Tech

This week at Tech I made a dustpan. We made it out of a sheet of metal. We traced the template onto our sheet and then cut the pieces we didn't need with tin-snips. Then we folded the sides together and pop-riveted the folds. Then I cut a handle and pop-riveted it onto the dustpan. I am proud of making this, next time I would make sure the bottom of the dustpan was even because one part was higher than the other. This is a photo of it. 

Book Review

Hayden Paddon: Driven
Genre: Autobiography
Author: Hayden Paddon
Published: August 2019
About: Hayden's childhood and his rallying success
I recommend for: Ages 11 and over

Hayden's has committed all his life to rallying. His idols were Colin McRae and Possum Bourne. He is a good rally driver and he has been rallying his whole life. 

Participating and contributing

This week for Whanau Time we had to make a poster about participating and contributing. This is my poster.

Touch

This summer on a Thursday we play touch rugby. Our team name is the "Easy Beats". We don't know how we came up with the name, it's a little cringe but oh well. I play touch to keep me fit over summer, it also makes my rugby skills better.

Toki Pounamu film festival

Yesterday we went to the Regent Theatre and saw the Toki Pounamu film festival. We made a review. This is my review.

How to make a can sausage cooker

At tech we have been making a sausage cooker from recycled cans. These are the instructions.

• Find a can and a metal rod
• Use the sander to sand the top of the can off
• Use a hole punch to make a hole in the bottom of the can. Make sure it is the size of the rod
• Use the vise to bend the rod into a U shape.
• Then make short pieces of rod for the stands for the cooker
• Then spot weld the short pieces to the bottom of the U shaped stand 
• Now use the gas torch to bend the front piece into a U
• Now put the can through the rod and there you have it, a sausage cooker. 

It should look like this.

Country Studies 2.0

Last year we did a country study, this year we are doing the same! This year I'm not doing Albania, I'm doing the Czech Republic as I have been there before. I am in the stage of finding the facts. Once I am done I will have the all the things you need to know about the Czech Republic. 

Japan

This week in Japanese we made a Google Drawing on things about Japan. I did basic Japanese words. This is my Drawing.

Things about Japan: Rui Hachamura

Rui Hachamura is the best basketball player in Japan. He was born in Toyama Prefecture, Japan. He is 2 metres tall. He plays Power Forward for the Washington Wizards. He plays number 8. He has played only 2 or 3 games in the NBA. He played for Japan at the Basketball World Cup.

West Coast vs South Canterbury Lochore Cup Final

South Canterbury with the Lochore Cup

Last Sunday West Coast played South Canterbury for the Lochore cup. Unfortunately West Coast lost. We lost 23-19. West Coast has never won the Lochore cup. We played for it 2 years ago vs Mid Canterbury and West Coast lost. The last time South Canterbury had the cup was 2013. The rain kept away in the first half and then it absolutely poured down in second half. I got soaked because I was one of the Ball Boy's, we collect all the balls that go out. We had an extra responsibility as we could not get in the way of the Sky Sport's camera's. We also held up the orange board you can see in the picture. Overall it was disappointing but there is always next year.

Should Las Vegas have an NBA team

Since the start of the term we have been writing our own arguments. I did should Las Vegas have an NBA team. This is my writing.


I strongly believe that Las Vegas should NOT have an NBA team because;

As a result of low population, there would be no point in Las Vegas having an NBA franchise.

The Utah Jazz are housed under Nevada so you can have an NBA star from Las Vegas and play in a Tier 1 team.

The league would need to draft another 15 players which is another unnecessary fuss.

Las Vegas has a population of 640,000. Most places with decent NBA teams have populations of 4 million or more. If Las Vegas wants to make more money they will need fans to go to games and buy merchandise. This means lots of people need to be employed to manage the franchise; eg: Cleaners, organisers etc.

The Utah Jazz are neighbours to Nevada which is where Las Vegas is. Players from Wyoming get put into the Jazz because they border each other and because Wyoming doesn't have an NBA team. Utah is a decent team and Las Vegas don’t have any prospects.

Las Vegas would need 15 players to start a franchise, thats without staff! Las Vegas has 11 players who were born there, most have retired or have left the USA and played in China, Australia, europe etc. It will be hard to find prospects as they have interests from other teams.


