Year 7's
Well done to all our new year 7's.
It has been a whirlwind of activity since the term began, and we couldn't be more proud of how our Year 7 cohort has settled into life here at Tahuna Normal Intermediate. Transitioning to a new school is no small feat, yet our newest students have handled it with impressive energy, curiosity, and a real sense of "Tahuna values." A huge congratulations to everyone who has signed up for:
Sports: Futsal, Touch Rugby, Water Polo, and Volleyball.
The Arts: Choir, Dance, Hip Hop, and specialized Music lessons.
It is wonderful to see so many students stepping out of their comfort zones, trying new skills, and building friendships across the year group through these activities.
In the classroom, things have been equally exciting (and slightly mysterious!). Our Year 7s are currently immersed in their first Project- based- learning unit centred around Escape Rooms and the Tahuna Values. This project-based learning encourages critical thinking, teamwork, and creative problem-solving.
We would like to extend a massive thank you to Escape Artists Dunedin for their incredible support. They provided an escape room opportunity for all our Year 7 students, giving them a firsthand look at the mechanics of a great mystery.
Since that visit, the students have been busy:
Analysing what makes a puzzle challenging yet solvable.
Designing their own immersive themes and narratives.
Constructing puzzles within their own classrooms to test their peers.
The focus and collaboration we’ve seen during these sessions have been outstanding. It’s safe to say our students are becoming quite the experts at "thinking outside the box".
Well done to all our Year 7s for such a positive start to the year. Keep up the great work!
Looking Ahead:
As we move into the latter half of the term, our Year 7 students will be looking at speeches.
Public speaking is a core life skill, and this term, our Year 7s will be stepping up to the podium. Students will be researching, writing, and delivering speeches designed to inform and persuade.
We are incredibly grateful to Toastmasters for their generous support with judging. They have also kindly supplied a trophy for this event, which has certainly added an extra layer of excitement and healthy competition to our rehearsals! We look forward to seeing who will have their name engraved this year.
In the coming weeks, Year 7 classes will begin their puberty unit. This unit is designed to be informative, supportive, and age-appropriate.
Key areas of focus will include:
Physical Changes: Understanding the internal and external changes that occur during puberty.
Holistic Health: Exploring the vital roles that nutrition, quality sleep, and regular exercise play in supporting a growing body and mind.
In addition to physical health, we are prioritising digital wellbeing. In conjunction with renowned educator Rob Cope, our students will be diving into Cyber Safety.
In an increasingly digital world, our students must understand how to navigate the internet safely, manage their digital footprint, and maintain a healthy balance between screen time and real-world activity. This session aims to empower students with the tools they need to be responsible and resilient digital citizens.