The collecting has begun! So far we have raised

$236

This post will remain at the top of this blog until our Clippers for Cancer event is over.

Continue to check below for our regular posts.

Well done to all those who braved the 38ºC heat today and put their ties on for our second Tie Tuesday. It was great to see Miss Tank’s and Mr Ks classes joining in the action this week.

Congratulations to our first three inductees into the Tie Tuesday Hall of Fame. These boys have made the effort to add some extra accessories, and have found the true spirit of the event! I can’t wait to see who ‘blings’ up next week.

In our class we have a big focus on contributing to our community. As the boys grow into adults, it’s important that they are aware of how they can contribute to the world. At Hackham East School, this is something that we do pretty well.

Every year, Ms Morrison’s junior primary class learns about measurement using packets of pasta. The pasta is donated by students from all over the school and is donated to a local ’soup kitchen’ called FRED’S VAN, that supplies meals for people who are homeless or struggling to feed themselves. At the same time as learning valuable maths skills, the students are learning to share with those less fortunate than them. Last year, students from Mr Koutsoukos’ year 6/7 class made a movie about Fred’s Van as a part of a film competition. They not only won 1st prize for the Australian competition they originally entered, but also came second competing against schools world wide. Click to play their movie below.


Find more videos like this on Mr Lamshed’s Class

Also last year, Sarah, a student in Mr Clement’s class was awarded a Vinnies Social Justice Award for her involvement with the ‘Lids for Limbs’ program. She has spent the last 5 years collecting can rings which are used to make artificial limbs for children in Cambodia and Thailand. Many of the affected children lost limbs due to left over land mines from conflict in their country. One year, Sarah collected enough tabs to make 7 limbs!



Last year, our class raised $1870 for the McGuinness McDermott Foundation to support children living with cancer. This year we are running the event again, this time inviting students from other classes and schools to join us. The act of shaving their heads allows the boys to not only raise valuable funds for the foundation, but also raise awareness for an important cause. If you or your class would like to join us for this year’s event. Leave us a comment and et us know!

Today, Ms Anderson and I attended the choir conference for 2010. Continuing tomorrow (yes… Saturday) all of the choir teachers from all of the schools involved in the festival get together with Mr Jackson and Ms Hepworth to learn the new songs for this year.

Lots of teachers asked about the class and commented that they had seen and really enjoyed your haka at last year’s festival. Some people were asking if we would be auditioning another performance for this year. What do you think? Should we come up with a new performance? Do you want to audition again?

Today we were visited by the Southern Times Messenger newspaper who have decide to write a story about our Clippers for Cancer event! We are really pleased to have their support and hope it will help us to raise enough money to beat our $2000 goal. Our three class supermodels did a great job posing for their photos.

Our first TIE TUESDAY was a huge success. Everyone got into the spirit of the day and even kept their ties on out in the yard at lunch time. It was great to have Mr Thiele (Principal) and Mr Heard (Counsellor) join the ‘half windsor’ lesson. We have so many ties that Miss Tank’s class joind us and Mr Koutsoukos’ class will join in next week as well. Next week we tackle the double windsor! Click on the presentation above to see some photos from today. The presentation can be enlarged by pressing the ‘full screen’ button.

One of our favourite blogs to follow last year was Mr McClung’s Class. We started following Mr McClung with his class at Noel Elementary School in Missouri, USA half way through their school year. At change of school year in the USA, Mr McClung moved to Woodland Jr High in Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA. At both of his schools, Mr McClung has run a theme day called ‘Tie Tuesday’. I am pleased to say that Tie Tuesday has now come to Hackham East!

Do you know how to tie a tie? Do you use a half or full windsor knot? Do you know what this even means?! You soon will!

Thanks to Mr Max Thompson and Mr Des Clark, we have a collection of nearly 100 ties spanning 4 decades of ‘tie fashion’ for you to choose from each week! You will not only learn to tie a tie, but you will undertake a wealth of tie related learning! You may bring your own tie if you wish, or use one of our class supply. Feel free to supplement your tie outfit with a suitable hat or blazer. Be creative!

Here is an instructional video from Mr McClung and a student at Noel Elementary on how to tie a tie. Good luck!

Find more videos like this on Mr. McClung’s Class

Lately I have had quite a few people ask me about why we have some all boys classes at Hackham East. I spend quite a bit of time talking to them about how well it works and explaining some of the education theories behind our class. I also talk to them about how well you guys are doing. For our first online task, I thought it would be valuable to hear from the students. Please leave your comment for our visitors to read. Mr Koutsoukos’ and Ms Tank’s boys might also like to comment on this post.

What’s different about our class (apart from having no girls)?

Why (or why not) does it help your learning?

What are your thoughts?

To our visitors: Do you have any questions for the boys about this?

The boys are off to a brilliant start after our first few days. It’s great to see that everyone is well rested and has jumped back into school life with plenty of energy! The standard of work has been fantastic. We have had a chance to meet the new teachers in our school and I was pleased to see the boys make an effort to introduce themselves to these teachers when they saw them in the yard. We are really enjoying getting to know Angus, our newest member. He is a great addition to our learning team.

This week we looked at Australia Day and some of the history. We also filled in maps of Australia to test our geographical knowledge. As a part of this topic we read ‘The Rabbits’ by John Marsden.
This is an excellent book about colonisation, told from the viewpoint of the colonised. Although represented by Rabbits and unnamed kangaroo like creatures it is a great book for exploring Aboriginal perspectives.

The narrator describes the coming of ‘rabbits’ which is at first friendly and curious, but later, it becomes clear that the visitors are actually invaders. The text and illustrations work together to explore the anxiety of the original inhabitants and the environmental devastation that comes with this strange new culture.

This book has also been read as a part of our reading assignment for term one. Each student is working on an assessment task based on the story, and is expected to fill in (if they haven’t already) the book review form on the ‘Reading Assignment’ page of this website.

The first week’s spelling contract has been handed out and is due in next Friday. The word groups are also on the ‘Spelling’ page of the blog to make learning at home easier.

Next week we are learning about Waitangi Day (February 6th), starting our term one maths topics and introducing ‘Tie Tuesday’! I can’t wait.

Each term the students will complete a new reading assignment. The focus of this changes each term and an outline of what is expected and due dates will be available on the READING ASSIGNMENT page.

Students are given time in class each day to complete the assignments, but it is an expectation that they will also use home learning time to complete work as needed.

A major focus of reading assignments is time management. In term 1, students will need lots of support, but will be able to complete assignments independently by term 4.

To support your child you can ask them questions about their books, help them with the presentation of tasks and contact me if you think they need further support.