My Term 1 Goals and Avatar

Last year, the achievement I was most proud of in class was improving a whole lot in my reading. Although outside the classroom, I was proud of how I participated in Kapa Haka.

For reading, my learning goal is to read a lot more during school and at home to bump up my reading level up more. Also, I would like to make more podcasts as I didn't do much of that last year.

To achieve this goal I need to read in my spare time instead spending time on the internet or watching TV.

My goal for writing is to be able to explain and describe what’s happening very clearly so the reader can imagine what’s happening. And I would like to be able to write in different styles of writing such as Explanations, Narratives, Recounts and more. I need to read a variety of different books and genres to expand my vocabulary if I want to accomplish this goal.

In Maths my goal is to be able to know all my basic facts quickly and improve in my Statistics and Algebra.

Maths and Writing are the subjects I think I need to improve more on.

During class time, I need to not to be so talkative and focus more on my work. Also be able to work with others in the classroom and not just my friends.

In and around the school, I want to set an example and be a role model for the younger kids.

My parents goal for me this Term is to beat my own result from last year and just do better than what I did before. So I need to start working at home too and study more often.

The House in the Woods

This is my first edited writing sample for the year. Hope you like it. :)

Slowly walking through the foggy mist, Cara squints her eyes, trying to find her way out of the deep dark woods. All she can hear is the sound of the withered leaves crunching against her boots and the fast beating of her heart. Suddenly, Cara sees a dim light that’s not too far from her. Her slow pace quickens as she runs towards the faint yellow glow.

Cara stares at the wooden house in front of her as she comes to a stop. Vines have grown their way up through the floorboards and the windows are completely smashed. Except one, the lights were on. Her eyes move to the chipped broken door, the knob dangles on its side as if it’s hanging on a thread. The rusty hinges squeak when she opens the door slightly.

“Hello?” she hoarsely whispers, her throat incredibly dry. Silence drapes over the room like a cloak flowing down a knight’s shoulders. Everything around her is shredded into pieces. Moss crawls up the walls and shattered glass is scattered across the floor. She makes her way to the stairs. Cautiously, she steps onto the dusty stairs. They creak as she walks up. Just when she steps up off of the final step, Cara hears light music playing from down the hall.

Ring a ring a roses.......

Following the music, she stops at a red door. It almost looks like it was newly painted. Light peeks through the crack of door as her fingertips graze over the golden knob. She carefully opens the door. Cara’s breathing hitches, her eyes widen at the sight. “Oh my god....” she breathes.

DUN DUN DUUUUNNN

To Be Continued...........

First Day: I was feeling.......

Pulling my blankets aside, I was feeling way too tired to get ready for school. I slowly sit up in my bed, drag my feet to the bathroom still half asleep. I try to open my heavy eyelids while shaking myself to wake up. “PES 2014, here I come!” I thought.

THANK YOU

Last week, we received a very special surprise from a group of people. Variety, MOTAT and Johnson&Johnson were sooo generous enough so give us presents for Christmas. Each of us got a gift wrapped up just for us. Everyone really appreciated it as they didn't have to do this for us but they did anyway. And I know how difficult it is to buy a gift for someone you don't even know, its not always going to be prefect.

I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to Variety, MOTAT and Johnson&Johnson for what they did for us. We appreciate what you did for us and we all will surely cherish it. I got a Scrap Book and its very cool to use for arts and crafts when I'm bored.

Action World

Action World was really enjoyable, everyone looked like they had fun on the trapeze, crazy ladder, jungle swings, rock climbing wall and the jump and slide. These inflatable attractions had us all smiling and laughing.

So everyone could have a chance to go on everything, we had a rotation where everyone would take a turn doing the activity and when we heard the whistle, we would move to the next thing to do.

All of the activities were all very amusing but one of my favourites was the Jungle Swings. Climbing up the ladder, I stood on the two planks and got a hold of the swing. I kept my eyes looking in front of me, trying not to be tempted to look down. Holding tightly onto the grip handle, I could just feel the hands getting sweaty. Nervously I jumped off the planks and off I went.

Trying to maintain my strong grasp on the bar, I quickly took one off the bar and grabbed the next one. I could hear my friends cheering me on as I made it to the very last bar. At that moment I got pretty lazy, I decided to drop down onto the big squishy airbag.

I also liked the Joesting Bridge, I fought against my two friends Kaycee and Grace. And both times, I lost but honestly it was really funny. Grace fell on top of me when I fell of the bridge and it was quite painful. Even though I lost both battles, it was cool to try push my friends into a soft pit.

The whole day at Action World was just and I have said probably 4 times already: FUN!!!!!! I would really like to go again and maybe even try out the trapeze.  

Netbook Reflection 2013

As a year 7 now, I have had my net book for 3 years and honestly I don't remember what it was like before without it. I use it at home and at school, it has become a necessity for me. Whether it is for learning/work, free time or entertainment, it really does make everything easier and has helped me a lot in the past 3 years.

The awesome thing about having a net book is that when browsing the Internet, I can teach myself new things and I have. Such as playing the piano, music, dancing, making animations and creating movies. And not to mention learning how to play games. Like I said before about teaching myself things on my net book, it has helped me improve my dancing and making movies.

Miss King (my teacher) has taught me how to use this website where you can create your very own mini games and animations. This is website is called Scratch.

With this digital tool, I have improved my key competencies. Working with others is so easy to do as we can share documents, presentations, spreadsheets and work together to finish our work. Instead of just drawing and painting, we can use online or offline applications to create visual images, movies and text. With the Internet, I can go onto our class site where all our work is and I don't need to ask the teacher so now I can manage myself better.

Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela, the first black president of South Africa is possibly one of the greatest men who ever lived. He will be remember for putting an end to apartheid. As the man who protested against racism or the president of South Africa, he really made a change in the world.

In 1918 July 18th, Nelson Mandela was born but he was actually named Rolihlahla Mandela. As a child, Nelson would actually be considered lucky, seeing that he was black. He attended a primary school near Qunu, where he was nicknamed Nelson by his teacher. Then at the age of 16, he went to Clarkebury Boarding Institute in Engcobo.

Then he enrolled at the University College of Fort Hare, in Alice. But unfortunately got expelled one year later because he played a role in a student strike. In 1942, he joined the African National Congress, he was South Africa's main campaigner for black equality.

Nelson Mandela was arrested in 1956 and joined 155 others on trial for treason. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison after he left the country without a passport. In 1963 along with other leaders of the ANC, Nelson was put on a trial for apparently being involved in planning armed action and a conspiracy to help other countries invade South Africa and to overthrow the system, the apartheid. Found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment, Mandela only spent 18 years on Robben Island Prison.

After 27 years in jail, Nelson was finally released in 1990. Literally hours after his release, he promised to end apartheid once and for all in front of a crowd. Nelson was elected on April 27, 1994 and was sworn in as South Africa’s first democratically elected president.

In the later years of his life, Nelson was admitted and discharged out of hospital many times and his most of his children died. He also published hundreds of books and lived 95 years until dying recently on December the 6th 2013.

Nelson Mandela will FOREVER be remembered for his legacy and the message he sent out to us during his life. I reckon his message was we are all equal, no matter what colour, sex, culture or whatever you may be, we are all the same. :)