything else, so the majority of waste is plastic. There is also food waste, such as banana skins, orange skins and food scraps. This is all fine, except when kids are lazy and drop it on the ground instead of doing the right thing and going to the nearest litter bin.

So, how is this a problem?

If people are lazy and drop plastic on the ground, (as said above) instead of doing the right thing and putting it in a trash can, then plastic is getting blown around in the wind everywhere. Pigeons are getting choked, the plastic is tripping people up and getting stuck in trees. Also, plastic isn’t biodegradable, so if it gets stuck in a hole, it will simply stay there.

What about rubbish duty?

There is a responsibility called rubbish duty, although sometimes teachers and students forget to do it. Even then, there are usually only two people who do rubbish duty every Monday. So there isn't much authority in it. Sometimes the whole class does it, although you really can't get people to do mucky stuff like that, so people can be dishonest.

How can we stop this rubbish?

We can make stricter rules about dropping rubbish, we can put rubbish bins in more convenient places, and we can finally get more authority to stop people dropping rubbish through the gates.