Kapa Haka 2021 - 3, 2, 1... Action!

Kapa Haka was finished. Moana Syndicate had just finished performing their well - practiced Kapa Haka bracket. That included Utaina, Ka Waiata, Aue Rona E, Ka Panapana, Wainui Haka, and Toia Mai Te Waka Nei (In Order). My favorite song out of those six would have to be Ka Panapana. Even though I didn't have the opportunity to lead it, I still enjoyed it very much. 

Matua Canaan, Koka Brodie's partner was the one who recorded us with microphones and recording boxes everywhere! Knowing that the microphones were there helped me in knowing that a LOT of parents and public audiences were going to see it; wanting me to shine brighter even  more.

The performance lasted for about 5 - 10 minutes, and my hands and knees were trembling all the way. In my reflection I think that in projecting your voice and smiling really lights up your performance, especially for me.

Overall, I think that I did a very good job today at Kapa Haka, and I wish I could do it over, and over again.

Thank you for reading my blog, 

Kale'a :)

Below is a picture of me 

Ilminster Green Team - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

The Ilminster Intermediate Dream Team had just started their performance on why we should stop littering and reduce, reuse, and recycle. It took about 30 minutes, and all of the costumes were student - made. As the hall dimmed it's lights after the whole Moana Syndicate had arrived, and the settings popping with color, the play began.

Nanny Koura entered the stage, sitting down on the gleaming painted rocks along with Kina, in front of the ocean set. The grandchildren begged for an exceptional story that evening, Nanny Koura refused and rushed them to bed. But, one grandchild stayed on the floor, begging once more. The story she chose was of when Nanny Koura fought the Morons from Trash Planet, and how she convinced them to STOP littering. 

The Morons arrived, planning for a plot that would destroy all ecosystems on earth, just like it did on trash planet. With no coincidence involved, the local kids came to the skate park, showing off their "tricks".  They littered their 10 cent lolly wrappers, joining the other junk food rubbish. 

The Morons left, but not for long. They rushed back, and Nanny Koura found them. She was known as the long - lost Queen Koura, and they bowed to her innocently. She convinced them to stop their destroying of all planets, and once again, they were all at peace. 

I think that the Ilminster Green Team did a very good job on spreading the message about cleaning up our towns.

Thank you for reading my blog!

-Kale'a

Conservation T - Shirts Challenge: Save The Cheetahs!

 Aloha! For the last couple of weeks, I have been working on my Conservation T - Shirt Challenge. The CT-SC is about drawing a T - Shirt design with something on the back and front, giving a lowdown on why we should save this animal/living thing. 

Each person in my class was given a printed piece of paper with a T - Shirt diagram on the front and back. The front part of the paper was what the front of your T - Shirt would look like, and the back part of the paper was what the back of your T - Shirt would look like. 

I chose to draw about why we should save the cheetahs. Below are pictures of the front and back of mine.

Back

Front

Thank you for reading my blog!

-Kale'a :)

Speeches 2021 - Going For Gold By Being Kind: Malkin Moonlight

 Kia ora, this week I will be saying my speech to 60 of my classmates. I'm just a bit nervous. My speech is about why we should be kind, just like the famous book character Malkin Moonlight created by Emma Cox. Down below is my speech for you to read:

If you want to be kind, be kind to all.  Just like the famous book character, Malkin Moonlight. Malkin Moonlight was created by the American Author, Emma Cox. I know that Emma created Malkin for a reason. To inspire others to be kind, wherever, and whenever.  He doesn’t care who it is, what it is, or whatever their personality is. We should always be kind, just like Malkin.

Even though someone is rude to you, it does not mean that you have to be rude back. Malkin was  thrown into a river to drown, but instead of being rude back to his owner, he got himself out and chose to be kind for the rest of his life.

Bullies are sometimes rude to people because it makes them feel good. “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” Meaning, that if you show kindness to someone, that time is never wasted. It doesn't matter if you do a small act of kindness or a big act of kindness. The important thing is that you do an act of kindness and it is never a waste of time.

There are many ways to be kind, at least choose one. Malkin chose all. "Not being shown any love or kindness does affect you," says 71-year-old Carolyn Frawley. Did you know that kindness and empathy help us relate to other people and have more fun and happy relationships and memories with friends, family, and even perfect strangers we encounter in our daily lives? And if you think about it, kindness can actually make you healthier. 

You could say kindness is a little like vegetables, it can make you healthier, mentally and physically. But sometimes, we just don’t feel like eating them. By being kind to people, it makes you happy, and it also lowers your blood pressure. By lowering your blood pressure, you have a less chance of having heart attacks, which can mean the difference between life and death. Literally. 

Importance of kindness to others could be the most important thing on Earth. Here is just a small list of things that kindness can do to change our daily lives.

1. Happiness - Makes you happier knowing that you’ve done something important.

2. Anxiety - It can help you face your fears, like standing up to BIG audiences. 

               And..

3. Confidence - Makes you confident knowing that you are stepping up to make things right.

I asked other students in our class why they think it is important to be kind. Here are the results. “It can make yourself and others a better person by being kind.” “If you aren’t kind when you are young, then it will affect you in your older life.” “If you are kind, then others will be kind back to you.”  “Even if others aren’t kind to you, you should still be kind back.”  “That truly proves that people do care, and they do want to be kind, just as I do too.

 The real reason Malkin decides to be kind, is that he cares, and if we start to care, we can all be kind.  If I wrap kindness into just 3 words, I would say, Kindness does matter, and the next time you see someone being bullied, tell them why  kindness really matters. “Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.”

Thank you for reading my blog in Term 4 2021!

