Nth+Canty+Inquiry+Tours

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 * North Canty Inquiry Tours**

Wed 27 May Wainoni 2; Ilam 8; Parkview 8; Burwood 4; Wed 17 June Wainoni 2; Ilam 8; Parkview 8; Shirley 4; Hammersley Park 1
 * //(See "Reflections" below)//**

To compliment our Thinking and Learning Tours to the Wellington Region, members of our cluster will also be visiting two schools in North Canty to see and hear their journeys with Inquiry. We will start the day by meeting at Shirley Intermediate for a quick coffee and hot muffin.


 * Itinerary:**

//07.45 am// Meet at Shirley Intermediate Staffroom (Use main entrance car park on North Parade)

//09.00 am// [|North Loburn] (Simon Green)

//011.00 am// [|Clarkville Primary] (Pene Abbie)

//1.00 pm Lunch // Route 72, Cust

//2.00 pm// Reflection

//3.30 pm// Bus returns to Shirley Intermediate

Cost $55.00 per person. Contact me asap with numbers. Thanks Sue Davidson For more information sue.davidson@windsor.ac.nz A fantastic time was had on Wed 27 May. It was a cold misty morning, but we were warmly welcomed into the Shirley Intermediate staffroom an offered a coffee and muffin. Then Eric our friendly bus driver arrived (an ex geography teacher himself), so it was all on board and off to North Loburn. After initially getting a little lost - as seems to be the way on these tours - we found this Neat Little School perched high on the hills basking in the sunshine, while the rest of Canterbury seem to be buried in mist. We were warmly welcomed by their principal Simon Green. We listened to their pearls of wisdom (thanks Simon and Lois), visited classes and saw inquiry in action. One teacher was modeling a speech to her class. Her students were then each given a rubric and together they assessed their teacher's speech. Stunning stuff. So simple, but I wonder how many of us model speeches to our students. Her students will definitely have a clear idea of what is expected of them. We were envious of their prolific, sustainable garden and cosy classroom log burners! As we left, the cows were mooing in the paddock next door - no city stress here! Back on the bus; muffins on the way; off to Clarkville; no time to waste. Here we were greeted at the gate by four adorable little students who asked if we would like to follow them to the library. Principal, Pene Abbie was there to welcome us and much need tea and coffee was on offer! At Clarkville we heard (from Pene and Amy and six students) how they had been experimenting with inquiry for a while, and had now come up with a fairly tight model base on Kath Murdock, with a lot of emphasis on //do/be/understand//, and the //finding out// phase where all classes rotate through the various activities on offer by the teachers. Again, we were free to wonder through the classrooms, and talk to students and staff as we went. In one class, the 5 year olds were learning how to use their digital cameras. Great - saves us a job! How many other things are we doing that our students could be doing for us? After a quick browse in the gift emporium in Cust - definitely the place to go to buy anyone a gift - a superb lunch was had at Route 72, followed by some serious reflecting. Everyone went away with new ideas and issues to ponder. I look forward to the second tour next month. Thanks Simon and Pene for sharing with us! Sue Davidson
 * Reflections after Tour 1:**

 "Thank you very much for your organisation and leadership on our bus tour yesterday I found it very inspirational, thought provoking and energising. After downloading my photos last night and reflecting as I did I now have a myriad of new questions, ideas and wonderings to work through." Karen, Burwood



Tour Two Pics: