Newspaper Article

The newspaper article which Leo and I wrote has finally been printed in the Nor' West newspaper! The article is about our year 6 school camp and how the Okains Bay locals helped us out when the Okains Bay campground was closed due to storm damage. It looks really great! Here is the link to the online version. Take a look!

http://issuu.com/the.star/docs/114090na/9?e=0 

School Camp

Last week we went to Okains Bay for our school camp. It was so much fun! Here is an article that I wrote with my friend Leo for the local news paper. Hopefully next week when the news paper comes out I will be able to take a photo of it to post on my blog!

Campground Closure Works In School's Favour

Okains Bay locals generously came to the rescue by opening the school grounds for use when the storm damaged campground was temporarily closed. It was such a relief to many of the Wairakei School pupils when it was announced that the Year 6's would still be able to go to Okains Bay for their school camp as planned, only with a slight change of tenting destination. "I was so grateful when we were overwhelmed with Okains Bay's kindness," admits Wairakei School teacher Kate Olliff, "it really was welcoming of them to allow us to use their school grounds for four days!"

A fun filled four days would have definitely occurred for the students and teachers as they enjoyed some relaxing time away from the classroom. They did many challenging activities from playing at the beach and going to a Maori/Colonial Museum to setting up their own tents and cooking their own meals. It was a great chance for the children, being the oldest in the school, to use their leadership skills and to prove what great role models they can be to the younger ones whom look up to them. Year 6 student Teagrae says, "I really enjoyed camp but most of all I feel it really helped me to step up because I had to cooperate well with other people and I don't usually work in a group."

Despite the fact that they had to tent on a school ground everything went as planned and in the end, the change actually worked in their favour. "It was great to be camping in the centre of the Okains Bay Village because the children who go to the school there were able enjoy the opportunity to spend more time with different children," agrees Wairakei School principal Shane Buckner, "the use of the Okains Bay School pool was also much appreciated!" The year 6's are now back at Wairakei School and are carrying on their school work as per prior the camp. 

2014 - My World

I am really excited for 2014 and what it has in store for me! This year I'm in a BYOD (bring your own device) class which means everyone in my class has their own iPad that they bring to school each day. After doing some research I have realised how far technology has come over the past few years. I am also really looking forwards to Yr 6 camp which is going to be heaps of fun! We are going to Okains bay for three nights and four days and are tenting all three nights. Surely that's something to look forward to!

I have a lot of hobbies and things that interest me. First of all I really enjoy dancing because it is a way of expressing myself through movement. This year I am taking lessons in ballet, contemporary and stretch/pilates. Throughout the year I will be entering various competitions for ballet, possibly contemporary and hopefully by the end of of the year I will have reached a high enough level to sit the RAD (royal academy of dance) grade 5 exam for ballet. As well as expressing myself through dancing I like to express my feelings through music. This year I am learning both the flute and the piano for my fourth year. I am also hoping to take part in group lessons such as recorder ensemble, instrumental group and choir. One part of music that I really enjoy is that I have the freedom to compose my own pieces and songs. Another thing I like to do in my free time is make lots of arts and crafts things - a nice relaxing thing to do, espiecally on a rainy day!