Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Christmas Day

Christmas day was alright. The weather wasn't as everyone had planned it out to be. There was rain falling down now and again and it had caused our plans for the day to be cancelled. But still my family and I found things to do of course. I awoke to the aroma of deliciously perfected ham roasting in the oven. My mother got up super early just to make the feast for the days event.

Instead of going to the beach like my family had planned out, we decided to go out far, and wide to all of our family member who we hadn't visited in a long time. After preparing the food, and of course ourselves for the day. We loaded the food into the car.

Our first stop was to my mother little brothers house. He lived in Manurewa and we thought it would be nice to visit him. When we arrived to his house, we gave him his food, and his present from the family and talked for a bit. Then made our way again. This time we were visiting an uncle of mine.

As we approached his driveway we saw that there were quite a few family of ours there. So my dad made the call that we would stay here, and have a feast with them. The day turned out to be quiet pleasant. Catching up with family members, and babysitting cute adorable babies. It wasn't the ideal Christmas I had in mind, but it was something worth writing about. There was still a lot of food which I am definitely thankful for.

The only lowlight this Christmas was the fact that my presents came at least 1 week after Christmas. Which were Shoes, Clothes, and money. All I have to do is wait for New Years day, where I'll receive a lot of money from my elderly aunties, and uncles. I can't wait!

New Years Eve

The preparation is so far exhausting, even though its 11 in the morning, the food preparation is coming along. My families plans for new years day, is to make our way out West for a family feast type of thing. There will be food, cousins, family, friends, and music. Its kind of an annual thing! I'm super excited for tomorrow though because I'll be getting to see my cousin. He's been gone for too long, and I just can't wait to see him.

One other reason why I can't wait is because all of my cousins from my fathers side will be there, and I haven't seen them all for ages! Another typical reason also, is because of the traditional food. There is going to be heaps! I heard there is going to be an Umu. Delicious.

New years is going to be awesome! I can just feel it. But I'm just nervous for the new year that'll be ahead of me after tomorrow. But oh well. Happy New Years Eve, and God Bless!

Monday, December 23, 2013

Last Day Of School


On the final day of school I didn't know what to expect. I said to my friends and I that I wouldn't cry at the end of the day. I didn't know if I was going to. School was finishing at 12:30 and I really didn't want things to end so fast. But at our assembly at the end of the day Mr Burt told all of us year 8's to load onto the stage. Right before we all said our "Happy Holidays" Gabriel thanked the teachers on behalf of the yr 8's once more. Then out of the blue all the yr 8 boys stood up in a fierce mode. So the girls decided to stand up to.

The boys were doing their haka they had all learnt in one days effort. They were going all out and it looked really epic! The stage was shaking, and the girls were starting to tear up. When finally the boys finished their haka a couple of the girls had already started to cry. It was getting to me, but I hardened up and held it in. After the whole school yelled out "HAPPY HOLIDAYS" after 3 go's it was time to say good-bye. We all stood up on the stage, and went running around and saying our farewells to each other.

After almost hugging every single student I decided to turn to the teachers. I still hadn't cried, but everyone around me was crying. It was astonishing for me, cause I would of thought I would be the first to break down. Once I started to approach Miss Jamali, I started to tear up. Once she hugged me was when I completely broke down into tears, and started to cry like a baby. I said my farewells to almost every teacher before I headed outside to where the rest of the class of 2013 were.

I started to walk for the gates to make my way to Swima-rama, but as I did, I turned around and saw everyone in the courtyard. It was probably the most heartbreaking moment of my life walking out of those gates. But as I did so, I thought to myself, what a wonderful life I've had here at Pt England. I will forever cherish all the memories that I had made here. And with those thoughts I walked out of the gate............ I'm gonna miss being a student at Pt England School definitely. And I'm going to miss all the friends I made their, who weren't just my friends, but had become family to me!

Prize giving Evening

It was prize giving night and my adrenaline was pumping! It was my very last for my life at Pt England School, and I was in the kapa haka group. Which meant I had to come a bit earlier than the others. Once I arrived I made my way towards the Library. When the event had finally started I was told to go on stage with Gabriel to do the opening prayers before joing the kapa haka group.

