My Blog Tour

My Anthology

The 8 Contributions

We have been learning about the 8 contributions from the St. Francis of Assisi Peace Prayer. We broke down the prayer and found out that there were contrasts in the prayer, for example "... injury, pardon." 

During this lesson, I found that thinking of my reflection at the end of each contrast was hard, because each of the contributions were similar so it was hard to think of the differences between them.

I have learnt that I can be an instrument of peace for God by using all of the positive and good contributions; love, pardon, union, truth, faith, hope, light and joy in my life.

What is Conservation?

In our classroom we have been learning about conservation week. In this slideshow we will explain what conservation week is.

Mele and I found out that finding the information and putting it into our own words was quite hard. Although we enjoyed picking the music for our slideshow. We used stupeflix to create this.

By Mele and Estelle

All About Mirrors

In our classroom we have learnt about mirrors and light.

Please leave a positive, thoughtful, helpful comment below.

Thank you.

Spain

I have been learning some general information about Spain and their relation to the Olympics. I have learnt that Spain joined the Summer Olympic Games on the year 1900. Spain has joined every Summer game starting from the year 1948 to 2016.

Spain

Spain is in the continent of Europe. Some people may mistake it to also be in Africa as it is close. There are currently 46, 121, 699 people living in a 195, 356mi². The central capital city in Spain is Madrid. Madrid is an elegant city with neatly trimmed parks like Buen Retiro. Spain has a diverse geography and climate which results in a lot of native animals, sadly about 227 of these are endangered species. Some native species that you would find are deer, wild goats, tortoises, bats, snakes and small amphibians.

Spanish Cuisine

Some famous dishes in Spain are Paella (which is a rice based dish with some type of meat usually chicken), green beans, vegetables and a mix of seafood. Croquettes are small breadcrumbed fried rolls that have either creamy cheese, spicy sausage or another type of meat in it. Some other famous Spanish dishes are tortilla espanola and leche frita (also known as fried milk). The traditional cuisine of Spain usually consists of rice, fried eggs, fried banana, tomato sauce and a cuttlefish or squid.

Languages Spoken in Spain

The languages that are spoken in Spain are; spanish, english, latin american spanish, galician portuguese, basque, occitan and catalan. Five of these are the main languages; spanish (castilian), basque (euskarian), aranez, calan and alician.

Religion

In Spain there is a freedom of religion which means that you don’t need to have the same religion as your neighbour. The most practised religion is Catholicism (73.8% of people are Catholic). Other religions that are practiced are Islam, Judaism, Protestantism Christianity and Hinduism.

Olympics

This year in the Olympics Spain is participating in; archery, beach volleyball, basketball, rowing, tennis, rugby sevens, boxing, table tennis, water polo, shooting, handball, field hockey and swimming. Overall, Spain has won a total of 133 medals during the history of the Modern Olympic Games. The first year that Spain first started competing in the Olympic Games was the year 1900. In that same year, they won their first gold medal.

I found that putting my research into properly formed sentences was challenging, but using Prezi to make my report more enjoyable was fun to do. My next step is to use scientific words or more complex words in my report writing and to find different and interesting ways to present my work. 

During my research I wasn't able to find the most popular athlete in Spain that compete's in the Olympic Games. I would also like to know why they joined the Olympics on the year 1900 instead of any other year.

My Timetable

Senior Hub Timetable

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Maths Mr Hadnett	Maths Mr Hadnett	Wesley Technology	Maths Mr Hadnett	Maths Mr Hadnett
Reading Miss Goodier	Reading Ms Goodier		Reading Miss Goodier	Reading Miss Goodier
Interval	Interval	Interval	Interval	Interval
L.C.S Miss Goodier	L.C.S Miss Goodier	Maths Mr Hadnett	L.C.S Miss Goodier	L.C.S Miss Goodier
Writing Miss Goodier	Writing Miss Goodier	Reading Miss Goodier	Writing Miss Goodier	Writing Miss Goodier
Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch	Lunch
Yr 7 & 8 STEM Miss Ashe	Yr 7 & 8 STEM Miss Ashe	Senior Hub SPORT	Yr 7 & 8 RE Miss Goodier	Yr 7 & 8 RE Miss Goodier

How to take care of your chromebook

I am learning to create a slideshow on how to take care of your chromebook, 

using the KAWA of Care rules for students.

People and Protest-Joan of Arc

I weaved through the huge crowd of lords and ladies cloaked in purple garments and decked with fine riches. All of their noses were in the air, like there was a bad smell in the great hall of the Vaucouleurs stronghold. With a gasp I realised that I was the “bad smell”. As a peasant I didn’t have enough money, especially as I had to get new garments.I needed to clothe myself in men clothes so I could pass as a man and demand an audience with Prince Charles of Valois. I have tried many a times as a teenage girl, but was sadly, yet predictably, turned down.

