My Own Symbol/Tattoo

Lately in extension, we've been learning about symbolism, meanings, and the Samoan Tatau or as some people know it as the Pe'a. After researching and learning a lot about symbolism etc we were then given a mini project, to create/design our own tattoo's. One would symbolise any one part of our culture or heritage and the other had to represent ourselves. 

ME:

As you can see I've drawn five heads, representing Mark ( my dad), Mena (my mum), Kane and Caleb (my two older brothers), and last but not least me. The reason on why I've drawn them is because to me family is everything, it means the world to me, and it's something that is very close to my heart.

Then above my family I've drawn 2 kilikiti (cricket) bats that are meant to represent my Grandfather, Falana’ipupu Sola Mefiposeta Maea Tele'a. I chose to use the Kilikiti bats as a symbol for my grandfather because Samoan Cricket was his passion, coming in 2nd equal with Church and always having family 1st. It wasn't something that he enjoyed on his own, he'd always get the whole family involved, making my brothers and cousins learn the proper way on how to make a kilikiti bat. And the reason I put them above my family because the bats are meant to be protecting our family like a shield, constantly watching over us.

MY CULTURE:

First of all as you can see I've drawn an Island, which is meant to represent the wonderful Islands of Samoa. Mainly because I'm 3/4 samoan, from both my Mum and Dad.

Then I've drawn the Irish Clover or as most people know it as, a Shamrock. Its meant to represent my Irish side,from my Mum's dad whom was born and grew up in Dublin, Ireland. Sadly I’ve never really acknowledged being part Irish, mostly because I grew up with only 1 grandfather who was part Samoan, German. After realising and finding out a lot more about my culture I now that I should be proud of being Samoan and Irish because it’s who I am.

CONCLUSION:

In conclusion I’ve learnt that before getting a tattoo it’s something to really think about, because it’s permanent, and its something you don’t want to jump to conclusions because it maybe something you’ll regret. I’ve also learnt that not all people get tattoos for cosmetic reasons, they mainly get them to either have a constant reminder of something or someone that’s very close to their heart.

The Samoan Pe'a - Mr.Tele'a

Lately in extension, we've been learning about symbols, the meanings behind tattoo's, and the Samoan Tatau or as most people know it as the Pe'a. While we were learning about symbolism and the Samoan Tatau, I realised that most tattoos aren't just for cosmetic reasons. Most are to have a constant reminder of a loved one.

After researching and finding out on what a Tatau is we were then lucky enough to have Mr.Tele'a come in and show us his very own. We asked him several questions relating to his Pe'a. He explained what the Pe'a meant to him, how unbearable the pain was, the meaning behind it, and how long it took to complete. 

During his long and painful process Mr.Tele'a said that his parents took a big part of this. He explained that when he considered getting the Tatau his parents were very proud. He also said that the reason on why he got his Pe'a was because his older brother asked him to be his So'a (partner), and because he had already been thinking about it that made up his mind.

 One of the parts in the Pe'a that we had a look at was The Va'a. It's a 20 - 30cm black strip across the back of the body ending near the front of the armpits with two sharp arrow heads. The two long black strips are meant to represent family, and the sharp arrow heads representing protection. 

We were then given a mini project, to create/design our own tattoo's. One would symbolise any one part of our culture or heritage and the other had to represent ourselves. Right now, I'm currently designing my tattoo's and finding out a little bit more on what designs I can incorporate into my design. 

Camp Marsden

 About two weeks ago the year 8’s went to Marsden Bay Christian Camp. We had 4 days of amazing fun but we all knew it would eventually have to come to an end. Over the days we spent at Camp we were spoiled with lots of activities such as Volleyball, Archery, the flying fox, the water slide, kayaking, fire pit cooking challenge, Frisbee golf, Waiwera, and last but not least the confidences course.

Overall I mostly enjoyed everything at camp, but the best parts would probably have to be hanging out with my friends and doing things with the whole of the year 8’s. Everything at camp was enjoyable because basically all of the activities were in groups.