After doing the prayers, we scurried along to the kapa haka group that was waiting in the music room for us. Mr Burt had to do his short speech before it was our turn. It was our turn and I was feeling my goosebumps. I was really nervous, but I knew in my head that we were going to do great! We all single filed and walked onto the stage. The crowd was pretty big but it didn't get to me as much as it did before. Now we were all singing, and doing our haka, and it sounded pretty mean! When our bracket finished, we walked off the stage proudly!

The following thing that happened was the yr 5 awards and item. Their item was pretty cool. Although I loved the yr 6 item! It was off the hook. Their item had to be one of my main highlights of the night. Then there was the yr 7 item, they did a live MTV on stage act of the theme song of Prince Of Belair. An old one but a good one of Will Smith. Our year 8 item on the other hand was pretty awesome to. I liked it, and by the looks of the crowd they did to!

I enjoyed the evening because I got a few awards myself. 2nd academic was one of the 3 that I was most proud of. Once the night was over I felt relieved but yet again depressed that everything was over basically. The next prize giving I would attend to would be in college and I'm not just ready yet.


And The Countdown Begins

In less than 3 more days it will soon be Christmas day. I'm super ecstatic, and can't wait! The only low light is that my whole family won't be here. My sister Nive is in Australia with my grandparents for her birthday present, and for he Christmas present from them. My older sister Patricia will be down in Hamilton with her best friends family, and my eldest brother Kenny will be at his friends Christmas Dinner.

So Christmas day is left with just mum, dad, James and me. It's going to be a small Christmas this year, but I'm still pretty excited. Family time is family time, and I will cherish any moment I spend with them. I think all we'll be doing is unwrapping gifts, and eating as much as we want! I can't wait!

Monday, December 16, 2013

Pt England School Highlight

My life at Pt England School has finally after nine years come to an end. Through my tough trials and tribulations, between me and my long lasting friends, we've always come to a conclusion of friendship. Moving on to college next year is going to be so hard. Leaving everything behind, including my friends is the most hardest thing I'm going to have to do. I've enjoyed most of my years here at Pt England School.

My New Entrant year went by in a blur since I enjoyed being a student of Miss Anderson so much. Miss Wild was one of my many favoured teachers. She was my year one teacher. She taught me so much, she helped me so much, and she was the person who started off my footpath into becoming the person who I am today. In Miss Wild's class I made new friends, Mary Loseli was one and Ashleigh was another. I had a lot of friends but they were my two closest class mates. Thank-you Miss Wild!

Throughout the next three years Ashleigh, Mary and I stayed friends, but we were split into different classes. Ash and I were together but Mary had been split from us. In the following year I was in Room nine and I had Miss Wood as my teacher, she was amazing to have as a teacher. She taught me a lot, and she was so kind and friendly. During my year in Room nine I had the buzz of playing sport. Thank-you Miss Wood.

Miss McKinlay was my year 3 teacher. She was harsh, but I liked the way she taught us students. She was really cool to have as a teacher, and she helped carve my pathway into becoming the person who I am today also. Thank-you Miss McKinlay. The following year I got put into Miss Garden's class, she was my year 4 teacher. In her class she taught me a lot of things. I reckon being put in her class helped me extend in my learning, and so I thank-you Miss Garden. In room twelve I started to play netball, and I loved it.

Miss Squires was my teacher in year five, I didn't really enjoy that year because of dramas with friends. It was okay, Miss Squires did teach me a lot though. Luckily by the end of the year my friends and I managed to resolve everything. So I thank-you. The following year Miss Garden taught me again, I enjoyed that year, it was a tough year but I endured through it. When finally I entered into year seven, Mrs Lagitupu became my teacher. That was definitely a year to remember.

My final year I was put into Room twenty with Miss Squires as my teacher once again. I really enjoyed it, I made new friends along the way, and I learnt a lot of new things. Both learning wise, and life wise. My life here at Pt England School has been amazing, reflecting back on my life and years attending here I've definitely learnt a load of things.

