Cross Country Recount

The sun glistened across the grass, the muddy patches squashed against my feet. Butterflies scattered across my stomach as we began walking to the starting line. My heart pounding increasing by every second. Mr Burt blew the whistle and the race had begun. I started running, I noticed that I was at the back jogging with a few others.

As I reached the reserve I could already feel my legs starting to ache I was pacing myself well. At first I was running with James and then he stopped to wait for my other mates. I had reached halfway and I passed a small group of people all of them just walking. Finally finishing my first (because we had to do two) laps my legs really starting to burn.

A drop of sweat climbed down my head and hit my eye. I wiped my forehead with my t-shirt and saw that my legs and shorts were splattered with mud. I saw how much more I had to go and it wasn’t that far. Unexpectedly I hadn’t noticed that I was already just about to finish running the reserve.

The last 50 meters were right in front of me. I decided to have a sprint race with Patrick and obviously I lost but it was a tie the whole way until we came to the playground. 

But I had a lot of fun running I think that this was probably the best cross country I have ever ran.

Dr Darry Joseph

Dr Darryn Joseph

Dr Darryn Joseph works as a Writer he is also a Doctor. He has published just over 24 books in maori a range of different types of books. e.g Picture books to chapter books and textbooks. Darryn Joseph studied at Massey University for 12 years he gives lectures about Te Reo Maori.

After Dr Darryn Joseph won an award for a book called Huia Short Stories Te Pakiwaitara i te reo Māori mā ngā Pakeke. He was asked to start illustrating for children in 2003. One of his books called Rangi Tautoru was his first book where he tried to mix Maori with Science fiction.

His latest book that he has written is called Te Poi Koiora. The book is about the plan for how the climate will change and appreciating the resources we have. He has read 8000 comic books. What I look forward to this Thursday is the questions I have for him.

http://www.storylines.org.nz/Profiles/Profiles+I-M/Dr+Darryn+Joseph.html

Danny's Birthday

    “Do you have your things packed son?”, questioned my mum. I was rushing around like a headless chook packing my stuff for my friend Danny’s sleepover. “Phew”! I thought after about fifteen minutes of looking in my cupboards I was finally ready to head to Danny’s Birthday. “Okay mum, I’m finished packing” I answered.

Arriving at the house I felt butterflies fluttering around in my stomach. Slowly plodding inside the house, I saw my mate Leo and Danny’s brother playing Minecraft. I got my bags out of the way and started playing Black Ops 2 on XBox 360. Time passed and more of the boys from church arrived. When all my mates had turned up we headed off to the basketball court up the road for a gram. So that meant that Danny’s parents could get dinner ready.

After our three on three basketball game, we ran back home ready to eat. “ Happy Birthday to you!” We all sang in harmony. “Amen” Danny’s mum said. There was a feast before us Pizza, chips, cookies and doughnuts everything I had a piece of. After the massive feed we went back into the lounge and played X-box games. Most of the time I was just playing the guitar while my mates focused on the T.V.

“Okay now you guys have to go to sleep okay?” Danny’s Dad told us as it was getting late. “Yup” we all answered. But we didn’t listen, instead we all stayed up until 3.00am then we decided to go to sleep. Waking up I regret going to sleep that late, my eyes sagged and my body mimicking my eyes.

In the service I fell asleep in church. I had a really fun night hanging out with my mates. I was really lucky to go because my mum said I wasn’t allowed to go the week before. Danny is one of my closest friends at church. It was a nice way to end the holidays.

Bill MacLaren

During the past five weeks we have been training for the Bill Mclaren East team either Liston park or Tamaki Marist. Our coaches are Rob and Duane. The Bill Mclaren tournament is made up of four teams across Auckland, all open weight, Central, West, South and East.

 Our tournament started yesterday and our first game was against South. They have a reputation for being the hardest team to beat. I could sense that my team felt that they knew we were going to lose, a bunch of us were hurt including myself. My body ached from the bruises and my lungs burning as I tried my hardest to do my job as a forward. We lost in the end but I knew we could have won if we worked on tackling and completing sets.

 Today we had another game against West. We were all focused on the game plan and what our coaches told us to do. Halftime the score was 17-0 to us. However things went downhill after that. Our focus for the forwards was to protect the ball and give it out to the backs. We lost in the end and I felt like we let the game slip out of our hands.

 I think that Rugby is more physical than Rugby League. These last two games have taken toll on my body as I have bruises, cuts and scratches. Good thing is that I have learnt more skills about rugby and how to play the game better. I have also made some new friends.

Nelson Mandela

In our literacy group with Mr's Nua we have been learning about the history and past of Nelson Mandela. Nelson Mandela changed a lot of the world through his leadership.

Should Pt England Be A Single Gender?

 I think that Pt England is fine as a co-ed school. Boys and girls work together well and can achieve a lot. Kids in Pt England school are doing well academically. Girls are more focused than boys so I think that sometimes boys need more focus than girls.

          But if Pt England was to become an all boys school I think that boys will probably focus more academically. Boys will be able to work together more and do well also in sports. If Pt England would also become an all girls school it would become well academic school. But I still think that Pt England is fine as a boys and girls school.

        Pt  England is becoming good school for both boys and girls. For the years to come I think that Pt England will stay a co-ed school

Twist On Hansel And Gretel

Once upon a time there were two brothers. They were alike in every way. They were brought up the same way, they were the same height, the same colored hair and skin, but their characteristics were completely contrary.

The brothers lived by themselves in a cottage deep in the woods.  Darius, he always had an evil glint in his eye and was always getting up to mischief. He had a short temper ready to blow his fuse, the minute anybody had a go at him. Gabriel on the other hand, he was a calm boy and he was never naughty. These two boys were always fighting. One day those two boys got very serious........

“SMASH!” The two boys were in the middle of a fight. Windows were smashing, chairs were getting tossed, and the boys were getting bruised. Gabriel didn’t want to fight anymore, so he sprinted it into the forest. A few seconds later, his brother lashed out and ran after him. “I will get you Gabriel” Darius yelled! After a long run Gabriel comes to a small candy cottage. With Darius on his tail, he ran inside.

They found themselves tumbling and making rackets inside the cottage. “Snif that smells like chocolate” Darius wondered. Not noticing an old lady in the corner she had a wicked smile on her face “Hello little children” her voice croaked as, the air suddenly turned as cold as the dark night. “What would you children like?” as her icy cold stare catches their eye’s. “Eat all you can eat.” A few hours later after they ate all they could, the witch threw Gabriel into a hot furnace. Building up with fury, Darius kills the witch then grabbed Gabriel out of the furnace.

“Gabriel, please don’t go...........” Darius said. He grabbed his brother then started to fill up with emotion. Tears had dropped from Darius’s eye’s then dripped onto Gabriel. With a flash of light, Gabriel springs up. “Gabriel!” Darius smiled.  They lived happily ever after.