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)