Basketball

We learnt and are currently learning new skills from our basketball coach, Yaran and Malik. I have never been a fan of basketball but this time I really enjoyed playing and learning new basketball techniques. The techniques we learned were, Diamond hands, dinosaur stand, different types of passes, keep your head up, and BEEF which stands for

B - Balance

E - Eyes on the target

E - Elbows

F - Follow through

New Zealand Olympic ambassador - Brooke Neal

For the past hour Brooke Neal, a former New Zealand hockey player visited the year seven and eight students in Glen Innes School. Brooke had revised with us about the three olympic values which are, excellence, friendship and respect. She had many things to say and most of them were very inspiring. Brooke has inspired me to pursue and not give up on my dreams. Brooke also mentioned to us, “What is your why?” What's your purpose for doing what you're doing? When she was in the 2016 Rio Olympics she said that she had written on a poster what are her goals:

1: No one can stop me!

2: I am powerful

3: I show pride

4: I will do my best - EVERY DAY!

Her explanation of what each of those goals meant to her was what really made me inspired, especially that her family and friends are HER why.

New Zealand Olympic ambassador - Brooke Neal

As for everyone Brooke Neal had and still has dreams. She shared with us about a paper that she wrote 9 years ago. There was a highlighted section where it said, “Go to the 2016 Olympics” It was totally out of the blue yet she did make it to the 2016 Olympics. Both her and her brother Shay, play hockey for New Zealand. Her father taught her hockey from when she was three till the time she went to University. Brooke also had a journey where she had done over 1000 trainings and been on 19 tours. It must be surreal experience for her especially since it was her and her brother’s first time in the 2016 Olympics.

If there's love, there's hope.

If there's love, there's hope.

It was a humid day and the sun was baking everyone who walked beneath it. Michael and Crystal, a very old couple, had been sitting out on their mansion deck with their fingers wrapped around their coffee mugs. They had two children currently living overseas, Maia and Dave. The couple were adventurous and had been in love with each other for nearly 37 years.

One night the night sky had an indigo shade with a bit of blue fading away as the stars appeared. It was not long after a short shower when Crystal felt a searing pain in her chest. Her and her husband both ran off as if there was no tomorrow.

Finally the doctor came out, his head was hung like a dead flower. “I’m sorry but… Crystal only has 3 weeks to live.” The doctor whispered, but it was just loud enough for Michael to hear. Time froze and every few seconds Michael would feel his heart stop. Between the last week of Crystal’s life, Michael took her on an expensive cruise that would have eventually made them go bankrupt. As the coral blue ocean glistened onto the ocean Michael would take Crystal out onto the front of the ship and reenact the scene from titanic. Unfortunately 2 days later, Crystal passed and Michael felt like a bullet had been shot through his heart.

Bring! Bring! “Hello?” Michael said in a husky voice. “Im home!” Yelled an excited young woman. The mysterious lady hung up and Michael slowly opened the door. It was his daughter, Maia had flew over to see him. They both exchanged hugs and smiled widely at each other.

Months had past and Maia still lived with her father. She helped him get through the depression about Crystal and made him see that everything will be just fine. The day had come! It was Michael and Crystals 38th anniversary and Michael knew just where he wanted to spend it. Long green grass smacked Michaels legs as he arrived at a little table with two chairs opposite each other. Looking out to the horizon, Michael took out a photo of Crystal and deeply gazed upon her beautiful face. “You’ll always be with me!” Michael mumbled as he pointed his index finger towards his heart.

Every now and then Maia would leave the house and Dave would video chat with his father so that he would never feel alone. They were a family again, with or without Crystal in their sight. She was still in their heart and that what truly mattered.

Acrostic poem: Floods

Walt: write an acrostic poem using alliteration

Noisy neighbors screamed in fear

Everyone evacuated their houses for higher ground

Rescuers rushed in rowing boats to retrieve people

Vehicles veered into houses

Obeying orders of others helped people to be safe

Understanding upset people was difficult since they were still in shock

Safe sailing was advised by lifeguards

Natural Disasters - Flooding

The beach of life

Walt: write a paragraph using figurative language

The beach of life

The royal blue rooftop with various birds flying around always gave everyone a sense of happiness. From a 90 degree view the heads of palm trees dance while its leaves look like they’re rocking out to the beatles. Although the current forced plants to let go of the sand, tons of seaweed stood their ground and did the tango with clown fish. The ocean creeped up to the sand and gobbled up the turtle hatchlings while tiny sea shells gracefully hopped through the lavender coral.

