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Aroha in my Whanau

 WA describing aroha in our whanau

My family of five is small and immediate. We love one another very much, even though we sometimes get angry and upset. We know that

'no matter what we are WHANAU.

In the evenings we laugh together and share our day with our parents. We have long days because dad works seven days a week and my mum is a teacher.

My siblings and I like to play rugby and soccer together outside and we especially like to sing. My family is good at it. My brother plays the guitar, my sister plays the piano and I sing. My dad plays the ukulele and my mum is the manager. I feel joy when I am with them.

I show love and care for my family especially my sister when she gets hurt. My whanau cares for me too. They are the best. My dad is almost as tall as the whiteboard and my mum loves 500,000 times more than my aunty!

My favourite whanau saying is: “Home is where the heart is.” When we get home we know we are together again at the end of the day.

My aroha symbol is:

                                                                    Daniel                                                           

Water Awareness

                                     Water Awareness

On Tuesday, two weeks ago, Mrs Agnew, our teacher, told us we were going swimming. I was excited and not at the same time. Two reasons: I like going to the pools, but I cannot swim. I was still determined to learn. So at 11:55, I got changed into my rash shirt and swimming shorts and put on a jumper that I got from home and wrapped a towel around me.

We came on a bus and went through Morrin Rd and stopped at CLM The Bays. We waited for almost 5 minutes because we didn't know where to go because it was our first day at the pools. Then, Mr Bell was told to take us to the back. We did, and waiting there was the Co-ordinator, Lauren."Come in", she said. We went through a door that was supposed to be a Fire Exit and arrived at Swim Magic Swim School.

Our Teachers were: Lauren the Co-ordinator (Mondays), Laura (Tuesdays & Thursdays) and Parys on Fridays. During our first lesson we learned how to float on our backs. This is important especially in an emergency at sea. 

At the end of each session we would do a manu. If you don't know what this means, it is a big jump into the pool. I was proud of mine.

On the last Thursday, we arrived at the pools and there was an inflatable boat on the water. We were told to get into the boat and sit with our legs inside it, facing others. Then when the teacher said 'go' we had to fall backwards into the water. That is the safest way to enter water from a boat.

I appreciate the Board of Trustees' generosity in paying for us all to attend water awareness lessons.

Revealing My Feelings through Art

A couple of weeks ago, our class teacher, Mrs Agnew, shared our new MITEY learning and the goal was to show our feelings through self portraits of ourselves. I had grew ecstatic and I bet the others were too! We started off by drawing the shape of the head and we drew lines on our faces: one vertically and three horizontally. These were to get the right places to draw in our eyes, nose, ears and eyes.

 

Then we drew our eyes in an almond shape but my friend Zachary Vargas drew his eyes round like Spongebob! We did the nose in a sort of cone shape and ears (Mrs Agnew drew the ears for me).

About a week later we drew in our hair and coloured in our faces. We drew our bodies, neck and coloured our jumpers/shirts.

We then had to use a white wax crayon to draw lines about feelings we have. For example angry = zigzag lines, calmness = wavy, gentle lines. Then we painted it with blue dye, and the white wax showed through the dye. It was very dramatic.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

The next week, I was amazed at other peoples' beautiful drawings, when they were all displayed.

My favourite blurb that I wrote on my paper was: When I feel embarrased I say "I didn't do it Miss".

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My Profile - By Daniel

                      My Profile

Kia Orana, My name is Daniel Kolotau Ripata. I am 9 years old, well almost 10. I go to St Patrick's School. I am from Tonga and the Cook Islands. My Teacher is Mrs Agnew and I am in Room 6. My favourite subject is Maths and I like playing this Math game called Sumdog. My favourite animal is a Lemur. I’ve been to Rarotonga to see Whanau and I would love to go there again.

Chicks in Room 6

                                   Chicks in Room 6

Last Tuesday, Jo from Living Eggs came to our school in Panmure to bring "Living Eggs" to our class in Room 6. She brought eleven eggs. "They are on Day 19 of hatching" she said. Then she left. She left the food, food bowl, water container, brooder box, wood shavings and the incubator.  

The eggs have to keep warm at 37.7 degrees and not get bumped.

During our 2 weeks, we got to hold the chicks often, and I got to change their little home, the brooder. I changed the bedding, food and water. It took quite a long time but they need to keep dry and have food once in the morning and again in the evening.

I took all eleven of them home for the weekend. It was fun watching them and having special time holding them. On the last day, on Thursday, I changed the brooder, and then during the morning Jo came with Mrs Thompson to take the chicks back to the farm. It was sad. Zach and I cried. But I said Goodbye and continued with  my work. I will miss them, and maybe they will miss me, but I think they are happy with their mum:).

Athletics Day

 Last Friday we had Athletics Day. There are four houses: Rimu, Rata, Kauri, Totara. I am in Rimu and so I had to wear a blue T-Shirt. I competed in three Races. I came 2nd in each race. After the races the seniors did the 'Tug of War'. Totara won the Tug of War. At the end, the Teachers added the scores. They announced that Rimu has won! I liked this day because I spent time with my friends doing sport.