Summer Learning Journey - Day #1 : Arriving in NZ

Hey bloggers! I am so excited and thrilled to participate in this years Summer Learning Journey for 2017 - 2018! I've been waiting for this day ever since the beginning of this year! How about we start? Let's begin!

Activity 1 : The First Settlers

Image Attribution

It's widely believed that the first people to arrive in New Zealand originated in Polynesia. The settlers eventually evolved and formed into their culture and people. Now they are called the " Maori " They have their own language, culture, traditions, food, and lots more.                                                                                 I have been asked to visit a link to read some short stories of a legendary mythical Polynesian Hero " Maui ". I have to post 3 facts on my blog that I have learned about Maui!
I've finished reading the text and here are my personal facts I have come up with!

* Fact 1 ~ Based on some mythical legends, Maui the Polynesian God was a shape-shifter    and could change into anything such as a bird, shark and heaps more you could think of    which is awesome!

Image Atttibution

* Fact 2 ~ In Polynesian Mythology, Ancient Polynesians would navigate across the Pacific    waters using stars. According to myths Maui's Hook could be seen in the sky and         Polynesians would navigate to the end of the hook. That's how they would discover new islands.

* Fact 3 ~ It is said that Maui was fishing one evening with his brothers in a waka. Then he pulled out his fishook to go fishing. It is said he pulled up the big fish which is widely known as the North Island and his waka became the South Island.


Activity 2 : Setting Sail

Image Attribution

The first settlers that arrived in New Zealand must've been really brave! They had to leave their homes, maybe crops too, and sailed thousand miles across the Pacific Ocean to find new land to own. I have been asked to imagine that I was sailing in one of the Waka. I have been asked to write a letter to a friend about my voyage to New Zealand.  In the letter I have to be sure to tell them how I feel about moving to a new country.

Here is my letter I've written:

I just wrote about how the experience was and I also made up an address!

Bonus Activity : Waka Ama

Image Attribution

Now days the people of New Zealand still use Waka. Instead of using the waka for transportation they sometimes use it for Waka Ama races in the ocean. I have been asked to watch a video about Waka Ama and I have to tell you if I would like to join one day or not. I've finished watching the video and it was really interesting. My opinion would have to be No. I would not want to join because it looks like you have to train alot and I don't like training for around 10 hours straight! Haha!

I hope you enjoyed today's blog post!

Thanks for reading!
By Mitchell.M
18/12/17

Aspiration, Inspiration, Motivation!

Hey bloggers! this morning we had the amazing opportunity to hear a speech from Andrew Patterson and past Pt England student ( Raenan ). He first took us back to 2013 where he first met Raenan an Year 8 Pt England student at the time. He had amazing privellages and was taught lots of cool things, such as : how to prepare a speech, how to be a good leader and also being prepared for college.

Image Attribution

Raenan also took us back to Year 9 we had many opportunities to apply for. He joined a club named " Geek Club " and was taught to teach elderly people how to use technology and devices based around media. That's pretty interesting. Raenan also was in the New Zealand Herald which he had interviews, pictures taken too.

Well we also watched a video about a Manurewa High School, Year 12 Student who was also speaking a good speech and talked about his past life as his father was apart of the Mongrel Mob Gang. It was really interesting to hear about. So the moral of the speech/story was to try your hardest and best.

It was to strive for things you think your not good at and take as many opportunities as you can cause it can get you somewhere in life. He did give us advice and tips : to go hard, focus on school, try your best and hardest, take the most opportunities as possible! Raenan will now be a head boy at Tamaki College next year in 2018!

Thanks for reading!

By Mitchell.M

11/12/17

Mitchell's - WK 6 ( Word Problems )

Hey bloggers! Here is my created presentation based with problems about basic math! The problems were created my Miss Ilaoa and Miss Sio. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!
By Mitchell.M
07/12/17

My Extension Reflection - 2017

From Coding, taking buses to go to special events, going on trips, and heaps more we did this year will be memories. This year 2017 I had the great opportunity to be apart of the Year 7 & 8 Extension Group! We had so many privileges this year such as: attending the GEGNZ Event, coding with Zoe from OMG Tech, creating cool games and so much more!