In conclusion, I strongly believe that Las Vegas should not have an NBA team because;



Las Vegas is too small to house an NBA team so people won’t want to watch them play..

The Utah Jazz are neighbours to Nevada so Las Vegas NBA players can play for the Jazz.

It will be hard to have another 15 franchise players to start a team.

RWC 2019

This year is the Rugby World Cup. It is being held in Japan. I think that it shouldn't have held in Japan because they could have detected the bad weather, one minute its 40 degrees, next minute people are dying from storms! I will be interested in how the All Blacks go! I don't know who I'll go for in the semi's cause obviously I like the All Blacks, but I like England too. 

Smoothie instructions

This week we have been writing instructions for our favourite smoothie. My favourite is a mixed berry smoothie. These are my instructions.

Workbook Wk 7

This workbook is from Week 7. 
We have to complete the tasks. Mine isn't finished yet.

West Coast under 13 basketball

On the free-throw line

This year I was selected into the West Coast Under 13 basketball team. We did a trial and all of us got in because we had enough players to have a squad. There is a A team and a development team. We went to Blenheim a few weeks ago, we played 5 games, 2 against each Marlborough and one against Buller. We beat Marlborough Development twice. In one game I scored 32 points. We only just lost to Buller because we were tired. We have a tournament in Greymouth on Sunday then in about 6 weeks we go to Ashburton for South Islands. I am really looking forward to this opportunity.

Balanced equations

This week we have been learning Algebra and whether equations are balanced or not. We had to make a DLO about balanced equations. This is my DLO.

Netball

We had 2 trials. My friends and I decided to give netball a go. Franklin, Oli, Callum and I made the 14 person squad. 4 would get cut on the Thursday before the tournament on Monday. So Callum and I got cut but we still get to go and do the scores sitting in a heated room while the others freeze in the cold.  

West Coast Under 12 rugby

My Under 52kg rugby team this year. It is a different group of people

This weekend my West Coast under 12 rugby team travel to Westport to play Buller. I am the oldest in the team. I play lock and it really hurts my ears when I am in the scrum. I have been in this team twice as you may have found out on my all about me section on my blog. 

Term Reflection

Last years tournament, one I wasn't part of

This term was so great
 We had year 7 & 8 rugby, rugby sevens , speeches and camp. 
The number 1 thing I'm looking forward to this holidays is going to Blenheim for Under 52 kg Seddon Shield Tournament. 
We travel up on Sunday and the weigh in is at 3 pm. I'm not nervous for the weigh in because I will easily pass. 
Next term I am looking forward to Prep as it's my last prep! 

Argument No.2

This week we did another argument. This time it was on whether we should allow phones at school. This is mine.



I strongly believe that we should have phones at school. Firstly because they can be used as a second tool of research. Secondly if something happens, eg; fire or an earthquake you can get in touch with parents. Lastly you can store a lot on your phone, like your work.


Phones are an amazing secondary research tool. If you have a piece of writing you need to research about you can use your phone to bring up your facts and copy them onto your writing. Also if you haven't finished some of your learning and don’t take your chromebook home you can do it on your phone.

Your phone could save you from a fire at your school. The US government has stated that in the USA there are 4000 school building fires and around 75 people get injured every year. If you had a phone you could be saved and save a lot of other people. You could call 111 to help.

A phone can store a lot of documents. You can save your MathsBuddy PDFs and all of your Google Drive. What about all your blog posts and comments. Your phone can do a lot! And if you need to download a book to read or info you can do that with a click of a button.


I strongly believe that kids should be allowed phones at school because it can be used for research. It can save lives and lastly has loads of storage for books and information.

Argument

Over the past 2 weeks we have been writing arguments. We have been writing about cell phones and whether we should have one. This is mine.

I believe that everyone should have a cellphone. It is good for entertainment on rainy days and when you have a long time waiting for something. Also it is used for communication, like when you get a flat tyre on your bike. Lastly people think when you have a phone you are not social, but texting and using social media is actually being social. Here are my reasons why kids should have a cell-phone




A phone is an excellent tool for entertainment. If you are on a road trip and you have nothing to do, you can pull out your phone and play games for a quick 10 minutes, it’s better than boredom. sport games are harmless and can be used to educate your kids. Netflix and YouTube can actually educate your kids, like a book review.