I felt like I was playing a “spot the difference” game with my four siblings in our shabby little cottage. I needed to find a weak, but quite powerful man dressed in gold, amongst the proud selfish and vain individuals. As I tried to look for the him, I saw a man in the middle right of the crowd and abruptly stopped in my tracks. He was wearing a white fur coat with striped fur like a grey tiger and sleeves as blue as the deep ocean. He had white skinny leggings, orange elf shoes and a metallic brown crown with bent at the top to make a family crest. I smiled and walked with confidence towards him.

“Prince Charles of Valois. I wish to have a sword and a small army. Give me this and I shall drive away the English who have unrightfully taken over our country.” I said with as much bravado as I could muster.

“You have found me faster than I have expected.” Prince Charles said with awe and a hint of respect. “And why would you do such a thing? You are merely a countryman. Has someone commanded you to do so?”

“God has commanded me so.” I stated.

“I admire your bravery and courage young countryman. I shall grant your wish. Fetch me my sword!” He bellowed.

Guards rushed closer to the prince blocking out the guests as two servants gave the prince his sword. I bent down on one knee as the dauphin presented to me his silver sword. Advisors tried in vain to persuade the prince to do otherwise.

With retorts such as, ‘You are sending an untrained man to war? He will get killed! Beheaded! Slaughtered!”

I shivered as I pictured a gruesome image of myself getting slaughtered by the English soldiers. But the prince ignored their protests with a wave of his hand. The sword glinted in the sunlight. It’s glow filled me with hope as I grabbed the hilt of the sword tightly and bowed my head in thanks. In that moment I knew that I will be able to do anything as long as I had God alongside me.

“Are you afraid?” Charles whispered worriedly. As I wondered why he was worrying for me, I realised that he had put all of his faith in me.

“I..I am not afraid...I was born to do this!” I declared.

By Estelle

People and Protest

In our class we were learning about scale drawings, decimal points, measurement and enlarging. We were also learning about Catholic Social Justice in our Religious Education. For our inquiry we have been researching inspiring historical people for our focus “People and Protest.” (Our intention is to enter the Elsie Locke Writing Competition). The first part of our inquiry was teacher led where we found out about Saint Oscar Romero. It was also a math activity. We had to scale and ratio a copy of the painting and enlarge it so that it could be put onto our class wall. (This image is as big as I am!) This came from the site:Truly Love thy Neighbour. My self directed inquiry is on St. Joan of Arc.

Here is a link to my report on Oscar Romero: https://goo.gl/JJlTZY

World Refugee Day Slideshow

Report on Saint Oscar Romero-A protestor

Oscar Romero

Oscar Romero was born on August 15th 1917 in Ciudad Barrios, El Salvador. El Salvador was an unfair country, where people with more power could torture those without. He was born into a large family with 7 other siblings. His parents were Guadalupe de Jesus Galdamez, and Santos Romero. His family were neither rich nor poor, they were wealthier than most of their neighbours, but the children had to sleep on the floor. Oscar was determined to become a priest, so when he was 14 he entered the seminary. 11 years later, at the age of 25, he became a priest in 1942. On the 12th of March 1977 Oscar Romero became an Archbishop. Soon after his friend Rutilio Grande assassinated. When he had heard this news he was deeply affected. He realised that what the government was doing to the poor was very bad, and that someone had to stick up for those without voice against those with too much power.

At that point he decided that he would be the one to stick up for others, especially the poor. Oscar then visited the outskirts of El Salvador where a lot of poor people lived without the necessities of life. He assured and helped them, so that they knew that someone was there. He gave them hope. Oscar Romero even made radio broadcasts to proclaim his Sunday sermons, made public protests and organised peace marches against poverty. These public announcements made the government angry because they didn’t want people to know about the Christian message, particularly their soldiers.

Since the government didn’t want Archbishop Romero to continue ex-mayor General Roberto D-aubuisson ordered his death. Oscar’s last sermon was to the soldiers saying that they shouldn’t kill people for we are all the same. On the 24th of March 1980, Oscar Romero was saying mass in the Church of Divine Providence. While he was consecrating the Eucharist, a gunman pulled up infront of the Church, took aim, and shot Romero in the heart. A huge crowd gathered for Archbishop Romero’s funeral. Snipers hiding in the rooftops, killed 40 people and injured several. He was declared a martyr on the 3rd of February 2015 by Pope Francis, and he was beatified on the 23rd of May 2015.

References:

-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93scar_Romero

-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPMJ9UgkBgQ

-http://www.caritas.org.au/docs/primary-school-resources/oscar-romero-biography.docx

My Bake Sale Flyer

I am learning to create graphic design. I have made a flyer to promote our classes bake sale.

