Term 3 reflection.

This term has been so eventful, I honestly can’t believe that it has just been one term. So many exciting things have happened that I just can’t fit it all into one reflection.



One of my favourite things that have happened this term would definitely be Cant-a-maths. It was an overnight trip to Christchurch with the 3 other year 8s and the team of 4 year 7s. We managed to fit a lot into the short time. First, we went for a quick swim as soon as we reached the holiday park. We then left for the competition. Altogether we didn’t do too bad with 50 points! After that, we went ice skating and had a great time. I wish that I could go on the same trip every year.



We also had speeches this term. Unlike in previous years, I knew what I was going to do my speech on. Annoying things that adults say! I spent a long time on it and I memorized the whole speech. I was actually really excited to present my speech this year. I made it into the school speech competition and I think that I did pretty good. I didn’t make it into rotary but the two who did were really good!



I think that I have made a good amount of academic progress this year as well. I have learnt a lot of things in maths and I even managed to complete the basic facts tests! We have also been doing some different things in reading. We have started a Reading log, so whenever we read outside of school, we put it on the reading log so we can see how much we have read. Reciprocal reading is another thing that we’ve been doing for reading. Reciprocal reading is good when everybody works together, but when people don’t, it can be a little frustrating as not much gets done.



Out of all of the great things that have happened this term, the lastest WPCA trip would have to be my favourite. A two-night trip to the Temple Basin ski area! We all had a great time. Twelve year 8s with a teacher, a former teacher, and other parents who came along as well. The trip up was painful but it was worth it. Honestly, I was horrible at skiing at first but I finally got the hang of it by the end of the first day. Yes, right at the end. I was a little bit annoyed that we had to go inside as soon as I learnt how to stop but it turned out that it was a good thing that we went inside because just a couple of minutes later, it started snowing. A lot. The two days were also really fun, but of course, we had to leave. If I could go back one day, I definitely would.



This term has probably been my favourite this year so far. I am really sad that this term is going to be one of my last at this school.

Skiing reflection.

I remember waking up that morning. I couldn’t believe it. It was finally Wednesday. The day that all thirteen year eights went skiing! I barely remember that morning. How could I remember the boring tasks of getting ready for school when such memorable events followed?

The morning at school went surprisingly fast. Before I knew it, I was piled in a car, loud music blaring. By the time We arrived at the bottom of the mountain, I already had a couple of stories to tell. I remember that I did quickly grow tired though. Honestly, the walk up that mountain was tiring! By the time I got up the mountain, I was wondering how I was going to ski! As soon as I made it into the lodge, I sat down and kicked my shoes off. Along with everyone else, I wolfed down a delicious lunch, ready to relax. However, we never really got to the relaxing bit as we were hurried to another part of the building to get our ski boots. I waited anxiously for mine while watching those who already had theirs enviously. By the looks on their faces, I could tell that it wasn’t going to be easy.

I soon found out that it wasn’t as soon as we reached the place that we were skiing. I slowly walked up the hill, falling over multiple times. The first trip down was painful. And also very quick compared to the time it took to get back up again! It went like that for most of the skiing time for that day. A slow walk up. Fast ski/fall down. Repeat. But finally, near the end, I actually did it! I went down, turned, and, most important, of all, I didn’t fall over! It was sad that we had to stop though but I was really looking forward to dinner!

I woke up at 6:30 the next morning. After a quick conversation with Rhea and Natasha, (who were in my room as well) we got up. Breakfast was simple. I just had some muesli, no milk as it was recently powdered milk and was still lumpy. I was going to try some, but the warnings of others scared me off. After a small number of dishes and some rounds of ping pong, we were off. We got our ski boots on, our skis over our shoulder and clumsily walked over to where we went skiing. My legs we tired but I was determined to use the Nutcracker today. After a few successes and failures, I was finally ready. I strapped a Nutcracker around my waist and stood in line. To use it, you just have to hold onto the rope which drags you forward and then fling the Nutcracker onto the rope and wait for it to drag you up the mountain. It sounds simple but it took a few goes to get it right. In the end, I did and had a great time going up and down the mountain. 

But as they say, time flies by when you’re having fun. Soon, due to bad weather, we had to go. Not just to our skis but to the lodge and mountain altogether. After a delayed start, we were on our way, back to the cars at the bottom of the mountain that dropped us off in the first place. The trip down may not have been as bad as the way up, but it was still tiring. When we got to the bottom, loaded our bags into the cars, took our jackets off and piled into the cars, I was almost ready to sleep. During the way back, my mind was buzzing with recent memories. The trip had some downs, but altogether, it was amazing. I cannot wait for our next W.P.C.A trip.

Rafting the Arnold river reflection

On the 15th of May, us 13 year 8s went rafting on the Arnold River. It was amazing! The water was freezing and fast-flowing (not to mention dirty) as it had rained a lot beforehand, but this turned out to be a good thing. I was in the middle of the raft with Natasha next to me, Xavier and Jeordie in front and Jasper as the steering wheel at the bank. It was smooth at first, but soon we were hanging on for dear life (at least I was). I still remember the first time we went over a rock. Somebody called a warning, and naturally, we headed right towards it. I was quite surprised when we landed and didn’t have our bodies underwater. I really got a shock when Natasha next to me said, “don’t worry, no more rapids”. One second later, I heard somebody yell “RAPIDS!”. Despite turning completely around and shaking violently, we stayed on without getting stuck. Another raft was not so lucky. The managed to wedge themselves on top of a giant boulder. We saw many things while rafting, including a dead cow. Unfortunately, not everyone saw it, but the one that didn’t, got the privilege of unknowingly swimming with it instead. I definitely found it challenging and I was very scared at first, but by the end, I found that I was sad to see the end of the day.

Cave Stream.

My feet were freezing, my hands cold from testing the coldness of the clear liquid that I would spend over an hour in. I gathered up my courage to jump into the water. SPLASH! It was, so, so, so... not too cold actually. Just you wait, I said to myself. A couple of minutes and I'll be as cold as the Yetis freezer.

I started wondering myself up the stream. I hear a splash and a scream I look behind me, but I don't have to. I already know what has happened, somebody fell in! It's not the first time, and it won't be the last! I look around, and I see a large dark circle on the wall, darker than the surrounding space. I look closely and realize that it is a side cave! In no time at all, I had scurried up there. I felt my legs, or at least I tried to. As soon as I had got up, everybody else has to. We then would all get back down again, though every few minutes, we would find another one. In one of these, we all had to turn our lights off. I remember that darkness still. I was so peaceful... Until someone just had to yell out BOO! UUUGGGHH!

When we all heard the rushing water getting louder, we knew we had encountered yet another waterfall. I would trie a few times to get up. Sometimes I would succeed, sometime, a couple of adults would have to drag me up. The water would be so strong that I would never touch the rocks, as the water would keep pushing me away. We kept on moving until we didn't have to rely on the light given by our torches. I remember, climbing up the last little, though fast flowing waterfall, running up to a big great rock and lying down.

A great experience to say the least. A view to last a life lime. The best adventure around. A memory to never forget. Whatever you want to say, that day will stick in my mind for my whole life. From my legs being numb just about the whole time to climbing/being dragged up a waterfall, to the thrill of having to crawl ten metres, fifteen metres of the ground, on a less than a metre wide ledge, holding nothing but a chain. It was a real adventure.

Term 3 Reflection.

Report Card.

Term 2 reflection