Legendary Football Match

Scott:

The line is so painfully long it seems an age to even get halfway through.  Eventually I'm walking towards the famous Nou Camp where a very excited air is hovering over everyone who is going to witness this legendary clash between the La Liga champions Real Madrid and Barcelona. The nervous, excited chattering fills the air like a horde of angry wasps, food and drink sellers stand every few feet selling all kinds of popcorn and fizzy drink that make you thirstier than before and makes you want to buy more.

However as I walk up the steps to the top of the stadium the atmosphere is pierced by cheering as one of the players pull off an amazing trick or score in the practice session. As the start whistle draws closer and players on both sides disappear, a tense air now engulfs the stadium.  The referees, Real Madrid and Barcelona walk out and silence makes its presence clear as the commentators, Jeffrey Phillips and Steven Bobson, announce the players names. A humongous cheer fill the afternoon when Messi, Neymar and Suarez for Barça and Ronaldo, Bale and Carlos for Real are called.

Finally the whistle sounds and they were off, within 20 minutes comes the first foul and free kick against Varne (a player from Real Madrid). Neymar took the kick and it did an amazing curl around the wall, then going on to score in the top corner millimetres from the keeper's hands. The next goal occurs when Ronaldo takes an amazing run up the pitch, rabona-chips Bravo (the keeper for Barça) and then taps it across the line.  Then, Messi takes a run, puts it through Varne's legs and rainbow flicks the keeper for Real (Carlos) and heads it in! 

After a very eventful 45 minutes the shrill sound of the half time whistle echoes around the stadium and the players file out, some jogging and some dawdling towards the changing rooms. "What an exciting half." I mutter happily to myself standing up and getting a drink. "It does look like Barça will win."

But the next half told me how wrong I was...

The ref blows hard on his whistle and the speed of the passing between Suarez, Neymar and Messi is the fastest I have ever seen!

But Ronaldo steals the ball and streaks up the pitch.

The final whistle pierces. Nou Camp and I feel disappointed about Barça's performance in the second half as Suarez scores an amazing bicycle on the edge of the penalty box off a corner. On the downside Ronaldo and Bale both scored using tricks I have never seen. "It could have been worse." I think sadly walking slowly towards the exit gates, "But the bright side is the Barcelona are still favourites to win and Real Madrid needs just one win to make it to the top of the table." And with that I walk happily to my hotel.

Jack:

"Hello my name is Jeffrey Phillips to day I will be joined by Steven Bobson." 

“And welcome to this ultimate match it’s going to be a thriller. I know I’m a commentator but this so boring, when is Barcelona going to get here?" 

"Barcelona might have to default if they don't get here as fast as lighting because Real Madrid are getting angry!"

"What? 

"There they are, what an entrance!" 

"OK now let's get to this ultimate match to rivals Real Madrid vs Barcelona, the top two teams in the league.”

"Now we will go down and see the squads today, there's only one change for Real Madrid as they are swapping the goalkeepers to give Carceles a chance to play."

"The pitch is looking fine for today's play and the stadium is packed as normal for Nou Camp. "
The stars of this match and league have so far been Ronaldo, Bale, Messi, Carlos, Neymar and Suarez.”

"Sorry let’s get to the match, it’s all ready the second half TWEEEET!!! The whistle goes and Ronaldo is off, he’s skilling the whole team but he just couldn’t put it away.”

"But then he takes a run then he gets fouled in the box and scores top right corner!" 

"Then Messi skills the whole Real Madrid team and scores!"

"3, 2 and Real Madrid are looking worried with 3 minutes to go but then Ronaldo gets a break and suddenly Ronaldo is one on one with the keeper and he does a rabona and nuts the keeper and then the whistle goes three times and it’s 3 to Real Madrid and 3 to Barcelona.”

"What a match, I doubt anyone saw plays like that in the tournament so far!" 

 "Maybe there are going other matches as intense as this!" 

And with that everyone started leaving.