Descriptive writing

Walt: Write a descriptive paragraph using Imagery.

Today we learnt how to use imagery when writing. Our teacher told us to work in buddies and write a paragraph based on an earthquake using imagery - 5 senses. I now know how to use imagery but I just need to work on my tense. Imagery is:

The earthquake was like a magnet, drawing in buildings and making them collapse onto the floor. Chaotic people shot around in fear, while birds instantly evacuated the area. My nose was filled with dirt and dust from broken cement. As the ground shook I flopped onto the cold floor that I was once standing on. Dogs cried out loudly while tree leaves and branches rustled together aggressively. My hands were trembling by the sight of crazy power lines uncontrollably swaying in the polluted brown sky that once was a shade of baby blue.

Equivalent fractions

In this game I had to find two fractions that are equivalent to each other. This game has helped me to understand finding equivalent fractions more. Next I would like to learn how to divide fractions.

Personification Poem

The chirping of birds start to appear,

Starfish hugging rocks like they’re in fear.

The transparent sea then tip toes onto the sand

While tall palm trees, swayed like a hand

Emily takes the first leap!

“Emily are you coming!” Commented Mum. Emily anxiously hopped up and down without any anticipation. Her parents were having their after party at the Dumas Beach and Emily could see her mother’s beautiful reflection through the deck’s double door windows.

Inhaling refreshing ocean armour while tingling toes were wiggling through the white sand just wasn't enough for Emily. She had so much adrenaline she just HAD to take that regretful first leap into the water. After realising her feet could not reach the ground, Emily started gurgling in water as for she was trying to yelp for help.

Minutes later a sudden HOOOONK! Was heard in the distance. Fog forming a crowd around Emily as her pale body laid their floating in the water. Emily’s back was faced towards them as one muscular person lifted her onto shore in a bridal way. Blurting out water, Emily could hear many voices but she could only see blurry faces as for her vision wasn't up to date yet. Her parents had a bright smile printed on to their face as they wrapped their arms around Emily gently but reassuringly. “You’re safe now” Whispered mum, “Your father and I vow to never let anything harm you again!”

After a few months everyone got over everything but Emily was still scarred from that treacherous event. Due to Emily’s perky personality she still was the same funny and warm hearted person everyone knew her to be. Life went on as usual and her parents continuously payed for Emily to have swimming lessons until she hits 16.

Information report on Rangitoto Island

Rangitoto Island is the youngest volcanic island in New Zealand. Rangitoto is an iconic landmark of New Zealand.

There are various birds in Rangitoto Island. Tieke/saddleback birds can be heard in the Motutapu bushes as well as in the surroundings of Rangitoto Island. The numbers of Tui, Tomtit, Whitehead, Bellbird and Kakariki are increasing in sounds. Which means they can now be heard nearly all the time around Rangitoto Island. The endangered New Zealand dotterel/tūturiwhatu are increasing with three pairs flourishingly breeding. The Rangitoto Island birds are thriving and being in Rangitoto makes them have an easier time with their offspring due to the lack of pests and rats.

Rangitoto Island was built up by the series of eruptions arising around 6000 years ago. Rangitoto Island first became a public domain in 17 July 1890 in favour of the Corporation of the Borough of Devonport. In 1897 Rangitoto built their first wharf and pathway to the summit. In 2013 scientists suggested Rangitoto Island has been active for 1000 years before the exact eruptions around 550 years ago. Uptil now Rangitoto has been known to be a clean and safe environment for their animals. Due to the last known eruption to be about 1500 to 500 years ago.

The summit in Rangitoto Island gives a beautiful view of the ocean and Auckland city.  The phenomenal 360 degree view stretches through the Hauraki Gulf out to the jagged horizons of Waitakere Ranges in the west as well as the Hunua Ranges in the east. The summit is acknowledged to be 260 metres above sea level. There are different routes to the summit along with a path that goes past lava caves. Bringing a torch would be best due to the cave being pitch black. The summit is only 1 hour away from the wharf so it's not a far walk, plus the view is EXCEPTIONALLY beautiful.

Rangitoto Island is a very beautiful place to visit. Being surrounded by nature and hearing birds singing in perfect harmony couldn't be an any better place to be.