A Trip to the Lawrence Museum

The Old School Room At The Lawrence Museum on PhotoPeach

 

Today we went to visit the Lawrence Museum. They have an old school-room set up which has furniture from the late 1800's. Mrs Goodlet talked to us about the number of small schools that there used to be in the Tuapeka District. She explained that there needed to be a lot of schools because the only way to get to school was walking or by pony, so there needed to be a lot of schools so that children didn't have to walk too far. It was a great opportunity to sit at some of the old desks, look at the old map, once used for Geography, see the slates children wrote on and see an old headmaster's strap.

Cross Country 2013

Today was the Lawrence Area School Annual Cross Country event, held up Gabriel's Gully.

We were very lucky to have a terrific day for competition, not too hot, not too cold, no wind and no rain. The track was soft and dry underfoot so it was perfect conditions for optimum racing and the parents and friends of the school who came to cheer us on were not to be disappointed.

 Abby & Alyssa

 Alesana & Blake. Blake came first in the year 3&4 boys race.

 Connie & Emma. Emma came second in the year 3&4 girls race.

 Hamish & Jenaya. Jenaya came first in the year 3&4 girls race.

 Josie & Kate.

 Lanie & Venessa. Lanie came third in the Year 3&4 girls race.

 Lucie & Max.

 Paris & Rubie.

 Ryan & Samara. Ryan came third in the year 3&4 boys race.

Toby came second in the Year 3&4 boys race.

All of the Room 4 students gave the event their very best effort and some of the positions were highly contested. We are very proud of all of our class and congratulate them on their fantastic efforts.

You make us proud every day - Mrs May and Mrs O

Planting to help out our native fish

On May 13, Lawrence Area School children and teachers took part in a “Meet the Galaxiids” day when they helped Lan from DOC to search Boundary Creek, which runs near the school, for Clutha flathead galaxiids. The stream runs through the Goldpark Motor Camp and owners Jock and Marie Martin are pleased to give the school access as they are keen to protect the rare galaxiids.

Image from the DOC website

We even feature on the DOC website!  If you want to find out more, click on the link below:
DOC website

Today the Year 1-8 students returned to the creek and helped the DOC rangers to plant numerous native plants along the creek running through the motor camp.  These are to help protect the clutha flathead galaxiids by increasing shade, reducing weeds and lowering water temperatures.

Firstly we were shown how to plant the natives, including the depth of the hole, crumbling the soil around the plant, pushing the soil down, placing a weed mat around the base and then placing plastic over four stakes to protect the plant from sprays and wind.

After the planting demonstration we set off in groups of three to get planting.  Check it out....

 

 

 

 

What a sight it was seeing nearly 100 students focused, engaged and doing something positive to help out our local environment!

 

 

 

 

Some of our finished work!

 After we had finished planting, the DOC rangers gave every student a special punnet which contained six kowhai seeds, which had been gathered from the South Otago area, to grow and plant at home.