Gymfest 2017 Recount

The clock struck eleven. It was time for the floor, vault, and beam. I would shine like a star! I eagerly bound over to our group lines, I was group thirty one. The first station for us was fabulous floor. Pointed toes, straight legs, smile, signal for start, head tucked into chest for forward rolls, hold for two seconds, and there was more but I don't want to bore you.

There I was sitting third in line, butterflies flipping my stomach. NO! It was my turn, the real turn. Ten deep breaths. Graciously signalling with my hand, I am ready. Forward roll! Front plank! Turn! Squat again! Candle! Mini handstand! Jump and hold! I felt as though hundred kilograms of weight had been removed off of my chest.

The vehement vault was next... I did like vault because it was "more simple" than floor and beam. Signal, point your toes, smile 😃, two feet on vault, in the air straight like an arrow, land and hold. I held my hand up high and courageously to signal the judge. I was surprised that it only took a few seconds!

Beam was my least favourite. It was quite high, and the mat was kind of dangerous. I was quite tired by now so I just wanted to sit down. I will share about prize giving though! I was year 5 flyers, and overall I got fifth place!

Hip Hop was really fun. We didn't have a team name so they called us the "Pirongia Rockets"? There were two hip hop teams, us and St. Pats Girl Squad. We danced to "Better When I'm Dancin' " by Meghan Trainor. We came second overall, but that's okay because we had fun!

Libby's Learning Conference Term 1 2017

The butterflies in my stomach were panicking frantically as I walked through the classroom door, I felt quite prepared except I was really nervous. I shared my Mihi pretty well, but I was really nervous. I shared my art, writing, maths, etc, but then came the comments. Surprisingly there were no comments, It was great!

To Libby's Learning Conference Slide(so please click on me)

Speech By Libby

 Child Abuse

'' Let us be the ones to say we are not satisfied that your place of birth determines your right for life. Let us be loud, let us be bold and let us be outraged. '' Brad Pitt. I believe hitting kicking punching, and many more to child abuse is not acceptable, child abuse needs to stop. 1,000,000 cases are reported each year worldwide.

90% of the people who abuse the child are someone the child know or trusts (their parents).

Over two children die each year in New Zealand alone! The worst thing is there are over 150,000 cases reported in New Zealand.

Lots of kids that have been kidnapped tend to get abused by their kidnapper. That would make up the other 10% of kids that get a abused each year! You might think these kids would forget about it, but it would actually be life scarring for them! nearly half of the kids that get abused are under five! For many of the kids that get abused would be confused or fearful, wouldn't you be?

Of course there is a cycle to child abuse, like many other things that are living. Sometimes it is unfixed problems that would lead to them wanting to relive stress or pressure by abusing their child. If someone you know is being abused be bold and help them!

If you abuse kids younger or older than you, think twice, it can really affect their view on life and child abuse. If you want to help, be an up-stander not a bystander to child abuse. If you see someone getting abused report tot he police immediately, it is serious.

Hamilton Gardens

  Hamilton Gardens

Peering at all the beautiful plants, I gaze at the entrance of the English Flower Garden. There were damp golden leaves on the wet concrete leading to a white gazebo in the center of the English Flower Garden. I stand in there silently admiring the beauty in front me.

The intriguing Japanese garden was magnificent. The tranquil pond silenced us, it was peaceful, until of course I heard some children screaming (not from room 9). The empty room made me feel calm, in the satisfying, clean room. 

The crisp air glided across my face, making goosebumps run down my spine. I knew the rain was coming. It hit. We ran. We were safe.

Here is a photo of the Japanese Garden pond:

The Conquered Fear

The Conquered Fear By Libby

Putrid smells tickle my nose. I cringe as I conceal my nose from the disgusting smell. There is was. Lying on the tray waiting for it’s surgery. The large knife gave my skin a fright making goosebumps crawl up my back, as shivers creep down my spine.

The razor-sharp knife sunk slowly into the deer’s liver. Blood leisurely oozed out, the blood was a rich dark red velvet blanket covering the tray. A small deer brain caught my eye, it was fascinating looking at what I knew was inside of me!

The wind pipe extending out of the heart was a rattlesnake's rattle at the end of the squiggly line-like animal. The knife was inserted. There was a crackling type sound as the knife slits through the windpipe.

There was crusted blood sprawled across the tray even before I used it! The tray smelt absolutely fetid. It was there… a cow’s heart lying in front of me. The latex gloves were handed out, I didn’t want to dissect, but I was lucky there was a spare glove handed out with the rest of my group’s gloves. There I was conquering my one of my fears. I with a sharp scalpel cutting away at the massive heart💖!

This wasn't a heart, but it was one of the most interesting parts of the cow's body!

The Treaty Of Waitangi

Kahikatea team have been studying the Treaty Of Waitangi with  Mrs Strathern, and we made videos of us sharing what we have learnt. We were also allowed to share about history in Pirongia, My group and I consisted of Dareeya Mickell, Lexi Holdem and me. We did a mixture of the treaty and Pirongia's history. We did a spectacular walk around Pirongia, finding lots of facts


Here's the slideshow of our information on the Treaty Of Waitangi, and a photo:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1AHMd66V-3xg3OXKqk3RqD_KRsV26L-Gvq0-ExPdiCJo/edit#slide=id.p

Photo from Pirongia Heritage Museum

Swimming Recap Term 1 2017

Breaststroke, freestyle and backstroke! Room nine have been learning these three strokes for the past term. For most of our swimming time, we were practising for the most nerve racking sport for me... Swimming Sports! When we had whole Kahikatea swimming practice we would practice as if we were actually competing. BOOM! his bellyflop/dive was a big bomb exploding, it drew my attention from talking while waiting for the nine-year-old girls to go.

Mrs Strathern has taken some videos of room nine swimming.

Koru Art

Room 9 has recently created beautiful Korus. All the colours are coordinated towards our house colours. I am in Tui, so my Koru will be green.

Here are some pictures of some really awesome Korus pinned up on our classroom walls.


Isla's Koru means at the top: Family and New Beginnings, on the left and right it means Strong, at the bottom there are 2 familes.

The Plane

The Plane By Libby

Luring the plane in, the sky persuades the big object to come up. Peering at the crystal blue sky, the plane is confident that he will make it up. Cradling the fluffy clouds in her arms like they were cats, the sky demands him to come into the sky. Extravagantly rising like the morning sun, the plane releases his anxiety, hauling himself into the smooth blue sky. Miraculously the plane actually got up into the sky!

Soaring like an eagle through the pure blue sky, the positive plane thinks about all of his glorious journeys in store for him later in his life. Shambolically looking sky with no knowledge what so ever, the plane stares at the sky blankly. Completely clueless. Generously, the evil devil fumbles with the plane and possesses the plane with great flying ability. Discovering his great new perk, he does incredible tricks!

Shimmying closer and closer. Nearly at his final destination, the puerile plane twirls around making people feel sick. Wallowing because of his decisions, the plane realises his mistake. The plane halts with a screech. People come oozing out, some nearly vomiting.

Integrity Games

The pressure was petrifying, knowing that Lexi and I would be teaching a fewRata Team children our integrity games. The first group came bounding happily over to our group, excited to learn what our game was (Music Kick). The end of the day came so quickly! The group and I had so much fun that day, I wish it happened every day.

Here is a fun photo of us playing the game.