Phones can be used for communication. First-aid training cooperative has stated that in the UK, 16500 people get injured every year from recreational mountain biking, 100 people die every year. The stats look like this; 2500 serious, 14000 minor. How would you like it if you couldn’t contact your parents when you crashed your mountain bike? If you have a flat tyre and you have to repair it and don’t know what to do, it is easy to download a manual to change a flat. If you didn’t have a phone you couldn’t ride your bike out because you will damage the rim.

Would you believe that 4.8 billion people have phones, 2.7 billion people have social media! If you don’t see friends often you can use texts to ask them how they are doing. Adults say people on phones aren’t social... That isn’t the case. Texting your friends is being social. Social media is safe, apps like Snapchat have report buttons so if something inappropriate happens you can report it. Most people think that you can be bullied on social media and that is the case IF you are being irresponsible with your phone.




I strongly believe that all kids over the age of 12 should have a phone because they are good for entertainment and educating your kids. Secondly they are the only help tool to get you help if you have a crash on your bike in the woods. Lastly they can be used to be social, using texts and Snapchat is social, isn’t it?

Nets

This week we have been focusing on nets. I am really bad at folding and gluing so my nets didn't work out.  We had to make a DLO on nets. This is my DLO.

Speeches

This term and next term we are doing speeches. This year I'm doing my speech on Skiing. I have been skiing since I was 4. I go skiing at Mt Chessman. I go to the top of Mt Cockayne, I don't know why Mt Chessman is on Mt Cockayne but it's good for skiing!

Brochure

In class this week we have been thinking about what Greymouth needs to attract tourists. I thought about a bike park. There could be easy tracks for beginners and hard tracks for experts. I would happily be part of the building as I have made my own bike tracks a home. This is my slide

Basketball

On Monday we had basketball. We haven't won a game because we are in a hard grade. We lost to St Pats and I got 2 points, 1 block, 1 steal and 2 assists. In my 2 points I got a step-back mid-range jump shot. 
It was a hard basketball game but next week we will hopefully get a win. In this picture I am practising my layups.

Camp Slide

When we got back from camp we started making recounts. This is mine.

Numeracy

This week we were learning about Area and Perimeter. I have made a instructions about how to solve area and perimeter problems. This is my DLO.

This Weekend

This weekend for rugby we are playing Hokitika at our home ground, Blaketown. Lots of people are injured so our positions are mixed up. I might be starting at Number 8 which is at the back of the scrum. I like Number 8 because I can get to rucks fast and I can run off the back of the scrum. This week we will hope to get a win because this is our season stats. Just because we haven't won doesn't mean we have a bad team it's just that we have had a tough start with tough teams.

Won- 0 Drew- 1 Lost- 1

Camp 2019

This week we were in Hanmer Springs on school camp. We did Mountain Biking, Tree Climbing, Orienteering, Cemetery Study, walked up Conical Hill and a Statue walk. Conical hill was windy, we took shortcuts though, at the end there is a awesome view. My favourite part was the hot pools and the Mountain Biking. At the Hot pools we got free roam for 2 hours every night, and we went on the Super Bowl and the Hydroslides. We went to the lolly shop in Hanmer and bought heaps of lollies. Here is some of the photos.
 

 

Myths and Legends

This week we were focusing on Myths and Legends. I finished my Myth. I used the Maori word for all the natural elements. This is my myth.

Book Character Day

Today was Book Character Day. I went as Willy Wonka. I borrowed an outfit which include; A purple coat, a hat, glasses and a waist coat. I was supposed to look like the picture. I think I pulled it of quite good. This was part of Book Week, promoting reading. We have a mystery reader every day, we have Wacky Wednesday and Golden Tickets to find. 

Myths

This week we have been focusing on myths. We had to chose a natural phenomenon. I choose Thunder. We had to choose words that relate to the phenomenon. I have always been interested in thunder and how it is formed. This is my drawing.

NBA playoffs

One of my hobby's are basketball, and the NBA Playoffs are a big event in the USA and Canada.

The NBA Playoffs started on the 14th of April. We are now in the second round. The Playoffs start at the first round with 8 teams from the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference, 16 in total. I was going for the OKC Thunder in the first round. But then they got knocked out by the Portland Trail Blazers, the score was 4-1. Because the Thunder got knocked out, I'll go for the Denver Nuggets who play the Trail Blazers. I'm predicting a score of 4-0. Yes a clean sweep. The format is the picture above. I am looking forward to the NBA Finals!

