Key Competencies by Miria

They are very important in Room 12. As a matter of fact they are important for the whole of Ruapotaka School. Teachers expect students to use all 5 key competencies to help you through your school years. They might seem dumb but they actually play a very big part in our lives. For example “Thinking” and “Managing” yourself and be work wise can help with your education. 

 “Thinking” is how you find information, improving it, reflecting, being creative and gathering ideas. 

“Managing Self” is how you use your time in class. So this is like managing your time in class and at home and making goals that you can achieve in the future. 

“Using Language, Symbols and Texts” is how you share your work with others in different ways. 

“Participating and Contributing”  is when you take on responsibilities confidently when you are in a group. Joining in and being fair. 

“Relating to Others” is how you mix in with people and interact with others. 

Do you have key competencies in your classroom? You could ask your principal if you can have all 5 on a wall reminding students how to behave and act. We have ours on our wall.

Miria's 2015 Winning Speech: Be a Successful Student

View and listen to Miria's advice on preparing for College life.

Receiving Principals Award by Miria

On Friday I received a Principals award for my narrative. It was an autobiography about me being a Tiger in the circus. Read my narrative below and my brainstorm ideas.

7.0  Narrative

In Black Beauty a horse tells the story.  Imagine you  are a bear, tiger or a sea lion and you have been captured for a circus.  Tell your story (150-200 words)  and use the guidelines below to help you brainstorm your ideas.

7.1  Who are you?  _tiger _____

7.2  Where did you live? _Africa_____

7.3  When and how were you captured? __ I was tranquillised and taken on the back of a truck to the circus____

7.4  Who were the people involved? __A group of Safari hunters____

7.5  What were the problems you faced? _ I got whipped, and tormented because I wasn't getting the act right_____

7.6  How did you overcome them? __I practiced and practiced until the circus owners were satisfied____

7.7  What happened at the end? _I became the star of the Circus Finanza_____

7.8  Are you happy or sad?  Why? _Happy, because I can understand why the circus owner were getting frustrated for and I am a star now_____

Now write your narrative. _______

    The Circus Finanza

I was munching on a fresh carcass in the hot African sun. It was a bit annoying because flies were getting in my face and they were attracted to the strong stench lurking around the carcass. Everything was going great when things took a turn for the worst. THONK! a tranquillizer dart pierced my thigh. I was feeling drowsy then suddenly I collapsed.

  My eyes opened slightly but everything was blurred. “Where am I?” I roared with panic in my voice. I tried to move but I was stuck under a thick net. Suddenly I heard multiple footsteps and voices getting closer.

“George get that carnivore into the circus tent and start training him at once!”

“Okay”, called George. He came in and lifted the net off me gently. He threw chunks of meat near my paws before he put a leash around my neck and guided me into the circus tent.

 It was a painful process learning how to do the circus acts properly but I became the star of the Circus Finanza.

Congratulations to Miria: Winner of Year 7/8 Speech Competition

Winning Speech Finals

I was up and the nerves were getting to me. I pulled myself together, took a deep breath and started my speech.

I finished my speech off with a great quote for students to think about. "You get out of college what you put in". I hadn't considered coming first in the Speech Finals and I thought I'd come third. I had no faith in myself but Mrs.Golder reassured me I could take this out.

The places were getting called from third to first place. My name hadn't been called yet and I thought I hadn't come anywhere. First place was getting called out by Miss Ginders. "And in first place we have......... Miria" she announced. I walked to the front and claimed my award. I was applauded and complimented by students and teachers.

I was over the moon and proud of myself for achieving the award and so were my parents.
By Miria

Congratulations to the Year 8 Girls

Everyone crowded, pushing each other while trying to fit through our school gate. After all the pushing and bumping each other we finally made it through. During the time we were running we could feel the pressure and perspiration forming on our bodies. Everyone was cheering while coming through to the finish line. We felt relieved. At the end of the day we were all proud of ourselves and others who tried their best.

