Thursday 26 May 2016

My Short Story

For this piece of writing I have been focusing on my vocabulary and punctuation. I have been learning to use a range of precise vocabulary to communicate meaning and use all basic punctuation independently and attempt more complex punctuation E.g. semicolons, colons and parentheses.

The pieces of my writing that are highlighted green, represents where I have shown my punctuation and vocabulary goal.
                                       Here is my story:

Long ago, there lived a yoga in a humongous castle known as the Grand Cascade. He was friendly and very caring to others. But others didn't think so. 200 years ago, the yoga got locked up in a rusty old dungeon. The guards in shiny armor would hover in front of the dungeon giving the yoga very unpleasant company. All he could snack on was mouldy cheese of the dirty, stone ground and muddy grass if he wished. No one would find him and would be a miserable place to be.

The dungeon was buried deep down under the castle with slippery staircases to stop the visitors from above. As they tumble down, step by step, stretchy vines would twine them up into the dirty ceiling, sucked inside with no way out suffering minute by minute. Although, the stretchy vines will recognize the guards and will not attack them in any way.

Later in the afternoon, while the yoga was still locked up beneath the castle, the guards will have their lunch, and will let the yoga find his own in the slimy dungeon, full of mould. Suddenly, a  small visitor passed by the castle. She knocked reasonably hard onto the wooden door with comfort.

“I, am seeking for, a YOGA!” Exclaimed the visitor with ANGER.

“We don’t have any yogas.” answered one of the guards.” Now would you excuse me, I’ve got better things to do.

The guards slammed the door closed and headed back into the Grand Cascade. Then, they ran quickly down stairs and took the secret elevator deep down into the dungeon, where the yoga was locked up. But why did he get locked up in the first place? Well, long ago there was a legend called THE YOGA WHO KILLED CHILDREN. Many adults BELIEVED in that legend and will do whatever they can do to keep their child safe. They say, that the yoga would demolish anything that was in their path and gobble it all up like never before. But really, they NEVER do that. And I mean NEVER.

So, Queen Amanda sent out the guards to CAPTURE the yoga and go after it to protect the world. Everyone thought, he was mean, and nasty. He was the only yoga around. Yogas can live very long and never grow old.

So in the present now, the NASTY, or kind, yoga has been locked up at the famous, Grand Cascade. Luckily, an 8 year old girl, found out about the NICE yoga and has decided to free him out, on her own. She stumbled across lakes and rocks, and deserts and deserts to get to Grand Cascade. After all that, she was really proud of herself. She dug her way in for hours and hours to reach the bottom of the Grand Cascade.

"Out you go" whispered the little girl with excitement.
"Thanks" replied the yoga. "All I wanted was a family" whispered the yoga.

Once they're back up, this little girl has planned something VERY special." We are family," she said " together." " thanks" replied the yoga.

That little girl, was actually very poor as well. She has done something completely new and would consider that, a random act of KINDNESS." All we could hope for, is to not get captured again." Mumbled the yoga.

Wednesday 25 May 2016

Must Do Excellence #5

At morning tea, me, Alex, Wariesha, Honor, Zainab and Alicia played a game of netball. The teams were year 8's vs year 7's. I wasn't sure with that, but I still went with it. It turned out to be really fun. We chose if we wanted to start or not and the year 8's chose what post they'd want. The year 8's won the game, but we were good losers.

I showed communication by communicating to my teammates to get the ball.

I was showing integrity by being fair and honest about our scores and not making a fuss when we lost.

PALS Excellence #5

On Wednesday, at lunch, me, Alex and Wariesha had our PALS duty. We played a game of soccer with the juniors and it was one of the most SUCCESSFUL PALS duty ever. We had ALOT of kids join our activity. At the end, we ran out of pozis because there were a lot of people to give them to. They listened and we got on with a lot of the game. We had them in bibs and non bibs to tell the two teams apart. They were really nice to work with and were good winners and losers. Everyone was behaving and there were no issues with teams.

I was being self aware by not interrupting the game and making sure other people don't interfere with our activity.

I was showing integrity by making sure every one has a fair turn with the ball and making sure teams were even positively.

Monday 23 May 2016

Librarian Excellence #5

On Monday, at lunchtime, I went into the library to do my job. I started off by returning people's books and putting them away. There was a lot of books to put away, but we got the job done. I also issued the books for other people and helping them find books that they need. We wondered around the library looking at some people if they're sensible. A lot of them were sensible. The library was very nice to be in and not as noisy as well.

