Plastic Pollution ~Explanation Writing~

Did you know that over 8 million metric tons of plastic is dumped in the ocean yearly? This is very harmful to our marine life; as they consume it unable to recognise that it is plastic. As you can imagine it doesn’t end well and sometimes it even ends up in us!

One way you could save the environment is by refusing products that contain microbeads. Microbeads are tiny bits of plastic that are detrimental to sea life. By refusing to buy the products manufacturers will be pressured into making their products plastic free.

And if you’re not ready to take that big of a step you could always start by reducing. Reducing the use of plastics. Biodegradable bags are a great alternative instead Single use plastic bags. These environmentally friendly bags are basically everywhere now, so it shouldn’t be too hard for you guys to get one!

Another way to help with the plastic pollution problem is by repurposing. There is so much in your home that you could be repurposing. Repurposing the plastic would mean changing it to do another job. For example, an empty milk carton can be  turned into a flower pot. The plastic containers use it to store things, there are endless possibilities.

Plastic is all of our problems as we are all responsible for the care of our environment and we should definitely work together to solve it. Remember to  Refuse, Reduce and Repurpose. Next time you go to use plastic think about the marine animals you could save without it.

Cream Board

This lock-down my mother pulled out our old cream board game. Cream board is a game similar to pool but instead of needing a table you have a board and instead of sticks you only need your fingers and ability to flick something. The games really easy and there are 2 teams, you can have up too 4 players and basically you take turns the puck and trying to push one of the point in. If you got a black and white one in you'd get 10 points if you got a pink in it was 50.

I played with my family, it was heaps of fun. I'm still not very good. But hopefully with a bit more practice, I'll be good enough to be my parents. Cream board is a game that they played in their childhood in Fiji. When we went there a couple of years ago we enjoyed playing it too!

Tikanga for Team 5 Assembly

Tikanga for Team 5 Assemblies has happened for generations. Our morning Karakia, Mihi and waiata is authentic and part of the Pt England Way. Every student that’s been through team 5 has taken part in our morning Tikanga. I think it should stay that way.

Tikanga for Team 5 Assemblies also allow people to connect. They help even the shyest of students grow more comfortable and confident with the people around us. Knowing we are there for eachother and feeling spiritually connected.

I enjoyed this task. I tried my best. I still think it could be better, I just don't know how to improve it. But hopefully when we get back to school we can look into it more. I was a little bit confused as we had to explain and justify Tikanga in Team 5 Assembly and I didn't know if that was supposed to happen in both paragraphs or just have one paragh for explain and one for justifying.

Rona's actions (Persuasive Writing)

Rona should not have lashed out at the moon. It wasn’t Marama’s fault that the cloud covered the moon. The issue was out of marama’s control. The moon cannot control the clouds. 

Rona was running in the darkness of the night. That was pretty stupid and irresponsible. She has taken that path many times Rona should’ve been careful. She knew that it was covered in sticks and stones, yet she ran anyways.

We had to come up with 2 paragraphs to persuade our audience of our stance towards Rona's actions. She had lashed out at the moon and I think that was unfair and here are some reasons why I think this.

Maui's Fishing Trip!

My brothers are complete and utter nincompoops. I’m a demigod, I may be young but I have the wisdom of any great chief. I’m very quick-witted; when my brothers refused to share bait with me, I used my own blood.

I received a blessing from the Tangaroa god of the sea. I fished up a giant ika. Yes it was dangerous and I was foolishly reckless but no one got hurt. Am I not the only one that came back with a fish? Is it not fair that I am pardoned for my one mistake?
We had to write 2 paragraphs to persuade Maui's mum that it was a good idea for Maui to go on the fishing trip with his brothers.

Protesting

Have you heard about the people marching up and down the streets of their towns, cities and country? Those people are all protestors, fighting for their beliefs and opinions. Anyone can protest, your mom, younger sibling, or you yourself. Protests have been happening for 150 years, here in New Zealand!

A protest can be in many different forms. Hikoi, petitions, marches, meetings, strikes, But it’s never intended to be violent, and usually remains peaceful. However they are in fact made to catch your attention and allow people to share their opinion. 

A protest happens to be a response to a problem. This can be an Injustice, a problem, a  It’s an action taken by a group of people that feel obligated to do something about an event taking place, somewhere in the world.

