Blue Class News – Week 1, Term 3

Welcome back to Term 3! Blue Class has had a wonderful start to the term, full of energy, creativity and new learning.

In English, we’ve been working on building our writing stamina and learning how to use REEL paragraphs to improve our structure. We also explored interesting places to live around the world, from treehouses to underwater hotels! Students designed and wrote their very own postcards, imagining life in these wild and wonderful places.

In Maths, we've started exploring integers and negative numbers. From diving below zero to understanding temperatures in icy places, it’s been a cool start (literally!) to our number work this term.

In Science, we’ve been discussing how animals become endangered. Our focus has been on the White Rhinos, learning what has brought them so close to extinction and what people are doing to help protect them. This sparked some powerful conversations in class!

In Art, we’ve begun planning for our Art Show, thinking carefully about the pieces we want to include and the stories behind them. Stay tuned – there are some very creative things on the way!

📚 At Home Suggestions:

Reading: 15–20 minutes a night makes all the difference! Try to mix it up with novels, non-fiction, or even graphic novels.
Maths: Talk about negative numbers in real life—fridge temperatures, money, or elevations below sea level. It’s everywhere once you start looking!

🎭 Good Luck, Stage 3 Creative Arts Campers!

A big GOOD LUCK to our Stage 3 students heading off to Creative Arts Camp in Week 2. We are so proud of you and know you’ll do amazing things. We can’t wait to hear all about your performances, workshops and fun-filled days when you return!

Here’s to a fantastic Term 3 full of creativity, confidence and curiosity!

— Miss Williams 😊

Persuasive texts has been our focus this week

Dear World,

Today I learned something that truly shocked me—there are only TWO wild white rhinos left in the entire world. Just two! Both live in Kenya, and they are a mother and daughter named Najin and Fatu.

White rhinos used to roam freely, but they were hunted nearly to extinction. Why? Because people believed their horns had “magical powers.” These beliefs led to cruel poaching, and now only Najin and Fatu remain.

This is my report, but it’s also a plea:Please, help us protect these beautiful animals.Save our rhinos. Stop the killing. Let’s make sure Najin and Fatu’s story isn’t the end.

With hope, The one and only, Hollie 🦏

Why Are White Rhinos at Risk?

By Blayne and Flynn

White rhinos are nearly extinct. They are being hunted for their horns, which are made of the same material as our fingernails — keratin! Sadly, people are paying huge amounts of money just to get these horns.

The last two northern white rhinos in the world are both female — Najin and Fatu — and they live in Kenya. They are guarded 24/7 by rangers to keep them safe from poachers. Because they are both female and cannot have babies, scientists are working hard to find ways to help save their species.

We need to protect white rhinos before it’s too late. Every action counts — let's help save them!

By Mia

It’s up to us to save the northern white rhinoceros. Start saving — stop hunting. Or do you really want to be part of the reason they disappear forever?

There are only two northern white rhinos left in the whole world — both are females named Najin and Fatu. They live under 24-hour armed protection in Kenya. Because they cannot carry a pregnancy, they are now considered functionally extinct.

Yes — you heard that right.People have hunted them almost to extinction for their horns, which are made of the same stuff as our fingernails! And now, even if scientists create a way to help them have babies, it may already be too late. They are running out of time… and we are running out of excuses.

Do you want to be remembered as someone who helped the planet — or someone who destroyed it?

The world has given us so much. Now it’s time to give back. Let’s protect what’s left before it’s truly gone. 🙁💔

By Rish, Tal and Xander

In 2025, only two northern white rhinos remain in the world — Najin and her daughter Fatu. They live in Kenya, protected 24/7 by armed rangers. Sadly, both rhinos are female and unable to have babies, which means the species is on the brink of extinction. But scientists haven’t given up. They are using advanced science, like IVF, to create rhino embryos using stored DNA, which they hope to implant into a southern white rhino surrogate.

White rhinos were once hunted almost to extinction for their horns. Some people believed the horns had magical healing powers — but in reality, rhino horns are made of keratin, the same material found in our fingernails. They have no special powers.

Today, people around the world are coming together to protect these incredible animals. Conservation groups are raising awareness, stopping illegal wildlife trade, and offering hope that one day, white rhinos might roam the wild once again.

The Ibis

Towards a better world

Issue 10 · 28 Jul 2025

In this issue