VS

Turkeys Flat at Arthur's Pass

After trudging for what seems like hours, we finally reach the end of the walk on Turkey's Flat. I sit down on a rock to have a bite to eat. Only then I notice that I am sitting in a dried-up river full of sharp, jagged pebbles, slightly damp dirt and dew drenched grass from last night's drizzle. Ahead I see tussock that stretches far and wide until spiky moss-covered matagouri bushes take over. 

A bit further on, the mountains to the side of me bloom with leafy green trees and colourful mountain flowers just like (more or less scattered) the botanical gardens. The river ahead with pristine water bubbling and frothing, races the tributaries towards the sea, ready to wash away anyone who went too far. And the bridge rattles dangerously as huge 10 ton trucks lumber over the hills.

In the distance I see gigantic snow-capped mountains looming over the valley reaching into the cloudless blue sky. The same can't be said for half way down as fog engulfs almost the whole pass.

"Time to go," says a voice from behind me. In the car I feel tired and exhausted like I could drop to sleep here and now. But one happy thing dawns to my mind just before I doze off; It was the first time I have completed this walk! When I was younger we went barely 100m in, now I have done the whole thing. The last thing I hear is my brother saying "Why is there a Moa sign?" Beside the pub over the bridge. I drop off to sleep.

Football

Football, the the sport I love most in the world and the sport where I have one of the best reputation for defence in my team. Let me tell you about a time that I could never have felt more elated in my life...

It was a usual freezing cold but very sunny Saturday when I jumped the chain fence and hurtled like a dog down towards my team at the sports fields at Jellie Park. Nothing in the first half was unusual but nothing could prepare me for what happened next. "Max, Max pass," I called. The ball flew out of nowhere and somehow found its way to my foot. It all happened quickly: the ball so carefully lobbed to my foot and the surprise that everybody in front was marked so I had a free run to the goal, naturally everyone marking my team went to get the ball off me but none the less I thought "keep calm, steady, aim, SHOOT!" What looked to me like a hard and fast shot slid casually in between a tight gap between the goalkeeper and the post! I felt ecstatic, I had done it, it had scored my first (and probably last) goal of the season!

I had never felt more alive as I stepped into the car, even if I hadn't got player of the day. I hoped next Saturday I'd have the same sort of luck I had this game, but I brushed it off and started thinking of the fact I had scored.

Building huts in Arthurs pass

The forest is so hidden and secretive, a perfect habitat for kiwis and keas and all sorts of wild creatures to roam the native park. The dense air seems to make sweating easier after last night's rainfall, I walk on the pathway which twisted and weaved through the undergrowth like a never ending brown snake. The forest entry to a place of huts had branches that split and twisted in every direction in a race for the light above the canopy.

A little further back I had just left a house that looks so warm and inviting with train like smoke which bellows from its chimney that smell of burning wood and coal wafts up my nose like that of a burnt cake, opposite was a huge tree trunk fallen down a few years ago that blocks the rest of the way through the dense, endless forest. The long wavy grass soaked through with dew ready to drench the next passer by.

As I turn to pick up wood I notice the mountains which stand tall and strong with a beard of green vegetation that covers almost the entire thing, the tiny white lines reassemble as waterfalls cascade down a cliff. Further down the raging river looks unforgiving and cold as rocks tumble into its icy depths.

As I finally place the last leaf on top of our 'wood storage' I can't help but let the sense of achievement ensnare me as I let out a cry of "I've done it!" My exhausted body can finally rest.  I feel elated I have done it, I have built a hut.

My Speech

Have you ever jammed your fingers or toes in any kind of closing mechanism? Doesn't it hurt? Maybe you caught your foot in a sliding door or maybe you carelessly left your fingers in a closing car door. I wasn't prepared for the kind of pain jamming your fingers can cause. Especially from somewhere I wasn't expecting it.

It all happened about a year ago on a Sunday morning. It was one of those days when the luminous light of the sun brightens up a cloudless sky but it is wintry and cold. We were at Arthur's Pass. 