-Kale'a 🐈‍⬛

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go! Athletics Day 2021

Bang! The sound of the wood blocks clashing together richoched in my ears as I raced along the 100 meter track, passing 4 out of the 8 year 6 girls in the first 50 meters. I sprinted to the limit as I tried to pass my nemesis of a friend, Klara. I couldn't quite get there, but when I crossed the finished line, I was relieved to know that I had come 3rd in the Finals of the Year 6 Girls 100 Meter Sprint 2021. That was almost the end of my Athletics Day in 2021, let me tell it to you from the very beginning.

My class MLH, had just finished cheering on the junior syndicate with their 50 meter sprints as the Year 6's moved over to the 200 meter track. Koka Ngaire (one of MLH's teachers) had written an asterix on my  hand, marking that I should not be put in the same heat with another Year 6 Girl that had an asterix on their hand. My heat included Maggie, Alivia, Klara, Rio, Alice, and I. 

I came first.

Then, it was the finals. That included Charlotte A, Charlotte M, Klara, Ella, Cornelia, Dillyn, Alivia, Lola, and I. Charlotte M came first, Lola came second, Klara came third, Charlotte A came fourth, I came fifth, Alivia came sixth, Dillyn came seventh, Cornelia came eighth, and Ella came nineth. 

Next, was Ball Throw. It passed fairly quickly, with Cornelia first up. She threw far! Klara was close behind in second, and Cornelia in first, and before you know it, I'm on top! Charlotte A was next, and she was now in first, she is a very strong thrower. It kept going on and on, passing through all the year 6 girls, the leaderboard changing but somehow, I clinged on! The final podium looked like this:

1. - Charlotte A

2. - Kale'a (Me)

And...

3. - Dillyn

Yay! I was so proud knowing that I had gotten a placing! Next was Long Jump. We got three jumps each, and one of my jumps was a no jump, but if it wasn't, then I would've been in first! The final podium ended up with Klara in first, Charlotte A in second, and Charlotte M in third. 

100 Meter sprints was my favorite. My heat included Cornelia, Rio, Alice, and I. I came first, Cornelia came second, Alice came third, and Rio came fourth. In the finals was Charlotte M, Charlotte A, Klara, Lola, Alivia, Ella, Cornelia, and I. It was very nerve - racking! I was racing through the white lines and in the end, I came third! Charlotte M came first, with Klara close behind.

Athletics day was soooo fun! I can not wait for next year's Athletics Day at Intermediate.

I hope you enjoyed my blog,

Kale'a :-) 

Artist Study 2021 - Pete Cromer Collage

Kia Ora! My blog this week is about a new activity my school syndicate (Moana Syndicate) just started to host in Term 4, and it is called Moana Artist Study. In the earlier Term, Term 3, the whole syndicate had to vote from 4 Artists and what Artist they wanted to learn and create a piece of art using their style. The choices were:

• Pete Cromer - An Australian Artist who create pieces of art from native Australian animals
• Heather Galler - Creates Colorful landscapes using shapes including spirals, triangles, etc.
• Invader - A pixel Artist who uses squares to create 2D pieces of art; Retro.
• Diana Adams - Realistic Landscapes, gets inspiration from her surroundings.

We had to choose our 1st choice, 2nd choice, 3rd choice, and our 4th choice. I got into Koka Ngaire's group, which was Pete Cromer (My first choice) and my three friends Klara, Cornelia, and Maggie also got in. 

First, we talked about how Pete Cromer creates art in general, and where you can find it. Koka Ngaire also streamed a video for us to watch and get inspiration ourselves. Since Pete Cromer uses native animals as ideas, we wrote down all the native animals in New Zealand. Koka Ngaire told us to research our top two choices, paste 8 photos of each animal one two slides, and then decide on our final animal.

I chose the Tuatara (My first choice), and the Piwakawaka/Kākā (My second choice). I can not wait for the next session tomorrow!

I hope you enjoy my weekly blogs.

-Kale'a ♡ ☆

Enviroschools Day - Green Gold For WBS!

Aloha, (Hello) and welcome to my blog. My name is Kale'a and I have been writing about my school's recent day winning Green Gold as an Enviroschool. To win Green Gold, you must win the first two before you can go for Green Gold; silver and bronze. Once you have won both, you get to go for Green Gold, and Green Gold is basically the top one, so we were extra excited. I hope you enjoy reading about my experience with it.

First off, the bell rang for the beginning of school. I ran to tell my friends to go to the hall, and gave a big hug to my friend that I wouldn't see until the end of the day, Cornelia. "Now, come on! We're going to be late!" Ivy, Charlotte A, Te Atawhai, Klara, and I had to be on time for the Powhiri to welcome the 4 Enviroschools team associates by singing 3 songs in Te Reo (The Maori Language). We got into our lines, and my friend Te Atawhai began to welcome them into our school in Maori as well, then we began to sing. 

After the powhiri ended, since Charlotte A, Te Atawhai, Klara and I were part of the Enviro Group, we had to stay inside the hall and announce some presentations. First up was Klara and Izzy, and they were talking about our school's pepeha, which is explaining our Maori Family through NZ; I think they did an amazing job. 

Then were my other two friends, Te Atawhai and Charlotte A. They did theirs about our local penguins, the Korora (Little Blue Penguin). It was very interesting and they also did a great job. Some intermediate students also came to talk about their journey when they were at Wainui Beach School. 

I didn't get a chance to say mine about our school's wetland, Mangaone Wetland, but I enjoyed listening to my friends and that was very exciting, and that was enough for me for the day. 

Our small Brain Break filled my belly right before it was time to come back inside. We showed the four EnviroTeam around our school as they jotted down ideas silently. Their names were Charlotte, Rick, Kirsty, and Kauri. We first went to the Shade House where we grow our native saplings, then to the fruit orchard, with oranges, apples, plums, mandarins, persimmons, and feijoa. We also had lavender and bee hives where we could now use our just bought new kid bee suits. 

