We have been having a lot of fun with language over the past few weeks.

Our “Word of the Week” competition. So far the words of the week have been mediocre, caveat and zhush (which is picked simply because I love the spelling). It’s been a great way to engage in conversations about vocabulary which is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to improve our students’ literacy.

To continue in that vein of fun with language, Tuesday is our Book Day where we encourage students to dress up as their favourite book characters! There will be book related challenges throughout the week to encourage a love of reading and maybe a few students will pick up some new books! 

What we’re reading: Mrs Bloxham has been reading 'The Bookseller at the End of the World' by Ruth Shaw. Ruth runs three small bookshops opposite Lake Manapouri in Fiordland. This book is mixed with tales of her varied life and short stories about people she has met through her bookshops. This is a remarkable read about the sometimes heartbreaking and challenging times in her life. Emotive, funny and thought provoking the author believes that everyone has a story to tell and she encourages people to talk about and share their stories, many people do when they visit her bookshop and she often has just the right book for them to take away.