Protests sometimes work; it depends on the reason of the protest, and the outcome wanted. However the point of protests are for people to share their opinion and fight for what they believe. Throughout history, protests like Parihaka have failed but the Women's suffrage movement went well. So it’s basically both sides coming together that make a protest successful.

In conclusion, a protest is down for many reasons in different forms. As long as it is something you believe in and are prepared to fight for. Protest today, for the many things happening in the world.

The Origins of Water

Today we did some writing in literacy, all week we've been learning about water, and how it might've come to be on our earth. Water has been around for many years and nobody knows exactly where it came from. We use it everyday it cover a lot of our earth makes up 60% of us, so why is it such a mystery of how it so easily comes out of our taps, showers and drink bottles today?

Sunfly-Bike

Here is my writing for the week. It's based of what we did last week when we wrote about what life would be like in 2057. We had to include a few things we think will be found. I don't know what life will be like then, but I do know that it will probably be easier and technology would've have evolved rapidly. 

For this task we had to draw/sketch 1 invention that we think will be found in the future. We then had to describe it in 2 words. After that we got to come up with 3 creative names for it. I found it to be a fun task it did also help me craft my sentence better. Looking forward to doing more and I hope you enjoyed!

Survivor

Awoken by the sound of the early morning jungle was a young man. As the sun peeked through the towering trees, he lay there feeling the warmth of the sun on his skin. The guy stood up, searching his mind for memories of the past. Leo was the name he went by, and no he doesn’t always wake up in the jungle.

His father was a wealthy businessman back in 1989. Now he’s dead, left his 15 year old son and behind with his wife. Leo’s mother hadn’t taken this new well, she became an devastated and always coming home late. Of course this became too much for Leo to bear, so at the age of 18 he ran away from home.

He left his dark and unhealthy childhood behind and made a fresh start. His studies took him to Philadelphia where he took up an apprenticeship, with a well-known scientist. Leo took Professor Lanzavecchia classes for a couple of years. His grades were sky high and he came top of his classes. And a year later he got an opportunity to observe and study a rare species of fungi found in a remote part of the Amazon rain-forest. 

Many young scientists in the making would’ve jumped at the sight of this opportunity. Advised by Professor Lanzavecchia, Leo took the job. He packed up his things and got ready to move again. He hadn’t heard from his mother in a long time, wouldn’t she be proud if she saw him now. Leo left Philadelphia in hope that one day him and his mother would reunite….

Would things have been different, better!?. If Leo’s father hadn’t died, if his mother hadn’t become an alcoholic, if he hadn’t run away, and he didn’t board that flight? Turning back time is not possible, but sometimes Leo’s thoughts contain the words "what if?"

Leo was deep in thought when a blood curdling roar erupted, it shook the jungle floor and made the birds flee from the trees. Leo started to run, he ran far and fast he didn’t know where but he was running. The roar was fierce and strong and could've only belonged to one possible creature. The one and only king of the jungle TIGER!

He jumped over logs, plants, bushes and other small critters scrambling out of the way. Leo stopped dead in his tracks when he reached the edge of a cliff. In great panic he tried to figure out what to do, both options lead to death. Being eaten by a tiger or jumping off a cliff. The tiger started to pace back and forth, waiting for the exact moment to pounce on its prey.

Leo ran his eyes looking for a way any way. He spotted a thick green vine, and saw his only chance of survival. He grabbed the vine, quickly wriggling up it. All that rope climbing in 6th grade gym finally came in handy. He had made it just in time. After the tiger circled around a few more times, it finally gave up and left. When Leo was sure the coast was clear he climbed down.

Leo cautiously left the scene, trying to leave a little of a trace as possible. He didn’t want any other animal chasing him through the forest. Leo started to walk, he was going to have to be prepared. Food, water and shelter were something Leo had to look for in order to survive. The air was humid yet the sun still shone and lively chirps barks and growls came from deep in the trees.

By nightfall Leo had gathered fruit and found an empty ditch that would work for the night. He’d also gone for a swim earlier and drank water. After lighting a fire and cooking the meat he had gotten from a bird he finally rested. It was a cool night and the stars shone brightly. He lay there staring at the sky deep in thought.