Then it was time for Morning Tea. Charlotte A, Te Atawhai, Klara and I raced each other to the playground as we played on the metal monkey bars, while Klara tried to tag us as she was 'it' for Monkey Bar Tag.

Morning Tea had ended fairly quickly, and we were back in the hall before anyone else. As soon as everyone was in the hall, Koka Jodie, the EnviroGroup teacher, told us to go to one of the A3 pieces of paper across the hall. I went to the one that Kirsty was at and Klara came too. 

We had to think of what we do to we keep track of data at our school, like how many plants we planted, how many trash bags we go through, etc. We got lots of Post - Its down and Kirsty said we did a great job. All of a sudden, it was lunch. Koka Jodie said that she, Charlotte, Kirsty, Rick, and Kauri were going down to Hamanatua Stream (where my class went hiking instead of staying at school) and if you wanted to come you were allowed to tag along. Everyone put their hand up. Koka Jodie saw one boy's hand up and she said, "Nate, I know you don't like walking..." Everyone burst into laughter. "But, are you sure you want to come?" He responded with, "Well, hmmmm, I'll think about it." Klara and I chuckled silently until Charlotte A noticed and, well, she barks instead of laughi..."HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Too late. Everyone was staring right at us, and Klara and I just stood up slowly, and then bolted through the open doorway. 

We were down at Hamanatua, chomping down our lunch as Koka Jodie pulls out of what I think is a meal for 20! There was quiche, bacon and egg pie, salad, pineapple, mandarin, and orange. We each got to choose between bacon and egg pie or quiche, and I chose the vegetarian quiche, but I think I regret the quiche. 

Koka Jodie and most of the group went for a walk around Hamanatua, and there was only Charlotte A, Izzy, Klara. Lochie, and I. Charlotte A and I were running up the really steep hill and at the top we surprisingly, spotted our class! "Hi, Cornelia!" I yelled to my friend; I guess I would be able to see her one more time. 

It was time to walk back to school. Klara, Te Atawhai, Charlotte A, and I played a game called 'Around The World', but the walking version. We would take turns calling out multiplication equations like 11 x 11, and the other three would have to say the answer. They would be the winner. I was also being a bit silly, and made up another game where I gave the four of us each boy names that started with the first letter of our last names, for example:

Klara - Peter

Te Atawhai - Paul

Charlotte - Albert

Me/Kale'a - Dave

Then, I would say one of the boy names and the other three would have to answer who the real girl was. I found that game very fun.

We were back at school as we entered the hall, where we now had to sit all together and discuss if we agreed with all the group's pieces of paper. If we agreed with all seven, we would be Green Gold! By telling if we all agreed, we would vote with thumbs up, or thumbs down . First sentence, thumbs up from all of us. Second sentence, thumbs up again. Third, cha - ching. Fourth. Fifth. Sixth, Good. "Now, what happens when we have all seven" Kauri asked. "We get GREEN GOLD!" Klara replied enthusiastically. And  then, seventh, ALL THUMBS! And by not even trying, we all shouted at the same time, "WE GOT GREEN GOLD!"

Just in time, the bell had rung for 3:00, school's over. We ran back to class after having a couple of high - fives from each adult. e Atawhai asked if we were allowed to run around each classroom announcing the news. "We got Green Gold!" Again. "We got Green Gold!" And again. "We got Green Gold!" Until all classrooms heard the news. We also delivered a gift to Koka Jodie saying thanks from our principal, Koka Nolian, and vice principal, Koka Sue. Back at class, Koka Ngaire, our teacher, was announcing which two people would be going to the Principal's Tea Party to join the other one person from the classrooms around Wainui Beach School (there would be two from our class since we are a Learning Hub made from two classes). And to make the day even better, Klara AND Charlotte's names got called!

I was so happy for my two friends. It was an extra jam - packed day, filled with fun adventures and tasty food.

I'm glad for my opportunities at school.

Thank you for reading my very long blog. 

-Kale'a 🐈‍⬛

My Quickwrite 2021 - Story Starters:

 Kia Ora, today by blog is about my second Quickwrite from my priorities. I used the story starter, 'The girl raced to the other side of her yard'. I hope you enjoy reading my Quickwrite and the awesome adventure I wrote about! This Quickwrite also had inspiration from the animated film, 'Raya And The Last Dragon'.

The girl raced to the other side of her yard. It was as if something was scaring her away, like a cat chasing a mouse, reading to pounce onto its prey. Her name was Raya, at least that's what her friends used to call her. Used to. Now, she's known as 'The Protector of The Mythics'. 

An ancient myth, known to say that the Mythics were a group of five powerful forces, with powers unmentioned until a certain point of time. When they all worked together as a team, they were the most dominant living beings in the land. Their land was called Estrania. Estrainia was filled to the brim with life, from tigers to spiders, and cats to bats; but the only thing keeping all living creatures alive on Estrainia, was the legendary Moonstone. The Moonstone was the only thing keeping them alive, and if the gemstone was even the littlest bit chipped, there would be nothing left in the land of Estrainia, nothing except The Protector of The Mythics.

Raya jumped onto her spotted feline friend, as she zoomed to the next drained-out lake, it was like someone had dived to the bottom and pulled the plug, all the water rushing away, nowhere to be seen. She pulled out her scroll, jumped off her cheetah which she called Lana, and read aloud.

The gem lies beneath stone,

The gem lies their alone.

Nothing protecting it, nothing in sight,

But a powerful force, capable of great might.

A  warrior, both powerful and brave,

must take this challenge, to save the day.

