Congratulations Neave !

 

Cultural Significance T3 LCS 2021

For this weeks distance learning we are learning about Cultural Significance. We learned about the Maori culture and had to think if we thought Kapa Haka was good for us, I think that it is. We had to also do a traffic light activity and choose 2 creates to do.

Do you think Kapa Haka is good for us?

 Is Kapa Haka Good For You?

Hmmm.. What culture am I? What did they do in the old days? Should I be in Kapa Haka? Do you ever have some hmm’s and REALLY want to find out what culture you are? I sure do, but this isn’t about me, it's about you! If you're STILL wondering if you want to join Kapa Haka well, keep reading this piece because here are the benefits and some of the reasons about why YOU should join Kapa Haka.

Firstly, it’s not just Maori students who benefit from Kapa Haka. Potentially all New Zealand children can benefit because Kapa Haka provides a pipe to learn to appreciate the unique and amazing role of Maori for shaping our NZ land and identity. Through Kapa Haka in schools, non-Maori children can learn new words and phrases, while developing appreciation for everyone for being them and being unique. Kapa Haka has an open door for Maori and non-Maori students so that they can access the Maori world and be connected learners. The best reason yet is that kids don’t need to have the best ever singing voice because the group carries them on. Nor do they need to be superbly coordinated while dancing, there is a place for EVERYONE and the most important thing is that there's a place for you, yes, you!

Secondly, doing Kapa Haka gives the students confidence because of performing. Their confidence becomes stronger and SOOO many students feel that they are so much more powerful and they feel ready to take on anything life throws at them! This is great because if the student keeps doing Kapa Haka they will most likely grow strongly and be able to stand up for themselves. Confidence is really important as well, maybe when they're older they will have to say something in front of a lot of people or maybe even just at the same age that they are now, I bet you $10 that getting that confidence and doing Kapa Haka will definitely come in handy during their life. Kapa Haka also provides a strong and powerful environment, it's disciplined and also provides positivity. They don’t bring each other down, no, they don’t, they bring each other up which makes students feel AMAZING for who they are.

Lastly, Kapa Haka is important, especially to New Zealand because it shows culture and shares who we are, what we do, how we got here ETC. Kapa Haka is unique to Aotearoa and it's a very special global identifier, as no other nation on earth has a form of performance like Kapa Haka does. Kapa Haka ties Aotearoa and its culture together with its rich heritage that is threatened to be forgotten if not preserved, studied or practiced. It is an art form and holds great cultural significance to New Zealand, it is the sole embodiment of what is to be Maori and the life that is led by the people.

As you can see, Kapa Haka is AWESOME for learning and happiness. It is for everyone and anyone who wants to know more about what culture they are, How they got here and if they are ready to take on the world.

Why I think Uniforms Are Bad

                   Why I Think Uniforms Are Bad

Hmm.. Are uniforms bad? Are we making the wrong decision to be wearing uniforms EVERY week day? Do you EVER wonder if uniforms are good or bad in our world? Well here we are, here YOU are, to find out whether uniforms are good or bad.

Firstly, I know, I know, uniforms make the school look very tidy and neat, but… What do the kids think of it? The kids ARE the people that are actually wearing the uniforms, don’t you think they should have been at least part of the discussion whether we should have them or not. Many kids have been and are complaining that their uniforms are too itchy, or too tight, or it makes them feel uncomfortable. Many kids HATE uniforms because of many different reasons like the ones I just said before. Kids don’t get to spread identity, individuality, self expression and those are just some of them that can’t be seen because of uniforms. Since everyone is wearing the same clothes and all look the same, kids and even adults can't see through each other to know who that person REALLY is and what they are REALLY like. It’s so bland and drab because it seems like you're pretty much just looking in a mirror. People EXPRESS themselves through THEIR choice of clothing.

Secondly, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE PRICES!! So many schools have their uniforms selling for more than $100, and you also have to buy new sizes and new uniforms because your kid might lose a jacket, or their jumper. Lots of people can’t afford to get their child a uniform because they don’t have the money, and you know how strict schools are with uniforms. So some people don’t even get to go to school JUST because the uniforms are too expensive. There are families that would much rather have their kid wearing hand-me-down clothes or just clothes they already have at home. So if you're a principal, a teacher or basically ANYONE, if your school is gonna have a uniform, please tone down the prices so more people can go to school and parents don’t have to keep buying one thing that is SUPER expensive.

Lastly, Many, if not all children don’t like rules or being told what to do and they tend to rebel against things that they don’t like or don’t want to do. Students could feel stifled because of having to wear uniforms and they might end up wanting to rebel against this in any way they can. Some children get so irritated and annoyed at their uniforms that they start to make any alterations they can to make it more their style to make them feel more comfortable and special, maybe even to be or feel different to everybody else that goes to their school. Many people say that wearing uniforms stops or helps create less or even no bad behavior, but that's not true, as I said before kids make alterations to their uniform to feel more special, but they also do bad behavior because that helps them feel different to all the other kids as well.

