The Azonto Crew by Reitz

The movie that I mostly recommend is 'Azonto"  by Tamaki College

'Azonto' is a movie that features kids running around the city dancing with lots of amazing talents. This movie plays a song called 'Azonto', it was very catchy and it got me hooked as a fish! All of them were wearing white masks, black pants and black shirt. This movie encourages people to dance and entertain  viewers.These kids can enter a dance competition!I can't wait to watch Tamaki College next movie. 

"Today my life begins" by Monique

"Today My Life Begins" is an awesome movie because the background is interesting. They really did a great job on this movie. I think the students had fun because of their cool dance movements.  I like how they lip sync the song. I also had fun watching the movie because of their costumes. They also chose the right song. Manaiakalani Film Festival is great because it let the students from different schools show their talents.

I recommend...by Angel

I recommend this video because, the effects, animating,and acting was good. Their lip syncing is realistic that I thought they were actually singing the song. Great choice of music too. It was good how they express their emotion to the song which fits in.

"Honesty is the best policy" by Maria

I would  recommend 'Busted' from Room 7 at Tamaki Primary school. This movie features a boy who is dishonest with his mother about money. After receiving lunch money, he uses it to buy lollies from the shop and then tells his teacher that he has no lunch. Later on, his mother finds out from the principal that he has been buying lollies. After the mother has a good talk to her son he promises not to lie again. When he gets home and he's actually telling the truth, his mother doesn't believe him. The movie teaches us an essential lesson that lying is not good and  'honesty is the best policy!'

Black and White by Nia

 I recommend Azonto By Tamaki College

 I would recommend this film  because there are fantastic dance  movements involved within it, and the way the actors/actresses put themselves in different parts of the background is very effective.

Highly Recommended Movie - Three Words by Angela B

I recommend "Three Words" by Room 3 at Saint Pius X School because it has a nice meaning behind the movie. It was very simple but it was also very good. The students from Room 3 had three or two pieces of paper that said something with only three words. Some of these three words were 'Learn Create Share' and 'We Use Netbooks'. I have 3 words for this movie which are 'Highly Recommended Movie'.

One Direction on a Journey by Clarade

I recommend  you to watch "One Direction - Tamaki College" simply because it is amazing. They travel from time to time, being a child, to being an adult, and the music that's involved behind the film is phenomenal!

Film Festival Review by Luisa

My recommendation is 'One Direction' by Tamaki College, simply because the planning and setting of the film was well structured and a specific scene that had different generations of ages going through it with the ongoing amazing music behind it was persuasive to watch.

One one of the funniest by Jose

I thought this movie was one of the funniest because there was a twist at the end of the story. Thanks for the well constructed movie!

"Today my life begins" by Benjamin

I liked the song the film makers added to their movie, it was so catchy! Thanks and well done!

 
Today My Life Begins from Team 4 Pes on Vimeo.

"Today my Life Begins" by Angela O

Today my life begins  was one of the best Manaiakalani films that I have viewed, they have definitely set the bar high for next year.Their acting and animation was awesome. We have competition!

There's Something in the Water by Jose

"Are we swimming today Mrs Dines?" This had to be the most frequently asked question at Saint Patrick's School during the third term. Having a portable pool definitely raised the enthusiasm of students and teachers. Not only were we learning to swim, but also water survival techniques. We found out too how important it was for the pool water to be tested to ensure that it was safe to swim in.

We discussed and wrote about the importance of learning to swim and presented these as persuasive writing on our blogs. We created Wordles to emphasise and give more detail to our blog posts and had fun creating animation movies for the first time on our netbooks.

Wordle

Correcting the water and chlorine balance took over a week. "Are we swimming today?" "Are we swimming today?" "Are we swimming today?" These questions haunted our teacher until finally it was all go!

Our movie for the film festival was inspired by our learning about the chemicals and daily testing that was carried out on the pool water. Sometime up to three times a day!

We wondered...could children shrink only to grow back to size all as a result of chemical imbalance in the water? Thanks to the support of Mr Major and Tamaki College, we were also able to include a realistic scene in the science lab to create our entertaining movie. Also a big thanks to Mrs Bullot for her support in production. The movie making team included Clarade, Angela B, Angel, Aaron, Kit, Jose, Ben, Reitz, Maxine, Vitor and Christopher.