I was beside the car on a deserted no exit road called sunshine terrace. Mum, (who seems to overreact over some things that aren't really that bad but hurt a lot) had decided to go to the doc centre and watch the the backstory of Arthur's Pass. We dumped our stuff in the boot getting ready to go, as I walked towards the car little did know of the potential danger that lay ahead…

As I slung my bag my hand hovered closer and closer to the car, I turned and rested my fingers on the side of the car, dangerously close to the boot.

As if in slow motion the boot started to creak shut, I whirled back around, then it happened, the worst thing I could think about, the boot had slammed shut on two of my fingers! 

There wasn't to much pain but a tingle, like the one that goes down your spine after chalk runs across a blackboard and it permeated my entire hand. I was more scared than it hurt but when the boot opened my fingers were bruised, bloody and it hurt to much to put anything on top of it. Mum quickly grabbed an ice pack and sat me down on the sofa with her phone while dad and my brother went to watch the movie. While I waited I was playing games. When my brother and dad came back it still hurt a lot but the intense pain had calmed a little, and over time the bruise slowly but surely started to disappear. Weeks later, the bruise had completely gone!

Well I guess this incident taught me one thing, to be that much more careful around doorways, car doors,  windows AND BOOTS. And I hope, unlike me, you don't choose to learn this the hard way.

Arts reflection

This term we have been learning about how arts to connect to the community. On Thursday the 17th of September 2015 we went into the middle of town to perform our class and individual acts.

I think my performances were great because I didn't make a mistake at all in any of them. My highlights were when I got through the song 'Stairway to heaven' by Led Zeppelin with two others singing and when I said the lines I needed to say in the class drama. My proudest moment was at the end when everything had been done without a mistake. 

At the end of the class drama I involved the audience by making eye contact and projecting my voice but also emphasising it. It is important to make eye contact because if we didn't then the audience would lose interest in our performance.  It is also important to project your voice and emphasise it because if you didn't project your voice no one would hear you. If you didn't emphasis your voice then it would have one tone and it wouldn't be pleasant.

I saw examples of māori values such as manaakitia, kotahitanga and whanaungatanga. I saw kotahitanga when Harry and Ben K danced and sang to 'Hall of fame' by S.C.R.I.P.T. and they invited everyone to come up and dance with them. I saw whanaungatanga when kids from different classes played with each other and started to make new friends. I also saw examples of manaakitia when people were letting other people do their individual acts, for example when the band had finished performing they let Harry, Ben K and I do our act in the break between performances.

At the end of our performance it seemed like the crowd had liked our performance because I could hear clapping and cheering and Mrs Bentall said "Sounding good guys." Also at the end of our class performance there was clapping and cheering till the end of the final ceremony.

Even though the arts term is ending I can still connect to my own life by performing for competition, performing for fun or even playing for family! And there are many other way to connect to the community but I can't name them.

Here is a link to my dance/play. I am in the corner with the mike.
http://youtu.be/EJ7pmNnV6tA

My speech 2015 - car danger

Have you ever jammed your fingers or toes in any kind of closing mechanism? Doesn't it hurt? Maybe you caught your foot in a sliding door or maybe you carelessly left your fingers in a closing car door. I wasn't prepared for the kind of pain jamming your fingers can cause. Especially from somewhere I wasn't expecting it.

It all happened about a year ago on a Sunday morning. It was one of those days when the luminous light of the sun brightens up a cloudless sky but it is wintry and cold. We were at Arthur's Pass. 

I was beside the car on a deserted no exit road called sunshine terrace. Mum, (who seems to overreact over some things that aren't really that bad but hurt a lot) had decided to go to the doc centre and watch the the backstory of Arthur's Pass. We dumped our stuff in the boot getting ready to go, as I walked towards the car little did know of the potential danger that lay ahead…

As I slung my bag my hand hovered closer and closer to the car, I turned and rested my fingers on the side of the car, dangerously close to the boot.

