12.12.12 The Day of Superstitiousness

12.12.12 that's the date today. It's a day when people start saying very superstitious things about the date. For instance I hear people whaling "OH NO THE WORLDS GOING TO END!" Pretty pathetic don't you think? Anyway, the date means nothing, it all depends on the Lord, and when he wants the world to end. But by the teachings I have learnt, we're actually going to have a very long period of time on this earth. So yeah, according to things we're fine just the way we are.

Best Of Friends

The photo up top, are of all the people in our little cluster of friends. Each of them have their very own way of being unique to me. Vivienne, she's a very talented friend of mine. Mary L, well she's a really good singer. Shoal, she's my very close teddy bear. Huelo Ata, she's the fit one of the group and she is also one of my close friends. Brooklyn she's the weird and unique one of the clan. Ashleigh, haha, she has a lot of things in common with me. Crusader, he's like an older brother. Darius, he's like my twin brother. Each of them are very special and dear to me. I can't wait for next year trying to spend the most time with each of them as possible.

Outlook for Someday Evening Awards

The evening was young and Mrs Langitupu, Miss Muliaumaseali'i, Kingston, Shoal, and I were on our way to one of the venues in the Aotea Centre. It was a very special evening for us all, we were going to be receiving the award for a category we had won from the Outlook for Someday event.

When we had arrived we were directed right into the medium sized auditorium and sat down near the back. Then we were all directed to another set of seats that we would sit on for the rest of the evening. We were at the very front, right next to the red carpet.

The evening award started, and the first category called out was the Body Shop. Then category by category went past, and precisely on the 16th one, which was the Tagata Pasifika award "Lost Paradise" was called out as the winner. And guess what, that was US! It was called out by the one and only John Pulu, one of the shows very well known presenters. We thanked him, and delivered our speech, then sat right back in our seat, with that buzz of amazement still running through our veins.

Later on after the ceremony had finished, there were light refreshments going on in the foyer of the venue. They served sausage rolls, and quiche which filled me up just fine. The evening over all was spectacular. It was my first time, but definitely shouldn't be my last.

Year 8's

I can't believe that I'm saying this, but I actually miss those loud and very noisy year 8's. Ever since they've gone the whole school has pretty much been quiet. But at the same time, I'm very jealous because Selena had been telling us all about the place they'd be staying at, the day before they left us. She said that there were going to be heated pools, nice clean cabins, and much more things. And the place was up North as well, which would probably take a good hour till they would reach the destination.

I actually miss them, and their loud and noisy ways. But other then that, I can't wait till we get to go next year. Can't WAIT for next YEAR !!

The Manaiakalani evening Session

The evening session started off with all the very fun and ecstatic films. And ended with the emotional ones. The same feeling I had rushed through my adrenaline as the day time session.

Me and Toreka were set to the second to last partners to present. The person that opened the whole event for the evening, was very funny. He used to be a presenter on the famous kids show What Now. One of the things he did that made me awe, was he stuck a sharp stick right through a balloon with out popping it. It was amazing.

But then the lights dimmed down, and the whole festival started.

Movie after movie, things were going very fast. My favourite movie for the whole evening was 'The Test'. It was hilarious. The actors were really good. But at the same time as I was enjoying myself it came closer to being our turns. We then saw the students sitting before us in the line walk up. The we suddenly faced each other mouthed the words.

Their movie then played, and I then thought to myself, what's the hassle it'll be like the day time session. So I relaxed and got ready to walk on stage. Mrs Burt handed us the mike and it went silent. "Which will you take" then came out of both our mouths and we realised we were finished.

We scurried quickly back to our seats and relaxed for the very last movie being presented by Irasa and Tatianna from Tamaki Intermediate. Their movie was thanking their Principal Mr Horan for all of his hard work he has contributed to the school for the past many many years.

But soon after the movie had finished we all gave a huge applaud to the people who had made the whole thing possible. So from me to those people, Thank You so much!! It was an awesome evening!!

Part 1 of my Telecom Tree Lighting Trip

On the bus going towards the city, the boys were cracking funny jokes, making the whole crowd sitting near the back of the bus burst into laughter, half of the time. Where were we going? Why are we sitting on a bus you may be asking? Well some students got the huge privilege and opportunity to go to the big Telecom Tree Lighting Ceremony in the city. The very kind and thoughtful people who worked for Telecom provided buses that would take us there, food that would fill us, and heaps of fun we were to have.

“Okay guy’s we’re off here” Mr Burt called from the front door of the bus. Vivienne, Ashleigh, Litia, Samson, Darius, Kingston, Tui, Miracle and I all stood up and slowly walked off of the bus, looking lifeless. But as soon as we received our little packages filled with our evening meals we automatically looked like we had some actual life in us.

One of the Telecom people that directed us as to where we had to go, walked us right down to where the main event was happening. When we got there, we put down our bags, and ran over to this little phone box we had to go in and ring Santa, and ask politely what we wanted for Christmas. Vivienne, Tyrece and I jumped in all at once. Tyrece was much to shy, so Vivienne asked Santa for Tyrece, then I asked Santa what I wanted, then Vivienne. We all exited the little phone box giggling, and actually thinking we would get what we asked for. Well my hopes are up.

Then we scurried off to our bags craving for our food. I had beef and Litia had Vegetarian which is not what she wanted. After Vivienne and I ate we went to a little tent, that was pretty crowded but could just about fit a few more people. There was a circular table in the centre of the tent, and a line going towards a popcorn stand, and a massive drawing that anyone could colour in if they wanted to do so.

We stood in the line of the popcorn stand, and it took quite a while, but Darius, Kingston, Samson, Tui and Miracle were at the front of the line and they were mocking us when they walked past us. We finally reached the front of the line, and the machine broke. So we waited an extra 5 minutes. When we got our popcorn, we headed right to the massive drawing that anyone could colour in. Vivienne and I were colouring in, and all of a sudden, Ashleigh and the boys joined us.

After we drew our names on the massive picture, we then went to the line that were giving out balloons. Denny, one of the telecom helpers came and asked us if we wanted to join him, with his little Gangnam Style flash mob that was going to happen in the centre of the stage. "YEAH SURE" we all replied. And once a pumping song came on, we ditched the line, and ran to the stage. "We got this guys" Samson was saying to all of us, in a nervous toned voice. We each ran on the stage pumped and ready, then the beat came on, and we were all jumping around like maniacs. "Hahahahaha, this is crack up" Sean said from the back with a huge smile on his face. When we were dancing, there were also proper professional dancers dancing at the same time, so we copied their actions, and they were pretty slick. Then the song ended with a huge finale, we all said "EEEHHH." We then went off stage and gave Denny huge high five's and went to play bulrush on the field.



In the photo: The man with the blue coloured Santa hat is Denny.

Netbook Reflection 2012

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

You know how we use netbooks now a days? Well yes, they have been a huge help this entire year. They’ve pretty much changed the way we learn, and made it more efficient. For me using a netbook instead of pencil and paper, has been way better then looking back at a good 2 years ago. It’s only been 2 years since the manaiakalani programme has kicked in and people’s grades have been rising very rapidly.

The internet connection that we have now is much better than last years that’s all I know. The only thing that’s a bummer, is that the manaiakalani connection that we are supposed to use at home, hasn’t yet been fully wired up.

I think that using netbooks is awesome! And things are running smoothly. But I definitely reckon that without the help of our wonderful principal Mr Burt, and his first lady, Mrs Burt this whole programme with the netbooks, never would have happened. So I am so grateful for them, and the huge knowledge I have gained from using this one very tool to learn with.