Raya steps into the dry lake and in her hand, appears the Moonstone. Finally! But, there's a problem. She drops the stone unexpectedly, and it shatters. Raya feels something in her left arm immediately, and as she turns her head, she has only a left shoulder, and that is also slowly disappearing. 

Thank you for reading my Blog about my Quickwrite!

-Kale'a ♡

Quick Write - Story Starters: Can Anyone Hear...

Kia Ora! Today I will be sharing my Quickwrite with you. I used the Story Starter, "Can Anyone Hear..." for my Quickwrite. This Quickwrite is also based of of the series: Wings of fire: The Dragonet Prophecy. I hope you enjoy it, and happy reading!

“Can anyone hear that?” Sunny shivered as Starflight walked by. “It’s OK, Sunny, It’s just Tsunami rummaging for some scrolls.” “Some interesting scrolls!” Tsunami added. “Anyway,” Starflight continued, “We should study some more tonight. I feel that you guys haven’t been reading as much as me.” “Well, obviously! I’ve been eating leftover cows from dinner all night!” Clay spat raw chewed - up mince all around the room while trying to speak. “Yuck, Clay!” Sunny laughed. “Fine. As long as I get to choose. OK?” Tsunami snapped. “Yes, yes. Just not the SandWing princesses.” Glory whispered, apparently not quiet enough. “Oooooooh! Great idea, Glory!” Tsunami yelled. “Oh, Splendid.” Glory mumbled.

“I would obviously be the best queen, but since you are a real SandWing Sunny, you can be Queen Oasis.” Tsunami said. “Yay!” Sunny exclaimed while Tsunami carried on. “Glory, you can be Blister, the smart one. I’ll be Burn, the strong one, and Starflight, you can be Blaze. The prettiest one.” Tsunami chuckled. “But, I was Blaze last time!” Starflight yelped. “Stop complaining! Oh, and Clay, you’re the angry Scavenger.

The Acting Out

“La, De, Da, De, Da. I’m Queen Oasis and I do Queeny things and stuff.” Sunny said.

“Don’t forget the treasure!” Tsunami whispered

“Oh, yea. I have lots of treasure, and that’s what makes me so Queeny!” Sunny added.

“Did someone say treasure?” Clay said.

“EEEAAAKKK!” Sunny cried in fear.

“You’re not supposed to be scared!” Tsunami interfered.

“R-Right. Rar! What is this scavenger doing in my kingdom of sand? I will eat him in one bite!”

“Squeak, squeak, and other annoying scavenger noises!” Clay squealed. “Take that, I mean, SQUEAK!”

“Impossible! How could a lousy scavenger like this defeat me! Oh, my kingdom will fall, oh, my treasure!” Sunny complained.

“Squeak, squeak! All this treasure is mine now! Ha!” Clay announced.

“Oh, no! Our mother is dead!” Tsunami yelped.

“And none of us killed her, oh what shall we do?” Glory questioned.

“I, Blister was about to challenge her, I should be queen!” 

“I, Burn am the biggest and strongest, I should be queen!” Tsunami said

I, Blaze am the youngest and will live the longest reign, I should be queen!” Starflight commanded.

“Aaannnddd…” Tsunami confessed.

“I am also by far the prettiest.”

“Ha, ha, ha!”

Thank you for reading my Blog, I hope you enjoyed it!

-Kale'a 🐈

Cross Country 2021 - 2nd Place!

 I dropped my water bottle and my just - washed sweatshirt. I really wish I could wear it, it is freezing! "Year 6 girls, line up, quickly!" I chase myself to the starting line, girls pushing, girls shoving, trying to get to the front of the line. I got there just in time, then girls came impelling through the crowd, like there was a pack of velociraptors chasing them. Arrggghhhh! "On your marks, get set, GO!" I prance off the wet grass, catching up to my speedy friend, Charlotte Alexander. Catch me if you can, my friend! I ran my heart out as I passed Charlotte, Lola, and Klara. Yesss! Now, I only have to catch the most rapid - fast, high - speed, energetic girl in the school. 

Charlotte McDiarmid.

I try to keep my pace up, and I succeed. I lean back, remembering last year how steep it is when you're running down a hill. It's steep. I say a quick 'hello!' to one of the FOW (Friends of Wainui) Cross Country helpers, Kate as she hits me with a 'good luck!' back. 

The Crowd

As I catch up to Charlotte M, I start to breathe heavily. The crowd cheers, then I hear my friend Te Atawhai yelling, "You can do it, GO Charlotte, OH YEAH, IT'S KALE'A! GOOO KALE'A!" She would definitely win the award for "Best Cheerleader". And like it was nothing, I was back at the starting line, on my second lap. By keeping track of Charlotte M, I tilt my head up every now and then to find her bright yellow t-shirt, and then I jolt my head around once or twice to see who's behind me. I know that doing this isn't always ideal, but I only did it once or twice. 

The End

I get back to Kate, on my second lap, and she takes a speedy photo of me (I think it was hard since I was going down a small hill at top speed), and then I catch my eye on Charlotte M. Then, like it was yesterday, or a couple minutes ago, I could see the two neon yellow poles sticking out of the ground marking the finish line. Yessss! I sprint as fast as I can, which is pretty hard since I am just about to puke and faint at the same time, but then everything goes silent. It is just like putting both of your fingers in your ears, and all you can hear is a quiet hymn of clapping and cheering, then, I am back in the present. I feel my feet jump and then I am flat on the ground, past the yellow poles. I am so happy.

Second place.

Thank you for reading my blog, Kale'a :-)

My Quickwrite - Get Ready To Read An Epic Quickwrite!