As if in slow motion the boot started to creak shut, I whirled back around, then it happened, the worst thing I could think about, the boot had slammed shut on two of my fingers! 

There wasn't to much pain but a tingle, like the one that goes down your spine after chalk runs across a blackboard and it permeated my entire hand. I was more scared than it hurt but when the boot opened my fingers were bruised, bloody and it hurt to much to put anything on top of it. Mum quickly grabbed an ice pack and sat me down on the sofa with her phone while dad and my brother went to watch the movie. While I waited I was playing games. When my brother and dad came back it still hurt a lot but the intense pain had calmed a little, and over time the bruise slowly but surely started to disappear. Weeks later, the bruise had completely gone!

Well I guess this incident taught me one thing, to be that much more careful around doorways, car doors,  windows AND BOOTS. And I hope, unlike me, you don't choose to learn this the hard way.

Fingers jammed in a car boot

After deciding to go to the Devil's Punch Bowl walking track at Arthur's pass, we headed towards the car. I slung my bag into the car boot and turned the other way, but little did I notice my fingers were resting on the side...

All I heard was the squeak of the boot and a CRUNCH as the boot slammed half shut on my two fingers, and almost immediately felt a tingle that rapidly increased. When I turned I screamed and mum opened the boot lickety split. The pain then was immediate and excruciating, and permeated my entire hand like I had broken a bone. I sat down on the sofa in agony with an ice pack for about twenty minutes playing on a phone as the pain slowly decreased. 

A few weeks later it was only a mark.

Nature of science reflection

This term I showed many qualities of a good scientist. 

I used evidence by using a clarity tube to test the turbidity of the water and when I used an in stream and riparian habitat survey also when we tested the water temperature and checked for erosion. I was also curious when I was identifying invertebrates and when I was wondering why invertebrates hated warm water. I made careful observations when I identified invertebrates and when I was rating the habitat. I was making decisions when I made a Gantt chart and when I was deciding whose opinion was best also when I was deciding what action to take. My inquiry project was to write a letter to the council saying that we could replant a waterway (Mine was Dudley creek) with native plants so that most of the invertebrates return.

This my project Gantt chart and it shows what what we need to do in order and the time we think we are going to do it in and the time it took to do it.

These are my struggleometers and they show what strategies I have used, what I have used them for and what level I'm on.

These are the strategies that I have used to help with my learning.

This is my insect drawing and I had to do five drafts before I could start my big copy!

Maori ritual reflection

This year I have been learning about Maori ritual and it's importance. At the start of the year I felt I was at unistructural, which means I understood and enjoyed one part of Maori ritual if I was prompted or directed. Now I feel like my learning is at relational which means that I understand and enjoy in all parts of Maori ritual and I know when and why to use them. After we have had a school trip to Willowbank and experienced a powhiri and even held a mihi whakatau in our hall I have learned so much more about Maori ritual over that time. It has been important to me because if I was to attend to a marāe then I could do what is required and I wouldn't be embarrassed. I need to seek more feedback and maybe teach other people.
Here is some audio links to our performances and explanations of our
learning:
https://soundcloud.com/waimairisounds/poraporaki
https://soundcloud.com/waimairisounds/mihi-whakatau-for-ht-blogs

healthy waterway report scott winefield

christchurch waterways

There are many types of waterways in Christchurch. Some are made by nature such as rivers, melting snow, springs, tributaries, wildlife habitats, wetlands, estuaries and hill waterways.  Some waterways are artificial like piped systems, surface runoffs, stormwater systems, artificial drains, retention basins and water races. Also there are things to do with water that aren't waterways like recreation and structures are two artificial ones and surface and groundwater soakage is one produced by nature.

Here are some I can connect: Wetlands are connected to retention basins because people take out the absorbent plants and build houses so we need retention basins to hold water that might overflow into drains when flooded. Drains connect to disease because chch is a flat lying area so it can't drain properly.  So when the Maori population increased it caused epidemics of diseases. People are doing their best to make Christchurch flow better, for example turning boarded up drains into beautiful streams that hold lots of invertebrates! Why can't more people change boarded up drains into beautiful river habitats?