There isn’t a sign of ever being rescued or ever finding civilization. There wasn't hope for ever getting back home and seeing his mum. Leo knew that there was no  use focusing on the past or planning for the unpredictable future. But Leo's first priority was to stay alive; you never know which meal will be your last or which breath could be your last. He'd just survived another day in the jungle.

Six Sentence Stories

Term 4 Immersion Assembly

This morning we had our term 4 immersion assembly at Pt England school. Our theme was Life’s a stage, our teachers put on quite a show to inform and prompt students to be excited about this term. All of us students enjoyed it, read on to find out more!

I walked into school this morning and found our team 5 teachers all dressed up. They were dancing to a song. I didn’t know what to expect, I could only wait and see. After practicing for a while our teachers stopped dancing and let us into class.

Time passed and it was time to go to the hall to our immersion assembly. We lined up walked to the hall and sat down, then Mr Burt spoke. He explained the theme and made us repeat the theme for the term a couple of times. Then Mr Burt, Mr Jacobsen, Mr Somerville and Mrs Tele’a sang a song that told a story. After that it was time for the items that belong to each team!

Team 1 was a remake of Cinderella, except this time the story was that anyone can sing, dance and act. Team 2 did a dance routine and it had some pretty weird dancing, at least half of it was a dinosaur song. Team 3 was third, their movie was different scenarios and they sing and dance too explain it. Team 4’s item was an interview with a couple of characters from toy shop our school production, of course it wasn’t the student version of the characters it was the teachers dressed up!

The last item and might I add my favourite item, was from team 5. Remember when I walked into school and I found my teachers dressed up and dancing. Well they were preparing to dance to different genres of songs. This was because this term in team 5 we are going to learn about different genres of music and dance. I think the teachers expressed this well through a wonderful performance. I can’t wait to learn more this term!

So in conclusion I think that this term is going to be full of surprises. I can’t wait to jump into a term full of having fun with friends and working together to learn, create and share. This is just an example to show that this term is going to be a heck of a ride.

Should Children get a say in Politics

Politics? Something adults say ‘is rubbish’. Us kids, we usually don’t know what they are talking about, but sometimes we have our own opinions and ideas should be heard. Three reasons kids should have a say in politics!

Firstly, I don’t know if politicians know this, but it is the children's future they are changing. I instants your parents are going to be here in the next 20 or so years, but we will. So when a political choice is made us kids should have a say on it too. After all who would want to live in a world run by adults.

Secondly children have Ideas and opinions too. Sometimes they are useless but in other times they can be really helpful, I know the feeling when a good idea is heard our thought about. I mean that’s why at our school we have our Robotics Ropu. A place where kids can share their ideas and help each other learn create and share!

Lastly all politicians always debate on what they think right even if it’s not the best choice but children chose what they think is fair. For example have your heard the saying ‘honesty is the best policy’ this can work at a time like this when they don’t which path to take. Lots of children go by this policy including myself and I always fight for what I believin.

So in conclusion, I think kids should get a say in politics. I mean we have some important things to say but it’s not always heard, I want give voices to children of all ages to have a say in their future. Not just politics but everything!

School Uniforms Should Be Banned

School Uniforms? Are they really a good thing? I think school uniforms are overpriced cheap quality clothing, used to make schools representation better. It   disables the ability for students to express themselves through the way they dress, and if we wear it wrong we still get in trouble. School you uniforms should be banned and here's why!

Firstly uniforms are not cheap at all. I mean at our school it cost roughly $177, to buy a uniform for one student. These uniforms are not the best quality, as proof if you put our school t-shirt over your head you can see through it quite clearly. Imagine how thick that fabric might and warm it would keep you. Selwyn college is also an example also have very overpriced uniforms, my sister goes there and her uniform cost close to close to $250. She had to buy new uniforms at the beginning of every year too, meaning it doesn’t last very long. There are many other schools with way more expensive uniform!

Another reasons school uniforms should be banned is because, there will always be students not wearing the right thing. Whether it’s over sized jewellery when wearing mufti, or students not having their t-shirt is not tucked in when wearing school uniform. We will still get in trouble no matter what. A well shown example of this is, one of the korero at our school is called were it with pride. In case you didn’t know what that means, it means that we should know what we are wearing and were it with respect and take care of our uniform and that kind of stuff. Anyways, this is a very old korero meaning that prefects have noticed that students haven’t been wearing their uniform properly, it’s been like this for a long time. 

