Two days ago, during our usual morning assembly, Mr Bell announced something quite intriguing. “Meet me under the company once morning tea starts”. The morning block seemed slow, many people awaited eagerly for what Mr Bell had to say. The bell rang and we all rushed outside. We sat down under the company, in our house groups. I was in Rimu, blue. Mr Bell started his announcement. The entire school was to participate in a Ki-o-Rahi tournament tomorrow. We were to bring sparer clothes in our house colours, if you didn’t have clothes in your colour, you were allowed to bring our regular PE clothes. The rest of the day went by fairly normally.

Tomorrow had arrived and the list of people who were going to participate was posted prominently on the whiteboard. My class swarmed to look at the list, scanning through the rosters. I was only up to playing one game, against Totara, the yellow house. My game was at 11:40, the second game of the day. During the morning block, we got dressed in our playing clothes. The rest of the morning went by smoothly. Morning tea came. For 20 minutes, nothing really happened, then the first game started. My friends Justin and Jaeden were playing against each other in the first round. After 20 minutes, Kauri, the green house had won. Justin was in Kauri and Jaeden was in Rata, the losing group. As morning teat ended, my game began. I was the only room 8 in my group, which consisted mostly of room 6’s, with the exception of one room 7. I was the biggest in my group, so I volunteered to be the guardian, the one who protected the tupu. The main objective of the other team was to throw the ball, called the ki, to the tupu. I was very big, so I did fairly well as a guardian. In the end, Totara won, but it wasn’t that surprising. Totara had more room 8’s and room 7’s. My one and only game was done, so I was basically inside the class the entire day. I had some fun, but I wish I could’ve done more. At the end of the day, the results were announced under the canopy. Unfortunately, me and a few of my friends were inside the classroom and weren’t there when the scores were announced, but a friend from room 7 told me the scores. Rimu and Rate tied for 3rd, Totara came second and Kauri came first, winning the grand prize of a 500 dollar paper bill from a children’s play set. I was only in one game, so they were barely any pictures of me, but hey, at least I was in a photo, unlike some of my friends. I had a fun time and I would probably do it again, If it wasn’t so tiring. Anyways, here’s a photo of me.I’m the so tiring. Anyways, here’s a photo of me, I’m the one on the right

Dear Prime Minister Jacques Chirac

I hope this letter finds you well.

I am writing this letter to advise you to stop nuclear testing in the Pacific. The risk these tests have on the environment and to human safety are quite severe. The radiation from these tests by now, have affected a multitude of people. The waters have been contaminated and the land has been poisoned. People’s lives have been changed for the worse, and all of it stems from these tests. I am sure you have heard news of anti-nuclear protests coming from New Zealand. These tests have been broadcast to the wider world and it seems a lot of nations are against testing. These protests have no violent intentions, and are purely peaceful. They simply wish for the testing to be brought to an end. So, I humbly ask you to halt all current testing in the Pacific. 

From Geeth Evon Warnakulasuria Fernando

Have you ever contemplated what marvelous creations dwell under the deep blue ocean? To see those wonders would certainly be an impressive feat. Back then, it would be a hassle to be able to witness such creatures. The ocean has always been shrouded in mystery. From quirky fish to bizarre ecosystems, many of the oceans residents could very well end you…  Of course nowadays, we have the equipment to be able to traverse the wild and wacky oceans. Within this new era of scientific exploration, exploring the vast depths of the sea is a piece of cake. The main hurdle isn’t how strong your equipment is, but the extent of your bravery. Luckily as kids, we don’t have to skirt the edges of death to experience the ocean to its fullest. A couple weeks ago, the school invited a program to our school called Blake NZ-VR,  program created by the legendary Sir Peter Blake.

Sir Peter Blake is one of the most revered sailors in the world, having won numerous trophies for his outstanding skill and bravery. After sailing the whole world many times over, he would have overcome many dangerous obstacles. Unfortunately, Sir Peter Blake was killed by pirates in 2001, somewhere near the Amazon River. Even after he died, his legacy still lives within the wonderful program he created, letting kids like me feel the thrill of discovery.

