An Icy Morning

The sparkles dance on the grass,

Ice is everywhere,

I slip and slide around.

My big, black cat looks crossly at me.

I say, “I can’t help it, can I?”

I see my breath like clouds in the air.

It really is quite cold,

And for you and me it surely is an icy morning.

By Stella

Spotlight

“Ok you’re in first,” I told Charlie. A big grunt was his reply.

“Come on, let’s hide Rosie,” Aimee said before Charlie could get angry at me. I hurried off to a lush green bush, the moon guiding me. I crawled into the bush. I sunk into the moss as I shuffled over it. I sat in the bush for a good two minutes.

Then I heard Charlie call out, “Ready or not here I come.”

I sat as still as I could and after a while heard Charlie say, “Found you Aimee.”

“That means I’m not counting next,“ I thought.

Suddenly a face popped up in front of me.

”Found ya!” Charlie giggled.

 

By Rosie

Night Skies

The plane rockets through the cloudy night sky. I look out my window but the only thing I see is the plane’s wing light flashing. I turn back to the movie. A loud booming noise filled my ears, it must be thunder. I look out of my window again. We have just risen above the clouds. It looks awesome. The stars and the moon are slightly bigger with a hint of blue. The clouds look like the West Coast only white and puffy. We are now descending back through the clouds. Everything is pitch black apart from tiny, tiny lights below us. We have arrived back in New Zealand.

By Rhys  

Sea Sounds

Splish, splosh, I can hear the sea.

Whack, whack, the rocks are getting smashed.

Swish, swish, I can see some fish.

Splish, splash, let’s go swimming.

Splash, splash, the water’s nice and cool.

Dive, dive, diving way down deep.

Paddle, kick, nearly at the bottom.

Up, up, back up to the top.

Swish, swish, back up on the sand.

Squawk, squawk, I can see a bird.

Orf, orf, a seal saying bye.

Oh man, got to go back home,

Goodbye, I will see you  guys.

 

By Rebekah

 

 

The Sea

Crash, bang!

The sea yelled as it crashed upon the rocks.

I took off to the beautiful blue waves.

 Just then a crab snipped my toes.

I fell into the water.

“Help!” I yelled.

Mum ran and picked me up,

Then we headed home.

 

BY MICHAELA

 

 

Bushy

All bushy, my secret hut is in a huge hedge. My hedge is my special place I like to play in. I love it. The hut makes me feel happy because I’ve always had a fun time in it. It is long with a little hole at the end. There is a fence made of wood and by the fence my dad has a round box. I climb on the box and carefully walk along two branches.

 

By Matthew

A Terrible Time at the Lakes

I was scared and trembling as the hard strong wave made its way into my mouth. I tried not to think of the disgusting taste. Other children were spread around me.

“HELP!” I yelped, clinging onto my boogyboard. My swim shoe fell off.

“Oh no!” I shouted as it floated up.

“Hooray!” I choked as another wave made its way into my mouth. Shallower and shallower it got. Finally I reached land in my heavy purple wetsuit. Still my heart was pumping away as Dad handed me a towel. After I dried off and changed out of my wetsuit Dad handed me a nice hot milo and blanket.

When I woke up I looked out to the peaceful lake.

 

By Lily P

Tekapo Spa

Hot water crowds around me like I’m a superstar. I gaze up at the stars. The spa at night is a great place to be. The moon is full, a bright circle in the sky. My whole family is with me. I feel warm and cold at the same time because the water is hot and the weather is cold. My togs stick to me tightly. The dark sky is a blanket, with millions of holes peeping through. It’s such a beautiful view. I swim over to the corner and see a shooting star. I make a wish that we come to Tekapo again.

By Lily B

Motorbike Madness

Vroom vroom roars my motorbike. I’m on the farm. Now my brother and I zoom off to make a motorbike track down in the hole.

“Wow you almost tipped upside down,” I say.

“I know. Come on!” yells Braydon.

“Ok, ok,” I yell.

 Vroom I start then turn the motorbike. We are off home.

 

By Kyran     

Minecraft

During the night you need a home and materials. Beware, you have no home and very few materials. You are in the middle of a big tree watching the monsters pile up on each other. You need food so you kill a zombie. That gives you an enchanted sword, bow and arrows, and zombie flesh.
“Creeper!” you shout…

By KJ

Winter

In the morning I woke up

I looked out of the window

Everything was covered   

In a white blanket.

