Astria Countdown to Impact #1

In extension we have been given an opportunity from the Auckland University to try out this game called 'Astria'. Our extension group split up into two groups, A and B. I was in B group and we were the second group in the whole world to try it. The A group tried it last week.

I partnered up with Iron and her netbook. It was getting really exciting when we started playing it. Iron and I were one person on the game and we were the Alpha leader. We had to look around Astria and find clues before the astroid comes and destroys the planet. When we started we had 99 days before the astroid comes. In the game about 2 minutes is one day, because right now we have 59 more days.

The most difficult part we had to do was looking for the clues. Right now we only have clue 2 and clue 3 but not clue 1. We need the first clue to finish off the symbol game. This games is really fun! Now starting from today we had to play it every half an hour a day. To be very honest it has helped me a lot!

Life Education Caravan

This term we had four weeks of ‘Life Education Caravan’ with Lynn. We had been learning about drugs and alcohol and how it affects our body. Lynn showed us some adults who started drugs when they were 11 - 14 years old. Each person had a reason of why they started early. There was Rita, Zeb, James, Jason, Amy and Malcolm. They all nearly had the same reason. The reason were, they wanted to join in with friends, fit in, wanted to be cool and they saw people doing it. They didn’t realize that taking drugs will make them have really bad consequences.

We also learnt different kind of drugs. There was marijuana, P, cocaine and more. Lynn gave us a mint that looked like some panadol. As soon as she gave it to us, some of us ate it. Lynn said and asked “Raise your hand if you ate the mint?” I put my hand up aswell the people who ate it. She said to us why did we eat it when we didn’t know what it was, then she said to us “Imagine that someone came and asked you to eat/drink this drug. What would your reply be?” My first reply was “No thanks” but then Lynn said then you’ll start a conversation and the person will beg you to eat/drink it. So then I changed my mind and decided to say “No thanks, already had one” to pretend. Lynn said that was a good idea.

Lynn taught us what drugs can do to your body. She said that when you drink lots and lots of alcohol, your neurotransmitter slows right down and you won't be able to speak properly. Your words will not sound clearly and the people will not understand. You can also lose your memory of what happened when you started drinking.

Lynn showed us a video of girls who went to a party. There was a girl who completely got wasted and forgot everything. Nearly all of the girls who went said that they nearly got attacked. Lynn told us its alright if you celebrate someone's birthday and you’re drinking. But if you drink too much, you’ll get really drunk!

Now that I know all about this, I don’t think I will ever drink. Life Caravan was awesome!

Remembrance Assembly

Today we had a Remembrance Assembly, to commemorate the people who died in World War 1. We also remembered the centenary of the war. The war started on August the 4th 1914, and that was exactly 100 years ago. Our Prime Minister Mr. John Key told every school to have an assembly to commemorate our soldiers who fought in the War.

Mr. Burt showed us what had happened that made the people fight. There was a man named Archduke Franz Ferdinand. He and his wife Sophie were in a car. While they were driving, a man from behind came and shot them both. There were countries on the Archduke’s side and other countries on the shooters side. This is what Mr. Burt told us that someone said it was known as “A shot that echoed around the world’. So that is how World War 1 started. Lots of countries jumped in and fought.

The thing that interested me the most was that Mr Burt’s and one of our office teachers (Mrs Flavelle’s) grandfathers volunteered to go to the war. Mr Burt even showed a picture of them. I thought that volunteering to help and support your country was very brave. Luckily they came back safely.

Mrs Flavelle’s grandfather came back safe and Mr. Burts came back safe but wounded. When Mr. Burts grandfather came back he married his wife with his uniform, because he had no other good clothes.

When he had told us all about it, we watched the flag go half mast while the bugle was playing.

Retelling Whats For Lunch.

This book we are reading is called ‘What is for lunch’

Mr. Kenna came towards Alex and said to him, that he always has a nutty bar in his lunch instead of some fruit. Alex was careless about his health and said “Who eats fruit?” “Lets find out what our class eats” answered Mr. Kenna. Mr. Kenna pinned up a pyramid full of food, the top was all the junk food, the middle were oily fat food, and obviously the bottom were the healthy food. Alex checked the chart and said to Mr. Kenna that his nutty bar was okay, and Mr. Kenna gave him a food survey chart to fill in over the next five days. Then suddenly Alex chucked his healthy roll and got out his nutty bar and said "Today will be easy for me". His friend looked at him and opened his lunch box and said "I have two apples today. I'll give you one apple for half of your nutty bar." After lunch Alex filled in his food chart, then later Mr. Kenna showed the charts in front of the students of what they had for lunch. Mr. Kenna looked at Alexs charts and was very happy about his improvents.