Anyway, my class and I made our way into the library. We were greeted with the sight of many VR headsets lined up on the floor. A man named Thomas told us to sit down behind anyone of the headsets. Naturally, my friends and I sat together. Thomas first explained what Blake NZ-VR was, then he told us to put on the headsets. With the headsets, we were able to view a vast array of different sea life. Dolphins and Stingrays and any type of fish you can think of, all dazzling in the beautiful scenery of the ocean. Vibrant colors and alien-like environments, it was truly a mesmerizing experience. Despite appearances, all these wonderful creatures are in danger. Stuff like overfishing and pollution all threaten the safety of our ocean.

Blake NZ-VR, was definitely a very enjoyable experience, but most importantly, it taught as a lot about our worlds oceans. I had already done this program the previous year, so I wasn’t as surprised by the exotic views, but I learned a lot of new things about the safety of our oceans. I’d rate this program a 10 out of 10.

 

 

This is the decision card we filled out for our Bomb Gone activities. In this card, we are the Navy, deciding whether to go through with Operation Grapple or not.

This week for RE, my class and I looked at different advocates, people who act as the voice of others. I chose Nelson Mandela as my advocate. Other options were Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges and Mother Teresa.  After researching and creating a slide deck about our advocate, we did a hot seat, where students would act as their advocate and would answer questions about said advocate.

 

The clip and clap of hundreds of footsteps violently echo through the metal walls. My heart feels as if it’s beating a thousand times a second, trying desperately to pounce out of my chest and run away to a safer place. “Hurry up”, the commander shouts at the top of his lungs. I could barely see him while wearing this thick mask. It was hard to breathe, not because of the heavy hunk of mask on my face, but the excitement. The anticipation was killing me slowly, Every step of the way, every thump and click reminded me how truly horrific this event is. Despite this, the overwhelming excitement in my body could not be contained. I was fidgety and filled with adrenaline. Each passing second felt like an eternity. This weapon could incinerate millions, yet here I was, pouncing with joy, so eager to take in a view of something most people considered a sin to this world and everyone in it.

I trudged out onto the deck. Faced with the ferocious view of the sea, waves slamming against the ship, I realised the gravity of the situation. What would happen to animals who lived in these waters, and the birds who flew so carefree. The people were right. This was the greatest sin in the world, and I’m going to be experiencing it, taking in the heat, the sounds and the absolute power of the bomb. My mates and I lined up on the deck, we sat down and waited for instruction. Then something horrifying started. “60,59,58,57… The ominous sound of the monotonous counting struck me like a roaring burst of thunder. Weirdly, I felt cold. I couldn’t think of anything but the consequences. What would happen to me, to others. I could no longer hear the crashing of the waves, or smell the salt in the air. All that mattered was the bomb. “28,27,26,25,24… The countdown is close to completion. All that excitement was gone, I was utterly foolish to think this was exciting. “10,9,8,7,6… I felt like throwing up. I was shivering with fear. “5,4,3,2,1 BOMB GONE!!! Now began the 15 second count up. “15,14,13,12,11… My heart pounds on my insides, thrashing violently. I felt nauseous. I desperately fought the urge to run away and cower in terror. “5,4,3,2,1 STAND UP, GOGGLES OFF AND TURN AROUND. I sprang up to my feet, ripping off my goggles and turned my body around faster than I ever have in my entire life.

It took a moment to actually take in the sight. It was exhilarating. The explosion was magnificent. First, a gargantuan hand of silky white smoke rose to reach for the sky. Streaks of flame lathered the hand in tattoos of fiery red and blisteringly hot orange. At the edge of the sky, the hand closed its fist and turned into molten glob of lava. It was dazzling, as if a second sun was birthed out of thin air. The doppelganger star displayed an immense array of vibrant colours, so elegant yet reminiscent of the bizarre sciences that led to this conclusion.  The sun expanded at horrifying speeds, ending in the climactic release of the blood and sweat and tears of the thousands of people who dedicated years to this project. I was stunned, mortified, jaw dropped. There was no single emotion which could describe what I was feeling inside, but the outside was a different story. My skin was torched, I flinched when I touched it. It stung like a million bees, except the bees were charged with a million volts of electricity. It hurt and it wouldn’t stop hurting, even the air, with the slightest graze would boil my skin. It was unbearable, every second felt longer as the heat intensified. My eyes dried up, it felt like a desert. Even blinking was painful. I desperately tried to minimise the pain, but I hesitated to move, all I could do was stand still.