Aquifers connect to rivers because the rain falls from the sky and ends up in the aquifers and then they push up and end up in rivers.  Some rivers are made by springs. Others are made by rain. Stormwater is also connected to rivers because some of the rainwater ends up in the stormwater system and flows straight to the rivers so I would think twice about throwing litter in a drain.

Ecosystems

The river ecosystem holds different creatures that rely on different habitats and food to survive. The Canterbury mudfish depends on sediment because if sediment was not there then the mudfish would have nowhere to burrow into in droughts. The Common Bully relies on mudfish because the mudfish is an umbrella species which means it protects other species. The Common Bully survives on mayfly larvae because mayfly larvae is a favourite food and if mayfly larvae and other larvae disappeared then it would only eat crustaceans. Mayfly larvae depend on the water temperature being ideally fiveteen degrees Celsius and below or otherwise the water has little oxygen and it will die.

The water temperature has a connection with sediment because if there is a lot of sediment in the river it makes the river look dark and dark colours absorb heat faster than light colours so the river becomes warmer. Sediment connects with vegetation because the plants on the edge filter the sediment and nutrients into the river. The paradise duck depends on vegetation because it eats the plants and builds shelters and lays eggs on them.

Waterway health

There are lots of different indicators to show whether a waterway has a healthy or unhealthy ecosystem. In an unhealthy stream we would only find snails and worms. In a healthy ecosystem we would find more sensitive species like dobsonfly, stonefly, mayfly larvae, also dragon flies and much more, another indicator is the water temperature.

If the temperature is below twelve degrees Celsius then the macro invertebrates will have enough oxygen to move and breathe comfortably, but when the temperature is higher than fifteen degrees Celsius then the macro invertebrates would use up more energy breathing and macro invertebrates can't move far so most die in hot water temperatures.

The algae should be a thin film so it gives just enough nutrients to feed the macro invertebrates but if the algae is a thick spongy stringy layer and it gives off too many nutrients, it uses a lot of oxygen so the macro invertebrates can't breathe and it is sometimes even toxic.

The riparian zone should be made of a mixture of small and tall trees so it holds the bank together and filters sediment and it should have nine or more meters of trees going out but if the riparian zone was just grass or nothing at all and. One to three meters then it would crumble and the water would look dirty. If the waterway was healthy then there would be no sediment and just pebbles and stones and the water would be clear, if it is unhealthy then it would be loaded with sediment and it gets in fishes gills and it looks polluted.

Testing our streams

Our class visited some local waterways such as streams, creeks, lakes and  stormwater drains. We evaluated the health of the waterways by using an invertebrate survey, an in-stream and riparian habitat survey, a clarity tube, trays and an eye dropper. First we used the dropper to suck up the invertebrates then we put them into trays and then used the invertebrate survey to assess what species and how many specimens there were, next the

instructor filled a clarity tube with water from the stream and some people looked through and said it got blurry right near the end. After that we got into groups of three or more and we walked upstream filling in the in-stream and riparian habitat survey and at the end the score for the river for our group was a 'good' rating with a mark of 40 out of 56, when we got back the instructor had filled the clarity tube with water from the downstream end and this time it was a bit more murky and the same people tried it and couldn't even see 1/3 of the way to the other end!

Results

We visually tested Dudley creek in St James park and established that the ecosystem habitat was in 'good' quality but we found out that the stream flow was fair because it wasn't very wide and didn't have much water and it didn't have enough stones to provide rapids and riffles. But the erosion was good but needs improving because it has mostly grass down to the bank and about one fifth was flax and the rest was dirt but it seemed quite stable and there was quite a steep bank. The shade over the stream was very good, as most of the stream is shaded but where we tested and  in some other was a little bit bare, and the sediment on the stream bed is fair and needs improving because there are little visible stones and most of the bottom is sediment so there wouldn't be much of a chance of finding invertebrates.

