No Hat, No Play!

Since Summer is approaching, sweatshirts and trousers are now BANNED! The sun is shinning everywhere around Auckland and I haven't seen a drop of rain around. At Ruapotaka School, hats are to be worn at interval and at lunchtime play. Not only are students wearing hats, but so are teachers on duty.

"No Hat, No Play," is a simple rule used for sunny days like these ones. Students without hats sit under the shelter, to keep nice and cool, on a hot day. The sun is going to burn off for a hard 3 months (November, December and January) and going to the beach or pools in the holidays would be appropriate.

Reminder: Hats are to be worn on heads at all times, and it is not a glove.

Final Technicraft Of 2017

On Week 7 of Term 4, the Year 8 and 7 students had their final Technicraft of 2017. The Year 8's finished off in Mr Grundy's class, while the Year 7's finished their last tech off in Mr Pineda's class.

After weeks of working on a project with Mr Grundy, which was stained glass, most Year 8 students finished it off. Basically, we had to illustrate an image on a piece of paper (e.g castle) and finalise it with stained glass.

Unfortunately, I didn't manage to finish, due to the lack of time I used on tinning the glass pieces together. My design was a volcano, and I was proud of what I created.

Athletics Day 2017

Athletics Day 2017
On Tuesday it was Athletics day. There was plenty of fast paced action going on and it was fun to watch. All classes gathered onto the top field while the parents observed with amazement. I even heard a parent or guardian gasp when Dakbai crossed the finish line. I could tell that they were impressed.

I was also at a loss of words, when I saw the new entrant and Year 1 students pump their little legs to the finish line. Unfortunately, I wasn't cleared to run so I sat under the tree, but still enjoyed watching everyone give it their all and show off their speed. As the Year 8's and 7's dashed past me I could feel a strong gust of wind blowing my hair. They ran like the speed of lightning.

I simultaneously clapped and cheered as the races went on. I didn't criticise, because there was no lack of effort on the field. Everyone ran their hardest and it was a pleasure to watch. Well done to all the first, second and third place getters and to those will be running at the Inter-Schools' Athletics this Tuesday.

I don't want to be too biased but, my favourite runners were Pate, Timote and Dakbai. The effort they put into their races were amazing. I loved watching them challenge each other to their limits. I could see they were nervous, to compete against each other. It was like a fantasy rivalry.

Year 8 Boys (400m dash)

  Year 7 Boys (400m dash)

The Wait Is Finally Over

The Manaiakalani Film Festival was 24 hours ago. The wait was finally over and every schools movie was entertaining. I am proud to represent our film, which was entitled 'Rugby Values.' Our Year 8's gave handy tips about rugby, for example; discipline. Our movie had a clear message which was, The Benefits Of Rugby. We went to Cinema 3 to watch our movie. I was surprised to see all of Ruapotaka's classes make a short-film.

My favourite movie was 'The Time Machine,' by Room 7 of Point England School. It was unique and funny. I can't imagine what the bloopers would've been like.

Enjoy...

The Film Festival Is Soon!

The Manaiakalani Film Festival, is just around the corner. It will be on November 8th. The Film Festival is a local event for Manaiakalani schools like Ruapotaka School, Point England School and other schools around our Tamaki area. This is our School's third year making movies for the Festival.

For those who don't know what the Manaiakalani Film Festival is, it is where our Tamaki schools make short films and they get to showcase them at the Sylvia Park movie theatre. The Year 8's of Room 12 made a film, but I don't want to spoil it ....

Meafou and Vaimoana are our movie presenters. Personally, I think our movie will be one of the best this year, due to our amazing and entertaining actors.

Assessments Are Today

Today, Room 12, had five Maths tests and a Spelling test right after fitness. Our Maths test was a bit tricky at first but as I finished a maths problem, and moved on to another, I started speeding up and eventually finished before the time ran out.

Our first Maths test was multiplication. There were two rows filled with problems to solve. We had one minute to fill in the answers for each column, but we just used the whole two minutes to complete both two rows. The second Maths test was on division, and again we repeated the same process.

Our next two Maths tests were addition and subtraction. And our fifth and final Maths test was a mix of all four previous tests. I had no problem finishing on time but I found out that I got some wrong, because my, "Nine's were shaped like the letter 'a'.

We just finished our STAR Reading Test as well. Mr Reid is currently marking them and we are yet to find out the results. Fingers crossed, I will receive a high percentage correct.

