Jess in the UK

For week 4 and week 5 I was away in England to visit my family there. It was really fun although the plane flight was grueling. 

When we finally got there we stayed at Grandmas and Peters for a while before we set off to Sheffield.  When we got to Sheffield we drove around visiting a lot of friends, although there were too many to keep track of. 

For the first two days in Sheffield we stayed at David's and C.J's house.  During our time there, we went for a long, long walk all around Sheffield. For the rest of the week we stayed at Lou's, who is this wonderful lady and everybody's best friend. 

She introduced me to Howl's Moving Castle (I don't usually watch stuff like that).  On the last day at Lou's we went to Alton Towers, which was... quite an experience. When we finally went home I somehow fell asleep sitting up in the plane.

Look out for my next installment...

Jess

Alternative Ski-Trip

Our Day Out

On Friday 26th August we went on the alternative ski trip... We arrived at the Roxx and for the morning we had Matt & Steve teach us different aspects of climbing such as Be-laying, lowering and also bouldering.

There were lots of different climbing walls and the higher the number was, the more advanced/hard it was.  I managed at least one climb. The bouldering bay finally opened. The bouldering bay is where you don't have a harness or anything, so it is really challenging... 

We finally finished a great 2 hours at the Roxx and moved onto the art gallery.

We had an amazing look at all the great art. The piece of art that really caught my eye was the shiny black seal balancing a ball on his head .

What a great alternative to skiing! 

Ski Trip

Ski Trip

We went to porters heights for our school ski trip. 

It was a snowy day and cold. My friends and I went up to the top of the mountain and you could only see for two meters and was pretty dodgy. As Adam and I were skiing down, we came cross Iwan trying to put on his ski because he had fallen down, so we waited for him to put it on, then we carried on down the mountain . But as I was  coming down,  my goggles started to cover up with snow and I had to brush then off but it just got all smushed, but I carried on down the mountain.

After lunch we had our lesson but I don't think it was worth it because we were doing all this trust skiing, I would have liked to work on technique but just being with my mates was awesome.

The ski trip was lots of fun and i would like to be able to do it again next week. 

Skipping with my little buddy

Skipping with my little buddy!

Today I was skipping with my little buddy jack who is new to this school.When we were skipping he said he could do 2 skips in one jump I didn't believe him at first until he proved me wrong and did it.

Global Warming Jake and James

Global Warming

Central idea

" By understanding the factors that cause weather  people can predict and prepare for it "

Our Inquiry was about Global Warming . We made a slide show and a website and we will put the website address down below.We performed a slideshow in front of the class and also we have set up a website with facts and ways to slow down global warming if you would like to check that out click the link below.

By Jake and James

https://sites.google.com/a/magic.school.nz/climate-change-global-warming/

Global Warming Kaspar, Will Zach

Our inquiry about global warming.

For our inquiry, Zach, Will and I did a presentation, poster and website about Global Warming and how it is effecting us.Will did a Poster, Zach did a Website and I did a Pecha Kucha. Our central idea is BY UNDERSTANDING THE FACTORS THAT CAUSE WEATHER PEOPLE CAN PREDICT AN PREPARE FOR IT.The attitudes we had to cover where Independence and Commitment. We showed Independence by doing seperate presentation forms. For example I did a Pecha Kucha and Will did a Poster.We showed commitment by being committed to our tasks and getting them finished on time.

Kiera, Eliza and Olivia's Global Warming inquiry.

Over the past few weeks we have been working on creating a poster and a slide show/speech about the central idea 'By understanding the factors that cause weather people can predict and prepare for it', and how global warming is linked to that.

We decided to learn about global warming because we were all interested and curious about this inquiry.

Summary

Global warming is the 

heating of the earths surface, oceans and atmosphere. 

How you can show action and make a difference reduce reuse recycle, use less heat and air condition, change to energy efficient light bulb. Drive less and drive smart. use less hot water. save electricity plant a tree.

Overall it was a great inquiry.

Climate Change Inquiry

Hi everyone,
For our inquiry we were focusing on Climate Change, and specifically how global warming effects storms such as hurricanes, cyclones and more.
 We chose to present our work in a poster and a rap with a stop-motion music video. 
Here is our rap:

Storms are destructive they hurt your homes

Typhoons sand storms and cyclones

Are a few of the disasters that break your bones

And kill your bros oh!

The waters rising it’s not surprising

And Polar bears are frickin dying

Were gonna help you guys

put an end to the cries

And the pressure of wind highs

We'll kill the sighs, yeah!