Water from St Patrick's School on Vimeo.

Saint Patrick's students have also been reviewing film festival movies on their blogs. Do you agree with their recommendations?

• Room 7 Manaiakalani Film Festival Reviews
• Room 8 Manaiakalani Film Festival Reviews 

Learn to Swim! by Aaron

We are learning to use the features of explanation writing to inform and persuade our audience.

Learn to Swim

Swimming is essential in many ways not just for exercise but it will also help our New Zealand citizens and tourists to be safe in the water. I believe this because the rate of children drowning is increasing.One reason for this is because of the lack of the swimming that many children do.  This reduces the opportunity for these essential skills to develop. This also means that children and in some cases adults too, do not learn how to keep safe in the water. People underestimate what water can do to them at a beach or at a pool, while many think it is all about splashing and diving and having fun, water can be dangerous if you don’t know how to swim or what to do it you get into trouble. Swimming is a very good exercise for your lungs.  Learning to  swim and water safety skills can help you survive and if one day you fell into the water.  Would you know what would to do? If you were at the beach and got into trouble, would you know how to signal for help to alert the lifeguards.

In conclusion swimming is an important and fun thing you do in life not just for physical benefits but also to help you keep safe in water’ because once you lose your life you can’t take it back so Learn to Swim.  It will not only help save your life, but the skills you learn could also save the life of another person.  Learn to Swim!

Next by Maxine

 
 Heart thumping, chest pounding, anxiety growing. “Next”. My heart stopped, I showed her my Rainbow’s End wrist band and the teller welcomed me into the Fear Fall entrance. Before my turn I had read the Notice Board of DO NOT stuff and if you have the following conditions please exit this ride

Suddenly I felt as if I had all of those things. I walked to the yellow seat and pulled down a black Styrofoam belt with a metal handle bar. Beside me were people I did not know which made my fear grow larger like a tumour growing inside me and ate all of my bravery cells. As the woman who had welcomed me in left and the ride started.

At once I was taken up 18 stories high. Opening my eyes and closing them rapidly at the same time I had suddenly noticed that the ride had froze and took the time to stare at the blurred motorway and the many vehicles that had travelled upon it. Three seconds later, gravity betrayed me and I was invited into the pressure zone, so pressured that my bottom could not even sit down.

Finally it was over but when I stood up to leave I was so light headed that I fell onto the concrete and I needed my dad to pick me up and carry me across the ride exit and the last thing I remember saying was, “ Again!”

Change a Child’s Life by Reitz

Have you imagined innocent kids drowning in that big piece of water? That’s why kids in New Zealand need to learn how to swim.

The most special thing that can help us how to swim is a pool,a pool can help us how to be confident in the water. Swimming Pools can help New Zealand kids know what to do if there was a real wave heading our way, kids can be taught where and when to swim. A pool is similar to an ocean but only shallow, so New Zealand kids can be cured of drowning if the New Zealand Government change their mind and let each school have a turn with a swimming pool.
A swimming instructor can change a child’s life too, a swimming instructor encourages kids to learn how to swim in different and helpful styles. There’s lots of swimming styles that helps us how to save ourselves from the unpredictable waves that can kill us in a second but the problem is that we don’t know all the swimming styles needed, that’s why we need a swimming pool and a swimming instructor.

Swim for Life by Maxine

Why swim? I believe that you should swim because Water Safety N.Z. says that during the past 5 years the average number of New Zealanders dying because of drowning is 105, mostly 15 to 24 year old. Sadly N.Z. has the worst drowning rate in the developed world. What is surprising to find out is that 0 to 4 year olds die of drowning in bathtubs and in bathrooms. 

Teaching your children to swim is essential for one important reason: CHILDREN LOVE THE WATER, in my opinion. Another reason why children in N.Z. should learn how to swim is that our country has hundreds of natural beaches and a lot of swimming pools. To help save your children and save their own you should equip them with the necessary skills to be an independent swimmer or else they will be at risk when they grow older.

So in conclusion Swim to Survive. 

Wordle of my swimming is essential 

Swimming is Essential by Angela O

.