My Commonwealth country

Samoa is located in the continent of Oceania. Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Solomon Island, Vanuatu and more are also located in Oceania. This country is the 9th most populated island/country in Oceania, with the total of 187, 275. That is a lot. The capital of Samoa is Apia. Apia is also the largest city in Samoa with Upolu. In Samoa there are approximately 51.6% (96, 697) of males and 48.4% (90, 578) females. So of course there are more males.  

The culture of Samoa is Samoan and the language is Samoan. But they speak English also. In Samoa the most popular sport to play is Rugby 7’s. They love to play this kind of sport, they also love rugby and volley but 7’s are the most known sport. In Rugby 7’s the Samoan team is called Manu Samoa, and in the Commonwealth 2014 their last game was against Australia and Samoa lost. They came 4th. Samoa is one of the top ten for the Rugby 7’s teams, and they are coming 8th in the world.

On the Samoan flag there are 5 stars. It is red on the outside and there is a blue square on the left corner of the flag with the 5 white stars in it. The Samoan flag has a meaning. It was adopted on the January 1st, 1962. The 5 white stars symbolise the Southern Cross. On the Samoan flag, the blue is said to represent freedom. Red is the representative of courage, and it is also the Samoan colour.

Samoa joined the Commonwealth games in 1970. They compete in Rugby 7’s, Weightlifting, Boxing, Track racing and more. Samoa has only 3 medals, this Commonwealth for only weightlifting. They got 2 Silver medals and 1 Bronze medal, and they are coming 21st on the Medal Table.  

Commonwealth games facts

5 Facts that I already know about the Commonwealth Games:

1	The Commonwealth games is held in Glasgow
2	It is just like the olympics; its full of sports
3	71 countries compete and involve
4	Every four years
5	17 sports

10 new facts that I found out about the Commonwealth Games: (include a link to the site where you found your information. Your information needs to be in your own words)

1	Best in sporting talent
2	Glasgow was chosen by Commonwealth game Federation as the Host city
3	Commonwealth games are held every 4 years
4	Over 1.5 billion go and watch
5	First Commonwealth game was held in Hamilton, Canada in 1930
6	The games were actually called British Empire Games
7	In 1944 and 1946 there were no Commonwealth game due to the World War 2.
8	Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Scotland, Wales have been attending to every games.
9	Participating athletes represent 71 nations
10	Scotland hosted the games in 1970 to 1986

Holiday

In the second week of holidays on Thursday, my friends, my auntie and I went to the movies at Sylvia Park. We watched the ‘Dawn of the Planets of the Apes’. It was amazing! When I first watched part 1 ‘Rise of the Planets of the Apes’, it was my favourite movie. Now that I watched part 2, ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ it is my favourite movie. Right now it is one of the best movie in the world and it has 8.4/10 stars!

The main character of the movie is Caesar. He is the leader of all the apes. The funny thing is that I have a German Shepherd named Caesar. He has a son named Blue Eyes and and a newborn. Caesar has a friend named Koba who wanted to fight the humans because of what they did to him and to the apes. But Caesar said "But how many apes will die?" That’s how the apes started the war, because of Koba. He was so angry with Caesar because he did not let them fight the humans. If you haven't watched the movie, you should watch it right now. I really don't want to spoil it!

After we had watched the movie we walked around Sylvia Park. Then we went to the food court to eat. While we were eating we saw Paris Goebal. She is the leader of the 'Royal Family' the dance group. You can search up Royal Family on Youtube. Their dance group came first in the 'World Hip Hop Championship Finals' in 2013. Paris Goebal is one of the best female dancers in the world. When I saw her, I was freaking out! My friend and I ran up to her and asked if I could take a picture with her, she said yes and we took a photo.

When we had finish eating, we went and walked around and looked at some shops. After a while we hopped into the car and went back home. It was really fun watching 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' also another highlight was meeting Paris Goebal.