Snowflakes was falling like leaves.

I walked out in my snow clothes,

I made a snow angel,

Then it got cold.

Winter is the best thing.

 

by Katelyn

Snow Disaster

My foot was numb and I could taste blood. I had just crashed on powder [soft snow] and I hit the side of an icy slope. My snowboard was approximately three feet away. I could not reach it. I was terrified because I had broken my toe and my tooth poked through my lip. I crawled to my snowboard and got on, my foot stinging. I zoomed down the mountain and reached the finish.

My dad asked, “How was that?” but then he realized what had happened.

by Joachim

Night Fury

I’m in my bed and I hear the stairs creaking and the doors opening and closing. I want to fall asleep but I’m too scared. The owls are hooting at the lonely moon and the stars are just little specks in the midnight blue sky, as I look out the window. I head downstairs to get a glass of water. When I walk out of the kitchen I feel a lot calmer. Until I trip. I look back - there’s nothing I could have tripped on. I stand up, crying. Something touches my back. I sprint upstairs and hide in the corner of the room. I can hear something stomping after me. The light flicks on. I can see a pair of boots. A head looks at me. The shadowy figure moves towards me. I shake with fear knowing that I can’t do anything. I close my eyes as it approaches me. When I feel it’s close I open my eyes and notice that it’s not a monster. It’s Mum asking if I’m alright.

“Yeah I’m fine,” I reply catching my breath. “Just a bit scared.”

“Ok, try to get to sleep,” Mum says soothingly. I hop into bed, turn off the light and gently fall asleep.

 

By Jaden

Fireworks at Night

Boom! I watch the fireworks light up the night sky. Arg, oh it’s just a CD acting as a bird scarer. It looks like an owl. I feel so relaxed sitting in the soft comfy chair. Boom, splat, kapow! Dad just lit off the bomb. I breathe in the night air. Dad puts a spinner in a bottle. It feels nice sitting under the night sky watching fireworks on my birthday.

by Jack     

Feeling Everything

I look around me. Its pitch black and I can’t see a thing. But I can feel everything. I can feel the cool air floating past me. I can feel the birds sitting in the trees. I can feel the green eyes of the next door neighbour’s cat staring at me through the bushes. I can feel the stars, trying to push their way out of the sky to come and play with me. Then suddenly, the clouds part and the moon lights the rest of my way across the lawn. I love the night.

By Hannah

Splash

“I can’t do it,” I whispered to my dad.

My tummy churned as I peered over the edge. Dad was waiting down in the deep pool.

“I’ll have to go soon,” I thought to myself.

I shouldn’t do it. Too late! I jumped into the blue water. Splash! Dad swam over and took me to the edge of the pool.

“I did it!” I cried. Dad told me it was nearly time to leave, so I chose to jump a last time.

Splash! Into the water I flew.

 

By Grace

Winter Time

Winter is a time

And the ice is rock solid.

You can probably ice skate on it.

The days are shorter than ever in winter.

It is freezing and you might even turn into a giant popsicle.

Your dad will probably have to help you out.

You will slip over on the ice.

 

By Ferguson

 

Night Time

The pitch black sky is filled with small bright stars.  Travelling at night is the best time ever. I look at the white glittering moon. Millie and I play I spy in the dark. I say to Mum, ‘’ I wonder how many tiny dots there are? ‘’

Millie’s sleeping while I’m still gazing at the midnight sky.

Bang! The thunder starts to fill the sky. I cuddle up with my seatbelt, trying to be brave. Dad drives very carefully so we don’t have an accident. I feel like I’m at the top of the night sky.

By Emma

Together

“Ha ha ha!” laughed my family standing outside around a roaring fire. Dad, with a beer in one hand and a metal stick in the other, is poking the fire. Women are inside making pizzas ready to be placed into the pizza oven. Meatlovers, Hawaiian, Italian and mixed flavoured pizzas, yum yum.

“Meatlovers for me, please,” I ask reaching for the hearty looking meatlovers pizza. Man! I feel good shoving the pizza into my mouth.  