The thought of college is daunting me. I really don't think I'm ready for it. But it's time for me to proceed along to college. I'm off to a completely different school with completely different people, which is making me feel a bit nervous. I'm going to miss playing sports here, eating my friend's lunch (just kidding) more like them eating mine. I'm going to miss all the teachers, and my lovely little children that always say hi to me whenever I walk past. I am just going to miss Pt England school in general.

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Outlook for Someday Workshop: GJMR Studios


GJMR Studios Extension from Team 5 PES on Vimeo.

As we all know Pt England School is indeed very into their movie making, and we as an extension class try to participate in as many movie competitions as possible. But there is one competition that stands out the most for us and that's The Outlook For Someday competition, held in Auckland, for people who love movie making right from the ages of 5 to 23.

Last term, our extension class and a few extra year 8 students were fortunate enough to have 2 people come to our school for a whole day workshop all about movie making. Their names were Chris, and Ilia. Being experienced and all in movie making, they took their time up to come and give us some tips on what we could do to improve our movie making skills.

The workshop started at 9:00am and finished at 3:00pm. By 3:00pm we were expected to have a short movie finished, that was either based around these sustainability areas Society, Culture, Economy and Environment. We firstly were each set in groups. In my group there was Mary L, Jay'lee and Gloria, and obviously me. We named our group GJMR Studios. Pretty decent right. Well we worked together for the rest of the day. Before we got started on the whole movie making, we did a couple of activities around what our movies were going to be based on or around.

Each group got given a file filled with pieces to a jigsaw puzzle we had to try and solve. This puzzle had different words written over it in specific areas. The word economy for instance on the jigsaw puzzle was surrounded by things relating to the word. After putting all the pieces together, the words Society, Culture, Economy and Environment were placed in different places all over it. After discussing with my group a bit about each word, and a bit about the pictures around them, it was time to pick one of the words and develop a storyboard on a movie based around that word.

My group and I chose the words Economy and Society. Our main question we wanted to try and answer through our movie we were going to make was 'How has the world come to evolve around money?' By the time I got hooked into the whole process of things, it was already morning tea time. We had to leave things where they were, and come back after play, and start filming.

As soon as we walked into Tusitala and took our seats, Ilia and Chris both started talking to us about the next step to the workshop. It was movie making time. Since my group and I had already planned our movie, we were ready to film. Two of the four of us, Gloria and Mary went outside to film, while Jay'lee and I stayed behind finishing off our script, which was a rhyming type of one. It was a simple job and we got it done fast and recorded it. As soon as we did, the girls had finished filming what they were assigned to. We put the movie together back in the ICT lab and edited it right in time before the bell rang for lunch.

My group was relieved because we knew that our movie was finished, and that after lunch we had a decent movie to produce. After watching our movies, it was time for judgement. The other groups movies seemed to be pretty good, but the GJMR productions film had to be my favourite. Once every bodies movie played and were judged, Chris and Elia were off. The days worth session was pretty cool, and I'm pretty sure in the future I'll be making pretty cool movies too.

Digital Reflection

This generation has more modern ways to lean. For example, we now use high tech fashioned mini net books, a couple of iPads in each classes, and many of us pretty much have moved on from using pencil and paper.

Using net books and digital technology this year has helped me personally be able to exceed in all my learning subjects. By automatically connecting towards the TLN Manaiakalani network, we are all able to learn online and become very fluent with the system. The wifi connection has helped me with my math subject just by using online math websites, for instance like Math Whizz and XtraMath. Both math websites that have mainly taken care of that subject for me.

I've learnt from the young ones in my class about the technical skills we are able to access. Very difficult to come by, but the year seven boys know the terminal page inside out. At home I've researched by myself a lot of things. One I remember off the top of my head are the math websites I signed up for by myself. Like Mathlete, funbrain, and a load of other websites.

Having net books that can be able to access the internet is a real convenience. We are able to do our learning at home, or possibly anywhere there maybe WiFi available. Everything we learn is all based online, so having our net book constantly connected to the internet is a real time saver.

It's been really cool this year because since I'm almost an expert in technology for my age, I've been able to help younger students. With their school work, and with technology wise problems. Especially my little brother. I'm now able to help him with any school work he needs help with.