We can’t think of words for the chorus

But the penguins are dying with the walrus

And then we'll be like the stegosaurus

So we'll be extinct

But there is a chance we can make a change

Give up your cars tho it might be strange

We’ll change the world, the way you act,

And we’ll do this Global Warming pact,

Whatever they say is not ok

We need to save the world we need to make a change

And stop this thing called climate change

We can’t think of words for the chorus

But the penguins are dying with the walrus

And then we'll be like the stegosaurus

So we'll be extinct

It’s like the world is a giant heat pump,

And global warming’s worse than Donald Trump,

Coz the world’s turning into a toxic waste dump

This rap is coming coming to a close

And Voldemort doesn’t have a nose

So take a step down the road

Don’t take time to download

Those factories need to close

The smoke is grey and it shows

whatever we say goes

So stop and make a pose

By Millie, Taylor and Heather

Oscars air pollution slide

I did a poster and a slide/presentation as part of my inquiry. My question is how climate change effects air pollution. These are some of the photos from my slide.

NON SKI TRIP!

The non ski trip was really fun. My favourite part was rock climbing at the Roxx. I found some of the climbs hard but fun and I also learnt how to belay and lower. After climbing with a harness we went into the bouldering gym which was very hard because you don't use a harness and you're climbing up walls with overhangs and small holds. After climbing we went to the art gallery to have an art lesson with clay. We all made animals. I made a Pokèmon because I thought it would be quite challenging and it was because it was quite hard to get the shape. After that, we went back to school and went home. I thought the trip was really fun and I would do it again.

Invention to SAVE THE WORLD!! By Yani, Ruby, and Bella

Yani, Ruby and Bella have worked together to make this SHAMTASTICAL website as part of their inquiry. The website includes EXCLUSIVE information about their invention to save the world. It also includes factual info about how Climate Change and how it affects us, our planet and our environment!! Check it out to see their invention and exclusive pics and info about the model we made!
https://sites.google.com/a/magic.school.nz/effectsofclimatechange/

Blurb by Bella, Ruby and Yani (^.^)

Statistical Inquiry

Maths in Room 12.

For the past three weeks, in Room 12 we have been doing a maths statistics project. Our task was to plan a year's trip in New Zealand and Australia. We had to stay in New Zealand for a minimum of two months. While we were in the locations we chose, the temperature would have to range between 24°C - 30°C. We also had to keep track of the temperatures of all the places we chose to stay while we weren't there. The temperature while we were not there had to go above/below 24°C and 30°C at some time of the year. We had to include graphs and tables of our work and a small paragraph of what we would do in each place we chose to stay. We chose to present our learning in a poster…

Skipping with my buddy

Skipping with my buddy

Today I was skipping with my buddy and then I found out that he could do two skips in one jump and that his high score for skipping was over 100 and mine was only around 45.

Our Non Skiing Trip

T@TT Non Ski Trip

26 August 2016

We went on this trip because it was the alternative to skiing. We travelled to The Roxx in the morning and had a lesson with two coaches, Matt and Steve. We learned how to belay and absail also challenging ourselves on the climbs. We were lucky enough to spend 2 hours clambering up and down the walls, challenging ourselves and encouraging each other to push our personal boundaries.

For the rest of the day we were at the Christchurch Art Gallery. There we spent time having a tour and a lesson. Our mission was to discover and learn about the unique pieces in the Gallery like the giant silver gnome and the seal, balancing a ball and chair.  We were introduced to an amazing sparkly elevator and a beautiful marble staircase. To finish our day, we all made clay sculptures after being inspired by the artworks all around the Gallery.

By Heather Wright

Canta Maths 2016

On Wednesday 24th of August, Mt Pleasant School got the chance to send two teams to the CantaMath group competition at Horncastle Arena.

It was an exciting night, and the atmosphere was buzzing! Both teams did extremely well, and had heaps of fun answering the quick fire math questions amongst the other teams from all over Canterbury.

It really was a show of how great some of our young mathematicians are. Well done to our year 7 and 8 teams who both competed and made the school proud.

By Andie & Yani

Creative writing "Justice"

In our class everyone was given a piece of paper with either a starter or a theme, from there we all wrote a creative story.

My starter was “injustice is a threat to justice everywhere.” I had lots of fun writing and I hope to continue this story sometime soon, until then, I hope you enjoy it.