Term 4 Goals

On the first week back to school, Room 12 recorded their goals on a piece of pad paper. We set out our goals and then slid it into our goals folder.

After we had written down our goals, we tried our very best to achieve them. We all wrote a goal or two for each subject such as Maths, Reading Writing and most importantly Personal goal.

My personal goal, was to use my initiative and help out my peers when I see them struggling. My goals for this term are going to be achieved before I move to High School.

A Beginning Of A New Term

Yesterday, was the start of a new term: Term 4, the last term of 2017. This means that soon, the Year 8's will be heading off to college. This year has gone by so fast, and I cannot wait until I become a freshman at Selwyn College. This term, we will be focusing on Athletics, Speeches, Christmas Crossover, Prize Giving and more.

Since it is the last term of the year, we will be very busy, because there are a lot of activities going on. The Manaiakalani Film Festival will also be held this term, where all schools around our local area will either be making a movie, or watching other school's movies.

Today was also the first day of Tech. I am hyped for this term to start and ready to keep on learning new things.

The First Duffy Assembly Of Term 3!

On Tuesday, a man by the name of Michael Mulipola, came to our school to introduce to us his amazing artworks and passions in his life. I was astonished to hear that Michael Mulipola was not only a Samoan illustrator, but apparently he's also a wrestler.

During his time with us, he showed off some of his finest art and sketches, and I was very amused. He drew the likes of Spiderman, Green Lantern, and well known pro-wrestlers. Surprisingly, he has been drawing at a very young age.

Some of his illustrations are in school journals, which we have at our school. After the assembly had ended, we buddy-read with partners. We were actually reading the books that were drawn by him. I enjoyed his comic art the most.

Street Running!

Today was the first time this year, that we ran around the block of Ruapotaka School. Straight after our 5 minute circuit workouts, each group, ran up the steep hill and vacated the school grounds responsibly. Each category of students ran for roughly about 10 minutes or more.

I ran with Saluselo for 1 lap and a half until he blitzed the rest of the way with all his speed and stamina. I didn't want to be caught finishing in last place so I sped up and as I entered the school grounds and zoomed past the courts, I noticed that there weren't many people who had finished.

After me came a lot of other students who I thought would've beaten me, but because I had a head start I was the third Year 8 boy to finish. This was just a practice, but I think I still did great!!

🛠 The Switch Over (Tech) 🛠

Today was the day that the year 7's and 8's switched over to a different activity at Tamaki College's Technicraft. The year 7 students all attended Mr Pineda's 'Graphics' class, which was our previous class. The year 8's including myself, proceeded to Mr Grundy's Workshop and our particular topic is currently glass.

Of course Mr Grundy WARNED us students about what would happen if we didn't follow the rules with respect - We would get either burned, cut, or hurt. Mr Grundy has very strict rules which are intended to protect us.

Our first task was drawing our designs, and mine was not too bad. My favourite sketch was a castle. I'm thinking of using that design to use for my glass activity.

Orienteering Is Back!

Orienteering is finally back, and it's been four, long years since we've last done it. Our guide or teacher, was Mr Leon and he showed us a few symbols or icons on the map of our school. On the first day, Mr Leon gave us all a clip card. All clip cards were unique because they each had different numbers.

It was a bit complicated at first because the clippers were not in alphabetical order, but I managed to execute it and not place last. It was fun simultaneously. The same day, we all trotted around the school with maps, and found each base.

Unfortunately, people had their map taken off them because it was not facing North. The following week, Mr Leon came back and handed us all a clip card and a map. We had to clip the card by using the map to find our destination.

I had heaps of fun and it was fun doing orienteering after four years.

 Orienteering (First Lesson)

 Orienteering (Second Lesson)

🏆 The Performance Was A Success! 🏆

Today, all the classes convened together in the Multi-purpose room to perform in front of each other.

Each class presented a spectacular performance, with their beautiful singing, entertaining dances and even a catwalk dressed in Samoan and Tongan cultural and traditional outfits. My class, executed a wonderful, Pacific song called 'How Far I'll Go' from the movie Moana. All performances were astonishing, starting from Room 1 and ending in Room 12.

One of my favourite acts, was Room 6's catwalk because it wasn't only amusing, it was also unique and different from the other classes. After watching every classes' item, I really think that the parents will be keen on coming to our school to watch our performances.