I've advanced quite a lot in my subjects since we switched into becoming a digital learning school. And being able to work outside of school has also really helped me. Since our tasks are set online, I'm able to access them, and exceed in my learning in my own time.

My friends have helped me a lot with my learning, and with any problems I've had with my net book. Mainly Ashleigh, she's an ultimate expert with technology in my eyes.

I have really enjoyed researching by myself at home the many different learning websites, youtube videos, and lyric links that have helped me with my work at school. One in particular website is thesaurus.com! It helps me, and gives me a varied amount of words to help me with my writing, and songs.

Through the past three years, going digital in all my learning has really helped me a lot! I've been able to learn, and share my work and learning online with my friends and families. I've been able to work at home and finish off projects I couldn't finish at school. Digital learning has seriously helped me with my learning outcomes, and the way I learn.



Monday, December 9, 2013

Yr 8 Camp

My friends and I entered the bus hyped and ecstatic ready for camp, and especially for the 5 hour drive that was ahead of us. After Mr Burt said our prayer, it was time to board onto the buses. The team I was in was pretty sharp so we went on the bus 2nd. Kane, Jesiah, Brooklyn, Sesalina, Turuhira, Makayla and I all grabbed our bags and made our way.

Day one was basically one giant bus ride that I personally didn't quite enjoy, because I always get car sick when I stay in a vehicle for to long. Once we arrived to the camp site which was Keswick down in Rotorua, with a silent sounding 'w' we loaded off our luggage and got changed into comfy clothing worthy for running/walking in. My highlight for day one was going for a swim with the boys and Ashleigh, it was pretty fun, oh and the scenic view Gabriel showed us. It was beautiful. My low light though was the long walk, it was damp and raining.

Day two was alright, I enjoyed breakfast but I didn't quite enjoy the part when we went for our other cross fit run basically. But watching the geyser was pretty fascinating. I also enjoyed being at the Agrodome, and carrying cute little animals. Especially the rabbits, they were so adorable and fluffy.

Day three was descent, it was Thursday and we were going to the Blue lake for a swim. My highlight of the day was swimming at Rotorua's aquatic centre, it was pretty buzzy. The lowlight of my day was the ugly weather we had to walk through to get to the Blue lake.

Finally on the last day, it was time to hit the Luge before we were headed back to Tamaki Makaurau. The luge ride was awesome, and I really enjoyed it. By the time we got back to school it was just past 4:00pm. I was glad to be home, but I did miss the camp sight as well. Maybe in another couple of years time I could visit down there once again.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Thrust Investigation



The year 7 and 8 extension group did a quick investigation on how far a balloon could thrust on a straw through a string. There were 4 groups of 4-5 students in them. The group I was in consisted of Vivienne, Shoal, Brooklyn and Lisia. Our first attempt wasn't so triumphant. The second time around our time improved, but not our distance. Finally on our third and last attempt it was successful. As they say, save the best for last, and we certainly did with our adjustments.  

Friday, December 6, 2013

Rest In Peace Nelson Mandela



The one and only, loving, caring and humble man Nelson Mandela has become an angel up in heaven. Tragically he passed away this morning in his very own home. Nelson Mandela lived a hard and rough life, but to him it was all a challenge he was willing to take. Nelson Mandela will forever be in my heart, and everyone else, he created a tribe to justice and humanity. But perhaps it was a dream of his he always knew would happen. A remarkable man, a remarkable life, that ended today at the age of 95.

Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another -quoted by Nelson Mandela. 

Rest In Paradise Papa Nelson Mandela <3

Monday, December 2, 2013

My Mihi

Kia ora tatou
Greetings to us all

Kua hui mai nei
Who gathered here today

Ki tenei kura
To this school

Ki te mau mai
To bring

I nga whakaaro pai
The good thoughts

Ka nui te hari
Greats is the happiness

Mo to koutou kaha
For your support

Ki te huihui mai
In assembling/gathering

Ki te hapai
To uplift

I nga take
The matters/ subjects

E pa ana ki tenei kura
Concerning this school

No reira tena koutou, tena koutou, tena ra tatou katoa
Therefore greeting once, greetings twice, greetings again to us all.