MARAE VISIT
By a 12 year old
On the 25th of June the four senior classes set off on the bus to Houngarea Marae. During the trip I overlooked Mangaroa prison. I would hate to live around that area. Freaky.
When we arrived, we stood outside the gates of Houngarea Marae. It took about ten minutes before we got settled down and began the powhiri (greeting ceremony). The powhiri was quick and over in a short time. Afterwards we gathered our bags in the meeting house.
As well as packing our bags away we also chose a mattress to sleep on with a partner. Unfortunately I didn't get a spare space to sleep so my partner, Adrienne and I, parked in front of the doorway leading into the kitchen and toilets. It was so frustrating for Ady and me because a lot of people were going in and out of the door.
Then we had a little free time before we
were to gather in the whare kai (dining room).
I walked in and to the left was a stage.
Matua (Teacher) Te Pou presented us with a large paper with jobs organised
for us during the stayover. I was to help prepare tea that night. While
some people continued their chores, others played a fierce game of rugby.
Once again we were called into the whare kai but it was for a more exciting reason. Skitz. (Although I wasn't too keen on performing so I offered to help Mrs Te Kiri with the pudding. Peach crumble, yum!) Shaun also offered to help. It was cool fun, especially while we watched a few of the skitz. I think we have some true future actors. Then it was time for tea. We pigged out on both tea and pudding, then finished the dishes.
By then it was bedtime. It took a while before everyone got settled down and into bed. Once we did, ever single person had to do a mihi (description of family origins). It was really long!
Well, I didn't know about anybody else but the morning was awful. Woken up at about four o'clock and forced out of bed at six to have a run. It actually was only girls that went for a run in the dark, freezing morning, only because it was the girls who woke everyone...well about ten of the girls. All was forgiven when we settled down to breakfast. We had spaghetti, toast and leftovers.
Afterwards, three activities were assigned for us to complete in forty minutes. Then we were separated into four groups and left with a teacher. Four groups, each heading in different directions, to different destinations. Our destination was a home with piu piu (flax skirt) makers. They explained piu piu making to us. It was all very educational to experience. But then we had to leave for our next venue, the beautiful scenery of Paki Paki.
My group climbed to the top of the hill, it was all worth the tiring climb. Sadly the group had to head back down and what faster way than stampede down? I caught my breath and began walking along the road. A big bus drove past, our bus! it came to take us away. All groups eventually returned from whatever activities they were at.
The last boys were packed onto the bus, all the classes settled in their seats and the bus drove us back to school.
NETBALL TOURNAMENT
By a 12 year old
The two Flaxmere netball teams arrived at Kimi Ora School around 10.00 am. By then my team and the lower team had butterflies in our stomachs. We trained until our first game started.
First we played Kimi Ora and lost. I was shamed out because our coach was expecting us to win. The lower team played not long after our loss and we couldn't believe they won their first game.
After we had finished playing, all netballers met inside the school hall and had supper. Our lower team was has happy to be going home with a trophy. They had won all their games. Unfortunately my team came third but we had a great time competing against other schools.
Playing for the Goldsmith Trphy was a great experience for me.
RUSSIA VISIT ...a fictional recount
By S (12 years old)
Sarah went to Russia to visit her friend Aniya and study russia and its land and buildings.
Sarah was on the way to the Auckland airport with her mother driving. They arrived at the airport, there were more aeroplanes, people and cars than she had imagined. As she climbed onto the plane, Sarah thought of her friend Aniya. The plane flight was comfortable and fun.
Sarah got tripped up by the steps of the plane and just managed to catch onto the rails. Aniya met her by the doors and took her around the airport for a snack of Russian fudge, a country favourite.
Aniya took her to the arts and crafts market. There were artists painting, pencilling and drawing with coal, people' faces. Aniya had seen this before but Sarah was interested so she got herself drawn in pencil. It was almost like a photograph.
After that both of them were feeling pretty hungry, so they walked home (four kilometres) it was quite a long way. For tea they had meat, potatoes and rice. Then they went to bed. Sarah slept in Aniya's room. The beds were nice and comfortable, thought Sarah. She and Aniya talked for a while, then drifted off to sleep.
At 8.20 am Sarah woke up, Aniya was already up, cooking vege soup and bacon for breakfast. "Yuk" she thought but she was wrong, it was yum. They decided to go to a museum called "All About Russia" it was a very interesting place too. They stayed there all day and in the afternoon they forgot about the time. It was too late to walk home so they caught a small trolley bus ride with the tiny bit of money left. Then they had tea and went to bed.
When Sarah woke up the next morning, Aniya rushed into her room and told Sarah that her mother had a menincocal disease and that she had to go home immediately in case it was the last time she saw her mother.
