Ko te Rāhina tēnei rā te rua tekau mā iwa o Hōngongoi
Term 3 - Week 2 - 2024
Believe in Yourself
Attitude Determines Altitude
WHAKAPONO KIA KOE
Rerenga Kōrero
He aha tēnei?
What is this?
He rorohiko pōnaho tēnei.
This is a laptop computer.
Patrols
The first day of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 men’s rugby sevens competition saw scintillating sport, an electric atmosphere and a record breaking crowd at Stade de France.
Rugby sevens ignited the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with a spectacular first day of action in front of the largest single day crowd in rugby sevens history with 69,000 fans packed into Stade de France and millions more watching around the world.
SVNS league winners Argentina, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and double Olympic champions Fiji secured their places in Thursday’s quarter-finals with pair of opening day wins.
The duty of flag bearer at the Olympic Games is a prestigious honour, following in the footsteps of the likes of Nick Willis, Beatrice Faumuina, Mahe Drysdale, and the gold medal-winning twins Caroline and Georgina Evers-Swindell.
There are some criteria that must be met in order to qualify as a flag-bearer candidate:
In Tokyo, a last-minute schedule change saw Hamish Bond hand over his flag-bearer duties to boxer David Nyika, who stepped up alongside rugby star Sarah Hirini.
With all of that said, here are the top contenders for Paris 2024:
A historic silver medal in Rio 2016 and recent triumphs make her a standout choice. Despite battling long Covid in 2022, she came back strongly, winning the women’s kayak cross final at the Paris World Cup in 2023 and is one of New Zealand’s best medal chances in Paris.
Known as “the Falcon”, his bronze medal in Tokyo and impressive triathlon performances in 2023, including victories in New Plymouth and Hamburg, highlight his resilience and excellence. Hayden Wilde’s sportsmanship and consistent top-tier results make him a compelling candidate.
There’s a caveat for this one, Dame Lisa Carrington was flag bearer for the closing ceremony at Rio 2016, but seeing as this is her last Games and she is New Zealand’s greatest able-bodied Olympian, the canoe sprint powerhouse, with five Olympic golds to her name, would be well worthy of the honour.
Renowned for his achievements in shot put, Tom Walsh has had a dominant performance on the global stage and embodies New Zealand’s athletic excellence – plus having a big unit carry the flag would set the tone for the Games.
One of New Zealand’s greatest rugby players, Olympians and flat-out sportspeople, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe will be competing at her last Games and there wouldn’t be a better way to give one of Aotearoa’s best the send-off worthy of her contribution.
Carrying the flag at an opening ceremony is undoubtedly an honour, but since the actual Games hold slightly more significance for athletes, the schedule makes selecting a candidate with Olympic credentials somewhat difficult.
Commonwealth Games feats can instead be influential – as seen three years ago when David Nyika was a late replacement for Hamish Bond – and in that arena, Aaron Gate is unmatched. The cyclist was peerless at Birmingham 2022, becoming the first Kiwi to win four gold medals at a single Games. After thrice standing atop the dais in the velodrome, Gate decided to reinforce his dominance by heading outside and winning the road race, somehow shrugging off fatigue to edge a sprint finish.
Rewarding those achievements across the pond would be fitting and further banish the unfortunate ending to Gate’s last Olympics, when his crash cost New Zealand a chance at team pursuit bronze.
Arguably the most globally recognised name in the New Zealand team and a two-time Olympic medallist. It could well be Lydia Ko’s final Olympics after claiming silver in Rio and a bronze in Tokyo.
Speaking of athletes with bad memories to banish in Paris, Eliza McCartney would be another inspiring if symbolic choice. After spectacularly leaping on to the Kiwi sporting scene by claiming bronze at Rio 2016, the pole vaulter suffered through a wretched injury run, with chronic Achilles issues threatening to end her involvement in the sport.
But as shown by silver at the world indoor championships in March – her first international medal in six years – McCartney is back in top form and targeting another Olympic podium. When every millimetre counts, what better way to buoy her efforts than bestowing flag-bearing duties. Plus she’s used to carrying around a big pole.
FOR YOUR SAFETY
If someone you don't know tries to talk to you or give you things, like toys or sweets, over the school fence at break times, get a duty teacher. They should not be doing this.
Big Swing Timetable
Rāhina - Yr 3&4/ Kōwhai Team
Rātu - Yr 5&6/ Kauri Team
Rāapa -Yr 7&8/ Kahikatea Team
Rāpare -Yr 3&4/ Kōwhai Team
Rāmere - Yr 5&6/ Kauri Team
The Big Swing Timetable is in place from 8:20 a.m.
TERM 3 IMPORTANT DATES
WEEK 2: Tuesday 30th July PTC Conferences from 2 pm SCHOOL CLOSES 12:30 PM
WEEK 3: Thursday 8th August PTC Conferences from 2 pm SCHOOL CLOSES 12:30 PM
WEEK 7: Tuesday 3rd September Tarapekepeke Hui from 9 - 10:30 a.m.
BOOK OF THE WEEK | ||
Everything you need to know about dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures by John Woodward (Non Fiction 567.9) A f ![]() All the basics of these amazing creatures are covered in this beautiful and informative book on dinosaurs. Anatomy, along with habitat and behaviour, and lots of fascinating facts about dinosaurs that every child will just love reading about. See how they survived all over the world, and how these prehistoric creatures adapted to their ancient habitats. Alongside, in between, and on top of all that, Everything You Need To Know About Dinosaurs also provides ideas for things to make, games to play, quizzes, and amazing facts to share with friends. Every spread is self contained to make this a dip-into book with a difference. From the very first page it combines little-known information with engaging text and innovative, high-quality design. | ||
FICTION SERIES | ||
Zombie in Underland | Zombie, Zack | Diary of a Minecraft creeper |
KORERO PONO (NON FICTION) | ||
Insect | 595.7 | |
Discover bees : a guide to these amazing pollinators | 595.7 | |
Cats & kittens | 636.8 | |
Where's Wally? : the incredible paper chase | 793.73 | |
Wheres Wally? : the great picture hunt | 793.73 | |
GRAPHIC NOVELS | ||
Sunny makes her case | Holm, Jennifer L | HOL |
Back to the drawing board | Gudsnuk, Kristen | GUD |
Third time's a charm | Gudsnuk, Kristen | GUD |
Karen's sleepover | Martin, Ann M. | MAR |
I survived the battle of D-Day, 1944 | Tarshis, Lauren | TAR |
Dog man the Scarlet Shedder | Pilkey, Dav | PIL |
PUKAPUKA PIKITIA (PICTURE BOOK) | ||
How the crayons saved the unicorn | Sweeney, Monica | S |
How the crayons saved the school | Sweeney, Monica | S |