Weetbix Tryathalon

On Wednesday 28th March was the Weetbix Tryathalon.
There was 1500 kids there and it was jam-packed.

There was the option to do all the 3 events by yourself
or you could do it in a team.

I did the event as a individual, and I am glad I did.
This year was my 3rd year doing the tryathlon.
Overall the I rate tryathlon a 10 out of 10!

Photosynthesis

Whio Article we read today

It was the first swim and smell of free air for nine blue ducks in Egmont National Park.
The whio were released by Department of Conservation staff at four different points along the York Rd track near Midhirst, taking the population of blue ducks in the park to an estimated 200.
Seven of them were four sisters and three brothers from the captive breeding programme at Christchurch's Paradise Springs, while two females came from eggs found in the park from a blue duck that had been fitted with a transmitter.
DOC biodiversity ranger Kelly Eaton said the ducks were given transponders so staff could identify them if they came across them later. "Who knows where they go, they could go all over the mountain."
The two females from the park who were hatched successfully had been found during a period of great flooding, so it was great they could now return safely.
She said 26 baby whio had been found so far this year. This was up a little on last season. The seven Christchurch siblings were freed at different points along the track so there would be no breeding problems.
Kaumatua Sandy Parata blessed the birds with holy water at the DOC workshop near Stratford before their move into the park.
Another nine ducks will be freed next month.
WHIO FACTS
A river specialist that inhabits clean, fast-flowing streams.
They occupy the same stretch of river for years, aggressively defending it.
Males can live for up to 12 years but females generally live a much shorter time.
They have unique features such as streamlined head and large webbed feet to enable them to feed in fast-moving water.
The male makes a distinctive high-pitched sound – "whio" – contrasting with the guttural and rattle-like call of the female. B
lue ducks nest between August and October, laying four to nine creamy white eggs. The female incubates the eggs for 35 days and chicks can fly when about 70 days old. 

Kelly's rely to our email ( both are below)

Hi Merryl

Lovely to hear from you, so great to have a local school take an interest in one of our special rare species.

The whio were released into 4 different areas for several reasons

1. To avoid inbreeding – 7 (4 females and 3 males) were related (brothers and sisters)
2. To increase their chances of survival. Any birds such as Whio or Kiwi are always released into the predator control zone on the mountain. The bush between Pembroke road and a bit beyond Egmont road has a network of stoat traps. These are checked at least once a month in an attempt to keep predator numbers down which will increase the chances of native wildlife surviving. Key predators include stoats, ferrets, weasels and rats. By spreading out the birds they are harder for predators to find, increasing the chances of more birds surviving. If a predator was to come across a larger number of birds which have never encountered predators before they could make for an easy lunch.
3. To avoid the depletion of food resources in the river. If we were to put a large volume of birds at one location on a river they may eat the majority of the aquatic insects, they are also competing with the Whio which already inhabit the river. Spreading them out allows a more sustainable use of resources.

A transmitter is like a small backpack for a bird. We put them on 1 or 2 birds a year (catch them in a net). We can then use a hand held aerial which can pick up a signal from the transmitter to locate that bird in future. We only do this in an attempt to locate the birds nest. Eggs are removed and hatched and raised in captivity for a project named WHIONE. This ensures the survival of those birds to an age where they have a greater chance of survival.

A transponder is like a micro-chip that people put in their dogs. It is the size of a grain of rice and is injected under the skin between the shoulder blades. If we find a dead whio or if we have to catch one we can tell what the history of the bird is by running a transponder checking device over the animal. If it has one we will know where it has come from/how old it is? Birds which have been captive reared then released have a transponder in them. Those we find without one are wild born and raised.   

Yes there is a possibility a couple of a students could join us. I can not absolutely confirm this at this stage but will certainly keep you in mind with the time comes. Handling the birds will not be an option but there would be a chance to see the birds come out of the box and enjoy their new environment.

Any other questions please send them my way. We encourage community groups to assist us with our work, if there are any other projects you would like to be involved in please let us know.

Kelly Eaton

Biodiversity Assets Ranger - Kaiārahi – Tāonga Koiora Rerekētanga

Taranaki Area Office

Department of Conservation - Te Papa Atawhai

DDI: +64 6 7590350 ext 8972

Conservation for prosperity Tiakina te taiao, kia puawai

www.doc.govt.nz

Dear Kelly

We are a class of Year 5/6 students at Frankley School - 9 - 11 year olds.

We have read your blue duck article in the paper and have a couple of

questions for you.

Why were the blue ducks released into different areas?

What is a transmitter- and how does it work?

What is a transponder- and how does it work?

Could there possibly be any chance a few people from our class- room 11

could help release the blue ducks next month?

Thank you for your time and patience and please try to reply.

Kind Regards,

Merryl McAllister and room 11

Deputy Principal

Frankley School

Key competencies 23.03.12

Janelle:  Participating and Contributing, Managing self. 