 Ata Marie blog readers, today I will be showing you my Quickwrite. My Quickwrite includes...

• Fun and creative words using the amazing site, Thesaurus.com
• Action - packed paragraphs that will make you slide of your seat
• Relating Images/Illustrations that you can take a look at while you read

Down below is what I wrote:

I jump up and down on the pavement, waiting for my friends to arrive. "Wait, i'm early. I need to set up! Oh - N... " Honk, honk, beeeeep! Goes the horn of one of my bestie’s cars. I race inside, surprised that someone was actually here so early. I sprint right into a door, rubbing my head as I pick myself up from the ground. I jog the rest of the way to the celebration cupboard, trying my best not to run into anymore doors. That is how silly I can be. 

Finally, I take a U - turn, since I had just realised that I had been walking for about  minute, in the wrong direction. I do not know where my brain is today, cause it sure isn’t in my head. 

I hear a car parking.

Oh - no. 

I find the door to the celebration cupboard, open it, I do not run into it, because even how hard you try, it will not open that way. Trust me. I grab the balloons, the last thing needed to hang up for the party, and rush to my bedroom. I start to blow Co2 into each and every balloon, until…

Knock, knock, knock…

That is the sound of knocking on a door. She’s here.

This better work out well. Without any door banging competitions involved. But I know for one thing, that if there was, I  would definitely be the winner.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog. :)

Happy days, Kale'a 🐱

6 Word Sentence - Explain Your Life With Just 6 Words

 Kia Ora, welcome to my blog. My name is Kale'a and today, I am going to write about what I did in my Writing Workshop Google Meet. If you hadn't read my last blog, I wrote about how New Zealand is back in Lockdown, Lockdown 2.0 we call it. My class, MLH (Moana Learning Hub) is now doing Google Meets for our Reading, Writing, and Math Workshops. In me and my friends Writing Workshop, Koka Pip, one of my teachers, showed us a video of this man explaining about a 6 word sentence. Basically, you explain your life in 6 words, adding pictures on the sides of it. My one is:

A Life Without Love Is Miserable.

Below is my Google Slide that I did it on:

                       

Thank you so much for reading!

-Kale'a ☆♡☆ 

🏠 Lockdown 2.0! Staying Home Once Again...

 Good Morning my fellow blog readers! Today, I will be talking about, drumroll please...  ...  another lockdown! As you all know (hopefully you all know), that there is a Covid - 19 pandemic around the globe. Since the time when it first started in May 2020, New Zealand has been keeping the ice in the freezer. Until Delta opened the freezer and put all the ice in the microwave, set it to 30 seconds, and then opening the microwave door, so that all the water starts to spill all over the 5 million people of New Zealand. 

Now that Delta has had an outbreak, the schools of Aotearoa are back in the pit of digital learning. My class, MLH  (Moana Learning Hub), have been doing Google Meets for our learning groups called Workshops. Our Workshops include Reading, Writing, Math, and Strand Math; I am in L3+ Reading, L3 Writing, L3+ Maths, and L3 Strand Math. Our whole class also do set of arrangements called 'Priorities'. These include:

• 2 Quickwrites (A story of about 3 paragraphs)
• 4 Math Whizz progressions/gems (Math Whizz is a site made by Whizz Education)
• 1 Blog (This is my blog for the week!

And... 

• 1 Blog Comment to your Blogging Buddy (Your Blogging Buddy is a randomly chosen student in the class that comment on each other's blog)

In Lockdown, we do one more Priority, StepsWeb (StepsWeb is a word work site used to help kids with their vocabulary). Usually, I get my Priorities done to a high standard at the end of the week on Thursday; I have a LOT of workshops. 

Working at home with my family is really fun, well, most of the time. My brother has a Google Meet everyday at the same exact time, in the morning, so when somebody is trying to do their work, hint hint, me, I can barely get anything done because my brother is yapping away at his friends. Yaaaay.

This Lockdown we have a schedule for when our workshop meets are. On Monday, it's Math, on Tuesday, it's Writing, on Wednesday, it's Reading, on Thursday, it's Math again, then Writing again on Friday. Each block is a different workshop, and there is a lunch break, and a couple of priority breaks. Lots of kids work after school hours, which is pretty good choice, saying that there is a lot going on during the day. 

That is all I have to say about our new Lockdown 2.0, I hope you enjoyed it, and have a great rest of your day, without any family members annoying you during this distressed Lockdown.

Your weekly Blogger, Kale'a🐱

A - Ha! Samantha Found What She Had Been Looking For.

Good Morning! My name is Kale'a and I would like to tell you about what I have done today. At school, I complete a set of activities every week called 'priorities'. For one of my priorities, I wrote a quick write (where you write a quick, short story), and I used something called a sentence starter. A sentence starter is where I choose a sentence then use it at the beginning of my quick write. Below is what I wrote:

A - ha! Samantha finally found what she had been looking for. Well, that was just now, we have to go back in time 10 minutes ago in Samantha’s room…

“Wake, Up, Samantha! Wake, Up, Samantha!” The alarm clock beeped, over and over again. Samantha reaches her hand out, feeling for her chiming alarm clock. Her hand finally touches it. She turns it off, pulling her warm duvets off her freezing legs.

Forcing herself out of bed, she opens her closet door, looking for her favorite T Shirt. “Where is it!” She crawls under her bed. Nowhere. She opens and closes every dresser drawer. Creak, slam, creak, slam. Nowhere. Her alarm clock read ‘8:50’. She would be late for school, if only she would be able to find her favorite T Shirt.

She creeps downstairs to find her mother making breakfast. “You’re gonna be late for school, and I won’t be apart of it!” Samantha heard as she walked into the kitchen saying, “I can’t find my favorite Tie - Dye T Shirt!” Her mother replied as if nothing was wrong, “Don’t be silly, you’re wearing it.” And that is how Samantha said, A-ha! Because she had found what she was looking for. Well, her mother had.

