My Avatar

Self Management has been something we've focused on this year and in my class we have a Self Management Level Board. This board has three levels. Level 1; I need help to manage myself. Level 2; I am able to manage myself but I sometimes go off task. Level 3; I can manage myself well, inside and outside of the classroom. 

Above, is my avatar that I have created. I think that I can place myself at Level 3 as I can manage myself well away from the teacher and keep on task.

Day 1 Term 4

The first day of the last term had started and no one was expecting what we had just been informed about. Class 1 and Class 5 were being merged together. Now it was one large class with three teachers.

It was quite surprising to hear that our class would be changing again, and, in a different way. Along with my friends, we've been moved around the school in to other classes ever since last year. But to be merged, didn't bother me very much and it actually ended up being quite a good day.

They Don't Really Care About Us

For the year 7 and 8’s, self management is a big thing we are currently looking at to improve. So, our teacher, Mrs Nua, gave the class a task where we had to create a MTV. We were given a limited time frame and a few songs to choose from, all by Michael Jackson. Below is the finished result.

They Don't Really Care About US! from Team 5 PES on Vimeo.

Unique Games - Dandy Shandy

As part of our inquiry task, we are to find and research a unique and uncommon game that has originated from one of the countries participating in the Commonwealth Games. Tyla, my partner, and I have chosen a game called Dandy Shandy. We have struggled to find any real historic background, so therefore we assumed that it originated from Jamaica, having everything we came upon related back to it.

Storylines 2014

This Thursday, the extension group is heading to the Storyline's Festival at the Vodafone Events Centre. Similar to last year, we will be hearing from four New Zealand authors, Jill MacGregor, Juliette MacIver, Cath Mayo and Paula Green. Below is a short biography about each of the authors we will be seeing.

Jill MacGregor was born in Dunedin but currently lives on the Kapiti Coast. She was a VSA teacher in Tonga for two years. She has travelled throughout the Pacific Island exploring and experiencing the cultures and the village life. Her ‘Children Of The Pacific’ stories are based on her own experiences in the islands.

Juliette MacIver is an author of Children’s books, who grew up in Wellington and went to Victoria University. There, she completed a degree in linguistics then got a diploma in teaching English. When she was young, she always enjoyed writing but never really thought she would, ‘Be A Writer’.

Born in Auckland, Catherine Mayo writes novels for young adults. She is a musician and is apart of a band called Gentle Annie.

Paula Green lives with her husband on the West Coast of Auckland. She writes poets and Childrens stories. Including Flamingo Bendalingo and Macaroni Moon, she has published eight poetry collections.

My Mascot

During class, we were given the task to research and create our own mascot. We learnt about the past mascots, such as Shera the tiger from the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth. Then we had to draw our own mascot and write a background story. A mascot is something that is supposed to bring good luck to an event or organization. They can also be a representative for brands and other things. 

I have chosen to draw and make my mascot a sheep because of how common they are in New Zealand. His name is Waipounamu, meaning south. I have decided to name him this due to the popularity of sheep in the South Island of New Zealand. He has a silver fern going across his fluffy coat. 

Life Education Caravan - Marijuana

Being the age we are, our (Team 5's) visits to the Life Education Caravan were mainly focused on drugs and alcohol. We learnt about the effects it can have on people and listened to a few people who shared their own experience with drugs and alcohol. Many things were talked about and one of them was, Marijuana. I have decided to write a quick paragraph, highlighting some of the main things we learnt about it. 

Usually seen as a gateway drug, Marijuana can be easy to access, cheap and it can lead you into the web of addiction. ‘Once you start, its hard to stop.’ This drug is quite common and is referred to in a variety of ways, such as, weed, pot, herbs, tinnies, etc. The effect it can have on you, not only changes the way you think but also the way you look. It damages the brain and stops you from reaching your full potential.