Senior Syndicate Assembly

Syndicate Assembly
Yesterday, Monday the 7th of September 2015 Room 12 once again were assigned to host the Syndicate Assembly. 

First we had to have someone to be the ‘Master of Ceremony’ which in other words is the ‘Chief Host’. Miria volunteered to be the organiser. 

For our main attraction we had a Talent Quest performed by a group of people from each senior syndicate class. 

We had four judges including Kolotina, Mika, Miria and myself. 

At the end of the Talent Quest it was a tie with first place Room 9 and Room 11. In second place Room 10, and Room 12 at third. Sini and Melelose represented our class. 
It was really fun and it seemed that our audience enjoyed our presentation.

By Elizabeth.

First place (tie): Room 9 and  

Room 11


In second place: Room 10


In third place: Room 12

Nae Nae Dance Competition

Last week two contestants from each classroom in the Senior School competed in the Nae Nae Dance Competition in the Syndicate Assembly. In Room 12, Sini and Estah teamed up to demonstrate their skills and moves. The loudest applause went to them and as a result they won. Watch their interpretation of the Nae Nae dance.

                       

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.

Wevideo of Madd Messenger 1 and 2 compiled by Sini and Ofa

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

Interschool Soccer Competition

Football Tournament

Balls flying everywhere, supporters cheering here and there,  coaches shouting what to do, even though we scored a few.

After all the football games we played we felt weak. Then it was finally time for the manager to announce the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth placings. We were anxious for the host to report back where Ruapotaka School came.   Suddenly we found out that we came second. We were so amazed. Our team were all up and cheering. We were acknowledged for our second placing by being given posters and certificates.

We all had fun, even before it begun and now we are all proud, we started to shout out loud!!
By Elizabeth, Sini, and Damien

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!

School Prefects

Prefects 2015

We are the prefects and we all have responsibilities. All of us have been chosen because we show leadership and encouragement. Our school depends on us to look after the young ones. To become a prefect you have to show the teachers that you deserve the role.

One of the prefect’s job is to solve people’s problems. Other duties of a prefect are to help others, listen to the teachers,  to change people’s attitude, to use polite words, to be a good citizen, to be honest, and take turns. All these things are related to what  prefects do to look after our school.

Our attitude has to be positive. We have to be fair to everyone around us. Prefects have to have discipline. We make sure everyone has to think first before they act, treat others like you want to be treated, be better than before and remember ACTIONS speak louder than WORDS!!

Always use your W.I.T.S:

W- Walk away

I- Ignore

T- Tell someone

S- Stand up for yourself
By Damien, Sini, Mika, Ofa, Suliasi and Quros