These are just some of the reasons why people and I think that uniforms are bad. What do you think? What is your opinion? What do you think about these reasons? This has been a debate for a while and I don't think it will end anytime soon.

My Family Graph

 For our distance learning part of the Extra Learning slides was to make a graph about something that includes our family. I chose to do favorite colors! I had to go around the house ask my family what their favorite color was and had to write down the data to turn it into a graph. Here's the results! (There was also Yellow but no one chose it)

My Family of 5 Graph

Whats your favorite color?

Reading W4 T3

 For this weeks reading we are learning if playing video games is good or bad for us. We had to create posters and web profiles about our favourite characters in different video games we like playing. We also had to write our opinions about video games on Jamboard.

What do you think about video games?

STEAM Balance Art

 Today was our last day at Ako Whanau Jain's area. We had to learn about different artist and create our own peice of art! We had to pick an artist and get inspired by their piece of art. My artist was Dick Frizzell and the art I chose was Mickey Mouse as a Tiki, instead of Mickey I did donald duck.

EVALUATE: What worked well during the challenge? What challenges did you face? In the future how would you improve on your design?

I think that the thing that worked well the most during the challenge was the design and style I chose. I really liked it! The hardest thing was choosing the colors and taking risks and hoping that they all worked well together. To improve my design in the future I would have added a bit more Tiki accents and brighter colors.

Heres my drawing!

Reading W3 T3 2021

 For this weeks reading our big question was "What is better, Playing sports or music?" I think that playing sports is better because it keeps you fit and healthy. We had to read a text about the Olympics and take a photo of us pretending to compete in a sport. My favorite part of our reading was making my poster.

What do you think is better? Playing sports or music?

What is better, playing sports or music?

 Which is better, playing sports or music?

Whats better, playing sports or music? We have been set to discuss which we think is better, I strongly believe that playing sports is better than music for the reasons below. 

Did you know playing sport helps your heart grow strongly?Sports teaches some key things you should know in life. This paragraph is about how it teaches you teamwork! Playing sports teaches you how to work in a group or team and how to work with different people. It sharpens your leadership skills and helps us develop things that help in life, like.. respect, patience, how to be apart of a team ETC.

Playing sports or exercising is very important and something you should do everyday. You could go on a walk, or if its rainy do a workout in your house, you could even just have a dance party in your room! If you do at least one of these things or anything else that includes your body moving a day, without a doubt you will end up happier and healthier and hopefully end up having a longer life. Playing sports helps your heart function better, sharpens your memory and you will most likely end up with a less chance of getting a disease,  such as diabetes and we also cant forget how it releases tension and stress which is great for your mental health.

Sports can teach very important life lessons and skills. It can also help with weight control and brings positive energy. It teaches you special qualities that will help achieve your goals and will help when your older and trying to get a job. Some of the qualities are.. resilience, discipline, accountability ETC.

For the reasons above and if you want to stay healthy, have a nice, positive life, exercise everyday. As you should know by now sports helps with SO many things in life, such as valuable lessons and qualities.

Frog Facts Presentation

 For STEAM we went to Whaea Tamzin's area in Kahikatea Hub and we had to make a presentation about frogs. We had to work in groups and create different slides for each and every new idea! We learnt so much facts about frogs and what they do. I really enjoyed finding out about the fun facts!

What was the frog fact you liked the most?

Letter Writing W2 T3

 Mill end,                                                                                                                                         Pahurehure, Papakura,                                                                                                                                     NZ,

3rd August 2021

Jacinda Adern,                                                                                                                                            Tinakori Road,                                                                                                                                    Thorndon

Dear Prime Minister Adern,                                                                                                                              I am writing to you because i would like to inform you on some things we could do to help keep our country safe from Covid 19. I believe these small things could make a HUGE difference.

In my opinion I think that everyone should get a vaccine when its their turn and until then we should all wear masks. I think the we should also cheapen the masks because some people might not be able to afford one. It seems to me that this would help keep everyone safe and we would end up with much less people ending up with Covid 19. 

I believe that people without housing or not much money should get sent out little gift baskets from volunteers. They could have masks, water, food ETC. To get people to know about this cause you could send out an email or even say it on the news when you can. Asking for volunteers will definitely help, I am sure of it! I have no doubt that this will make someones day and help protect these poor lives, it will also take away that risk of even more people getting the Virus.

It is my belief that if we get 10-20 cases we should definitely move up a level if we get to 10, if we get to 20 or higher we should move up at least 2 more levels. People may not like this but I am certain that this will help with so many different things.

As you can see, these are very small things and ideas, but I really do think that these ideas will make a HUGE difference and hopefully Covid 19 will make its way off our earth.

Reading W2 T3 2021

 For this weeks reading we are learning about different issues that are happening around the world! We also were learning about different opinions and how to accept them. My favorite part of this weeks reading was making my DLO about pollution.

What do you think is the biggest issue?