Go Hard with College

Today Mr Andrew Patterson came into our school with a student and an inspirational talk. Two students talked about their experiences with college and also shared some inspirational quotes. A student from Manurewa high school spoke about his experiences (it was a video of his speech given a week). He gave a quote. Which was 'change won't happen if you don't do something yourself'. That was probably my favourite quote from all the quotes that were given. From that I am now going to be the best college student I can be.

Mr Patterson brought with him an ex Pt England student who has moved onto Tamaki College. His name is Raenan. Raenan was asked questions from Mr Patterson. One of the questions were "how did you feel when you walked into Tamaki College for the first time as a year nine student on the first day?". He answered, "I felt nervous but once I saw my mates I felt like I belonged". He went on about how different college is to Pt England and how you need to manage time much better. That scared me a bit because I'm terrible with time. But then he said just go hard. Then I thought I can do it. Now I'm gonna go to college with the thought of 'GO HARD!'.

Time Word Problems

WALT: Use our known strategies to work out time lapse problems.

This week we learnt about showing our solving for word problems. There were only five problems but with the help of my friend Seini we were able to figure out how to solve the word problems.

Multiplication Pyramid

WALT: Complete the pyramid using no calculator.

This week for an exercise for our brain, we completed a multiplication pyramid. Usually our teacher allows us to use the calculator for the top three numbers. Instead of that, she made us work it out on our own. That's exactly what I did. I did use the calculator to check the answers but not multiply. My working out is on the side of the pyramid in the google drawing.

Letter to the Rugby League World Cup 2017 Tongan Team

Dear Tonga Rugby League World Cup 2017 Team,

Well done on getting to the semi-finals this year. Your team did incredibly well throughout the whole tournament. Next year I bet you'll make it to the finals (with no biased ref in the way). Even though you didn't win, you won in my eyes. Some people may be sad but you should be proud. You did really really great! God was with you through the games. You prayed before and after and you got so far with God. You did so well the king came! That must of been really cool.

Can't wait till the next Rugby League World Cup!
Your sincerely,

Talita

Perspectives and Opinions

WALT: I am able to identify the  ideas opinions of author and share my own in comparison.

Tonga and England had a match on Saturday last week. The match was for semi finals for the 2017 rugby league world cup. At Mt Smart a crowd of 30,000 people cheered on the two teams. The last try was a bit of an upset. One of the refs were a bit biased

Word Problems Week 6 & 7

WALT: Understand which 2 operations (+, -, x, /) can be used to solve each problem.

This week in maths we were learning about word problems and how to solve them with two different operations. I tried to use two operations but I wrote it down in a book. 

Tooth Decay

WALT: I am able to distinguish between fact and opinion by identifying relevant language features the author has subtly used.

The end slide tells us to create a movie. We are in process of editing that movie so it will come in a separate post. I'd never heard of tooth decay until this week. It's a very serious matter that really needs to be deal with properly. 

Phases of the Moon

WALT: Show in an animation the eight phases of the moon and show how the moon connects with the tides.

Even though this animation is a term late, I still have all the information I had in term three. I found it interesting that the tides are made from the moon. It's so fascinating. I just love the moon. Don't you?

Telephone's Years of Existence

WALT: Create an animation that gives information about one piece of technolog

This is two terms late but it still is finished. Our task was to create an animation that show one piece of technology throughout it's years of existence. My piece of technology was a telephone. In this animation I show three different telephones.

Water Cycle Animation

WALT: Create a animated diagram of the water cycle.

My water is three terms late but I got there in the end. The water cycle helps our water not run out. It's so fascinating!

The Manaiakalani 10th Annual Film Festival

Manaiakalani is the trust which allows 13 schools to learn using chrome books. Every year the Manaiakalani trust has a film festival. All 13 schools go to the movie theater throughout the day of the film festival. All the film festival movies are made from classrooms over 13 schools.

All the movies come from the 13 schools. Throughout the day there are many movie sessions. Some schools are in a session with other schools. The year 6,7 and 8's of Pt England school are going at 11:00. I am lucky enough to be a presenter for our English extension class. That was my first time presenting.

The Maniakalani trust has booked out three movie theaters. I was really nervous at first; after the first session, I was used to it. My friend who presented with me was Noah. We presented three times that day. Just last week we had a special film festival with our school. All the movies from Pt England School were shown to the whole school. Every presenter presented and every movie from Pt England was played. Noah and I were the twelve people to present. Everyone said they loved our movie.

Unfortunately, after lunch, I was called out of the film festival for a test. I missed out on my sister's presentation and movie. But that's alright because I can watch it on the Manaiakalani 2017 film festival site... and so can you! Back to the story, I passed my test by the way and missed out on all the other movies. Next year I won't be able to watch these videos in cinema. Because I'll be at college. I think this was the best Maniakalani festival. How about you? You can go to the site and way back to 2008 and that Manaiakalani.

2017 Manaiakalani Film Festival videos

Maths Problem

WALT: Solve maths problems.

This week we focused our learning on B.E.D.M.A.S. B.E.D.M.A.S is the order of solving a algebra question. First you should solve brackets, exponents, division, multiplication, addition and lastly subtraction.

B=Brackets

E=exponents

D=division

M=multiplication

A=addition

S=subtraction

On the tenth and eleventh slides, I solved those questions using B.E.D.M.A.S. I really hopenext week we learn about more about algebra.