Places:

Mikayla at 1st place

Ofa at 2nd place

Miria and Elizabeth (tie) 3rd place

By Elizabeth, Miria, Mikayla, Ofa

Duffy Role Model Assembly

Today a man called Myron Simpson came to our school as a Duffy Role Model. He is currently a cyclist who has been all over the world, competed in the Commonwealth Games and best of all represents New Zealand. 

I was lucky enough to introduce him to my school and ask him a couple of questions. His favourite place he's been to is Italy because of the delicious pizza. He always has to study places before he goes to them. 

He also has a muesli brand which is sold online and it is called Myron’s Muesli. He had some pretty cool gear with him such as his special bike, his helmet, medals and more. He has followed through with his dream since he was little.

By Miria

Best Daffodil from Each Classroom

These Daffodils were made by the students from each classroom and selected by their teachers as the best made flower. Each class created their Daffodils in different ways.

Some classes constructed them by using muffin cases, straws for stalks and orange and yellow papers. Some classes folded their papers and others used templates created by their teachers.

We made these because we support Daffodil Day as a school raising money for the Cancer Society.

By Miria

                     

Photographer: Estah, Wevideo directed by Estah, produced by Sini

Duffy Award goes to Miria!

                                
On Monday I received a Duffy award for Caught Being Good. I received two books as well as a certificate, that stated that I “had excellent comprehension skills”. The title of my books are ‘Camp Rock’ and ‘SOMUCH2DO.’  I was surprised that I was chosen to receive the award. I was applauded by the whole school. I was asked to stay up at the front of the assembly and I was acknowledged by Mrs Vickers for my role as a Manaiakalani Ambassador.

Miria's Speech Presentation

We are proud of Miria and her important role as Mananakalani Ambassador. She presented her speech  on her digital classroom learning to the many visitors who gathered for the Manaiakalani Hui held on Friday August 21 at the Panmure Yacht Club. Click to watch her performace.

Inter-school Netball Competition 2015

Schools all ready, referees steady, the whistles blow like a confetti. We versed heaps of schools. We won all our games but unfortunately we lost in the finals against Sylvia Park School. Even though we didn’t come first we were all overjoyed. We came second. Yay!   At the end of the day we did our school proud. 
Written by Simon, Raniera, Elizabeth, Estah, Sini, Ofa and Miria

Intermediate Netball Team: 
Back: Quros, Chance, Raniera, Simon.
Front: Heilala, Estah, Miria, Ofa, Elizabeth, Sini.

Writing Participants

Sini, Don and  Miria were awarded the Participant's Certificate for entering in the 2015 Barfoot & Thompson Young Authors Challenge writing competition. There were over 1000 entries from all over Auckland and Northland and their stories had to link with the theme: 'There's No Place Like Home'.

Here is Miria's story:

    My Home Is Where My Heart Is

    From a visitors point of view my homeland appears to be a wreck but to me it's still home. Pipiwai. I was raised there and I have many childhood memories with many family members and enjoyable experiences with animals.

Firstly the landscape is astonishing. From the rivers to the towering country hills and mountains in the far distance. The fragrance of the countryside is fresh  with a hint of farm manure and the smell of pine in the breeze. Everywhere you sight is lush green grassy paddocks with multi coloured cows, bulls, sheep, horses and free range chickens.

Out of many various stories my nana has told me this would be my favourite. Te Heke a courageous Ngapuhi chief discovered a fantasizing big rock in a plot of a Pakehas’ land. In the rock are four holes and water squirts out of them. Pipiwai inherited its name from this rock. Pipi means to squirt and wai means water. This rock is located in a paddock on Moores Road.

While I'm there, I like to indulge in the luxurious clear waters. If you're trying to get privacy this is almost impossible because all the locals gather to enjoy time with their whanau and friends or to cool off in the summer heat. There are many streams, rivers and lakes you can soak in, in the peace and quiet.

Going on nature walks is something I really love. Just walking through forests and coming across interesting objects you wouldn't have expected to sight like unusual bird feathers, animal tracks and sap from kauri and gum trees. Collecting and admiring new things you're unfamiliar with is amazing. Seeing all of the land around me shift a bit every time I'm there, so there are always new adventures to take on daily.