The least favorite day of mine was probably day 1. After a long drive from Auckland we finally arrived at Langs beach where we would go for a nice walk that Ms. Squires kindly planned. Unfortunately to due to the weather that didn’t happened, the track was very slippery, causing a lot of slips and tumbles. But in the end it was quite fun.

Tangled Pattern

Coming together, to make a tangled art was our first task that was given. The whole idea of making this piece of art was to get Whanau Panuba (classes 1 & 5) to collaborate and work together as a team. This tangled art was split into separate pieces. Everyone was given their own piece of the puzzle, to design, color and complete.

A tangled pattern is 62 separate pieces of paper that are woven together. Each piece with a different design, with its own meaning. It's repeatedly woven under over under over. Its a piece of artwork that has no beginning and no end, kind of like a circle.

Creating your art piece first starts out with planning. Before you decide on what you are going to create, you must research. To me planning was one of the main steps that most definitely wasn’t rushed.

Once you've done a bit of research and made a final decision on your design, draw your pattern onto a draft paper. When you're happy with your draft copy,  do the same but  onto your final piece of paper. A good thing to keep in mind is different/unique patterns look better, but are much more harder to draw, so sometimes it’s good to keep it simple.

And finally the fun part! When it comes to coloring make sure to use nice bold colors that stand out, it makes a big difference. Also outlining your patterns before filling them in make it much more easier.

After filling your patterns in with colors, make sure to label each piece so when it comes to putting everything together you know where each pattern goes. Finally after all that hard work its now time to put everything together.

My Avatar

In our classroom ( Whanau Panuba, Classes 1 & 5) have a self management levelling board. On our board we have to choose between 3 levels, depending on how well we're able to manage ourselves and stay on task. Level 1 - I need help managing myself. Level 2 - I'm able to manage myself but can get off task and Level 3 - I am able to manage myself inside and outside the classroom.

We not only had to recreate our avatar but we also had to incorporate our house colour in some way. As yu can obviously see I'm in Taki-Timu. I've leveled myself at level 3, because I know I'm able to stay on task without the teacher reminding me, and I'm able to work efficiently with anyone. 

Term 4 Day 1

Although I started term 4 off a little late, so far so good, As I walked into my class, to me it was totally different. It seemed like everything had changed, yet again. After finding out that Class 1 and Class 5 had merged to make one big class, I realized that we no longer would have just 2 but 3 teachers. 

This big change is not only a good way to start off the term but is also a good way to end a good year. Hopefully everyone adapt to this big change and is able to get along. Fingers crossed this term turns out as planned.                          

Storyline Festival

Last week, on Thursday the Year 6, 7 & 8 extension group went to the Storyline's festival which was pretty awesome. Out of all four authors I really enjoyed listening to Paula Green and Juliette Mclver. 

 I liked listening to these two authors because they interacted with the audience well. The way Juliette presented her stories were really funny, interesting, and creative. Paula Green was more of the bubbly type, she liked to rhyme a lot in her stories, she was more out there. 

If I were to share my story's with other kids I'd present it to them in a song or either act it out. Mostly because kids like music, and that's what I mostly enjoyed at last years Storyline Festival. I'd also really interact, and get the audience involved. 

These two authors really did inspire me not only to have my own style but to also explore and take all opportunity's I get. 

Last year at the Storyline's Festival I think it was more enjoyable because the authors were more interesting because they all presented in a different way. They all had there own style. A big thanks to all four authors, I'm sure everyone really enjoyed listening to your stories, keep doing what your doing!

Storyline Tours

This week on Thursday the Year 5 to year 8 students from Pt.England School are traveling to the Manukau Vodafone Events Centre for the Auckland Story-line's Tour. The authors will be talking about their experiences and telling us the story's they have to tell.

If not many of you know Paula Green, she is an New Zealand author who lives in West Auckland. Her style of writing is poetry, and always writes about animals, the weather and the seasons.

Catherine Mayo or mostly known as Cath Mayo was born in a Catholic Maternity hospital, Auckland. She not only is an author and a Violin maker but is also a Musician, and is in a band called Gentle Annie.

