School trip up a mountain

We did it. Climbing ruapane with my class was an amazing experience.  Watching them move through the different stages is always interesting and how they respond to the challenges. There is always the students who they no they can't do it but keep on going. They have this hidden spark that keeps their fires burning even when they think they just can't go on.  Today I watched as some of our fittest students opted out while others pushed through despite having rolled ankles. These moments always make me stop and take count of assumptions I may have made of people's characters.

Once we reached the peak we all sat down and had a moment to take in just how amazing our country is.  Sitting 800m above sea eating your lunch looking out over rolling hills is always something magical and watching young people experience this awe is just as refreshing.  I'm always glad that I can provide opportunities for students that they may never have had the opportunity to experience. 

Personally today was a great walk. My heels held up well and the legs were able to take the hike.  I was a little apprehensive about the walk, worried that my thighs might start to burn and make my run in the weekend harder than it needed to be. As it was the fitness held up and so did the legs. 

The next mission is the half marathon this weekend. 

Update

Its been a long time since I've updated the blog. When I think back there hasn't really been any one event that has been worth blogging but there has been quite a few small events that have their own importance.

School started 2 weeks ago. Both Chelsea and I are pleased to be back at work and have some great kids in the class. As always there is plenty of work that needs to be done.  My class is still pretty small with only 22 students turning up on average. Apparently there are a couple more that I'm suppose to be getting but they are just taking their time.

Went to my first CITO (Cache In Trash Out) event last weekend. Now I have been to a couple before but none that were actually about cleaning up or improving the environment.  This CITO was all about restoring Lake Surpintine. I planted several native trees, collected lots of stakes and picked up some rubbish.  It was a beautiful day and I had a lot of fun.

Today is Waitangi Day and I'm just sitting in the lounge taking a break from my new book. I brought it the other day and am just over half way.. thats pretty good for me considering its 700 pages long.  Now with a public holiday it would have been rude not to go out and collect a cache.  Chelsea and I climbed half way up the Hikiromata range in Ngaruawhahia.  I was so impressed that Chelsea got all the way to the cache. At about the half way mark she was feeling sick and decided to wait.  I headed up as quick and I could but to my suprise, just as I was headed down she appeared. 

So as you can see nothing to major just lots of little events.

Im sure that there will be some HUGE changes coming... but its just a matter of waiting.

Activity Week

Karioi

The morning was glorious, a beautiful blue sky and warm breeze had blessed the group for their first tramping trip of the day. Slowly as the morning progressed the students arrived at school ready to climb Karioi.  

At 8:30 everyone was in a car and heading towards Raglan. By 9:30 they had all arrived the Te Toto gorge carpark and with pack on were ready to begin the climb.
    
After about 10min the first cry of "My legs are burning... we need to stop" went up.  Shortly followed by "Can we rest yet?"  Needless to say the group enjoyed many stops along the way but worked together supporting each other up the steep slope.


 

For there to be great views there must also be great climbs.

   

    

There was one section that was very challenging. A near vertical climb up slippery rocks. Thankfully there was a chain for the group to use.

 

2hr 30min was the time it took the group to reach the lookout up Karioi.  They all found a spot on a rock and enjoyed a breath taking view as they ate their lunches.

        

With lunch digested and the views enjoyed it was time for a quick photo before heading back to the car and a well deserved rest

 

Two friends enjoying the view

After several trips, slips and falls the group of 15 made it safely back to the Te toto gorge carpark.

5hours and 5.1km Later

Last Day of School

Super excited. Today is the last day of term and I have huge plans for the next couple of weeks. Heading out tomorrow for a couple of day camping at the edge of Lake Arapuni.  Got the plans set for the trip there with a couple of geocaching on the way.  Have had my eye set on several challenge caches in the area so will be great to collect them.

Saturday will be all about cleaning out Arapuni and then setting up the tent.  Have to remember to take my book as I really need to start reading again in my spare time.  Sunday will be an epic day. Planning of collecting a couple of caches on the way to Taupo.  Why Taupo? I hear you asking. Simple. The second challenge cache that I really want to complete requires me to visit all the dams along the Waikato river.  Each cache has a code in it that I need to locate the final.  All in all there are really only about 30 that im looking at collecting for the weekend so its not to bad.

The second thing that I'm looking forward to is getting more of the planning for the wedding sorted. Finding a location for the photos and finishing off the table decorations. Also need to have a look at getting our suits sorted.

All in all its going to be a really fun couple of weeks. Oh and so far this year i've found 832 caches.... the count down is on to 1,000

All hatched

I can't believe it. I arrived at school today ready to watch the amazing moment when the axolotls were going to break out of their eggs only to find that the ALL had hatched already.  The vase is now fill of tiny baby axolotls swimming around. They are really fun to watch.  My next mission is to find out what they eat and start feeding them.

The eggs have hatched.

Check out the middle of this picture. Can you see the

baby Axolotl floating to the bottom of the tank?

A baby close the to top.

The babies hatch

Turned up at school this morning with a large glass vase and some water plants ready to set up a tank to put the eggs in.

Filled up the vase with water and placed the plants. Then begun the very careful process of transferring the eggs from one tank to the other.  As I was moving the eggs across I notices something move.  There was a very very small axolotl swimming around amongst the rocks. I knew that I had to catch it before the big axolotls ate it. In catching one baby I uncovered 3 more.

So to recap, I now have 4 babies and a few eggs in the vase.  Cant wait till they start to grow bigger.

Have also started looking at how I can make the adults start breeding again.  Could quickly become a breeder.

Axolotl update

It's been two weeks now since the Axolotls laid their eggs.  The axolotls, to begin, with were very protective of the eggs, always approaching the glass when we were looking in.

However some time during the first week the axolotls decided they actually didn't really care that much about the babies and that they would rather eat them.

We started off with about 50 eggs spread throughout the tank and slowly group by group they started to disappear.  On the other hand the axolotls are now looking rather fat and healthy. Must be all the extra food they are eating.

After two weeks we are down to only a handful of eggs that are clinging on for dear life.  They have changed a lot in the last week with their legs now visible as well as their gills.  A couple of the babies have started to grow eyes so it can't be long before they start to hatch.

Will wait for that day with great excitement.

Clowning Around

This year Melville Intermediate proudly presents 'Clowning Around'. A home grown play that addresses bullying and self asteem issues head on.  The play was written by one of our very own teachers, Sue Bleaken, with the musical direction provided by Mark Bell.  The show consists of 130 students taking on a range or roles, from lead actors and supporting actors to including the Rock Band and ballet performers as well as our local gymnasts, zumba, CPA, jugglers and magicians.

For weeks the actors and performers have been practicing and mastering their different roles with it all coming down to a two days of dress rehearsals then 2 Matinee and 2 night performances.

Tonight (5 Sep) is the first of the night performances.  After 2 matinee's that were quite successful the cast and crew are now ready for their night shows.

Me.. well I just get to sit in the design room with the gymnasts until they go on... for 5min then back to the design room till the end. 1hr 30min of sitting around for a 5 min performance.  That is the hardest part of the show for me but luckily most of the students have more than one role in the show.

So now why am I blogging this... well it's Wednesday night, and that means Pizza night.  Last weeks pizza was a success and our student teachers (Emma and Georgia) want to be a part of the amazing pizza night.  So the plan.  We are headed to Pack n save later today with each of us only aloud to get 3 items - 1 meat, 1 vege, 1 essential.  Oh how I love Pizza Night.

 

Schoo??

Was on duty today and had to make some fun for myself.  Schoo patrol?? like Yoo whats a Schoo. Anyway back to protecting the kids crossing the road.