Room 1 - performed a 'Samoan Sasa'
Room 5 - sang 'Le Aute'
Room 6 - modelled a 'Catwalk'
Room 7 - danced to 'Coconut Tree'
Room 9 - sang 'Little Birdey'
Room 10 - executed a nice song, 'E Otua'
Room 12 - sang 'How Far I'll Go'

🎥 Movie Making For Manaiakalani 🎥

On Wednesday, (about 2:20pm) Mrs Golder gathered the Year 8s of Room 12 into Room 11 to start thinking about making a new movie. Last year, our entertaining movie was called 'The Focuser.' The genre of that one minute clip was an advertisement that was selected by the Ruapotaka School staff members to be the best film of Ruapotaka School that year.

This year, our topic is based upon New Zealand history, which is very major to our school, simply because Ruapotaka is a Maori term. First we came up with an unanimous decision which was the Rugby World Cup 1987. Seven students outvoted the other six which is why we are focusing on that topic.

Everyone in the Year 8 cluster will contribute to this movie which we hope will be successful.

✏📚 The Begining Of Term 3, 2017 📚✏

Finally, it is the first day of school, since the last day of Term 2 ended. When I was walking through the school gates, I was so nervous and apprehensive because it was the first day back. But then I remembered, that it was everybody's day back. I was thrilled to see my friends after the two weeks holiday.

During class time, Mrs Golder and Mr Reid gathered everyone on the mat to teach us new maths subject such as fractions, ratios and proportions which I have learnt last year. 

There will be a lot happening this Term like inter-school rugby, netball, and cross-country. I cannot wait to see where our learning will take us Term 3, 2017!

Skipping (Update)

Skipping is now six days away and we Room 12 have been persevering with our skipping, ever since we have started. Our group routines and warm ups have been upgraded with the assistance of our teachers Mrs Golder and Mr Reid.

Last time, our warm-ups were just ten skips forwards, backwards and side-to-side, but now, we added ten more skips to make it twenty each.

My group has improved from last time and we have been practising to execute more advanced skipping manoeuvres. All the teams put in a great effort to make their routines entertaining, using their own special skills.

🌟🌟🌟 The Return Of Matariki! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

We are currently learning about Matariki and how it is special to New Zealand.

Matariki is a celebration or an event that is celebrated during the winter solstice (Southern Hemisphere only). Matariki literally means the 'eyes of god' or 'little eyes.' When the new moon rises, it is a signal to a new year; the Maori New Year.

The seven stars of Matariki (a.k.a seven sisters) shine brighter and are more substantial than all the other stars in the sky at night. On Matariki day, people grow new crops, or replace the ones that they have already planted.

Some celebrations last up to at least three days or less, possibly more. Many people around New Zealand fly kites, light fireworks, perform kapa hakas and special dances at festivals. Matariki is really an event to be remembered and be carried on in the future.

Practising Our Skipping!

For the last few weeks, Room 12 have been training, to do skipping with each other. To begin the lesson, Mr Reid told us to form rows and columns with Meafou and Isabell in the front facing us.

For warm ups, we skipped ten times forwards and backwards. If we failed in our attempts, then we had to keep going. We then, had to get into our skipping groups. We were not allowed to have all boys and all girls in one team. My team members were Min Zin, Henry and Alexandra.

We are still working on our routine, for the demonstration. There are still a couple of more weeks until the skipping day. After skipping, our energy dropped, because we were skipping for so long.

It was amazing seeing that everyone had worked together in their teams and I am looking forward to the skipping demonstration.

🏃Exercising Our Bones!🏃

Every morning, after the first bell rings at school, everyone in the junior and senior blocks get ready to do fitness. For daily fitness, the seniors (rooms 9, 10, 11 and 12) run around the block roughly around ten minutes.

The only times that we don't attend fitness, is on the weekends, on wet days, and if there are important events. The teachers stand at different points.

Mrs Golder = top of the hill

Mr Reid = near the basketball hoop

Miss Misela = near the toilets

Ms Riley = near Room 9

I mostly jog, with Azahar, Timote, Lupe, Mika and Min Zin.

National Milk Day

Today was National Milk Day, for all schools who drink milk in New Zealand. The company who delivers milk to most schools in New Zealand is called 'Fonterra Milk For Schools.' National Milk Day is held every 1st of June.

Our school drinks milk every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There are a couple of factories that help Fonterra to deliver milk for students all over New Zealand. The milk is made on farms from around the country.

Fonterra first established somewhere during 2001. Two companies (New Zealand Dairy Group and Kiwi Co-operative Dairies) merged together to make Fonterra.

We are lucky to be one of the Fonterra schools.