Justice

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” I mutter, staring at my reflection in a small puddle of water, a puddle most people would've walked by without a second glance. Not me, I have been sitting here now for 20 minutes.

“Don't cry,” I whisper ,my voice hoarse and small. "Don't cry. it shows weakness don't cry.”

The taste of salt filled my mouth too late. My hands, rough and cut scratch me in an attempt to wipe my eyes clean from the dust and dirt clogging my eyes from reality. It doesn't work. it only makes me cry harder. All in slow motion, I watch my tears cause a ripple effect across my puddle. Wiping my eyes ferociously with my shirt I began to walk. A walk that becomes a run. A run that becomes a sprint. Running to somewhere, anywhere, besides here. Somewhere where I can be by myself...safe.

I continue to run .Never slowing down, Never stopping until I reach wherever I'm going.

Feeling the wind sweep my face and my breathing, and feet fall together in rhythm and for a split second I forget the love so closely followed by the hate that happens in this world. I forget the world is sometimes cruel as much as it is kind and there is nothing I can do to stop it.

Pushing myself to the top of the hill,collapsing on my back under a tree, feeling the roots twine beneath me as I gaze out over the roofs of my small town. My hand trembling as I take out my phone, my worst fear being it may vibrate, scared of what may come with the vibration.

Deep breaths as I tap in my password .one number at a time. opening my phone ...Seven unread messages glaring at me almost daring me to read. opening I begin to read the words soon drowning me in a sea of hate ,useless ,ugly and words that I would rather not say out loud. The comments keep rolling in. Hands still shaking as I turn my phone off , the worst feeling knowing that even though I'm not reading they are still talking about me still nothing I can do to stop it.

I begin to walk home. my footsteps heavy on the concrete pavement .I want to cry but I don't think I have any tears left. It's been happening for a few weeks now and what I thought would get better got worse,rain poring down soaking me with in a few drops. As I open my front door I spot my mum something about her makes the tears start again,

“it's going to be alright” she whispers.

the great thing about life is when one chapter finishes another starts and I'm determined to make this next one a better one.

By Mila B

CTRL Z

I chose this activity because it is a big regret that I always look back on. I think CTRL Z is a different way of looking back on the past, and just imagine if I could redo this moment.

CTRL Z

I can feel my legs start to give way underneath me, and blisters painfully piercing my skin like shards of glass. Gradually, carefully I slip on my shoes and zip my jacket, as my dancing mates start to leave class.

My friends and I cheerfully skip to our cars ready to go home after a long dance lesson.

“See ya!” I call, a hint of glee in my voice, I hear the engines of the car’s reply. I turn back to see my parents standing with grim displeasing looks.

“This was from one of your relatives.” says mum calmly as she hands me a christmas wrapped present.

“Oh cool!” I reply ripping it open to find a cute stuffed toy.

“Honey look, I know this is a sudden change for you but taking you to dancing is too hard, it’s too far of a drive. I’m sorry I really am.”

I can feel a tear roll down my cheek, and I shudder as I wipe it away. Just the thought of not dancing anymore makes me want to throw up, and my friends? I won’t see them anymore. Stumbling into the car I can feel a sudden pit in my stomach and the feeling of delight is soon consumed by a big dark cloud filling me with sorrow and anger. I hold my new toy tight as I’m sobbing quietly in the back of the car the whole way home.

By Heather

T@TT alternative to ski trip day

On Friday, 11 students had a fabulous day not skiing!

We went to The Roxx where we had climbing lessons for 2 hours and then spent the afternoon at the Art Gallery. At the Gallery we had a tour and lesson about using clay.

What a treat!

Thank you to the wonderful Nicky & Elia who helped make the day such a success!

Well done kids. You were amazing.

Ms W.

Sorry it's been so long...

Things have been rather frantic around here and our commitment to our blog has been lax!

We are back on track... 

Take a look at what's coming up.

Here is an inspirational clip we watched today that links to our inquiry and is an amazing example of persuasive speaking.

Dear Future Generations: Sorry

Louise & Rm 12

PS... here are a couple of posters that have been made about weather

Speech Marking Criteria & Information

T@TT Speech Challenge

This term we are embarking on a speech challenge in our classroom. This means you will think about, write, rehearse, and present a PERSUASIVE SPEECH that is between 2 mins 30 sec and 3 mins 30 sec.

YOU will be an inspiring and motivating speaker.  This will take preparation and hard work on your part, but it can be done!