Lastly school uniforms make so that we are all wearing the same thing. This might have people stop mocking other people still a little less but, it also means where all practically the same. Having school uniforms mean that students are limited to express themselves through their looks and the way they dressed. This relates to the famous quote “Passion for Fashion” well there are many people with that and having school uniforms permits them from showing that!

So in conclusion I think that school uniforms should be banned. These are only three reasons there are many more, that’s why you should always do your own research. Do you think that school uniforms should be banned?

Cross Country

This Monday we had our annual, school cross country. It was really fun and we all tried our best. Our house chants were pretty awesome too. Read on to find out more!

I remember when the bell rang and we all lined up. Walking to our big hard court in front of the field. We sat down at our spots as hundreds of students flooded the hard court. Wearing either red, green, yellow or blue our house colors. Their were many people dressed up and 8-10 students that weren't even from our school!

I didn't realise it but pretty soon it was our turn. We stood in front of the start line and my heart was already beating, On your marks....get set.....go! We all started running at full speed and already people we speeding ahead whilst other were falling behind it was a real thrill. My heart continued to beat really fast but the reason behind it changed pretty quickly.

It wasn't long till I was covered in mostly mud. The field and reserve was quite muddy so we weren't in the best conditions. We didn't mind as this was the whole cross country experience. It's like this every cross country!

I was pretty puffed and the second lap hadn't even started yet. I was only about 3 qauters of the way but when I ran through the gate to my second lap I had a burst of energy. The staff and teachers, that cheered us on made me feel really happy. I imagined walking and skipping down what they called the cat walk and even shot them a pose. After that I sprinted most of the way.

The second lap was pretty much that same along the way I met a friend that's pace was very similar to mine. It was Marie we were joined by more people and pretty soon we were a groups. We finished most of the lap together. It's what we called TEAM WORK!

When we got close to the gate some of us started sprinting and it was suprise. Marie and Mata were left behind it was me and Lepisi spriting for the win at the end. It was a close cut and we ended in a draw. We crossed the finish line together. I was quite amazing!

Finishing the race, I was greeted by my friends but I was to tired to respond. I only grabbed a bottle of water and chugged the whole thing down immediately. Then I talked to my friends and the places we came. Marika came 3rd, Tha-zin came 4th and I came somewhere between 10th-15th. 

When we had finsihed me and Tha-zin waited and cheered on Jedida and Rozaidah as they finsihed the race. I was so happy and proud of them.  We all bunched up and had ton of talking to do about the race and whose coming first and what not. I was so sad when it was over but I was also happy, because I participated. I was really really TIRED after that I couldn't feel my legs and I still can't.

Moral of the story, their really isn't one but if I  had to make one up. TRY YOUR BEST! like I did in the 2019 Pt England School CROSS COUNTRY!

Zoos Should Be Banned!

All zoos should be banned! Caging animals for the rest of their life, not allowing them to frolic freely in their natural habitat, what do you think it does to their health. That’s a disgrace! Here are three reasons Zoos should be banned.

Firstly, many Zoos are financially struggling. This may affect the quality of care animals get, which could lead to animal cruelty and even death of some animals.  A good example of this is the woodland park zoo, one of the best Zoos in Seattle U.S.A. Their expenses for 2015 was roughly 2 million. It was nowhere near there income and they would’ve had to cut down costs as much as possible.

Running things on a program isn’t good either. It’s come to my attention that zoos have breeding program, is another reason to add to why zoos should be banned. Animals shouldn’t be told when and when not to reproduce. It may harm the animals, the survival of their young may not be guaranteed either. Because of breeding programs only 30% of the giant panda’s young survive. This affects the population hugely!

Lastly if the animals were to be set free, they wouldn’t do well. Their lives would’ve become very similar to humans, as when they were in the zoo they got everything done for them. Meaning if they get released into their natural habitat again they may not be able to survive. For example at our school we are keeping endangered endemic eels, but we are teaching them to try and hunt for their own food and protect themselves. This will be helpful for them, when we release them back into the wild.