Te Horo is the only primary school in Pipiwai. Every Wednesday it used to hold a Twilight family night to fundraise money for new construction to take place around the school or just to gather and enjoy time with the whanau. Adults and children were able to participate in activities that involve netball, volleyball and touch. The best thing was the hearty Maori food such as Maori burgers, hangi, fried bread and kids treats.

If you need milk, petroleum or meat, farmers are willing to barter. They are so generous they even give kids good paying jobs in the holidays if you’re alright with getting down and dirty with the animals: waking at early hours in the morning while the dew sets on the grass and condensation forms on the windows. Would you consider being a part time farmer?

Eels are a delicacy in the Maori culture. There are many streams located around Pipiwai some may even be just a paddock away. The key to catching eels is to be quiet and stationary. Ripples on the surface of the water are a great sign, the more ripples the more eels. Eels are nocturnal so it's best to go eeling at sundown.

Unfortunately some households can’t access water to flush their toilets so there’s a long drop. There aren’t any lights and you have to set off in the dark alone or alongside a parent. But on the bright side it’s more efficient and you’re using less water. When it comes to that time of the year  you have to make a new plot for your long drop, you get yourself stuck in quite a smelly situation.

I gotta say, “There's no place like home.”

Glossary

whanau - family

marae - Maori meeting house

ataahua - beautiful

Museum Visit

                                              

   MUSEUM TRIP

Seeing all the men and women that helped, fought and fell in the wars to save their country was sad and horrifying to digest.

Firstly the bus arrived at school and we set off onto the bus with our groups and the teachers we were assigned to. On the bus everyone was excited and it was a fast journey to the museum. Finally the bus came to a stop and we all made our way inside the museum.

Later we all split and went in different directions. Inside the museum there were many historical items like swords, guns and many World War One and World War Two  weapons.

There was a lot of helpful and interesting information that made us imagine how the soldiers lived, fought and survived.

All of the objects that were put on display were all very old and presented behind glass. Each of the items was separately placed in different topics of different wars around the world.

Each group ended at different stages at the museum. At last the groups met at the bus park. Now the groups were all exhausted some were chatting away on what they gazed upon in the museum. The students in the bus were saying, “We saw badges that were unable to be touched.”

Others said, “This was the first time I saw trenches like that in real life.”

Or even, “The water in front of the museum was cool to touch.”

Some students were asleep and some still  were babbling about the trip.

By Miria, Sini, Florida, Fotu, and Pita

'A' Grade Students

Our A Grade Certificate

We were overwhelmed that our names were announced by Mrs Golder.

We worked really hard to achieve at least five or more A grades in our homework. We shook our teachers hand proudly and the audience applauded us. We were pleased that we were awarded with A grade certificates. Our parents are very glad that we worked hard in Term One.

Our next goal is to get A grades for the rest of the year and to succeed so that we can have a better education. Every week we get Year 8 homework and usually we get A or better. Only six students were awarded with A Grade Certificates who were

,  Elizabeth, Ofa, Miria, Cypress and Damien

Be better Than Before!

Class of 2015

We are the senior students of Ruapotaka School. Room 12 has 11 girls and 8 boys in total. Mrs. Golder is our teacher in our class. We are all year eight students who enjoy learning. When we work on our devices we always Learn, Create, Share our creations on our blogs.

Everyone in Room 12 is very kind and has a lot of good friends. We are very good leaders and we follow the rules. Our class has two prefects and another two to come. We enjoy laughing, smiling and having a good time with Mrs. Golder. We are all well presented students. We are all unique and special in different ways. We are a mixed cultural class. We are good volunteers. We have a positive attitude to most things.

Mrs. Golder teaches us the academic words which will be very useful in the future. We enjoy being a cybersmart class. We use our netbooks as a learning tool. Our netbooks are essential to our learning!

Written by the year eight students: Simon, Mika, Miria, Melelose and Damien.