By David     

The Sea

Whooo sung the sea

Vroom the engine roared as the car stopped

Crunch shouted the sand

Flip flop the shoes flung faraway

Splash yelled the cold blue water

Snap a crab snapped on the car wheel

Whooo whispered the air coming out of car wheel

 

By Dakota

Night Time

Night time

I stare into space without a doubt. Not a worry, not a care. My dad walks out of the house and stands beside me staring into my glittering blue eyes. “Whoo whoo,” cry the owls as they fly past. I see a shape on the balcony. I touch it. It feels soft and fluffy.

“I know that purr from somewhere. It’s Misty my cat,” I tell my dad. Then Zara walks up to my side. I pat her on the head, and then I look at the twinkling stars. “Hey Dad, I can see the Southern Cross!” I called to him. I walk to bed, jump in, fall asleep and dream all night long.

By Charlotte

The Blue Sea

 

 The sea is blue

And the sand is hot

Seaweed all around us.

The taste of salt in my mouth.

All the surfers out to catch waves,

The life guards zoom out.

That’s why I love the beach.

       

by  Connor

Campfire

 

I’m out with my family at night. We are sitting around the camp fire telling jokes. Mum pulls out a bag of marshmallows and we all dive in. I grab one, squish it on a stick and hold it over the flames. When I pull it out it’s on fire. I quickly blow it out. The stars shine brightly as the red hot flames float up into the night sky. I go in for another marshmallow and they’re all gone. Then I throw some more wood on the fire and listen as it roars away. I snuggle up in my blanket. After an awesome night at the camp fire we throw a bucket of water on the fire and head home.

By Brodie                       

My Hut

 

Trees and bushes surround me; I am sitting in the middle of my hut which is enormous. The floor is made of dirt. On the way there, I walked over grass. I wish someone could be there with me. It is boring by myself. Just sitting there, all alone, I think to myself how much fun a friend would be.

By Brenna

Night Time

 

It’s as dark as space so I can’t see the trampoline or the grass from up in my tree house. The stars are bright lights up the sky. I look though the hole in the roof and it’s a lovely night. I can’t go to sleep on such a beautiful night. I say to myself, “What an amazing night - how can I go to sleep?”

By Braden

Baby Azaria

 

The day I heard about her I jumped up with excitement. It was my new baby cousin Azaria. We drove the whole way to Christchurch to see her.  At our cousins, the Dodges, I saw baby Azaria in front of me. She was one of the cutest babies I’d ever seen. She was sitting on my knee. Her hair felt just like kittens’ fur. I kissed her on the forehead before we drove back home.

By Alisha

Artarama Session 1: Photographs and Interviews.

Photographs and Interviews by Lily Beazley and Hannah Soper

 

 

Artarama Session 1 Report

Session 1 Tuesday 28^th May 

First Mrs Murray showed us a photo of a huge chandelier made out of thousands of clear plastic bottles which had been recycled.   We talked about why creating and viewing art is important.  One of the thoughts we wrote down was that looking at art inspires us and gives us ideas.

Then Mrs Murray told us what we were doing today. Each group of people then grabbed bottles and washed them so that all the coke was out of them. They all started to cut the bottoms off the plastic bottles to make flowers.

After that Mrs Murray showed us another thing to do with the tops of the bottles.   By cutting long narrow triangles into the top of the bottles we made a different flower shape.   

It was then time to pack up and put the bottles away for next time.       

By David and Brodie

The Chandelier we are using as inspiration.

 

Examples of the flowers we have made.

ARTARAMA - Waste Waterfall Project.

All of the senior classes are working with Mrs Murray on a artwork which will be exhibited in the Aigantighe Gallery's Artarama - festival of South Canterbury's Creative Generation.  It will show work from students up to the age of 18years.  Ruma Kea is constructing a magical waterfall out of recycled plastic bottles.

For each session we have two blog reporters who will keep you up to date on our progress, and two photographers who will also interview the artists and record their ideas about the project.

Kayaking

On Wednesday the year 5 children went kayaking down at the Waihao River. We learned loads about how to kayak, like how to sideswipe so you can turn around in a rush. We had to kayak up and down the river a couple of times. Then we played some games. My favourite game was fruit salad. I fell in playing that game but the water was really refreshing and cold. I really loved learning about how to kayak and of course playing games. By Rhys

Kayaking

Kayaking was awesome because we got to kayak, and to play games with Mr Jury. With Mr Jury we got to build huts and to play ‘Go home, stay home’. During kayaking we played fruit salad and piano keys. I fell in at one time when I was standing up. By KJ

