Science Day and Roo's birthday

Science Day

On Monday 7th July, the day before Roo’s birthday we went to the Incredible Science Day at Auckland University. We listened to four lectures about Tsunamis, Adelie Penguins, ‘do jelly beans look like bacteria?’ and “optical illusions and why we have two eyes”. We had a great time and when we were there we got given a bag with a map post-it notes a pen and sheet with lots of questions. If you got 10 questions right you got a degree. We answered twelve questions correctly and got our degree certificate. Mommy was a bit miffed because it took her three years to get her degree and we got ours in three hours. Amongst other things we made slime by mixing borax and pva with water. We made blue slime, pink slime, and vomit coloured slime! Roo put his in the freezer to see what would happen to it ( not much). Overall we had a great day.


By Caitlin


My birthday by Reuben.

I had a good birthday. For breakfast we went to McDonalds and I had pancakes. Then we went to Henderson to see ‘Prince Caspian”. I thought the film was really, really, really, really, really cool! Next we went to buy two fish. I have called them Twitch and Hammer, because one of them has big eyes and he looks like a hammer head shark and the other one has a twitch in his tail.
Then we went home and set up the fish tank.
I got lots of presents like ArchAngel and Snake head, the Alex Rider books, some clothes from Nanny and a walking robot from Caitlin. I also got some money which I spent on a Wii game called ‘Pokemon Battle revolution which I have been playing on all day!
Mommy and Daddy found me a drum kit on TradeMe. It is really really really really
really really really awesome.
Mommy made me some cupcakes instead of a cake. They had chocolate chips and chocolate icing an done had 9 candles in it. That was mine.



P.S. Molly has been to the vet's for her (whispers) operation. She is very dopey (what's new?) and wearing a very fetching pink t shirt.

Poetry

I am so proud of Reuben today. He was in the poetry final and although he was unplaced he did a brilliant job. I'll post the video when I have a moment. In the meantime here is a photo.



And here is the video

Always the bridesmaid

C came second in the speech finals in yet another contraversial decision. The winner was not the best speech,or the best delivery. In fact the girls who came second equal were far better but the marking scheme counted against them. Ho hum. I think there is a vendetta against her but as a member of staff I can't say a thing! I'll post the speech performance when I have a chance. Ineed to up the volume first so may take a while!

Our springy son

Laingholm Gym Team has successfully defended its title against all comers ( including Titirangi school, Glen eden Primary and Woodlands Park.
All eyes were on the youngest of the Ashcroft family competing in his first event. His vaulting was exemplary, his floor work elegant and his bar work sound.

He placed third in his age group and his team won their group.

So he has a bronze a gold and a share of a huge trophy

and a beaming smile of course.



Not to be outdone, Caitlin addressed the Board of Trustees last night on the subject of the vision map as part of her role on the Enviro Council. She has received rather a lot of praise for her presentation. You can imagine!!!!!!!

We should hear about whether she has made the speech final on Monday...


Oh and by the way C's play was superb. I'll get her to post this weekend about it but here are some photos.

Revenge is sweet

Finally the general knowledge result is avenged. Last night was the Friends of the School Friday 13th quiz. A makeshift team of teachers, partners and anyone who didn't say no fast enough made up the last team. Dressed in sarong and hoola skirts, with palm leaves and pineapples for table decorations, we looked a little out of place amongst the goths, weird scientists, vampires and chainsaw wielding psychos ( yes real ones).

But we won!!!!!

By half a point!!!

Luckily the men on the team knew lots about rugby, I had entertainment covered, the teachers did well in reading writing and rithmetic and we survived a very tricky science round when we played our joker ( and shouldn't have)

And to put the cherry on top of the cake, I won the raffle too. A box of coffee, chocolate, tea, wine and a voucher for $100 for garden landscaping stuff...Ant might get the drive done yet. Not sure the $100 will do much, maybe a couple of metres of gravel but hey, every little helps!

So we have one quiz champnio ( thanks to Steve Wright) in the family.

Controversy at the Quiz

Officially C came second by one mark. We are so proud of her and she did so well. However, there is some debate about one of the questions regarding non native trees in NZ. Caitlin answered ' introduced' to the question "What is the word to describe trees which grow in NZ but are not native?". She gave the answer she had been taught in class. The answer they were looking for was 'exotic'. As we pointed out, an oak tree is hardly exotic! Two of the teachers have complained that that was the word they taught, and C was the only one to give any answer at all to it.

So by rights she was joint winner! And that's how we will always look upon her..OUR WINNER!!!!

Brain of Britain...or is that NZ?

Caitlin has qualified for the General Knowledge Quiz Finals at school. They are being held on Friday at 10am (11pm GMT) and we get to watch.

Roo has got into the gym team at school and is competing on the 20th of June...and we get to watch!




Will let you all know what happens!