Despite the pain, I noticed something was off. The silence was immeasurable. The nonchalant chirping was gone. The birds, boiled alive, floated eerily in the water. The crackling of the waves, the melodic whistle of the ocean breeze, all gone. All that remained was the flaming dagger which stabbed through the clouds, but even that was completely silent. Then, like gunfire, a sudden boom hit the ship, rocking it back and forth. I ducked down in anguish. What was that? As if it were divine punishment, it forced me to my knees, shackled me to the floor. A distant ring slowly became stronger and stronger. I cried my lungs out, but I couldn’t hear it, my own voice. Even in my mind, the voice that had stood by my side, the  voice that comforted me when others couldn’t, had vanished. Now, my mind was flooded with this ghastly ringing. The waves slammed into the boat, the oceans protested. We had poisoned these waters for years to come, and now, it sought to bring down its mighty power on us. This act of retribution was right and just, each and everyone one of us deserved punishment. We helped to explode this bomb, and now, we suffer the consequences.

The ringing wouldn’t stop, it kept ringing louder and louder. Though it was futile to even attempt, I screamed at the top of my lungs. What was I doing? No one would be able to save me, besides, what reason did they have? My head vibrated, It felt like my skull was going to burst open any moment. I tried to cover my ears, but it burned like hell. The air reeked of burnt metal and toxic gases. I scrambled up to my feet, every move I made had some painful way of lashing back. I scanned the area. What I saw shocked me to my very core. The people around me, those who I had learned to respect, those who I treated like family, flailing aimlessly on the ground. Like pathetic creatures, newborns who have never experienced true pain before, having just taken the most potent, and excruciating, form of pure destruction. I could feel how desperate their screams were, despite not being able to hear. A moment passed and things have only been amplified. The flames, growing more unbearable by the second. The mountain of smoke at the far horizon, expanding without any intention of stopping. It was hard to think with the constant ringing and constant pain. But somehow, I calmed down.

My body was in shambles, my brain tortured and forever traumatised, yet I was able to calm down. After all the horror I had witnessed, the rational part of my brain, well, what was left of it, made one final decision. I was tired, all I could think about right now is how good it would be to take a nice, long nap.  I’ve always envied people who could sleep long hours. When you’re in the navy, especially in this new era of scientific prowess, even just one relaxing nap is a rare commodity. You work long strenuous hours, and at the end of the day, you get to sleep in a tiny, overpacked room with 8 other guys. All the pain, suffering. The tedious work I’ve done in past  months has made me… tired. So, for possibly the last time, I close my eyes. The pitch black darkness could finally bring me peace, probably. I closed my eyelids and hoped for the best. Somehow, I still see the flames, the flames I helped to create. That’s weird, I thought to myself. I tried closing my eyes again, and then again, and again. But the flames lingered in my vision, teasing me. What was happening? I looked around, but there was nothing but flames. This must be a dream, It must all be a dream. I looked at my hands, but they weren’t there… Wait, Is that bone? It certainly looked like it. It’s as if the flesh was ripped off. It was mortifying. I closed my eyes but nothing happened. I looked down, it was all bone. I must be dreaming, stuff like this couldn’t happen in real life. This is all a fantasy, some cruel prank my brain has decided to play on me. Why was this happening? Haven’t I suffered enough? The burning, the ear shattering sounds. Haven’t I been punished enough?  I just want to sleep, to sleep and to never wake up. This can’t be real, this can’t be happening. It’s not like I helped that much, I’m just an average sailor. I don’t deserve this right?… right?

 

How can I be an advocate kai korero like Jesus?

To be an advocate like Jesus, I know I must be able to look out for the people who are struggling and don’t have the same opportunities as me. I will show compassion and respect to those around me and  provide support in my own way. I have to be able to listen to the voices of these people and to show concern for their problems. I need to be fair to enable them to have the opportunities needed to succeed, and to live a happy and fulfilled life.