Kayaking

During Camp Week the year 5 children travelled to Waihao River to learn how to use a kayak. When we got there we were divided into 2 groups. I was in the second group so I went kayaking last. First we wandered around down the river a bit with Mr Jury. We found a truck load of old tree trunks. Then Mr. Jury said that we were going to play ‘Go home, stay home’. We played that for half an hour. Soon after that we built huts out of old wood. Kyran and I made five huts spread all over the place. Then we all walked back and had our turn paddling around in the kayaks. By David

Abseiling

On Thursday the year four children went abseiling at Arno. When the bell rang we all walked down to Ruma Kakapo. We all sat down and listened. Once the instructions were given we all hopped into the cars and drove off. When we arrived we got split into two different groups. One group made their way to abseiling and the other made their way to the bouldering. By Lily P

Kayaking

Wednesday was a boiling day so it was a great day to kayak. First we had to learn how to kayak. We had a paddle and pretended that we were kayaking even though we were still on land. Next we chose our kayak. Mine was yellow. My dad slid my kayak and me into the water and away I paddled. I was nervous as I nearly fell in. Hannah was the first to tip out. I enjoyed kayaking and I really hope I can go again. By Grace

Abseiling

On Thursday the year 4 children went abseiling and bouldering. Some of us went in my mum’s car out to Arno. We got split into two groups and one group went abseiling and the other went bouldering. My group went bouldering first and we started with a game called shark attack. It was hard but I won. By Connor

Sleepover

On Thursday we slept over at school. It was so much fun that I can`t wait until next year. We played spotlight in the dark which I really enjoyed. I hope we can sleep in tents next year. By Ferguson

Gunns Bush

On Wednesday the year 4 children drove to Gunns Bush. We had morning tea there. I got to play in the bush and Connor, Dakota and I went down a risky bit. I found some goo on a stick. Walking through Gunns Bush was awesome because there were trees everywhere. We went through a lot of rivers. By Jack

Kayaking

On Wednesday it was a sunny day for kayaking. Dad, Ben D, Ben M and I drove to the Waihao River. When we got there we got out of the truck and walked to the teachers to listen to instructions. Brodie, David and I were in the same group. We were the first group to get in our kayaks and I was the third person on the water. By Matthew

Aseiling

On Thursday it was such a hot day. The year four children were going abseiling. So we hopped in the parents’ cars and drove to Arno. I was so excited. We stopped at some big rocks and hopped out of the cars. We played a little game where we had to get into pairs - my partner was Alisha. Everyone had to decide to be A or B. Alisha was A and I was B. We then had two groups and the Bs were abseiling and the As were bouldering. Everyone had to put a helmet on. My group went to level one which was a little hard on the grass. Then we walked to level two which had two ropes on the big rocks. One was going down the side and it was a bit hard, and the other was a drop which was very hard. The teacher picked four children to do level two but I was not chosen. Instead I watched other people do level two. When they were finished the teacher picked another four and one was me. I was going second and I was doing the hard one. I was a little scared but I finished it! Then we went back to school. It was fun doing abseiling. By Katelyn

Gunns Bush

All the year 4 children got to walk up the Gunns Bush track on Wednesday. It was awesome. We stayed for morning tea and lunch. It was hard when we had to walk up the steep hill so I never want to do that again. By Brenna

Kayaking

Kayaking During camp week I really liked it when the year 5 children went kayaking. I thought that we would all be kayaking in one area but instead we were put into small groups with a polytech student looking after us. I thought that I was going to fall out of the kayak. We had to wear a lifejacket, wetsuit and a helmet. I had fun on the water when we were playing the games. By Josh

Campweek Kayaking

During camp week the year 5 children went kayaking at the Waihao River. I was in the first group to go kayaking. It was fun. We had to learn to forward paddle and then back paddle. After morning tea we played some games in our kayaks. The first game was sharks and minnows where you have to touch someone else’s boat with your hand. When nearly every one was a shark we started to play fruit salad. That’s where if you’re in a yellow kayak you’re a banana, if you’re in an orange kayak you’re an orange and if you’re in a black kayak you’re a blackberry. If the leaders call your fruit they say what crazy thing you have to do like standing up in your boat and yelling something. By Michaela

Camp Week

On Thursday it was a nice day and it was time for our sleep over at school. We played spotlight which was fun. We had sausages for tea and for pudding it was ice cream and strawberries. Jack and Connor got up at night and sang I am not a chicken or a duck, I just want to go quack, quack, quack, quack. By Joachim