Validity

The validity of this test is affected by the fact that everyone has a differing opinion on what they see.

In addition people see different waterways in different perspectives and sees something different every time or wherever they look.

Suggested changes

I propose that we take the following actions:

• We tell people how important it is not to drop rubbish on the ground.
• Plant more trees to both create more shade and prevent erosion.
• Add more stones to create more rapids and riffles.
• Also add more rocks to help invertebrates hide from predators.
• Use native trees to plant because the native creatures are used to the environment.

We should do this because we want to sustain and protect the resources that come from the river for future generations. The Maori call this kaitiakitanga. We also want to sustain and protect the waterways for things like recreation, mahinga kai (food from nature) and make sure the waterways are a healthy environment.

Human Activities on Water (charades)

We did charades to imitate the human activities good or bad on the waterways. We had to do things like fishing, water skiing and a whole lot of other things. I learnt that it was challenging to get into the shape that some of the ideas required. We had a slow start at first then we sped up so we got better and better. Next time we could do more work and less talk.
Here are our four charades...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4FfcDybx1U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlF3hrxY_hw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1QcN6KM7Kw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-W6gETayuQ

Autumn poem

Autumn comes early to this busy school,
No tidy grounds, no daffodils,

But Crippled leaves thrown around,
Forgotten rubbish tumbling on the ground,
And patchy rain pattering on the roof,
And the leaf-losing leaves drop some scrumptious fruit
Crunchy acorns drop helplessly to the ground,
And the unforgiving chainsaws cut trees with a growling sound.

Autumn comes early to this busy school,
No tidy grounds, no daffodils,
Yet one small ray of sun creeps through the sky,
And the yells of the first football game drift up high.

Stealing Chocolate

 I hopped over the fence and I heard the usual loud woof and footsteps, which told me that the dog was there and waiting for me. It was home time, after school, and way after the school patrol had finished. Sam sprinted past me just in time to hear the doorknob turning and my brother asking Sam, how's my doggy!!?? Inside the kitchen I would usually grab a chocolate and go away to play soccer but this time I waited until both my brother and mum had gone and tiptoed to the treat jar. I thought "what shall I have, there are moro's and crunchies... I'll choose the moro - it lasts." Before I had time to reach into the jar my brother called out. "Are you coming or what?" "In a minute." I replied. As I started to peel off the wrapper I heard a THUMP, THUMP, THUMP of the stairs; I had taken too much time and mum was coming down with speed. Fumbling with the wrapper, I shoved it in my mouth. "Mum asked Does it take that long to eat a chocolate? I nod, trying to make it seem like it did. "Well, I know it doesn't." She said, "next time you're getting only one." And that was that.

Camp at wainui - orienteering.

As the teacher called out “Group one...” I was hoping that group two were doing orienteering. Then she said "Group two you are doing… orienteering!" We all stood up right away and we sat on the splintery seat at orienteering, while our camp parents, Kathryn and Justine, split us into groups. I felt relieved and I thought "Good, I'm in a mostly sensible group."  

After that we got to select two map holders. "Me me me me!!" everyone shouted. Eventually they choose Felix and Alyssa. I felt a bit let down as I thought "Shame it isn't me, I'm pretty good with maps." Finally, Justine determined the boundaries.

"The boundaries are shown on the map and I know that the outside of the map is out of bounds so let's get going," I muttered to myself.

So after that it was finally time to get going! I felt really frustrated when I would find the trail going right but not left. When we had arrived at the final control I was feeling very excited, and even better, we had done it in less than an hour. What an exhausting way to finish!

Lake hawea

Water

Frigid and rippling, it nips at my feet until my toes go numb.

The fire

High flying, crackling and fast sweeping, marshmallows go sticky in seconds

Marshmallows

Taste soft, double layered and gooey after being roasted

Go karts

Bumpy, hard going but fun

Sun

Blinding brightness and UV rays pounding down; sun block is needed

Rocks

Pointy, flat, skinny and rounded, always fun to flick over the lake