The Glenbrae powhiri

Today we had the privilege to meet Len Brown, Dr Nick Smith, Housing NZ Team, Board of trusties, Glen brae school students, Teachers, parents, people from the community Matua Jim, Maori T.V, the Tamaki redevelopment team and alot of other important people. They visited our school to bless the Early Childhood Education centre. There were so many performances like the Taufakanua, Haka, Hannah’s Samoan dance, Welcoming, Karakia, Singing and Sod Turning.

Alot of people volunteered to set up the hall and everything else before our guests came. Everyone enjoyed it because there was a sausage sizzle, breakfast, juice and putting our finger prints on the tree of learning. When most of the guests arrived the first performance was the Samoan Dance by Hannah. Everyone was so excited and cheerful. Mr Nath handed Hannah $10 or $20. The next performance was the Taufakanua by the room 10 and 9 boys. Followed by the Haka which was also by the room 10 and 9 boys.

After all those entertaining performances we all went to class after cleaning up the breakfast. All the classes walked down to the hall and started the karanga. We were all on the edge of our seats (even though the students sat on the floor). Once they sat down we sang E Tasi ae Lasi, then Matua Jim spoke. Followed by Mayor Len Brown and his wonderful song called Te Aroha.

After a all that singing and talking everyone went to the big tree across from the pool to do the sod turning. During the karakia there were loud protesters. I understood what they where going through because I went through it myself. Losing my house and having to move has made a big affect on my life and now I can say I know what you’r going through. Later on the house leaders had the privilege to take a photo with the mayor and walk him and the rest of the guests to the scout hall and the empty piece of land across from the shops.

When we got back we had coffee ( even though we aren’t old enough), cookies, fruit and sausage sizzle. Then we had the honour of witnessing the blessing of the sculpture and taking a photo with Matua Jim. Overall it was a exciting day meeting all those important people and being able to take a photo with them as well.

Tae Kwon Do Class

On Tuesday 5th August we had another awesome lesson with Yu learning about tae kwon do. Tae kwon do is a modern Korean Martial art that is similar to karate. She taught us how to tense our stomach by exhaling so that we don't get wounded. She told us that if our left leg is in front we punch with our left hand first. Surprisingly that was the easy part.

We then had to jump once and punch twice. Either we had to punch straight or down because our opponent might be tall or short. She also told us that if our opponent is kicking us we should jump once and punch twice and also try to avoid the kick. Then we did a turning kick. We had to turn our legs and foot to make sure that our kick is accurate.

We also learnt two different  ways to break out of a hold. She told us that the opponent will always expect you to move away from them, so you break out of their hold and move with them at the same time. If both your hands are up and someone grabs both of your hands, you move back or forward and push your hands down. When they grab your neck  you clap your hand at the top , move back or forward and twist to break the hold.

Finally we played a game called fire and helicopter. If she swings the punching bag low we have to jump. But if she swings it high we have to duck down. When we touch the belt or the punching bag we have to do five star jumps. I think the game we played was to make sure we duck any punches or avoid any kicks. Overall  the lesson was incredible because we learnt to defend our selves in any situation.

My amazing museum reflection

Yesterday we went to a building that hold and exhibit historical, scientific, artistic or cultural interests. The thing I found most interesting was the weird and wonderful. Because there were a lot of information about insects and other animals. They also had a cool computer that lets you scan tiles for a heap load of information.Something I learnt was that there were so many rocks with weird names and different types of volcano eruptions. Also that when a volcano erupts and a air plane is in the air, the ash can destroy the plane because its hot. I can apply all the information I know about volcanoes to my inquiry learning by researching about the biggest volcano eruption in the world.

Hangarau Technologies

On Fridays our class go to tamaki college to learn digital technologies. Hangarau is the maori word for technoloy. When we are in class, we have to use the kiore and the papa patuhi to log into the rorohiko. On the rorohiko we have to use the ipurangi to log into the pae tukutuku for digital technologies. Every week we access the maramataka to know what tasks we will do. Sometimes our teacher will send us messages on our imera. Sometimes our teacher will give us dojo points on her waea pukoro, or she might also use her waea pukoro to take photos of us working. At school and home some of us use pur rorohiko ponaho to do our work.

www.maoridictionary.co.nz

Nga kupu hou-New Words

Rorohiko-Computer

Rorohiko ponaho-Laptop/Netbook

Kiore-Mouse

Waea Pukoro-Cellphone

Ipurangi-Internet

Imera-Email

Maramataka-Calendar

Papa Patuhi-Keyboard

Pae Tukutuku-Site

Resizing Images

Today I learnt about resizing images. Resizing images is important because it might look extra stretched and very very hideous. So people please learn to resize images properly.

Rocky shore recount

On Monday 26 May the year 8 ,7 and 6 visited Long Bay Regional Park again to learn about animals of the sea. In  the morning, cold and windy, we were separated into our year groups. Then we set off for Longbay. During our bus ride to Longbay we played games like yellow car , I dare you etc. We also sang songs and had very loud conversations.

Once we got to Longbay the bus driver got confused about where to drop us off. She finally figured out where to drop us off. We then met with Sarah at the hut. She then assigned each year group to a specific ranger. The year 6 were assigned to Maureen , the year 7 were assigned to James and the year 8 , adventurous and inspired, were assigned to Sarah.

Sarah gave us booklets with information about what we would find at the sea shores and in the sea. She also gave us trays so we could fill it with amazing things we found. When we got to the sea shore we found alot of things like kina, sea stars, sea snails, sea slugs, crabs (dead and alive) , fish ect.  We also found sea anemone that felt slimy and jello like. After that activity we went back to the hut had a break and ate some food.

Later on we moved onto our second activity which was finding biodiversity species at the

high tide. Before we got to the because Sarah gave us a bucket each so that we can fill it with things that we found. While we walked along the beach we found a dead jellyfish, amazing and daunting, covered in sand. We tried to put it into the bucket but we were

afraid that it still might have stinging cells so we moved on. We found beautiful shells (some that are still alive), sponges, seaweed ect. We found another jellyfish, smart and invisible, that was still alive. We took pictures and we also could see it breathing. We also discovered sand hoppers, large and alive, jumping everywhere.

When we walked back to the hut we tipped out our bucket and identified all the things we found. We identified types of sponges, crustacean, echinoderms, mollusc ect. We also had to form our bodies into a starfish, Uni-valves and bi-valves. After that we had our toilet break lined up and said thank you to the rangers for teaching us so many skills and how to identify sea creatures. We hopped onto our bus and drove back to school. During our bus ride back to school we played impersonations. You have to dare someone to impersonate someone. When we got back to school everyone was tired so we all went home. I have learnt alot from experiencing this trip. To me it was an amazing adventure at the beach.

Fishing quota's reading task

1. How are commercial quota's different from recreational quota's? Commercial fishers are owned only by New Zealand companies and when they fish they sell it to fish shops ect. Recreational fishers are not allowed to sell anything they catch, food for their family’s or they just fish for fun.
   
   

In New Zealand we have quota’s for the number of fish people can catch. These are a positive thing because:

• People won’t chase away the fish
• There would be more fish and they won’t become exstinct`
• Sea animals won’t become extinct