Jill MacGregor  lives in the Kapati Coast, and spent two years living in Tonga as a VSA. Most of her books are Pacific non-fiction stories. She has written most of her books on true events that she experienced.

Juliette Malcavier is a children's author who always loved writing as a child. She grew up in Wellington and went to Victoria University where see got a linguistics degree and then a diploma on teaching English. Jill always wanted to write a children's novel and once she finally did she thought it was so fun she thought she could actually have a shot at it.

Three-Sided Football

During the past few weeks in class for inquiry we were given't the task to research a unique sport that no one had ever heard of and present it to the class. Gloria and I researched a sport called Three-Sided Football. We decided to make a movie explaining the rules. The movie had to also teach/explain to others the sport so that they could go off and also teach others. We worked with some other kids in our class to produce this. Hopefully you like it and enjoy!

Mascot Design For Commonwealth Games

In class for literacy our task was to create our own mascot. The idea of it all was for us to create/design a Mascot that showed NZ icons or represented New Zealand.

The idea and concept of my design was to incorporate the Maori culture in some way. The reason why I decided to draw a Maori Tiki is because its a taonga to Maori’s. I also drew a New Zealand flag to represent us New Zealanders. I decided to name my mascot Whetu which when is translated into English, means star. The reason why I named my mascot Whetu (stars) was because when New Zealand was discovered the pioneers used the stars to navigate them to this beautiful country.

Astria Countdown To Impact

Earlier on today Lisia and I completed Astria: Countdown To Impact. We saved the world by using Solar Sail, which are two mirrors that reflect the sun onto the asteroid, which would cause it to explode).

Today's session was much easier because most of our codes were unlocked, so all we basically had to do was go to the council and build the ship. I didn't really find anything hard today mostly because I I knew what to expect.

Overall I really enjoyed playing Astria: Countdown to Impact. It kind of helped me learn new vocabulary and helped me a bit with my reading. This game was really good because we not only had fun but we also learnt at least one or to things. 

Life Ed - Harold!

During the past few weeks Team 5, have had Life Education Sessions with Lynn and Harold to get a better understanding of drugs & alcohol, and how they can effect not only you but the people around you. We were then given the task to write a effective paragraph about what we've recently learn here is what I've found out. 

Marijuana ( or known as pot, weed, tinnies & herb) is the most common and well known drug because it's cheap compared to other drugs and how easy it is to get a hold of. Because of how cheap it is and how easy it is to access it mostly attracts teenagers. 

When you put drugs into your system, it effects the way your neurons (brain cells) work/functions. This leads to change of attitude and appearance. Most people take drugs, either because their hanging with the wrong crowd or just trying to fit in and feel cool. For me people who take drugs use it as an escape, a way to get out of reality and into their world. Most drug victims are depressed or lonely. Others are pressured and pushed into the web of addiction.

Astria Countdown To Impact - Steven

Extension we played a game called Astria Countdown To Impact. We are the first group of kids to test out this game,and so far so good. My partner was Lisia, and I've got to say it wasn't really as hard as I actually thought it would be. 

Something I  found difficult of today's session was understanding the information/ text. It was also hard because while your trying to save the planet, theres also a timeline, so every minute counts! 

The key area's Lisia and I mastered today were probably the first 2 rooms Sola Sail, Kinect Impact. Something else that I found really easy was probably locating the clues to unlock the 3 symboled code. So far we've completed the first 2 rooms are are on 75% in the control centre. 

Right now I feel like were really on track because were close to saving the planet. We basically have to unlock the 3 coded symbol then well be moving on to the next bit of the game. Something that I'll definitely remember next time is to make sure I read through the text properly. 

Commonwealth Athlete

During the Commonwealth games I have chosen to follow Gemma Flynn throughout her journey of the commonwealth games. Born in Tauranga, New Zealand 1990 May 2nd Gemma grew up being the youngest and only child of Michelle and Rob Flynn.

In the 2014 commonwealth games Gemma will be competing in the Women's - Hockey Team. This years games will only be Gemmas second time competing in the commonwealth games. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics her team came 12th in the women's - hockey, and 4th in the 2012 Olympics. She has also won Gold, in the 2009 Womens Hockey Challenge competition which was held in Cape Town, South Africa. Hopefully this year Gemma and her team make us New Zealanders Proud!