Before and after Vatican ii

Pre Vatican II	After Vatican II (1960)
Mass said in Latin	Mass said in local language
Catholic schools were taught by priests and nuns	Catholic schools are now taught by anyone that has at least a bit of background of teaching in a Catholic way.
Nuns wore full habits and were recognised by the public	Some orders of nuns can now wear appropriate “mufti”.
Everyone went to Mass dressed the best	Everyone chooses to dress however they want
Women weren’t allowed to have important roles in Mass	Women are now allowed to take the important roles in Mass such as Eucharistic ministers.
There was the same music for every mass(probably said in Latin)	Now the music are chosen by the priest, who chooses an appropriate song for the congregation.

References:

-http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-happened-at-vatican-ii-and-how-to-pray-50-years-later

-http://www.traditionalcatholicpriest.com/2014/04/14/20-things-i-experience-in-the-catholic-church-before-vatican-ii/

BY:

V_S - http://ctkvalfhs.blogspot.co.nz/

Michaela-http://ctkmichaelai.blogspot.co.nz/

Estelle-http://ctkestellef.blogspot.co.nz/

My Unsung Hero Narrative

Unsung Hero

I can’t believe this has happened! I woke up in the middle of the freezing winter night hearing the fire alarm blaring. I could scarcely hear my brother telling me to go outside. Half awake, I trudged downstairs where my mum was trying frantically to put out a batty, brutal, blazing fire in our living room. Her eyes were terrified as she ushered us outside and ordered us to knock on our neighbours doors, and ask them for help.

“Come on.” My brother said nervously, but thrilled at the same time. Squish Squelch! The mud under my feet sent chills down my spine. My brother and I ascended one of our neighbours steps, ‘Creak!’ I felt like I was in a horror movie. We knocked once, no answer, twice, nothing, three times, and still nothing! So we descended the stairs with a sigh and went to knock on the rest of our neighbours doors. All of the houses repeated the same situation, knocking once, twice and three times with no response. Overcome with defeat, we leaned against our house, full of anxiety, and unsure if we should go inside. My eyes were fluttering, sleep taking over me, when suddenly a bright light jolted me awake, and a roar of an engine filling me with hope.

(I am still working on this)

My Toondoo Book

Click here or on the picture to view my TOONDOO book

Learning Languages - SPAIN

As part of our Learning Languages study Mrs Ashe asked us to present a project on a country where our chosen language is spoken.

 I have chosen to learn Spanish and I have

 created a presentation on Google Slides to share my learning.

I hope you enjoy it.
Adios

The Resurrection

April 1 2016

Lord,

Today I experienced the resurrection many times:

When it was raining at school, but lunch had already finished.

When I didn’t want to get up in the morning, but I had a really good day.

When we had to go to Rm4, but had a fun time helping little kids.

Lord, the resurrection means more

than coming back from the dead:

it is having faith in each tomorrow,

Amen.

My Info Poster

We have been learning to create an info poster about what we have been reading. I have used https://www.canva.com/ to create it.  I got the stories from a book called, 'Unsolved Mysteries' written by Ron Bacon.

My Info Poster

My Info Poster

April 2016     Estelle

Here is my Info poster

My goals and action plan

Ordering Fractions

My Vision Board

We have been learning to set goals. So I have made a vision board using google drawing. 

My Pepeha

My Learning Goals

My Book Review

We have been learning to write a good book review, and how to create a presentation of it using Emaze.

Moment In Time

The Prodigal Son

As I hug my son, time seems to slow to a stop. He is dressed like a slave in rough, rugged clothes. His skin as dark as the bark of a tree. I try to look at the sky, but the sun’s bright smile makes me look away. I can feel my son’s sweat trickle down on my arm and time slowly starts again.

-Estelle

Treaty of Waitangi

The Treaty of Waitangi was signed in 1840 in the Bay of Islands, Waitangi, North Island. The British Crown wanted to curb lawlessness and the Maori chiefs wanted to stay in power of their treasures and keep their mana. There was confusion among the Maori chiefs about what they were signing, because the translation of Maori to English was not accurate. After the Treaty was signed more settlers arrived. The British population was increasing rapidly. Maori were losing their belongings to the British Crown, especially their land. Traditionally Maori shared a large piece of land as a tribe, but, under British law, if the land didn’t belong to a specific person the Crown could take it away from them.

The British Crown committed social sins by not honouring the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. An example is that the Maori were excluded from early parliament. In 1852, the British had more settlers arriving. They appointed a governor, and they didn’t let the Maori to be a part of it. Although in 1867, the British allowed the Maori to have 4 seats in parliament but this was not fair either because 4 votes is not enough to make any change. So the Maori still had no voice in what was happening in New Zealand. As a consequence of no representation in parliament, Maori lost even more land to the British, which was another group sin. In the early 1860’s Maori had lost ⅕ of the North Island and nearly lost all of the South Island, because of unfair trades.

One way christian people can restore tika (just) and pono (truth) to the Treaty of Waitangi is by learning the Maori language so that it doesn’t become a dead language. Another way to restore tika and pono is to respect the Maori culture and rules, such as taking off your shoes when you enter a Marae, and not sitting on a table where food is.