Percentages

This week we were focusing on percentages. We were finding things out like finding 10% of things etc. We had to make a DLO on our learning. Percentages are my favourite part of maths.
This is my DLO. 

Diary Entry

At the moment we are reading "The Mines Afire". We had to write a diary entry about the events at The Brunner Mine on the 26 March 1896.  We had to put it into our perspective. It was really interesting. This is mine so far.

Visiting author: Thelma Eakin

Yesterday T1 and T2 were lucky enough to have "The Mines Afire" author Thelma Eakin. She answered our questions and we had a look at a safety lamp and a copper version of 1 of the miners statue in town. She co write this book with her friend Susan Battye. We are reading this book at the moment, it is very interesting. One interesting thing we learnt was that Mr O'Flynn actually locked the door so the kids couldn't escape, but they managed to escape in the end. We all felt very lucky to have her yesterday.

Basketball

My favourite basketball player, Paul George

Next term is another sport after school. Basketball. I live for rugby and basketball. If I play well, I can be selected to represent the West Coast in tournaments. Hopefully I am in a team with my friends. We play on Monday nights. I am so excited.

Brunner Mine Site

On a chilly Monday morning our class made a 15 minute drive to the Brunner Mine Historic Site. The ladies at Shantytown gave a guided tour around. We did activities such as mimes, dressing up and a quiz about what happened on the 26 March 1896. Yesterday was the 123rd year since the mine blew up. 
I had a awesome time on Monday and I hope that other people enjoy the place

Top: Where Brunner Mine is located
Below: The still photo of our group. I am at the top entering the mine.

Colour Day

Today we are wearing bright colours to fundraise money for the Muslim family's and communistic impacted by last weeks events in Christchurch.  Our class raised $80. Hopefully this can help all the people impacted.

Rugby This Year

Can you believe that last week I talked about touch rugby. That is a summer sport. Then a week later we are starting rugby training. I am playing for the Blaketown Under 14's this year. We start rugby in 6 weeks. We have a 7's tournament the end of this terms school holidays. I am really excited.

Road Patrol

This year I am a Road Patrol Traffic Warden. Last year we were trained by Constable Jos on what we do regarding signs, calls etc. This year I am on a Friday with Kaleb S. Ollie and Callum are on Car Park until this week where we swap jobs. That means this week I am on Car Park! This is a really fun job and I look forward to carrying on my job through out the year.

Touch

This week we had our finals for touch. We unfortunately were playing for 3rd and 4th. But we won so we got 3rd. We played Brunner again. The score was 11-2. I managed to score 2 tries. Franklin scored 2 tries, Callum also got 2, Kaleb W got 2, Ollie scored 2 and LeBron scored 1. It was a really good game and I look forward to playing again in 12 months!

Music this week

This week we had to find our favourite song and tell you why we like it. Mine is Ridiculous by Kyrie Irving. You will also know Kyrie Irving from the NBA, he plays Point Guard for the Boston Celtics.

My Cupcakes

This week is the Family Fiesta and we had to make cup cakes. Mine is a sunflower. Mine are strawberry cupcakes with black and yellow icing with and chocolate hail in the middle. This is what it looks like.

Touch

This week we had touch. I play for Blaketown Rugby. We played Brunner. We won 6-0. I didn't score any tries but I played really good defence. We went for a swim afterwards in the sea and it was surprisingly warm! It was the semi final and next week we have our final!

Music This term

This week we did music with Miss Hines. We were learning beats like crochet, minim etc. This is my slide.

Cricket Tournament

This week we had our cricket tournament. We played Paroa in the opening round. I got 2 wickets in the game. We were chasing 35. LeBron and I opened and we got 41 not out. We got subbed off so other people can have a go. We moved onto the final vs St Pats. We got 60 something, LeBron and I opened again. Things went wrong. I was bowled out first ball. The score 0 for 1. Something you don't want! We ended up losing by 20 something runs. I really enjoyed the tournament, its a shame I can't go back next year.

Maths

This week we were looking into quadrilaterals. This is my Google Drawing of shapes chart.

Cricket

This week I got into the Grey Main Cricket team to play on Monday at Arthur Fong Park. If we win the tournament we play Buller to see if we go to another national competition. There are 10 players going. I am the opening batter!