Your speech is to include some features of persuasive writing, but most importantly it is to include a personal story or connection. How did you feel?

Our expectation is that you improve on your speech performance from last year.

There are two rubrics for your speech:

Writing

• Prepare and present an interesting persuasive speech that inspires or motivates your audience.

Presenting

• Present your speech using good Pace, Projection, and Posture.
• Engage the audience using good expression, including facial, voice, and gestures.

Class competitions will be held on Monday 19 September. The top two speakers per class are sent through to the T@TT competition on Wednesday 21 September.

Timeline – Term 3

Week Six	Introduction to persuasive writing Identify the features of persuasive writing
	Introduction to speeches: watch some examples ‘Brown Brother’ Sorry Future Generations Kid President TEDx kids Develop topic & write introduction
Week Seven	Continue writing Edit using P.I.G.S.  (punctuation, improvement, grammar, spelling)
	Practice at home: Pace, posture, expression, gestures Know your speech inside & out
Week Eight	Create cue cards (with notes only, not your whole speech) Practice at home Hand in a copy of your final speech writing Monday p.m.
Week Nine	Monday 19 September - Classroom competitions Wednesday 21st September - T@TT Competition
Week One	Wednesday 19h October, time to be confirmed - Bays Cluster Competition at Our Lady Star of the Sea

Persuasive Writing		Title of Speech:	Name:
	Level 3	Level 4	Level 5
IMPACT	With reasonable clarity and logic conveys an opinion. Shows awareness of the audience through content and language choices. Sometimes uses analogy, similes, or metaphors to enhance explanations or arguments	Conveys an opinion clearly and logically. Shows awareness of the audience through choices of content, structure, and language. Sometimes uses analogy, similes, or metaphors to enhance explanations or arguments.	Conveys an opinion clearly and logically. Targets the audience through use of appropriate stylistic and language selections, including analogy, similes, or metaphors
IDEAS	Supports the arguments with a range of mostly objective ideas, data, reasons, or opinions. Supports ideas, data, reasons, or opinions with significant detail.	Supports the arguments with a range of mostly objective ideas, data, reasons, or opinions. Supports the ideas, data, reasons, or opinions with precise and logical detail and/or comment	Clearly and consistently maintains a point of view. Supports the main ideas convincingly through elaboration, use of evidence, and links to other ideas
STRUCTURE + ORGANISATION	Begins by taking a position, develops it with evidence, and restates it to conclude. Uses some causal conjunctions, e.g., “because”, to link ideas. Uses a variety of sentence structures, beginnings, and lengths.	Organises and links ideas logically (position statement, evidence, position restated). May use temporal conjunctions, e.g., “firstly”, “secondly”, to demonstrate logic. Uses varied connectives*, e.g., “however”, “although”, “on the other hand”, “consequently”. Uses a variety of sentence structures, beginnings, and lengths for effect	Structures material appropriately for form and purpose. Links main and supporting ideas within and between paragraphs, using a range of connectives. Conveys a sense of coherence and wholeness. Uses a variety of sentence structures with some impact
LANGUAGE FEATURES	Attempts to use precise, topic-related vocabulary (some of it technical) to make arguments more objective and informative. Often includes adjectives, adverbs, or synonyms to enhance detail.	Uses persuasive vocabulary effectively. Uses a range of persuasive language features, often effectively. This might include emotive words, rhetorical questions, imperatives, repetition, the passive voice, pronouns that denote inclusion of the reader, and some data and researched evidence.	Selects appropriate vocabulary with increasing control. Uses a wide range of persuasive language features with control and intent. This might include emotive words, rhetorical questions, imperatives, repetition, the passive voice, pronouns that denote inclusion of the reader, and data and researched evidence.

Speech Judging Sheet (T@TT Competition)
Name
Topic
Time (2m 30s minimum; 3m 30s maximum)
Content
Speech Construction: Included an introduction, development and conclusion.			/10
Presentation and Delivery: Speaks at appropriate volume and pace with a clear voice.                  Stands in a confident manner, making eye contact with the audience, and uses expression with some gestures.			/15
Content of speech: Ideas, opinions and examples backed up by evidence of research.  Speech topic appropriate to audience.			/10
Language: Used persuasive and interesting language for effect eg; repetition, humour, rhetorical questions, hyperbole, deeper language features.			/10
Effectiveness: Captured the audience’s attention (through content and delivery).			/15
Deduct 5 points if significantly under or over the time allowed. TOTAL			/60
Notes