Swimming is essential because if no one knew how to swim and someone went for a dip in the sea there are 7 out of 10 chances that that person is going to drown. But if people knew how to swim there would be at least 1 out of 7 chances of drowning. If people knew how to swim they could possibly survive a rip and use the signal for help. It is important for people to know how to swim  swimming can be a lot of  fun but it can also be dangerous if you're not careful. swimming will also help you keep your energy up if you continue to swim a lot.  And swimming is good physical exercise!

Swimming...not just a great sport! by Angela B

Made on http://www.wordle.net/
Learning Intention: To use the features of explanation writing to inform our audience.   

Swimming isn’t just a great sport, it’s also an important skill to know. The number of children drowning in New Zealand has increased over in years. One reason why kids like us, drown is because they don’t know how to swim.

If you know how to swim you have a higher chance of surviving if you get caught in a rip or a dangerous disaster that includes water like floods. You would have a higher chance of surviving because with your ability to swim and your water safe knowledge you would know what to do in a situation like this.

Swimming is also a great way to keep fit because you’re working out your whole body. Maybe in a few generations we’ll be living in an underwater world. If you don’t know how to swim, you should learn now because you’re not only saving yourself you could be saving the life of someone else.

The audience wanted more by Luisa

The Cultural Festival has been held at Saint Patrick's School for many years, this year, in 2012, it was held once again in the Saint Patrick's Parish hall. With six groups to perform, the maori group was up first, and as our school stood up to sing the National Anthem, one of the girls in the group stood, focused, awaiting for her cue of the music to start. When it did, her voice filled the entire venue, inside and out and with that amusing introduction, the crowd stood simultaneously and sang in a slight awkward tone to the lyrics of our country's national anthem. Afterwards, the Kapa Haka group went into their national dance for their woman, the poi. With beautiful singing and swift movements of hands, the girls in the group onstage were exactly the definition of perfection, literally. Then from the peaceful tune of the girls singing, the boys, from my perspective, that had suddenly transmitted into men that very night, belted out with loud movements, and commands from their leader in the language that all native's of Aotearoa once used when all was in harmony with the discovery of the first ever tangata whenua. Not being able to watch the whole performance was a little disappointing however outside of the hall everyone was still able to hear what was going on inside and all were eager to claim seats of their own. Overall, the maori group was one of the best groups to step foot on the stage that night, with a lot of practise that brought meaning to their performance. Everything about it was amazingly stunning and made the whole audience want more from every member of the group.

Image source: Saint Patrick's School

The best cultural festival yet by Maria

 From my perspective, I think that standing in the spotlights is the best place to be while performing at the Cultural Festival, especially in front of an audience. Being a part of the Cultural Festival for eight years has been fun and a privllage because it has helped me gain confidence and leadership in cultural groups and has made me strive to be the best role model as a senior student in my school. My key highlight of the night was opening the festival. I was chosen as one of the leaders for the Kapahaka group of 2012. It was my responsibility to open the National Anthem with a traditional karakia, welcoming the people and family from the past. To get my timing right to the music I had to listen and be focused to come in at the exact time otherwise everyone would've missed the beginning. After the National Anthem we sang a Pasifika greeting. I would like to give a big  thank you to  the teachers and friends of our school for taking time to help and support  our Kapahaka group for 2012.

Smart Footprints

We've been learning about personal and private information online.  We have been learning to decide what personal information  is safe to share online.

• We are not sharing private information that would give out our identity e.g. Last name, credit cards, home address and birth dates.
• If we are not sure we will check with a trusted adult (parents or teachers) If there is no one to ask, we will choose to keep that information private. 

We have written personal profiles to share on our blogs, you can read these by visiting our Room 8 blogs and clicking the label - Personal Profile.

At the One Direction Concert You Can...

See fan's screaming out to their favourite One Direction guy.
Hear their awesome voices singing your favourite songs.
Smell other people's breath as they chant out "One Direction" a million times.
Taste the soft breeze hit your face as you jump up and down to see them.
Almost touch their hands but be pushed away by security guards.
Play with your souvenirs while waiting for the concert to begin.
Watch them sing and dance to their number one songs.
Call up your friends and tell them "Ha ha, your'e not at the concert!"
Enjoy your time and enjoy being with your friends.
Wonder if you could go back stage to meet them.

