Star Jam contribution

An organisation for disabled people is holding an excellent fundraising event in August.  This will be a Jump Jam session aimed at raising money for these people.  Visit the Star Jam website for further details.  I am very pleased to be involved with this.

Leadership Course

For all you budding leaders and future competitors, there is a leadership workshop available for you to attend in May!  Judges from Brett Fairweather's Jump Jam will be there to teach you leadership skills and tricks.  This is very exciting as this opportunity has not been available for a few years.  You will learn how to lead like a professional (if you aren't already!!) and your new skills will help immensely in your competitions.  Watch this space for further details.

Week 4 Roster

Jump Jam Leaders this week

Lily S-E

Liberty

Chloe

Grace

Malachi

Hyla

Payten

Uma

Liam Mc

Eden

New roster

Thanks to all those children who have committed to Working Interdependently to lead Jump Jam fitness sessions.  Your help is valuable and the programme could not run without you.  The first team up this week have been very responsible and great role models for other teams.  Also, thanks to those people who stepped up at the last minute on Wednesday when many of the leaders were involved in the Weetbix Triathlon.

Jump Jam Leaders this week.   Please meet in Room 1 at lunchtime on Monday to practice. Kat Lila Katelyn Molly Joe Daytona Tawhiri Ana Marissa Cullen

Background and History

Welcome to Jump Jam at Haumoana School.

Jump Jam, an aerobics for kids programme, has been in our school for several years now.  It was introduced as a fitness programme for juniors, extending to seniors on a rotational basis. Jump Jam fitness usually takes place 3 or 4 mornings per week.  Leaders are trained to learn and instruct the routines from Brett Fairweather's programme. Check out his website. 

Over the past 5 years Mrs Jensen has entered children in National competitions with success each year.  Children are trained to instruct children in the fun routines and requires a complex set of skills to perfect.  They use a multitude of Habits of Mind to succeed in the competitions.  

• Persistence - keep on trying (it is difficult!)
• Thinking and Communicating with Clarity and Precision - give clear instructions so the audience knows what to do.
• Taking Responsible Risks - it's scary up on stage!
• Striving for Accuracy - keep in time to the music; show the correct moves.
• Create and Innovate - What else can I say to make it fun?  Be original.
• Ask Questions - to show you care about the audience
• Respond with Wonderment and Awe - be passionate about what you are doing
• Finding Humour - have a laugh if you make a mistake, enjoy the moment!
• Thinking Interdependently - Work together to set up equipment, help others get fit, help each other learn routines.

The first competition entered was the 'Idol' competition where a video is recorded of the child instructing a group and sent off for initial judging. Competitors are then notified whether or not they have qualified for the live National or Regional competition.  More recently the teams' Challenge competition and the paired or groups of 3 'X-Factor' competition has been explored.  The following are results:

Idol

• 2009   Selwyn Webby - placed 3rd at National event - Boys Year 4 - 6
• 2010   Tegan Mansfield - 3rd at National event - Girls Year 4 - 6
•           Emma Johnson - qualified 3rd in preliminary round but in accordance with the rules, she could not enter the National event as Tegan had placed 2nd and only one person from each school is eligible.
• 2010   Selwyn Webby -  3rd at National event - Boys Year 7 - 8 (coached by Mrs Jensen)
• 2011   Wesley Akeripa - 2nd in North Island Regional event (3rd National) - Boys Year 4 - 6
• 2012   Laura Johnson - 5th National event - Girls Year 4 - 6
• 2013   Laura Johnson - 5th National event - Girls Year 4 - 6

Teams Challenge

• 2012  Senior Mixed team of 8 girls and 4 boys - Placed 3rd North Island Regional event - Novice section Year 4 - 6 mixed.
• 2013  Junior All Boys team of 8 Year 3 boys - 9th North Island Regional event - Year 4 - 8 Boys.  This is noteworthy as they were very young and competing against boys up to the age of 12!!!

X-Factor

• 2013  Laura Johnson and Tessa Burns - 4th National event.

Mrs Jensen was joined in 2012 by Mrs Jayne Clinton to inject some creativity into the teams routines.  Her help is invaluable!

Because the 3rd placing was gained in the novice section of the team event in 2012, our school (irrespective of who is in the team) must compete in the Open sections.  This does not include all boys teams as their section is neither Open nor Novice.

2014 is set to have record numbers of children wanting to participate in Jump Jam competitions as they see and hear about the enjoyment they are gaining from it.  We will enter 2 or 3 teams and several Idol and X-Factor competitors in August, then wait with bated breath for the results.  Once a place in the National competition is confirmed, sewing machines will begin whirring to create yet another set of dazzling costumes the kids can be proud to wear!

Here's to another successful year.