I was questioning by asking questions if I'm not sure. I got a lot answered.

I was showing integrity by making sure everyone has a fair time at the library and asking politely when the library was beginning to close.

Wednesday 18 May 2016

PALS Excellence #4

At lunch me Wariesha and Alex had junior PALS on. We did some relays and running races with the juniors and they loved it. We had a lot of juniors that want to play. There were girls and boys who participated in our activity. We started with three teams of three for relays and also a boys vs girls relay. We joined in because the girls had less of them and the boys are pretty fast they say. But the first thing we did was running races with the boys. That was when we didn't have that much people. After that a lot of people decided to come to our activity.

I was showing communication by communicating with the juniors respectfully and explaining the rules carefully so they know what to do.

I was showing integrity by making sure everything is fair and being honest about the winner. That didn't make a fuss so I think I covered that. 

Must Do Excellence #4

Today at lunch(Monday), I had basketball training. We played a game of basketball and worked on some skills. One of the skills were to always look up when dribbling the ball. We played as the Monday team because we have basketball games on Monday after school. We vs the Friday team and I'm pretty sure they won.

I was showing collaboration by communicating with others the get the ball.

I demonstrated integrity by playing fair and agreeing on game rules.

Friday 13 May 2016

PALS Excellence #3

On Wednesday, at lunchtime, Me, Alex and Wariesha set up a game of octopus for the kauri and kakano. We couldn't use the field because turbo touch was on. We went by the middle playground to start our game. Quite a few people came around because they remembered from the PALS survey to come along today. They were having lots of fun with no arguing so it was a success!

I was being self aware by being aware of the space we had and other things going on.

I was being resilient by not making a fuss when we didn't have much space.
 

Monday 9 May 2016

Must Do Excellence #3

After lunch, we had our whole school assembly. We started with our school waiata. After that, Mrs Trotter handed out the CARE certificates, Principles Awards, Bucketfillers and leadership badges. I got my Merit badge on stage at assembly. After a while, Mr Forman talked to us about ANZAC DAY. He asked us some questions about ANZAC DAY on a slide show. There were 3 questions but I only got 2 right. We had a 1 minute silence rememberence, followed by the National Anthem.

I was empathising the soldiers feelings how it would be like how they fought and died for New Zealand.


I was an active thinker by not talking when others are talking and focusing on the presentation.

Librarian Excellence #4

On Monday 9th May, My librarian Duty was on. I am working on my own to take care of the library on Mondays. I knew I had to work harder, I am now on my own. I showed that I could be responsible taking care of the school library. First things first, put the books away. I had a little help from my mentor.
I remembered how to put the junior fictions books back. It goes differently than the other books. I also had a chance to issue and return books. There wasn't quite a lot though. It seemed fine, handling the library myself. It's not too complicated.

I was questioning when something didn't work. First I had a little try myself, then, seaked help from an expert.

I didn't give up even if I had to do it on my own. I knew I could do it. ( resilience )

Wednesday 4 May 2016

PALS Excellence #2

On Wednesday 4 May, I had PALS duty. At morning tea, Mr Muller changed our PALS groups. I am now with Alex and Wariesha. At lunch, we played with hula hoops with the kakano. And they loved it.
I joined in because they wanted to play with me. I was pretty happy about the amount if juniors who participated in our PALS activity. I gave out some pozis at the end to the people who played fairly. They were pretty amazed with the tricks I showed them. ( they are quite simple )

I was being self aware and aware of others because I moved to a different place to practise my stuff. And I was being aware of others by making sure I don't hit anyone else with the hula hoop.

I was showing integrity by making sure everyone has a fair turn with the hoop and making sure we don't cause any problems.

Monday 2 May 2016

Librarian Excellence #3

At lunch I had my first librarian duty in term 2. First thing we had to do when we get into the library is to put the books back on the shelves. There were quite a few books to put away. Luckily, we did it. After that we had to help issue and return books from people.

I was collaborating with my buddy to get the job done and finish the job quickly.

I was showing integrity by taking turns doing the issuing and not just hogging the job for myself.

I can describe the structure of a short story

Something I have learned about the structure of short stories is that they have the same structure as the long stories. E.g. A problem and a solution.

After reading some short stories, two things I will remember when I write my own stories are to end it quicker than I do for my longer stories and to focus om my topic more.