Image Attribution

(Co - founder) Zoe - from OMG Tech decided to help us code for the past few terms. She also brought in some supplies in to help us with coding such as: makey-makey kits, play-dough,aluminum foil, plastic cups and lots more! We created our own games using Scratch accounts made by us and it was a really fun experience!

GEGNZ - Google Summit!

We also had the opportunity to attend the GEGNZ Summit at Ormiston Junior College in Botany. We explained to the students how we run our very own News Network here at our school and how it gets edited, filmed and played every day (except for fridays). We also did explain how to use the coding programme Scratch for those who didn't know!

Image Attribution

This year in Term 3 our school topic was " Guardians of the Galaxy". It was all about space life, planets and other galaxies still being discovered! Since we were learning about space we had the amazing privelage to attend the Hoyts Movie Theaters to watch a new release: Hidden Figures which was an amazing sequel based movie created to acknowledge 3 great historic women who changed the way people look at space today.

Image Attribution

In Term 3 we also took part and participated in the 40 Hour Famine funded by World Vision. It was created to help children in the Middle East suffering from recent bombings in their area and simply moved to safe camps. We simply raised money from close family, friends and teachers who all put together money to support this campaign. We also got to feel like what it was for the kids by eating no food or drinking no drinks - ( except from Just Juice and Barley Sugars :D)

Well this year was sure jam packed full of lots of amazing stuff that happened, trips, events and so much more. I also wish the best and want to thank Mrs Lagitipu for the hard work she has put towards this group. This wouldn't be possible without you. I also will miss the Year 8's as the leave for college next year!

Thanks for reading!
By Mitchell.M
06/12/17\

P.S - Have A Happy Christmas! :D

Mitchell - Addition Pyramid ( Term 4 2017 )

Hey bloggers! Here is my Addition Pyramid I created today. The instructions are to simply add the numbers from the bottom all the way to the final result when you get the biggest number. The answer for my pyramid was : 479. Just count and add to the numbers. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!
By Mitchell.M
04/12/17

Letter to the Tongan Rugby League Team!

Image Attribution

Hey bloggers! Today I'll be writing a letter to the Tongan Rugby League Team.

Mate Ma'a Tongan Rugby League Team 2017
Vaha'Akolo Rd, Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Tongan Royal Palace
 P.S - please send to the Rugby League Team

Dearest to whom it may concern,

I am writing this letter to you mainly because of the Rugby League game that occurred on the 25th of November 2017. I also did recently attend the game with my family and it was amazing. We supported the team with our flags, face paint, costumes and more. It was really heartbreaking to hear that Tonga did lose the game as the referee did not call it a try.

Image Attribution

I do believe Andrew Fifita did score the last try, as the other player from England did strip the ball,the ball dropped, he gripped on it with his hands again and scored the last try in the last few seconds of the game before it ended. We did not support this act as Matt Cechin (referee) did not call it a try.

I would also like to congratulate you for coming to the finals of the Rugby League World Cup as a pacific nation which represented our small islands well and we were very proud of your team. It was a really challenging game to watch and for the team to play. We may have not won but we still have hope for the next 4 years to come.

We believe we did win in our hearts and you did us, our people, our families and our islands proud, so people worldwide know that the Tongan Islands of the Pacific do exist. Also you were the last Pacific Nation to leave the Rugby League World Cup as Fiji was the 2nd in 3 years.

As I conclude this letter I would like to thank you for all the hard work, sportsmanship and effort you have put into these past games. Thank you for taking your time into reading this letter. Ofa Lahi Atu!

Your's Sincerly,

Mitchell

Mitchell's - Emotions

Hey bloggers! Here is my presentation about Emotions! It's all about how songs make you feel! The emotions included are: Happy, Sad, Angry and Scared songs. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!
By Mitchell.M
1/12/17