At Rainbowsend you can..

See all the amazing coloured activities and rides
Smell all the yummy scents from the delightful food stores
Hear all the loud screeching and howlings from different people old and young
Taste delicious candy.

Building Images in your head

At the shopping centre you can...
See people at the food court munching on fast food
Hear people talking with their friends
Smell people testing perfume at a perfume sale
Taste the bitter perfume drifting in the air
Watch the advertisments on the advertising screen
Call your friend to come shoppimg with you
Enjoy the food at the food court
Wonder where the clothes store is.

Images

At home you can see the television portraying comical cartoons
Hear your mother bellowing chores in your poor ears
Smell the delicious smell of dinner wafting towards your nostrils
Taste cold fresh milk run down your throat after a bright school day
Touch the button on the T.V. remote desperately channel surfing
Play with your faithful house pet, stroking it lovingly on its back
Watch as your mother sets the table for the long awaited dinner
Call your fellow friends, desperate to gossip and blurt a secret
Enjoy the finely made dinner .. devouring every piece of it!
Wondering what to do next after a long, slow, painstaking day.

A Fake Nightmare

It was a wet and rainy weekend. There were puddles of mud and crashes of thunder and lightning.
The phone started to ring, so I picked it up and answered it. “Hi who is it”I said.
“It’s me Alice” my friend replied “I saw this haunted house on the internet” “Do ya wanna go check it out?
I was scared but I said yes. I went and put on my turquoise feather lined coat and walked to my friends’ place.
When I arrived, I knocked on the door and almost immediately I heard foot steps running towards the me. The door swung open and Alice stood before me ready to go. Together we
walked vigorously to the haunted house.
The house was made out of old rotting timber. Cracked black windows hid the horrors that were lurking inside. Feeling brave Alice and I slowly stepped through the door. Suddenly a huge and hairy black spider fell off my shoulder and dropped to the floor. It took me a while to realise that the piercing scream that echoed off the walls had come out of my own mouth.
The furniture was covered in heavy, fluffy spider webs, there wasn’t a single speck of furniture that wasn’t covered. Like a movie camera on zoom, I closely examined the room. After a minute or two I realised that everything in that house was just a prop!

Alice and I left the house with relief.

Attack of the Electric Blue Spiders

Step by step the hairy 8 legged creature crawled up the hairy leg of my teacher, Mr Styles during history class.

Half of the class was in full shock while the other half jumped around and crawled onto the desks shouting with fear. About five minutes later you could see all the electric blue spiders racing into the class like the zombies in The Walking Dead. They were the weirdest spiders I’d ever seen! They were covered in blue and white stripes, had red eyes and had these two dark brown stripes on their bodies like a pair of suspenders. All of the class went bonkers and you couldn’t even see Mr Styles because he was totally covered from head to foot by the electric blue spiders.

Out of nowhere Superman came to the rescue. He picked up Mr Styles and t flew away out of the open class window. Since that day we’ve had three electric blue spider attacks and Mr Styles never came back.

Grounded

Can you imagine being stuck at home, grounded by yourself? Well I can. Trying to make up my mind whether to do homework or not I felt like I was in jail! My brain was about to explode!

Minecraft was introduced to me by Clark (my older brother) a month ago, I got addicted like a drug addict but instead of drugs it was a game. ‘Once you have finished your homework, you can play minecraft all you want’ my conscience kept on saying ‘No, no, no!’ My evil conscience demanded. 'Once you’ve started doing your homework, there’s no backing out’. Both of them were right, so I decided to play minecraft for 10 minutes since it was already 10.30, “Creeper!” I shouted, hypnotized by the game. “Mission Accomplished, I have finally found a diamond! I better do homework now” I said to myself. I checked the time, and then my eyes went wide open “It’s 12!” I shouted “Aaaah! I’ve been playing for 1 hour and 30 minutes”.
I felt a cold breeze touch my skin as I shivered; I took one step at a time trying not to faint. “Saint Vincent De Paul, who was he?” I asked myself “I should stick to my evil conscience I'll play all day long” By that, you should know how lazy I am to do things especially doing homework, who knows maybe in the future I would do my homework all day even though it would bore me.