Dear T

Hey, it’s Jack

Last night was wild, remember when you drank an entire bottle of soda last night. You must’ve woken up the neighbors with a burp that loud. Anyways, I’ve noticed that you haven’t been as open to me as before. You’ve been like this for a couple months now. I was so worried when you came to class with bruises on your face. I’ve heard that you’re going through a rough time at home. So I was just wondering if you wanted to hang out sometime, you know, to clear your head. Maybe we could check out that new ice cream shop. If you don’t want to come, that’s okay, but I would like to give you some advice. I’ve always believed that doing stuff you enjoy is the best way to blow off steam. You could even find something new to do. Whenever I’m stressed, I find that playing video games helps me to calm down. Instead of focusing on the stuff that makes you unhappy, push those thoughts aside and focus on the stuff that makes you happy. If it gets rough at home, you’re welcome to crash at my place any time. Just know that I’ll always be there for you. Although, if you do crash at my place, don’t bring any beers, we’re only twelve. Anyways, I hope things get better at home, bye.

From your Dear friend, Jack

Last Friday, My class and I began our final Epro8 project. Building a playground. We first had to decide what equipment we were going to make. We planned to make a swing, seesaw, slide and merry-go-round. Since it would be quite a hefty task, each group could now use two Epro8 boxes. Our group of four split into twos, each duo would work on a piece of equipment. Me and one of my friends worked on the merry-go-round while the other two worked on the swing,

We decided to take inspiration from a real park to design the merry-go-round. Of course, we weren’t master engineers so the final product was very chunky and seemed to always malfunction in some way or another. We started with the turning mechanism. The merry-go-round was to be a manual machine, we didn’t have the necessary materials to go for automation. We first had to make it turn, for this we used axles. From there we could build the rest of the merry-go-round, but it first needed a strong base. The base, once finished, was extremely rudimentary. It was pretty much a bundle of short, stubby legs. Despite it being very short and alarmingly unstable, it did its job…most of the time.

Occasionally, I glanced at what my other teammates were doing. Their job was going much smoother than ours. The swing was pretty basic, a seat attached with axles to the main body. After a quick water break, My friend and I resumed building. The merry-go-round we had in mind wasn’t exactly what we had planned. We would have never had enough materials to make an actual merry-go-round. What we were building was more of a single wide seat that spun rapidly. We began building the super wide seat which would hold our playground tester.

 

This is him ( I know, the picture is pretty low quality)

This seat would turn out to be the most complicated thing in the entire project. We struggled a lot and had to cut corners more than a few times. Surprisingly, we were lacking in materials even with two whole boxes of equipment. Due to this, we had a very hard time building the seat. For some reason, we decided to make the seat super wide. It didn’t have to be, we just did. We learned this was a terrible mistake the hard way, when we ran out of long bars. In the end, we built everything with extended medium bars. Once finished, we had our playground tester give it a spin. Unsurprisingly, it failed after a few seconds of spinning.

My other teammates finished way earlier, and had already built the slide and made good progress in the seesaw. We were able to finish up the entire project a couple minutes later. Before we shared our wonderful creations with the class, our tester had some business to attend to.

The swing worked fine, although the seat was abnormally small. The slide went fine, but it could’ve been steeper. Finally, the see saw was miniature compared to the other builds. We had essentially run out of any building materials, but we managed to scrape by. Now it was time to present to the class. The first group had built a seesaw, swing and merry-go-round. Their seesaw was much larger and mechanical than ours, and their swing had two big seats. The merry-go-round they had built was much smaller and less complicated than ours.

My group was up next. During the presentation, Mrs George took pictures for us to use in our blogs. To help us present to the class, we had our playground tester use some of the equipment. It took us about three tries to do the presentation, mostly because our tester had difficulty fitting in the swing. The next group had compacted all their builds in one mega-build. I can’t quite remember what builds they had, but I do know they had a slide and a flying fox.

With the presentation finished, we started the very long, very mundane disassembling process. It was the last time we would ever be disassembling, so the mood was pretty glum. The lights were off, no one was talking. The process as a whole was monotonous and uncomfortably painful. We put everything back and gave the boxes to room 7 for them to use.

I’d rate the experience a solid 8/10. I could definitely see myself wanting to do it again.