Class 1 - Smart Footprint

Class 1 - Smart Foot-Print from Team 5 PES on Vimeo.

Here is a movie Gloria, Lisia, Tyla, Kaycee and I've created all about Smart-Footprint. We have rewritten the lyrics for We Can't Stop by Miley Cyrus so that it would match our theme Smart Foot-Print.  Hopefully you enjoy it and always make sure you leave a smart-footprint.

Smart Footprint

Here are some tips on how to be cyber smart and how to leave a smart footprint.
"Your future lies before like a fall of driven snow, be carefully where you step, cause every step will show".

1. You never know when someones watching
2. Be-careful what you search online
3. Be original, and always create your own piece of awesomeness!
4. If it's not kind keep it in your mind!

The Lone Survivor

Here is my writing sample that I've created in 40 minutes. Hopefully you enjoy reading it! I was unable to finish it but I will make sure to write part 2! PART 2 COMING SOON!!

“Nia Everdeen please come to the stage”. As she called my name my heart sank, I didn't know if I’d make it out alive. One by one kids were called to the stage as if we were chosen, each  lining up as if we were going to get executed. After the roll call had ended we were all able to say one last goodbye to our family’s then head back to the train. While  I was saying goodbye to my mother she whispered in my ear “ I’ll find you, we all will”.

Arriving at the train we all set up and prepared ourselves for who knows what! In the morning the train suddenly stopped. “ Laura’s orders, everyone get of the train! NOW!” said one of the tall security guard’s. Confused and scared everyone quickly hopped off the train, and there in-front of us was this huge tall black building, with a logo on it titled  “Deathly Hallows”. “ Well the name explains it!” said one the the girls.

After everyone had finished setting up their rooms everyone was then called down to a secret hideaway room.  Out of nowhere a lady dressed in red suddenly appeared. “ Hi my name is Laura, I’m your trainer. You will eat, sleep,train together when I tell you and obey my orders. Today we start training, each and everyone of you have an ability that’s why you were  specifically chosen, your parents were just hiding it from you.

Each and every day 6:00am was the wake up call, get ready and have breakfast but today was different. As I was heading to the training room I felt as if I was being followed. So I thought that I would check up on the other girls and boys. The rooms were empty, but there were drips of blood leading to the secret hideaway.

Just as I was about to walk into the room I saw dead bodies everywhere, everyone I trained with was dead. I was the lone survivor. As I was walking away I suddenly heard Laura’s voice. “Come here my darling”. Slowly turning around I saw Laura standing there with her hand behind her back, and blood dripping from her mouth. 
TO BE CONTINUED>>>>

The Present Podcast

Jorja And Gloria - The Present Podcast from Team 5 PES on Vimeo.
Here is a podcast we've created, about the book "The Present", written by Andrea Torrey Balsara. Hopefully you enjoy listening and make sure to get the book at your local library to see what finds out in the end! Enjoy!!

Scientific Method

Here is a presentation I've created, showing the Scientific Method. Step by step I guide you through the process of it all!! Enjoy and don't forget to leave a comment.

School Girls Abducted

On April 15th over 300 school girls were announced missing by president Good-luck Jonathon. Over six weeks the government and military have been searching for them but had no luck. 57 girls were able to escape and return to their family's, but 276 still remain missing.

Devastating news has come in that a couple of the girls were thrown in a bush, and that 2 may have died by a snake bite. They were also forced to change from Christian to Islamic. But there is hope for them, the military located them, but don't want to go into action yet, encase Boko Haram and his team suspect something and hurt the girls. Until they come up with a plan a very good one the girls will still remain missing.

I think putting this out there and including the media is making a huge difference because a lot more people are finding out about and are more aware of the situation now, but nobody is doing anything about it besides saying #BringBackOurGirls which won’t help find the girls anytime soon. It's nice to see how many people care for those girls, hopefully they do something about it and find them as soon as possible. #BringBackOurGirls