KPE Episode 355 :"My Dad, the All Black"

Crusader and Waata from Room 17 review the perfect book in the Rugby World Cup year - "My Dad, the All Black".

As New Zealand gears up for total rugby fever, these boys from Room 17 bring this classic from Sandy MacKay back to KPE.

Will McCann, 12 years old, is a top notch rugby player. Everybody says he gets his talent from his famous All Black father, but Will never knew his dad. After a game goes wrong, Will wonders if he plays rugby because he loves the game, or because everybody says he should?

When Will's grandad dies, Will meets Jim, his reclusive uncle with a troubled past. Why has Uncle Jim stayed away from Will and his mum for so many years? What really happened the night Will's dad died? While, on the other side of the world, the All Blacks battle for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, Will battles to discover the truth about the past. He eventually unlocks a secret that helps him decide things for himself.

Anyone who ever wanted to be an All Black should read this book!

KPE Episode 292: "Eureka"

This podcast from Sylvia and Kayla is about a book called "Eureka" by Sandy MaKay. We were very priviledged to have Sandy McKay visit our school several years ago and make a podcast with us about another one of her books.
"Eureka" sounds like another great story and we think you will enjoy the way Sylvia and Kayla talk about it. We also think you will enjoy the talents of the photographer for this episode - it looks like they had a lot of fun on their photo shoot!

"It's science fair time again and, as usual, Joey and Todd are stuck for ideas. Their teacher keeps imploring them to look for things in their every day lives that they could make better, but they still don't have a clue. Then, Eureka! Joey decides the thing that needs the most improvement is his frazzled single mother, so he starts experimenting..."

KPE Episode 200 - Yes, TWO HUNDRED

"Recycled" by Sandy MacKay
Korero Pt England has published 200 episodes. Well done KPE podcasters past and present!

Jaydn and Elijah are proud to be podcasting the 200th book for KPE. They have chosen a book that fits with the school-wide Inquiry for term 4 -"Go For Green" The book is called "Recycled" by Sandy MacKay and as you can guess by the title it is a story based around the theme that is very important at Pt England School at the moment; reduce, reuse and recycle. At Pt England School we even have a song about this that was written by our own music teacher, Mr Jacobsen. You can see the MTV of this song here.
We enjoy reading books by Sandy Mackay as she is one of our favourite authors. She came to Pt England School a couple of years ago and published a podcast herself with Alosina, one of our past pupils. Click here to listen to "My Dad, the All Black". You may also enjoy "Barry and Bitsa" which is published in an earlier blogpost.

KPE Episode 91 -"Barry and Bitsa" by Sandy McKay.

"Barry and Bitsa" by Sandy McKay.

Crystal has been reading this book and Kayla is her DJ. Both girls are Year 6 students from Room 17. "Barry and Bitsa" was published as part of the Kiwi Bites series in 2005. Sandy tells stories that children enjoy reading and this book is no exception. Barry brings home a dog from the pet shop, and as the name suggests, he is a 'bitsa'.
In this story both the boy and the dog need to gain acceptance, and by the end they both do. Barry is accepted by the local boys and Bitsa overcomes Mum's reluctance to become part of the family.

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