Thank you for reading my blog and I hope that you enjoyed it. Mahalo (Thank you), Kale'a 🐈

Reading Questions - What's Your Favorite Book?

Welcome! Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Kale'a and I will tell you another thing that we have been learning at my school. My teacher Koka Ngaire, assigned our Level Three Reading Workshop to complete a doc on our favorite book. We'd have to choose a novel to answer some questions about the book. Below are the question and answers to my book that I absolutely love, Malkin Moonlight by Emma Cox.

Malkin Moonlight 

By  Emma Cox

Why did you choose this book? I chose this book because it reminded me of my cats at home, and it sounded really entertaining to read and learn more about my favorite animals, my little feline friends.

If this book was a TV show, which actors would you choose for it? I think I'd choose Frank Welker for the main character, Malkin, because he has voiced a lot of cats in the past including Garfield, Tom, and Azrael from The Smurfs. I would also like Dove Cameron as Roux, the second main character who plays Ella from Angry Birds 2.

Where is the book set? Malkin Moonlight is set in all different places but the two main scenes are the Riverbank and the Rubbish Disposal.

If the main character in this story lived next door, would you be friends? If I could adopt Malkin, then I would totally do that. I would always go and walk next door to snuggle with him.

What does the place look like in your head? Would you want to visit there? I would like to visit Roux’s owner’s restaurant, but I wouldn’t like to visit the rubbish disposal.

If you were a character, what would you have done differently in a situation in the story? I think that I would be the little creature trapped in the plastic bottle and I would’ve tried to get myself out before Malkin came to save me.

Why do you think the author wrote this book? I think Emma Cox wrote this to remind others to be kind to anyone, even if you don’t have interest in them.

What new words or facts did you learn?  I learnt what the word ‘silhouette’ meant, and I also learnt some more facts about cats, and how they protect themselves.

Has someone else’s choice made you want to read a different type of book from your usual choice? I wouldn't say that I have read any different books from my liking except for one time when I read one of Ivy and Klara’s books.

Mahalo (Thank You in Hawaiian) for reading another one of my interesting blogs about my learning.

Thanks, Kale'a♡ 

  

Quick Write Story Starters - The Virus Outbreak! (Fictional)

Aloha, and welcome to my next blog on my latest Quick Write, The Virus Outbreak.

week for our priorities, we have to choose a Story Starter to use to begin our Quick Write.

Today, I picked the sentence, ‘Suddenly, her phone rang.’. Below, I will write my Quick Write for you to

enjoy.

The Virus Outbreak

Suddenly, her phone rang. Kaelin peered at her phone as it beeped exactly three times. 

Beep. Beep. Beep.

It was an emergency warning from the government, saying:

Emergency ALERT

Go straight into isolation in your homes and wait until further notice.

There has been a virus outbreak.

“A virus breakout! Of what kind?! We’re all gonna die!” Kaelin shrieked as she rushed into her

brand-new Tesla car, which she did not want to get ‘hurt’, and this is the perfect opportunity for

her new car to get burnt to ashes. She turns up the engine, and starts to drive the eight and a half

minutes up the giant Gaddums Hill. Beep. Beep. Beep.

Emergency ALERT 

The government has figured out what the virus is. It is one of the most contagious diseases in the History of

the world. 

Pollenitis. 

Watch the live news report for more information.

Kaelin makes it to her house, immediately ordering as many groceries as she can, especially, as much

toilet paper as she can.

Everyone needs toilet paper, right? 

Kaelin picks up her television remote, changing channels until she spots the two news reporters.

Breaking News

“We have all heard about the recent outbreak of the highly contagious and deadly, Pollonitis.

You have been asked to stay in your homes until further notice.” 

The news reporter continues to speak as Kaelin quickly turns off the TV.

What will happen now?

Is this the end?

Thank you for reading my post on my quick write.    - Kale'a 🐱

There's A Murderer!

 Kia Ora, my name is Kale'a and for my blog this week, I will be telling you about Wednesday, the 28th of July 2021, where, there was a murder!

Just kidding! On Wednesday, we solved another Murder Mystery Maths clue. If you are not familiar with Murder Mystery Maths, it is when my teacher Koka Ngaire, gives out a clue every Wednesday that we have to solve. This week's clue was on solving about 25 questions on finding the fraction of a whole number, like:

2/3 of 27 = 18

This week was a pretty easy clue, because my friend Ivy and I had already learnt about finding fractions of a whole number in our Level 3+ Math workshop, so it was like an extra practice. I rushed to the mat, with Ivy behind me. We waited until Koka Ngaire had finished talking; she handed out the clue sheets. Ivy and I picked up my pen, Ivy gave me a nod and we headed straight to work. 

1/2 of 40... 2/3 of 12...   1/3 of 15...  and so on. 

At last, we had made our way to the bottom of the ink - splattered piece of printed parchment. I made it onto my feet, as we headed off to line up for our teacher's signature. 

That is how, on Wednesday the 28th of July, Ivy was murdered.

Mahalo, Kale'a

Just kidding!

L3 Strand - Archimedes The Orange

 In our L3 Strand for Math, we learnt about Archimedes' law, where when you put something like an orange, in water, the water will rise. You take it out, the water falls. Koka Ngaire instructed us to make a diagram on what we learnt. I labeled the things I learnt on the border of the orange. As we we learning about Archimedes, we also studied oranges. We learnt about the juice, how many pips in one orange, growth and rot over time, and much more.

