Level 1 English Connections

 Throughout your life people may overlook and underestimate you, making you feel small and unable to do what you want. Each character within these pieces has also experienced that feeling. I have chosen to use “reaching and realising your potential” as my theme as it relates to everyone and to my chosen pieces, Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera, No.2 by Toa Fraser, Bathe in the River by Hollie Smith and Brave by Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews. 

1. The Whale Rider is a novel written by Witi Ihimaera that displays my chosen idea of reaching your potential. The character who represents this in this novel is young Kahu, an eight year old girl who carries the mauri of her ancestor, Kahutia-te-rangi, The Whale Rider. Within the novel, Kahu was underestimated right from birth by her great grandfather, Koro Apirana. Witi Ihimaera wants us to capture the idea that you can be more than what people make you out to be.

2. Soul was portrayed as a trouble-maker who only caused problems for the family. When it came to him to show his true potential as a leader he didn’t fail to prove. His potential is realised when he disobeys his Uncle John to break open the door and break the superstition surrounding that door. This act brings everyone together in the end and is one of the obvious reasons why Soul became successor.

3. Bathe in the River by Hollie Smith is a song about finally feeling the freedom once you break down your barriers. It represents my chosen theme "reaching and realising your potential" perfectly. But it can also be interpreted to mean other messages as well if you look from different perspectives. At times you can feel overwhelmed and taken away with the currents throughout your life, this song helps you to realise you can make it if you believe.

4. The film Brave by Brenda Chapman and Mark Andrews shows the life of Merida, a young princess who has come to the age where she must be wed. She chose a different life for herself and was only able to achieve that when she realized her full potential. The directors executed the film excellently and were a good option for my theme. 

Kiwi culture

The haka is a war dance only new zealand does. It is performed by the native people of New zealand, The maori. The war dance/haka is used to intimidate the opponents with their frightening actions. The way the haka is done is by shaking your hands or stomping your feet on the ground.A kaea or leader will then chant commands to get his group prepared. The men will then make their way to the front and began shouting and doing their actions.Women will also chant the words but actions aren’t usually done as it is the men's item.Our most famous haka is ka mate that the All Blacks used to perform. Many people around New Zealand and the world will know this haka.New Zealand’s national rugby team, the All Blacks perform the haka before beginning every game. It is a well known item around the world that maori are very famous for.

 Haka has an impact on me because it is something I know well and enjoy at times. I had family members in kapa haka roopu and even helped create some. That is why this was an easy icon to do because i had lots of prior knowledge on it.

Science - 15/9/2019

In science today my class and I have been learning about the human digestive system. Here are some questions we have to answer related to our topic.

1) What are the four types of teeth in the human body?

1. Premolars - Crush food
2. Molars - Grind food
3. Incisors - Cut food
4. Canines - Tear food apart

2) What is saliva and what does it do?
It is spit used to prevent dry mouths and help us swallow our food.

All about me

Kia ora ko Te Aroha toku ingoa no Mangakahia me Matawaia ahau. Ko tekau ma wha oku tau. E haere ana au ko te kura tuarua o Peowhairangi. My favourite subjects at school are Music, Maths and PE. Enjoy my blog, Nau mai haere mai!

 Learning makes a big part of who I am now, I enjoy learning lots of new things and try my best to absorb all the things i’ve learned. Learning wise I’m good at paying attention when I feel like it and being able to pick up what’s happening around me quickly. Cooking and kapa haka are things I enjoy a lot. A challenge I have with both of these are not having the time or motivation as much as I would like.

My goals for this year are to be able to speak confidently to others in te reo maori even if it is just a simple conversation. I also want to be able to stand confidently on all turu of the taumata. In the future my hopes are to give back to my people and help them out in any way possible. I also want to go to university and study something interesting such as: lawyer, journalist, nurse, flight attendant or something in tourism.

Athletics Day

Last week Tuesday we had our school athetics. Everyone participated and came in their house colours. We had the normal activities such as ling jump, sprints, hurdles etc. But this year we added in some fun obstacles to make athletics a bit different. Here are just some of the many photos that were taken on the day. 

Underground 4

Underground

Part 4

I stomped away angrily back to my friends with Tommy joking about behind me. “Don’t worry guys it wasn’t no demon it was just my stupid brother” Tommy popped up from behind the corner and explained to the group why he decided to follow us. As a group we walked into the direction of the strange rocks I had found earlier. They sat nicely in a row with weird symbols on them. A confused look was struck upon all of our faces as we glared at the rocks. Then finally Michael said “Your lucky I know what these are Billy” He picked up the rocks and began making out the symbols. “Walk, 50, North, Wall “ Michael repeated these words trying to think of what these could be. “ Walk 50 steps north to the wall? “ Derick said. Izzy walked the 50 steps north and came face to face with a wall. A stone wall. She turned around and yelled. “I don’t see anything here guys! “ As we walked to Izzy, Joel had picked the stones up hoping they could do something. When we began to approach Izzy Joel placed the rocks weirdly onto the wall. Then the mines began to rumble and shake beneath our feet and above our heads. Was this an earthquake?

Underground 3

Undergound 

Part 3

Joel and Izzy both looked at me with fear in their eyes, what they saw was unexplainable. “It… it grabbed me and t-t-t-took me. “ Joel stuttered. He wasn’t able to speak. “Izzy s-s-saw it too” but Izzy wouldn’t talk. She grabbed a stick and began scraping the dirt. Her picture was of a huge angry demon with dark hateful eyes, we were not alone. His name was Maer ceci (May-er-sick-eye) he was the demon that lurked in the shadow of the gold mines, Grand dad has told me a lot about these. “ We shouldn’t be here guys, i’ve heard stories about this thing. He’s been hunting lost miners since the old days and now, he wants us. “ Michael gave us his serious look that he only gave us in very VERY serious times. “ Grooooooowl !!! “ We flicked our heads into different directions, scared and shaking. Everyone stood and followed in a line behind me. “ We’re lost! “ I screamed in my mind. A panic expression on my face. Big footprints came stomping towards us and we didn’t know what to do! I went off on my own hoping to find an exit but I couldn’t. The long passageways seemed to go on forever. The stomping got louder. And louder. And louder. Then they were right behind me. I turned around in fear, about to come face to face with a dark, huge and evil demon. I turned around and there stood… My brother. “ Tommy what the heck was that for! “ I was furious, all that fear gathered up in me and it was all for nothing. Tommy is my older brother, I think he heard about our plan and wanted to scare us. “Chill Billy I just wanted to have some fun with you and your little friends that’s all “ He gave a smirk and an evil laugh.