So Sarah packed up all her belongings and presents then she and Aniya caught a trolley bus to the airport and bought a ticket. The plane ride didn't seem as good as the last, probably because she was worrying so much. When the plane landed in New Zealand, she caught a taxi and rushed to the hospital. her mother was only just conscious but managed a weak smile at her daughter.
RUGBY
(By a 10 year old)
My brother is a player in the tenth grade Hibernian Falcons. On Saturday, it was the seven-a-side tournament at Park Island. When we got there, I was surprised at how many people had arrived at such an early time of the morning (8.30). They played five games. They wom one game, had a draw from two games and they lost two games. Their coach was very proud of their play as they had only won one game all season, plus, they had already gone through five coaches this season! They had played fairly and played as a team
The next day at 2.00pm there was a prize
giving for all the Hibernian teams at our school hall. There were a lot
of people in the Hibernian club. They went through about four grades until
it was my brother's team. They all received a certificate from the coach
and then he gave out a 'Player of the Year' award. It was the coach's son,
Sam, which I think was fair. The most improved players were Leanne and
my brother. My parents were so proud of him. Also Haden got a 'Fair Play'
award. Afterwards they gave out a sausage, a packet of chips and a can
of drink to all the kids. we put my brother's trphy and certificates in
the cabinet in the sitting room.
HOLIDAY
By R (10 years old)
During the holidays I made a treehouse. It was as big as the computer room and it took me six days to make. My brother and my dad helped me make it.
I made it by putting some wood standing up and putting wire around it and connected the wire to the tree. When I had finished that, I put a piece of wood on top of the standing wood. Then I wired it on. i did that in the middle and on the sides. Then I got some flat wood and put it on the other wood and got some nails and a hammer and nailed the nails in the wood. I did the walls the same as the floor. Then I was finished. I did not have to make a roof becausethe branches stopped the rain from coming in.
HORSE RIDING
By K (9 years old)
I was on my way to the horses to get a helmet out of the shed, we were to go where Glen told us to. When we had finished putting on our helmets, we went over to sit on the fence. Tui told us some important information. When we sat on the fence we saw all the horses.
As we sat on the fence we were waiting for a horse to ride. While we were waiting, everyone was chatting and watching the others ride the horses. Then we got to ride the horse we wanted, around the stand. We were riding the horses for an hour. We didn't want to go.
We we had finished riding we had to take one leg off and then jump down off the horse and go stand by the teacher and take our helmets off. It was great!
By M (9 years old)
On Tuesday it was the Cross Country competition at our school. We did some warm up at playtime: Tequila, Stacy, Peta and I.
Then it was time to have our races. The nine year old boys went first. I was thinking who might come first in our class. It took too long to wait for them. It was because they had to go to Chatham Road, then they went around Flaxmere Avenue. We were clapping and saying "Go, Alex!" I didn't know Alex was going to come first in our class.
Next it was time for the nine year old girls' race. I was scared but then they called all the nine year old girls to get ready for the race. We were getting ready, we had to stand on a line, we got ready, they the starter shouted "Go!" We ran so slowly. Some other girls were running as fast as they could but when they were half way, then they became tired. Then I went past them. I went as fast as I could. I got to the finish line! Tequila came fifth in our class, then I came sixth.
(By a 7 year old)
Yesterday we went to Bridge pa airport on the bus with our parents and the junior classes. When we got there we saw a helicopter with no tail. It was in the shed. Then we went to see another helicopter around the back of the shed. We saw it take off.
The man told us lots of things about helicopters. We found out lots of things about helicopters. The helicopters are used for rescuing and spraying, they are mostly for spraying. they spray orchards because they have to kill the bugs on the trees.
FATHERS' SPECIAL DAY
(By a 7 year old)
Yesterday it was Fathers' Day and I won a raffle at the Swim Gym. In the big basket there was beer, rum and a bottle of Bailey's and a blanket, some cups and After Dinner Mints, one packet of cashew nuts and peanuts, a toilet bag and my dad's favourite one was the chocolate peanuts with caramel on the top.
At night we had a special tea with strawberries with cream for pudding. We had K.F.C. and Dad ate all the potato and gravy. Dad liked his card.
Objectives for writing Recounts
7-8 year olds:
1 Organise text - begin with an opening
statement.
2 Use different linking words relating
to time sequence.
3 Expand the basic events.
4 Add a suitable title.
9-10 year olds:
1 Sequence events.
2 Begin to paragraph.
3 Write in the past tense
4 Include specific participants
5 Begin to include own ideas and opinions
6 Usually use time linking words
7 Write a setting that includes details
about Who, Where, When, Why.
8 Add a suitable title.
11-12 year olds:
1 Begin with an interesting setting
including all the details about Who, Where, When
and Why.
2 Include opinions and own ideas using
a personal voice.
3 Elaborate on events and write in sequential
order.
4 Use paragraphs.
5 Maintain consistent past tense.
6 Write a satisfactory conclusion.
7 Add an appropriate title.
8 Use a variety of linking words.
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