Bushtown

At Bushtown we named some of the trees - it was one of our activities. Then we walked to the next activity where we did a scavenger hunt. We had to find things that were on our piece of paper. It was fun and I really enjoyed the day because we looked at different kinds of things like a big tree that had been cut down. I loved the day. By Emma

Kayaking

On a very nice sunny Wednesday during Outdoor Education week all the year five children drove to Waihao River. We were split into two groups. One of them went kayaking and the other group went with Mr Jury. My group walked with Mr Jury and then played hide and seek before we built some huts. At 12:00 all of us had lunch. After lunch my group went kayaking and we played piano keys which I really enjoyed playing. By Kyran

Abseiling

On Thursday the year 4 children went to Arno to abseil with the outdoor education students. First we abseiled down a grassy hill and then down a big stony hill. Then they had to make it fair so they put 4 people up first and then 4 more. When it was my go I was scared and just about to cry. I did cry but not much though. When I got down I felt much better so I went to have some lunch. By Dakota

Kayaking

When the year 5 children went kayaking we had to wear lifejackets and helmets. I was a bit gutted that the group I was in didn’t go kayaking first but we had a blast playing ‘Go Home Stay Home’. After that we made some huts. Charlotte, Szhyiem and I enjoyed working as a team. Charlotte ended up finding the hut and Szhyiem and I were the guards. Then it was finally our turn to be pushed onto the river in our kayaks. My arm splashed into the water and it was freezing. My group, Kyran, Jade and I, were with Richie. Kyran and I had a little race and he was a worthy opponent. By Jaden

Gunns Bush

On Thursday all the year four children went to Gunns Bush. I got my feet wet when we crossed river. We also got to paddle in the river afterwards. It took all morning to walk the whole way around. I think it was one of the best days of my life. By Stella

Abseiling

On Thursday it was a sunny day and all the year 4 children went abseiling. We had to put on helmets and harnesses. My helmet was red. The first abseil was a grassy slope. It was really short. I also completed the big abseil and it was huge and took a long time. I hope I can go again. By Lily B

Kayaking

On Wednesday all the year five children walked into kea class after the music played. It was nine o’clock when everyone came in and got ready for kayaking. After a few minutes we left in parents’ cars. We drove down to the Waihao River along a long and bumpy track. The polytech students were there before us so they were ready to teach us how to kayak. We split into two groups; one group walked and played games and the other group went with the polytech students to kayak on the river. Later on we swapped and the other group got their turn on the water. Later that day everyone got dressed and we went back home. By Charlotte

Kayaking

On Wednesday the year 5 children drove to the Waihao River for kayaking. We played games like piano keys and tag. The river was nice and refreshing but I fell out when I first got in. After kayaking we made huts and played a game called hide and seek tag. I was in most of the time. David and I found an old toilet and we hid in it. My favourite thing was kayaking because we got to tip out and we were towed if we fell out. By Brodie

Theme Day

On Friday it was our theme day. Yay! I was so excited. I was glad the day was warm and I wished the day would never end. Just going through the activities got more fun as we went on. I miss the polytech people - they sure were fun. I can’t wait till next Friday theme day. By Alisha

Hut Building

After my group of year 5 children had been kayaking on the Waihao River we built some huts. My group (Emily, Emma, Ben, Mama and I) built an Indian tepee. The base sticks fitted together like magic. My favourite huts were Rebekah’s hut and my group’s hut. Rebekah's looked like Eoyore’s house. By Rosie

Bushtown

Tuesday was a chilly day but even so, the whole school travelled on three buses to Bushtown. We did heaps of activities about the Waimate bush. My two buddies were Keira and Regan. The little wasps that were flying around everywhere were so annoying!!!The best thing for me that day was walking around with Mrs Albrey and talking about the big Waimate Bush fire. By Hannah

Kayaking

On Wednesday the year 5 children went kayaking. It was a hot sunny day so we all enjoyed a dip in the river. I fell in the water lots and man, talk about cold, but I soon got used to it. I had to swim back to the shore the last time I fell out of my kayak. When we got out for good we got changed, and after lunch the other group got in the kayaks and Mr Jury took us for a little walk. We made huts out of sticks, bark, grass and dirt. I hope I can go again. By Rebekah