Here is a list of some of the things we learnt about oranges:

- Volume

- Time

- Units of Measurement

- Archimedes

- Liquid/Juice

Thank you for reading my second blog, Kale'a 🐈

"To Waste Our Life" Short Retell

Kia Ora and welcome to my next blog. In this blog, I will be telling you about what we learnt in our Reading Workshop. This week, we have been working on a Kiwi Kids News article called, "To Waste Our Life", by Ariana Hunt. She was explaining about what online shopping and/or online shoppers are doing to the environment. 

In our Reading workshop with Koka Ngaire, she told us to rewrite a shortened version of the year nine's looong article in one small paragraph. Below is what I wrote:

"To Waste Our Life"
The Plastic, Or The Fish? 

Although online shopping is cheap, and sometimes easy, it isn't the healthiest and most ideal thing for the environment.

The littlest thing can make a big difference.

All around the globe, people spend up to $3.6 billion on online shopping. What are we doing? We are wasting our money on things we don't need, and depending on how much "plastic" wrapping is on your parcel, you're technically buying the plastic. This present day, citizens and people around the world are trying to stop this, and we need to, but not all agree with that; not all want that. We are not surviving this, and neither are the fish.

Thank you for reading my blog, Kale'a🐈

Draguin Poem L3 Writing

 In Our L3 Writing SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation, and Grammar), We wrote penguin poems but, with a twist; Our penguins would be turning into dragons! My Penguin/Dragon is called Draguin, And in the next paragraph, I will show you my poem.

My nest is warm with fluffy hay, I wake up with a cough today.

Smoke is coming through my nose, "Quick, get a hose!"

All my friends gather around, asking, "Where's the show grounds?"

My feathers are burning with flames that bling, then all of a sudden, I sprout new wings!

I feel like my life has ended.

What if another has begun?

That is my poem on the Draguin.

It is a pleasure for you to read my blog, Mahalo, Kale'a. 🐈

L3+ Math - Adding Decimals Using Algorithms

This week, Math has been a blast. In my Math group, L3+, we have been working on adding decimals using algorithms for the past two weeks. Our teacher in this workshop, Koka Ngaire, is wanting us to use Screencastify to share how we can solve the problems that she gives us. Our last topic, Solving Fractions Of A Whole Number, we had to film a screencastify, solving a problem that Koka Ngaire left us on the Moana Learning Hub. 

This week, for our new topic choice, we each got individual questions. All 9 of us zoomed back to the room that we did our last Screencastify in, then started to work. My building was the hall, which was inconvenient because it was the gymnastics festival today and there were teachers getting the leotards ready for the C - Grade gymnasts. I hd in the cupboard where they keep the gym equipment and I clicked the little Screencastify button. <- Here is the link to my Screencastify I did. 

I can't wait until next time's topic for L3+ Math with Koka Ngaire.

Thank you for reading my blog for this week, Kale'a  🐈

2nd Time At Aurora Writing!

 The second time doing Aurora was so exciting! Pizza for lunch, Monkey Bars to swing on, and so much more that I am just about to tell you. 

I waited and waited at school for my ride to the Holy Trinity Church Hall, Rio's car. We were due to leave at 8:30 in the morning, and the first bell, signaling that it was 8:30, had already rung. Finally, Rio arrived. Now, Rio and I were waiting in a pair. There were three people in Aurora writing, and we were still missing...  Cornelia. "Kale'a! Kale'a!" I heard a faint yell. I recognised that voice. "Cornelia!  Finally, you're here!" All four of us, including Rio's mum Natalie, jumped in her gleaming red car. We were off to the Holy Trinity Church Hall. 

It was beautiful. The stained glass was showering the shadowed floor with coloured rainbow sunlight. "Girls, that isn't the right church!" Called Natalie from outside, "Oops! Sorry, we are coming right out!" I said as Cornelia and I thumped out of the great church. We walked to the building next door, which was actually the right one. The stairs went in a spiral fashion, up and up they went until we reached the door of the huge open room. "Good morning, Wainui kids!" Said the Aurora teacher, Steph. Cornelia, Rio and I all dropped our bags in the far corner where some other children had. My fellow Aurorians played and joked around as we sat around for the other schools. Once everyone had arrived, Steph explained our day, and we got to work.

Everyone found a space around the room and we lay on the beige carpet, thinking about our time at the Arboretum. We found a space around the tables, but I went into one of the soundproof rooms along with Cornelia and Rio. I started on by draft as it came to morning tea. I ate some of my lunch (pizza from last night) and I played on the bars with Cornelia. I finished my draft after morning tea, then we took turns in little groups, finding the meaning of different writing tools. I had Assonance and Onomatopoeia. Steph had ordered Pizza Hut, so Cornelia and I had a couple of pieces each. After lunch, We all walked back to our soundproof room and waited for the signal. "You will have 1 hour to finish a published poem... now!

The time was almost up. Everyone was packing their paper clippings away and handing in their poems t Steph. I had messily glued my purple card onto the back of my poem, and quickly ran over to Steph, she read it and put it in the finished pile. All the school sat down and the parents and teachers from the different schools also sat down in the empty chairs. 3 Kids put their hand up to share and my friends were urging me to, too. So I did. 

Aurora was the best experience ever, and I am so glad I chose to go. 

Thank you for reading, Kale'a 🐆

1st Time At Aurora Writing Workshop

Cornelia, Rio, and I jumped onto the bus, nervous to see the people from the other schools. "It's okay, Cornelia." I said to calm her down. We sang 'Glitter' all the way to the Eastwoodhill Arboretum. 

My time at the Eastwoodhill Arboretum was so joyous! First, we played a game called 'Hare in the Whare', if the teacher says "hare", you stand completely still. If they say "whare", with a buddy, you move fast to make a house with both your arms. Then, if they say "hare in the whare", with a buddy, you make the house formation, then grab another person to go into your handmade whare. 