Guy Fawkes

WALT: connecting and comparing. I relate information and ideas from texts to my own experience to form an opinion.



I didn't find out until last week that Guy Fawkes was actually a person. Personally I don't like the idea of mostly everyone celebrating a terrible event.  Guy Fawkes was not a very good person so I don't understand why the holiday is named after him.

Koko The Ape

WALT: Find evidence in a text. Use the process of elimination to find the 'best fit' answer.




The last few weeks in reading we have been learning about a ape called Koko. Koko has mastered sign language or at least that's what some people think. I really want to go to Koko one day to see ape sign language.

Our Makey-Makey Project

WALT: Use the Makey Makey kit.

Makey-makey kit is a toy that allows users to connect everyday objects to computer programs. In class we got into groups and made different projects. Our task in our extension class were to get into groups of 4 or lower. Every group had to pick a project that includeed using the makey-makey kit. One choice was a game show. Their goal was to make a noise when a buzzer is pressed. Another choice was a band. Create instruments and play a song. The last choice was to make a game controller. This controller had to be suitable for one sort of disability.

 I was in a group with Moroni and Seini. We made controllers for a game that would be suitable for one disability. Our controllers were made to be suitable for people with amputated arms. This is our game looked like this.

 I was surprised to find out that I actually know quite a bit with the makey-makey kit. This game is a two player version of beat the goalie. It's supposed to be a rugby match between Australia and New Zealand. Even though all three of us worked on this, I think I really helped with the game. Moroni was good with the makey-makey and Seini with making the control. We all learnt something different from each other.

Everyone in our class really enjoyed our game. I enjoyed it to. From a scale of 1 to 10(1 being bad 10 being great) I rate this game a 8. The controls are easy to use but the game could use some more bling.

Word Problems

WALT: Find an appropriate strategy to solve each word problem.

This week we solved some word problems.

Niue Language Week

Fakaalofa lahi atu Did you know that his week is Niue language week? To celebrate, our Niuean group created a beautiful dance and a Niuean haka!  'Ko e Vagahau Niue ko e Atefau he Tangata Niue' is the message for the Niue language week. It means, 'The Niue Language is the Heart of Niue people'. Some students from the group said a little speech. That's the only time I've ever heard Niuean language and it's beautiful. Fun Fact; there are more Niueans living in New Zealand than Niue!!

It's only been roughly a week for the group to practice. Still they were fantastic! The girls did a cultural dance. A Niuean haka was performed by the boys. They sounded like bold warriors! While I was watching, I realized that the Niuean culture is very special to all these students. I just cannot wait for the 2018 Niuean language week.

Perspectives and Opinions

WALT: Justifying - I can discuss and justify my responses across a small range of texts (thoughts, feelings, ideas and understandings).

This week is Niue Language Week. Did you know that New Zealand have more Niueans living here than in Niue? I didn't until this week. Our teacher gave us this task to learn more about Niue. I have succeeded. Now I really want to go to Niue! 

My Last Immersion Assembly

WALT: Write a recount of the immersion assembly.

Every term brings a new topic. This term brought Musical Madness as a topic. It’s all about Music and affects us.  Each team performed a little act to show their focus which are all based on Music.

The assembly started off with our senior management team band. Their song is called 'musical madness saves the day'. A band of five ruled the stage. It was a performance like no other a teacher rock school band. One played the drums, another played the guitar, one other playing the trumpet, one on the base and on the tambourine. We couldn't hear the words but heard lots of the instruments.

Team five’s (year 7 & 8’s) focus is, how do composers use music to evoke an emotional response in an audience? Their act was about a family watching the lion king. One scene was replayed four or five times. Each time the music changed… and so did their emotions. When the music sounded creepy, they all showed they were scared. When the music sounded happy they all looked happy. The act informed us the exact focus we’re gonna be learning about.

I found team three to be the most entertaining. Their focus is how music can impact our daily lives. Their act was a movie. Instead of talking different lyrics from songs were played. For example; one teacher lip synced, “I'm gonna swing from the chandelier”. Then another teacher said “well that’s pretty dangerous”. The first teacher then lip synced “Somethin' 'bout you makes me feel like a dangerous woman”. Everyone was laughing.

I can’t wait what this term has in store for us. This is sadly my last term… and I have a feeling it’s gonna be great! All such fun things to do in only nine weeks. I have high hopes that we’ll be able to fit the musical madness into nine weeks. I wonder if I could be a composer who could create an emotional response? I guess I’ll have to wait and see.

This is some of team five's act

Catching Flounder

WALT: Write a recount about current events.

Flounder, yum yum! Today Pt England's flounder team are catching flounder. Not to eat but to farm. We're farming flounder in partnership with Kauri Flat School.

Everyone from Pt England walked down Riverside Avenue; all because those flounders. We sang three Himene (Hymn) to bless the flounder team. Also we said one Karakia (prayer) to bless the day. They are still catching flounder right now!

We're so excited for the flounder to be farmed. Our flounder farming tank is ready to go. Kauri Flat School have already caught four flounder. I'm hoping the team will get more than four. It's not a competition... but I'm still hoping for more than four. Can't wait to see our farm grow! Also the flounder to grow too!

The container just came back with the flounder in it. Our class went out to see the flounder. Their really really small. We couldn't count them. One of the fish was not a flounder. I think they'll release that fish back into the water.