Who's Cooking Tonight?

Have you heard of 'Who's Cooking Tonight?'? It is an awesome cook book by Claire Gourley. I love this book because it has easy to follow insturctions as well as fun tips and facts about food. I have tried two of the recipes in this book and they both work great. The 'creamy bacon carbonara' was so delicous that it was all gone before I had a chance to take a photo of it. I also made 'berry nice caupcakes' which were too good to be true! These cupcakes looked like ordinary vanilla cupcakes with icing on top but the moment I took a bite my toung swam in the illusion. They have berries in the middle of them!!! I used rasberries but I'm sure any berry would taste good. One spoonful of mixture, two berries in the middle, another spoonful of mixture.....oh so good! I definitely recomend getting this cook book whether it is from a library or from your local book shop (either way will work). Now, it's time to get cooking!

Ballet Information Report

This term we have been writing information reports. I wrote one about ballet. Take a look!

Ballet

Ballet is a classical form of dance performed to music of which is most commonly classical. It provides fun for the young and relaxation for the old.

Ballet was first originated in Italy during the 15th century. With the help of Catherine de' Medici, it spread to the french culture. The word 'ballet' is a french word and was borrowed into the english language around the 17th century. Back in history, the french word 'ballet' relates to the Italian word 'ballare' meaning to dance.

Girls of all ages can take part in ballet classes. From toddler classes to adult classes there'll be something to suit everyones level. Guess what? Boys can do ballet too! Many people clearly show their thoughts that boys can not do ballet by making fun of the ones who do. That is definitely not true! Boys can do ballet all they like, all they want. The world of ballet needs them!

Wearing the correct attire makes it easier for the dancers to manoeuvre around the other people in the room. Normally, for class the girls would wear ballet tights, a leotard and a repertoire skirt. However, in performances they may wear tutus, dresses and more! The boys wear a leotard, tights or shorts and socks. Both genders are also expected to wear ballet shoes although the colour of the shoe differs. Usually girls will wear ballet pink or nude coloured shoes whilst the boys wear black or white. Some girls also own pointe shoes. Pointe shoes are worn when performing pointe work which is done on the tip of the dancer’s toes. The average age for starting pointe work is around about twelve years though it may vary depending on the dance school.

A lot of dancers enjoy performing on stage, in companies or even in exams. Ballet gives many opportunities to perform. Dancers perform in competitions as solos or as a group as well as training during the year for an exam. There are many different syllabuses people take exams for such as RAD (Royal Academy of Dance), BBO (British Ballet Organisation) and Cecchetti. Each syllabus has their own style. For example, BBO is British and Cecchetti is Italian.

Ballet is a relaxing form of dance which all ages can enjoy. It is a classical, unique, one of a kind dance style, performed both professionally and just for fun.

- Sophie F

 

Student Leader and Student Council

I am so excited! I have been accepted as a student leader for Wairakei school, 2014. Firstly, the eight student leaders have voted for me and another girl to be the media people. This means we create advertising for school events, organised by the student council or we might write reports for the school newsletter! I am super happy to be chosen for this role! 

All the student leaders from our school (not the student council) are going to a training day in a couple of weeks time. This will help to build up our leadership skills even more and it will help us become better leaders. I am really looking forwards to this.

I am also a part of the student council. The student council will organise events throughout the year to fundraise for the school or charities like world vision. We will also arrange events that are just for pure fun. 

It is a big step up to become a leader of the school but I feel I will be able to handle it pretty well. I can't wait to tell you more about my leadership journey as the year progresses!

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. 

Persuasive Letter

Today I wrote the most hilarious persuasive letter to Mr Willy Wonka. Well, I didn't actually send it to him but it is really funny! Please have a read and leave a comment!

7 March 2014

Mr Willy Wonka

24 Jellybean Lane

Choco Falls

Candy-land

Dear Mr Willy Wonka,

I hear you have recently let Charlie Bucket work in your chocolate factory. I am very disappointed in you! Just think of all of the other children (like me) in the world who could take much better care of the factory than poor old Charlie. Oh, how I could do with a job like that. Why don't you just fire Charlie and let me help out in the factory? Please listen to me. I assure you that you will feel much regret after reading this letter!

Firstly, I have a great sweet tooth. Anything I see which looks like a lolly I'll grab at right away. Just think how happy all of those shop owners who are consistently running low on stock in candy because of me would feel. If I came to look after your amazing candy-land I would have an endless supply of lollies, candy, sugar and more!

Secondly, yes Charlie is poor but why doesn't he just busk for his money?Wouldn't he earn more money that way than doing voluntary work in your marvellous factory? As for me, my family doesn't need much money and both my Mum and Dad work so I would not expect any money off it. I would just do the work for free. Plus, you don't know this kid neither do you know what he could get up to in your sugar full wonderland!

Last but not least, I have many great ideas that could improve your factory and make it more enjoyable for people to visit which would make it a great attraction of your city. You would make a lot more money for your factory and even more money for you to spend on yourself with not having to pay me.

So Willy Wonka you see, it's not all about how people look on the outside but it's also how they appear on the inside and Charlie, although his family is poor he looks nice on the outside but I can tell you now that he is not the best fit for your factory. Please get back to me with a positive answer because it is known without doubt that it would benefit your factory if you got rid of Charlie and took me. After all, the only reason you let him work in your factory is because of one silly little golden ticket!

Yours sincerely,

Sophie

Book Review

Hello! Here is a book review I've written on one of my favourite books. I hope you like it!