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On May the 23rd,  we had a special visitor who is a marine biologist who is currently working from a company called Blake NZ. Thomas, our visitor, introduced us to what he does for an occupation. For our activity Thomas brought virtue reality goggles for us to experience what it is like to be exploring in the wide ocean. A virtual reality goggle is a device that is used to vision images that are life-like. 

 Before we got going he talked about a person named Peter Blake who loved sea creatures and the ocean very much. Peter Blake won the American Cup four times by going around the whole world but sadly he got shot by threatening pirates on amazon. 

Thomas instructed us on how to use the VR goggles and how we should be responsible with it. We then put on the goggles and first saw swimming fish diving through each other. As we looked around the 360 degree view in the goggles, Thomas talked us through where these videos took place and what kind of fish they are.  We saw sea lions in their habitat playing with joy, different types of dolphins with their pods and penguins chatting to each other. We saw many beautiful  sea creatures being discovered and discussed. 

 My favorite fact of all was learning about how humpback whales can sing and can pick off singing from other whales by forming a song together. If there was a way that we can find solutions to help the ocean be a clean environment we should make more marine reserves, influence other people to STOP polluting  the ocean.

 

For Religious Education, our class learnt about Creating, Redeeming and Sanctifying means. We created images that related to these words. I have drawn mountains that represent creating. The cross represents redeeming, and lastly,  a Bible that represents sanctifying.

On Monday the 27th, Ms George, our teacher, said we will be creating our own image of the Trinity. We had to use our creative thinking of how we could design our own version, and how we see the Trinity at our point of view. I have created a flower representing the Trinity. Each text box shows the meaning of each component.

 

 

On Wednesday 15th of March,  year 7 and 8 students had gone on a trip where we learnt how to ride on a canoe and how to use oars. We arrived at school in uniform and changed into our swimming gear.  Our two teachers; Mrs George and Mr Bell had been our supervisors the whole trip. We were traveling by bus to get there.  It was a long and short trip to go but it was worth the drive.  We finally arrived at our destination. All of us were very excited to learn and experience new things.

We had a teacher instruct us how to use oars and learn the commands that the captain was going to give to us. We started the day with ten people on each side of the canoe and one teacher with each group. The groups had gone for a twenty minute lesson with the instructors. We had finished the lessons with races. The instructors wanted to see what skills we have learnt so far and how we could use them in the water.

We had gone back to the dock to take the canoes back to the club.  It took everyone to put a lot of effort to pull and push the canoes back.  We had changed out of our swimming gear and changed into our clothes. It took us about fifteen minutes to change because most of the students have been mucking around. We had finally finished changing and walked up the hill to go to the bus and it drove back to school.

My day at Waka Ama was a thrilling day to me because it was my first time riding a canoe and using an oar. Thank you instructors for the opportunity to have a day learning whilst having fun.

Diary Entry

As I leave Elizabeth, I cry sombre tears. I walk further and further away from this depressing, unhappy place. I keep walking along the dry, dirty path. I look up and see the sky. A grey, black-ish, white colour with flames dancing through the trees. The same trees that have ruled all of England.

 I hurry to our flat to see if the flat is safe or is it in pieces? Am I safe right now? I ask myself so many questions. My head is a crazy mess. I take a second to get myself together and think. I take a deep breath and walk my way to the flat.  I look carefully at my surroundings to check if I am safe or not.  As I am walking, I see people suffering from the toxic gas that is drifting their way, and  people sheltering in Anderson shelters from bombs. Flames from buildings.. Anxiety inside of me and I feel that I am losing hope but I can’t give up now! I have to find Aunt Miriam!