So in conclusion this is why zoos should be banned. Today I have given you three good reasons but there are many more. Feel free to do your own research, and of course what you think is up to you.

People should learn more than one language

Speaking more than one language can help you more often than you think. It’s good for the brain and helpful in unexpected situations. But what else is it good for? Well, read on to find out more!

When traveling  to a foreign country, you may have some trouble communicating with people. Probably because you can’t understand them and they can’t understand you.  But if you speak their language you’ll have no problem at all. It's not just being able to speak another language, but reading is important too. This is one of the many reasons you should learn to read and speak another language.

Before I may have noted that being bilingual is good for the brain and I wasn’t lying it really is. It helps slow down the aging of the brain. It also helps learning other languages easier. These are just a few, of one of the many reasons it’s good for the brain.

Another reason to learn another language is because, in the future or maybe even now more job opportunities will open up. Apparently it’s impressive to have learned to speak or speak another language fluently. It also may be helpful when talking to customers or clients, in your jobs already.

I have been in many situations when speaking another language has come in handy. I can fluently speak Hindi, and this is helpful in many situations. But I can't speak all types of Hindi. However sometimes when I hear or read other types of hindi my brain is able to decipher and translate the language. This proves what I was talking about earlierm, when I said learning a language helps learn other languages!

I find speaking two languages helpful as I get better at speaking itself. It makes my sentences come together easier and even saying them out loud. I am also able to think through most of what I am saying,  It also generally makes me feel more confident about speaking.

So those a few reasons I think you should learn another language. You should definitely give a thought you can do your own research on this is wanted. But either way, this is my opinion on speaking more than one language.

Breaking A World Record

The True Story (Three Little Pigs)

Once there lived a wolf he had a reputation of being the baddest animal in the forest but for real he was a big old cushion. One day the wolf was taking a walk when he got sprayed by one of the alergi flower alergi flowers make anyone sneeze at whatever the smell. That night the wolf found out that his grandmother was sick. So the next day he was made a cake for her to make her feel loved. The wolf got to work he started making the batter when he saw he had no sugar. 

So he went to his neighbor's house the little pig to ask for some. At that time the little pig had just finished building his house. The wolf knocked on the door and said ‘’ little pig little pig let me in’’ the little pig answered ‘’ not by the hair of my chiny chin chin’’. Outside by the door a bit of hay fell on his snout a and because of the alergi flowers it made him sneeze. 

‘’AAAAAA CCCCCC HHHHHH OOOOOO’’…….. The house of hay had blown away because of the wolf’s courages sneeze. There on the ground lay the little pig dead, the wolf said to himself ‘’ we don’t want this pig to go to waste’’ he went of to the pig and ate the pig.

But the wolf still didn’t have his sugar. So he moved over to his next neighbor. He walked up to the wood house and knocked on the door ‘’ little pig little pig let me in’’ the little pig answered ‘’ Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin ‘’ that’s when the dust from next door blew right past the wolf snout.

Once again a humongous sneeze came AAAAAA CCCCCC HHHHHH OOOOOO……….. It blew over the house with tiny glimpse of the sneeze the house collapsed and again on the ground was a dead pig.

Once again the wolf said to himself ‘’ we must not let this feast fit for a king go to waste but he wasn’t alone when he ate the second pig next door there also lived a pig and he had misapprehend and called the police right away.

The wolf finished his feist and still had know sugar so he went to the next neighbour. He knocked on the door and said once again ‘’little pig little pig let me in’’ the little pig helped ‘’ not by the hair of my chiny chin chin no leave before I call the authority . Just as he as the wolf turned around to leave a blue birds feather came down and tickled the wolf snout then ‘’AAAAAA CCCCC CCCCC AHHHHHH OOOOOOOO’’…….

But this time nothing happened the brick house still standing exactly where it was the ‘’ FREEZE WITH YOUR HANDS UP. They took the wolf to the station and was charged he had to spend his whole life in jail. The wolf tried to explain what happened but the police didn't listen. When the reporters found out they thought the story wasn’t really real so they jazzed it up and made the story of the three little pigs.

That’s the original story of the three little pigs.

Twisted Fairy Tales

Cinquain Poems