A weekend to remember

Overjoyed is the word to express my feelings on Friday as a hot humid day ended. My joy was reinforced by the arrival of my older brother Kasi who had flown up from Christchurch, where he worked on Waitangi weekend. Earlier in the day room 8, my class played softball. While I was enjoying the game, I did not enjoy the feeling of the sweat that trickled slowly like a slug from my head down my spine. Later that day mum dropped me off at the YMCA swimming pools where my overheated body was cooled immediately by the waters as it wrapped around me like a blanket in the cold night. I wished everyday was pool day.

A day at home

A day at home
As the sun came out after a night of sleeping, I knew somehow that today was not going to be as fun as I would like. There was nothing to do; it was definitely going to be a day at home.

“Where’s the remote mum?” I shouted as if I had a megaphone.
“Look for it!” I felt anger like Aries, the Greek God of War. I felt like a guard dog too, sitting there in an uncomfortable chair as I stared outside waiting for a family member to arrive and drop me off to my destination.

A fun land would be awesome, like Rainbows End, or Chipmunks, (jokes I’m too old for that). As I approached the kitchen, the noise of a machine caught my ears, like a whisker that whips cream. I was right. Mum was making a Banana cake, the smell of which caught my nose and it tingled with excitement. “I can’t wait to eat that cake,” I exclaimed with joy. It’s not for you lazy, it’s for aunty, she asked if I could make a cake for a thing that they’re having and I said yes. But.... if you help me whip this cream then I will make an extra one for us.” Mum said as she glared in my direction. That was not expected, I wasn’t signed up for this, but if I wanted my mum to make an extra one then I had to do what she asked. The way I saw it I had two choices, yes or no. “Ok yes!” the words left my mouth and rolled over my lips as I seemed to move into automatic mode and started whipping the cream. I felt vibration invasion like a juicer when you start it or a call or a message received on your cell phone. “Stop now!” I shouted anxiously, “keep on going.” My arms were getting weak as a Skeleton. There we go, now can you make it. As soon as the banana cake arrived I knew that this is gonna be yummy like taste of perfection. “Wow.”

The only exciting thing that has happened all day was eating the banana cake.

Hot Summer's day

Boiling is an excellent word to describe how I felt when I came out of the car.

An hour’s drive, packed like sardines in a car could be exhausting but I had enjoyed the trip as the air conditioner was on full blast! When my family and I arrived at our destination, Port Waikato as eager as a beaver I opened the door and that is when the heat hit me. Quickly I closed the door again.

Near the car we found a grass area and we had lunch. Half an hour later, footprints left a path on the sand as we sank gently as we made our way up and down the sand dunes to the water’s edge.

While my family and friends were starting to fish in the burning weather I was lying on the sand under an umbrella trying not to get sun burnt. It took at least half an hour until someone reeled in a fish, but it was a small fish though. They took hours and hours that eventually I got uninterested that I begged my mum to take me somewhere less scorching. We went back to the car and stayed there basically for the whole day. I started to gobble up food again because there was nothing else to do.

Hours went by and it was getting late that I went back to the water’s edge.
“Can we go soon? Please!!!” I asked my dad
“Later” he replied
It was hopeless we were probably going to stay there for at least another hour.

So another hour went by and they were finished fishing for the day. The car smelt like fish from the fishing gear which wasn’t a pleasant smell.

Even though an hour’s drive doesn’t seem so long I kept on complaining until we finally arrived home. When we got home I ran inside to my bedroom because I knew that the weather in my room wasn’t as bad as it was in Port Waikato.

Rainbow Spinner

For our first science experiment Room 8 created a Rainbow Spinner. If you are interested in doing this experiment, you will need the following materials.

Colouring Pencils/Pastels
Cardboard Ruler
Scissors Pencil
Glue
1 metre of thread/string
Compass/Hole Punch (Optional)

Method:
Step1. You will need two identical cardboard circles [I suggest that you do this before hand] and divide them into equal segments/parts

Step2. Once divided into segments/parts, decide what colours you are willing to use e.g. Pastels or Colouring Pencils.

Step3. Colour in both of your circles exactly the same or else the result will be different.