Janelle we are all impressed with the way you help out in class and follow instructions , you know exactly what to do. You listen hard and try hard to be accurate with all your learning tasks.

 Managing Self

Courtney, you follow instructions extremely accurately.  You put lots of effort into your learning tasks. You know when to seek help and you quietly look to help others

Reece
Relating to others/Thinking  
Your kind and caring approach is noticed. You are also very thoughtful and your statements and ideas you share with us are reflect your careful thinking.

About Me!!!

Hi, my name is Chloe and I am 11 years old. (Almost 11) :) My favourite colour is turquoise and my hobbies are playing guitar and piano. Some of my FAVOURITE things to do is to be random and weird. I have about four best friends and I like chocolate. Who doesn't!! Anyway, I live with my mum, dad, and my little sister. I also have an imaginary twin sister called Coraline. My all time favourite celebrity is Selena Gomez! Well that's all for now, BUT the random Chloe will SOON return!

But for now, stay tuned!

ben THE WIND

THE Wind.
The cold whooshing monster was racing after me snapping
everything that got in his way.
I ran past a huge tree, the monster had trouble taking
down the tree but it finally did.
Trucks tumbled and branches crumbled.
I tripped and the monster got hold of me the cold icy
monster let go and flicked the branches of the trees.
Lumpy goose bumps were growing on my arm.
I wish I don’t see the monstrous wind again.
THE END
By Benjamin.

Key Competencies 9.03.12

Isaiah

Managing self - Isaiah perseverance and willingness to follow instructions during swimming is commendable. He tries repetitively to improve.

Nazeefah

Managing Self/Using Language, Symbols and Texts

Titi continuously demonstrates great listening accurately following

instructions and completing her learning tasks. Her note taking after listening to Mr Ritai about our bush was impressive.

Cameron Liggett

Thinking/Relating to others

Cameron has shown he knows just when to help with setting up activinspire and get things running. It is great to see his empathy he displays to our class pets and is gentle nature.

Camp Konini

CAMP KONINI - slideshow dvd

We made this slide show using Kizoa. It shows some photos from our camp at Dawson falls.

Swimming sports

Yesterday the senior syndicate had their swimming sports. We travelled to Highlands Intermediate We swam and swam and swam. We really enjoyed it because it was really warm and the lengths were longer. Plus I saw grinning on everybodys face!!! :) :) :)

Our Speaker

Our speaker for our bush - free slideshows

We thought we should get some more info about our bush so we got a speaker in to talk to us about it. We learnt that our bush is 4.1 hectares and the reigional council is going to help us improve our bush.

Thanks once again to our speaker that came in!!!

Swimming Sports

Hi Everyone,
Yesterday the senior school had their swimming sports at Highlands Intermediate School.
I think that everybody enjoyed it as everyone had huge grins on their faces!
We also sold juicies and they sold out very fast!
Overall the swimming sports was really fun !

My Scenario

I wrote a scenario about what a the mystery thing might think when this was happening.

My Scenario

My heart was
hammering inside me, I didn’t dare look up. I heard heavy breathing above me. I
knew I had to so I did. I ran and ran and ran I could feel the vibrating in the
ground it seemed to be getting closer and closer. Something landed on my head
from above. I looked up. Big mistake I saw a big black hairy monster with
dripping fangs. I froze with shock the monster snapped at me it alarmed me so
much I remembered to run. I hid in a burrow.
The monster couldn’t get me now but something had just slicked past me
it could have been a stoat I thought. I had to run out of the burrow, I knew
the monster was out to get me. I decided to run. So I did. I ran back to my
burrow all safe and cosy once again. Then I saw the monster walking away. Whew I said. !!!

Mike Tapp-finding out

mike tapp came over to tell us about conservation of land and we found out alot of stuff

Mike Tapp- finding out

mike tapp came over to tell us about conservation of land!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

superclubs plus

hi every body there is a awsome and safe site on the internet it is called superclubs plus it is safe and there is mediaters watching if there is any rude behaviour u can earn stars and badges i go on it my self

tuscany

I don't have a goal but i have been a rollmodel to my class

My goal is to stretch my arms.and kick stronger.

corbans first swimming clip

my goal is to lift my arms out of the water and stretch them out more

What shall we do next with our Inquiry?

Our bush is protected - the Regional Council want to help us protect our bush
- we have lots of Native trees in our bush
- we have a swamp Maihe, King ferns - these are special plants
- our bush is unique - it is a key eco-native system

Next - Katy - find out more about the bush, trees, plans, animals that live in there
- look at some of the ideas on the green hats and do them????

My goal is to bring my arms into the middle

Arron swimming

faster arms

My goal has been to push my hands into the water a little earlier and then stretch them out.

Cameron's Swimming

my goal is to kick my legs straight and

to push my arms straight stretching them out.

to not make my head go under the water.