Afterwards, we went for a walk and took breaks along the tracks to write "seeds" down in our notebooks. "Seeds" are words that will grow into "trees" once we write our story. Once, we stopped at a pond to write some words down. Rio got a spot on a tree stump that looked like a queen's chair. Once we'd finished our quick walk, the whole group jogged back to the cabin hut, where we had lunch.

Lunch was great! The teachers offered us a delicious feast; asparagus rolls (pretty much asparagus wrapped in bread), egg and ham pie, sandwiches, and strawberry and cream donuts. Cornelia and I each had one egg and ham pie square, then we split our last slice (I think I might've had another one...).

After lunch, we went down to the playground. Here, Cornelia, Rio, some friends from other schools, and I went swinging on the leather hammock. We were swinging it so hard, that it went on it's side like you were lying on a wall!

My time at the Eastwoodhill Arboretum was up. I am really glad that I went and I got to meet tons of other people. I can't wait for the next session at the Holy Trinity Church Hall.

Mahalo, Kale'a🐈

🚃 Camp Kaitawa, Year Six Camp!! 🛶

 Year 6 Camp Kaitawa was the BEST! A luxury bus, kayaking everyday, Camp was definitely not to be missed. I hope you enjoy reading about my experience at Camp Kaitawa.

Enjoy!

Mahalo, Kale'a 🐆

Cook's Cove, Here We Come!

Year 6's Cook's Cove: Practice For Camp

"Kate, Klara's Mum, will have Kale'a, Klara, Lola, Alivia, and Tallulah. That will be your car group to Cook's Cove and back." That was my Thursday morning debut from our teachers for walking up Cook's Cove, the place where Captain James Cook "settled" in New Zealand. 

As we drove through the bumpy gravel roads, my stomach felt worse and worse. Only nineteen minutes left, I think to myself. Only nineteen. "It'll get better," says Klara sitting with me in the back two seats. It's like she sensed my sickness. 

Finally, we can see where we are climbing up. The Beacon of Light stands meters and meters above the hill and also, in front of us. As my car group wrestle each other to the doors, Klara and I lay in the back seat waiting for it to slide forward so we can make our way out. Then, finally it does and we sit down on the damp grass listening for instructions. We get into our camp walking groups. Usually, I would have Joe Palmer, Esther's Dad, but ended up with Lee Jerome, Bramm's Dad. 

We went through the gate onto the steep wooden boards that hold the dirt into a rectangle shape, each one taller than the other. The stairs went up and up in spiral fashion, circling the trees. Cornelia and I, spotted a hollow tree and she said she found one of these trees and it had a skull in it. As we continued, we made our way through the open woods and the further we went, the trees closed in more on us. we made it the top where the Beacon of Light was standing in the solid concrete said to be 12 meters deep. The statue itself was rock - hard metal, with many carved Koru (known as the fern) surrounding it. 

In a single file line, the Year 6's strolled through what Cornelia and I called the Fuffy (as in Fluffy) Meadow; so many small plants with soft and silky fluff growing out of the plants. We made our way  to the cutty grass bushes and sat down to eat. After our little morning tea we jumped over the steps to the arch of where the water flowed in and smashed into the rocks. A little golden frame stood a while away from the arch and all of the groups got a photo in it.

Left: My walking group, Millie R, Me, Cornelia, and Stormur in the back.

Right: The arch with each group walking in.

We were walking back into the trees, where it blocks the daylight out, when we saw a Morepork! Cornelia told me it was a fully grown adult, but it was very small! I confirmed that with Koka Rozie. It had very smooth and silky feathers, with eyes that have deep black pupils that soak into the yellow surrounding it as it stared at us. Soft, smooth, silky, fluffy, Cook's Cove couldn't get any better.

Until it got WORSE!!!!

We were getting close to the car park when a big lump popped out of nowhere when my foot slid right in where I didn't want it to.

That's when I rolled my ankle. 

Again.

Cooks Cove was a blast. I am so happy I got the chance to climb that hill. We all drove back to school and well,  just sat there.

Mahalo, Kale'a 🐈

I'm Ready, For School 2021!

School is back!

 School 2021 has started! I am a year six and my teachers this year are... Koka Rozie who used to be my teacher as a year four two years ago, and she also took Matua Beau's place from last year who will now be working as Herald the Giraffe at Life Education. Koka Ngaire has been here for four years now and taught my brother, Gavin for his last year as a year six too! She used to be a teacher at Ormond Primary School. Koka Pip, she went to Japan for a nice holiday to see what it was like. She has blond hair, a very kind smile, and is always willing to help. 

The Past Weeks 

Week 1 was a blast (I don't quite remember everything that happened), we did the Bingo that we did last year to find things out about other people. Our class also got into our Buzz Groups, and LOTS more. 

A few weeks ahead we started to "Walk Our Pepeha". First we walked down to Hamanatua* and had a little PBL, which stands for Play Based Learning, and lunch. 

Second, was Maungaroa. Fact: Did you know that Maungaroa in English means "Wide Mountain". The school went by Syndicates, so first was Moana. Since the big kids are all in that Syndicate, we walked down to Lloyd George Rd, and at the end of it is the Mountain. 

Then, the next week, we went to Te Poho O Rawiri Marae, our school Marae. The Kaia there said to call her Aunty Buba. She told us lots of stories about the chiefs and the tribes who somehow join their family. She also taught us a song, called Mama Panda, about how a Nanny makes bread .  

I can't wait until the next terms and how this upcoming year will go. 

I hope you read my very next Blog.

Mahalo, Kale'a  🐱