Step4. When coloured, glue the two circles together and punch in two holes that are approximately 1or 2 centimetres apart in the centre of the circles

Step5. Now the tricky part – certainly und this tricky, insert the string through the holes and tie a knot at the end.
(It will be doubled)

Step6. Now the fun part! Spin the spinner until the string is fully twisted then pull your hand apart to see the colours merge into one!


When the spinner spins really fast you will see light reflected from all the colours, but your brain cannot separate them. So you see a mixture of all colours, which is white. Your spinner may look grey to you because the colours are not pure.

Maxine

The big golf game

The big golf game, The Oldies (which was what I called my dad’s group) vs. the youngsters. I looked up in the sky. “Quite cloudy, this game is MINE!!!” I thought to myself. Bring it on!!!

I placed my tee in the grass with the ball on top. The tee seemed to pierce deep into the soil. I stood behind the ball and measured the wind, which blew through my hair. I stood behind the ball, waiting for the wind to calm down so I can take a nice straight shot. I went into my position, aimed my club head straight ahead and got ready to hit the ball. I took my first swing. The club dropped and took out a small patch of grass, but as I took my second shot, my club smacked the ball so hard that it shot the ball up in the air like a jet. As the ball soared through the air, it seemed to grow a propeller, engine and exhaust pipes. Finally it landed on the ground started rolling forward. It stopped just at the top of the hill with an excellent view of the hole and the fairway. This was my chance to start he youngsters with a temporary advantage. After a few more holes the Oldies got rid of our advantage and ran away with a one stroke lead

Finally I arrived at the last hole of the course, the 18th hole. It isn’t the longest hole in the course but as silly as it may sound, this is where most golfers like us crumble with pressure like pastry. I took my drive which just rolled up the hill with an exceptional view of the hole. I peered into my golf bag, deciding what club to use next. I picked out my seven iron so it will balance between height and distance. I took my shot, which floated in the air perfectly. A few more shots similar to the previous and I have arrived on the green. I shouted to my dad “let’s see if you can hit a par to win”
“I bet you 5 bucks I will!!” he replied. I had to get a par or bogey to conquer this game.

I took a putt. Just rolled past the edge of the hole. My last putt to win. I measured the break of the green and the direction of the wind. I took a putt and the ball s l o w l y approached the hole and cup ponk!!!! It slipped into the hole. I had pulled in a victory for my group and I was named MVP (most valuable player) but I couldn’t have done it myself. The day passed and I had so much fun that I forgot to play any computer games.

Glow Worm Caves

As my family and I entered the darkness of the Kawiti Glow Worm Cave the temperature dropped sufficiently and Goosebumps appeared on my bare hands and legs. A cold damp soft breeze brushed over me, anxiety caused adrenaline to race. Slowly, I followed my family in a single line formation; I was the safety person at the back - the sentry!

As we strode along the 200m trail inside the Kawiti glow worm cave the sight got better and better every time we took a step.

The cave led us into this narrow path and we had to configure ourselves to get through really tight spaces. Satisfaction led us to believe that we had conquered the challenging task that seemed like a real adventure. After approximately 15 minutes walk in the darkness, our eyes were struck and drawn by a gleaming light. We left the cave and had to take another 15 minutes of walking, but now in a forest. Beautiful sounds surrounded us as we walked and stared to get a glance at whatever made the walk so peaceful and relaxing. All too soon our journey came to an end. The exit sign made me feel a bit disappointed.

It was a great tour. Kawiti Glow worm Caves is a spectacular place I had a wonderful and exciting time.

Gloomy Waitangi Day

Waking up in the dread of the frosty morning was the least of my problems. But getting out of bed was something different. My muscles barely mobile, I strained to get myself up on a gloomy Waitangi Monday.

My hopes were completely crushed as I spied through the blinds of my bedroom window wishing for my life that it was going to be a spectacular day for the beach. But it wasn’t. It wasn’t raining but I knew that it was going to soon. I could tell by the sombre look of the clouds and how the sun hid itself beneath a group of cumulus clouds so extraordinarily that not a speck of light showed itself. Not a single speck.

Although it was obvious that we were not going, it was odd to see that my sisters Agnes and Rosary were wearing their bathing suits and fashioning unbelievably broad smiles.
“What are you smiling for, I snorted, and we can’t be still going to the beach, can we?”
“We are, aren’t we Rosary,” Agnes said.
“Fat chance,” I muttered to myself.
“Bet you we are going Ben,” Agnes said. I laughed hysterically and poured milk into my cereal. I watched as the milk frothed around and around inside.

It was ten minutes later, and we were all piled inside our car heading in a northerly direction towards Browns Bay. I had no idea how this had happened, what had occurred to my parents minds? But it wasn’t like I didn’t want to go and it wasn’t raining either. So there really was no reason to complain. Reluctantly I had admitted defeat to Agnes and she curved her lips into a smirk and muttered something like “told you so.” I ignored her. The way to Browns Bay was going to be long and boring, but I couldn’t sleep because my brother was snoring so loudly that anyone within a five metre radius would lose their ears. Jokes!

Approximately forty five minutes later our car had pulled up into an available car park, and we were emptying it of our luggage. I shook my brother awake.
“Yo Joe, wake up.” He squinted at me through his baggy eyes, and closed them again saying nothing at all. I got the warning that if I tried again he would throw a tantrum. On one occasion he was almost close to punching me in the face. So I left him there, “Don’t come running to me if dad chucks you in the water,” I thought.

At exiting the car my feet collided with smoothness of the sand mixed with fresh grass. I glanced towards the grass hoping to find our picnic site. I saw it near a patch of sand, and the wind was blowing towards it. I thought this was one of the worst places to set site, and I think you’ll know why. My first and as always foremost option once arriving at the beach was to swim and I’m sure more than half the population of children there are in our world agree with me. But my parents (of course) didn’t let me, and more than half the parents that live on our world would have done the same thing. Lunch always came first on their list, and realising how hungry I was, it just wouldn’t make sense to wail and groan and plead as were the kids around me doing now. And the next thing I knew I was piling mounds of food onto a plastic plate and devouring every bit of it: corned beef, taro, chicken, and all that traditional Polynesian stuff. After about five minutes of pleading, my mum finally agreed that I could swim.

Splash! A face full of icy, brackish water crashed onto my face. It felt like I had been slapped in the face with a brand new thick sandal. I swam towards bigger waves to dive through. But an urging voice in my head told me to stay where I was. It was boring frolicking around in the water, doing nothing but well, bouncing around. It was getting windier and windier by the second, and I couldn’t help thinking about staying any longer. Nah! I should just stay, I thought to myself. Another gust of wind met my face, and I was suddenly under the water again, darting towards the sea bed. Unsurprisingly, it wasn’t cold. It was probably because my body was getting used to the water. Seaweed clung onto my face and I brushed it off with my hand. Suddenly realising I couldn’t hold my breath any longer; I shot myself up to the surface, another cold gust of wind meeting my face. I noticed that I was alone because earlier my sisters were accompanying me, and now they were walking on the sand heading back towards the site. Coming to my senses I realised that everyone that I knew who was with me were gone. Kicking myself up from the water I followed them.

Arriving at the site I saw that there were mounds of leftover food on the mat. And before I could even reach out my hand my mum snapped at me telling me to get changed.
“You’ll eat after,” she said. I grinned and ran along to the changing rooms hurrying along in my wake.

A sporting start!

This year we have a Futsal team. We played our first game against another school last week. We played an excellent game as did our opponents Remuera Intermediate. The game ended in a draw. It was an excellent game. Many thanks to our Coach Mrs Manickum, her son Dylan and her nephew Callan. Can't wait for the next game!

Greetings from Room 8 2012

Nga tahi tatou e tu - We stand together as one....

looking forward to another great year of learning.

Shopping

I went shopping at Smiggle and bought something interesting on Saturday. My eyes were drawn to the colours violet, blue, green and black. So many things to explore. I was excited.

As I walked into the store with my mum, I was eager to get as much as I could, Unfortunately, I was only allowed to get a pencil case, ball point pens, and a few pencils. Altogether it cost $ 15.50, which wasn’t too expensive. After purchasing my things from Smiggle we headed off to warehouse then the 2 dollar shop, and FINALLY! We ate!

It was a tiring day filled with non-stop walking, signs, different smells and money!
Anyway, I was quite glad we were finally at home, but hopefully next weekend we might go shopping again!