Skinks - by Faaao

Skinks

Skinks are lizards. There are other kind of reptile and they are called Tautara and Gecko. Skinks are native to New Zealand. All the lizards in New Zealand are protected by the law.

Appearance

The skinks in New Zealand has dry scales. They can camouflage to  hide from their predators. Skinks eyesight and hearing are excellent.

Eating Habits

Skinks are mainly carnivores, they eat berries, spiders, and any other insects. They eat anything like berries and meats.

Predators

The skinks predators are mustelids, mice, and rats. The skinks can  escape from their predators by letting the them take their tail  and grow another one or they can camouflage or run fast as they can to their homes.

Conclusion

Skink are very important to New Zealand and all the law are trying to protect them from the predators. Skink are native to New Zealand and that why they protect them. When you find a skink you will have to leave it where you found it.

Olympic Swimming - by Cheyanne

Shot Put - by Taeshell

Shot Put is followed by many Kiwis, because Valerie Adams represented New Zealand at the 2012 Olympic games, in London. A lot of people thought she was going to win a gold medal. But Nadzeya Ostapchuk put the shot further and got a score of 21.36 meters. Fortunately for Valerie her rival tested positive for steroids, and Valerie got her gold in the end.
If you haven't participated in Shot Put before, well you're about to learn. Here are some of the rules:
Standing in the circle is where you start.
When the shot has landed you are allowed to exit
If you walk out at the wrong place or time, you are disqualified.


There are two putting styles involved in Shot Put. One of them is the Glide, and the other is the Spin. A very common technique is the glide, and is not really used by beginners, (people that have just started learning Shot Put).

Keeping the shot below your shoulders is what you have to do. Getting a good throw is what you will want, so pushing the small metal ball at about forty degrees makes the ball go fast, and far, not too high, and not too low.

Good luck for when you start participating in Shot Put.

Shot Put Tutorial - by Calvin

Shot put is a event of track and field. For people who aren’t that keen on shot put and want to know how to step your game up. Use the following text to help you.

In shot put shot put there is a technique called glide.In glide you stand at the backwards and rotate 160 angle and then release.

There is another technique only males can use, it is called spin or spin style. you stand backwards and rotate 360 degrees using your left leg as a pivot. then use your other leg as a pivot, next rotate  anther 360 degrees, then turn 360 degrese and release the ball. Once the ball has left your finger tips your leg should have touched the floor.

In shot put there is a seven foot circle for you to spin and do your technique. If you stand out of it your put does not count. There is a stop at the front of the circle so you don’t go over the edge.

On the field there is markings of the length if you go out of the boundaries you can fail your first put or your second. if you go past a mark of the other thrower you are winning.

Judo: the gentle way - by Calvin

Synchronized Swimming - by Kaycee

Here is my olympics animation.

Interview with Valerie Adams - by Kaycee

Thanks to Olympic.org.nz for this image.

Interviewer: Hello, my name is Kaycee and I am really excited to be having the well known tongan, 2 time gold medalist currently living in Auckland, fabulous world champion Shot putter, Give a round of applause for.... Valerie Adams. Hello Valerie!

Valerie Adams: Hello Kaycee

Interviewer: Now Valerie, I’ve heard that there are different spin styles to put the metal ball. Do you use more than one and if you do which ones?

Valerie Adams: I only use one and it is called the glide. It is very common for someone like me. It is not one that would be used for beginners though. Another well known style used by professional men, is the ‘spin’.

Interviewer: Thanks for that. So if you're a beginner don’t use this one. I wonder?...Are there many ways to get disqualified?

Valerie Adams: Yes there are. At the olympics once your name is called out you have to get started on the throw before 60 secs is up, otherwise you're out. Also you must step out from the back and you aren’t allowed to step out of the circle before the push is finished.

Interviewer: Wow. This event has some very strict rules. What do you need to do to train?

Valerie Adams: I probably spend most of the week I have to lift weights to get my strength up. I also have to eat special and the right foods to be able to get stronger.

Interviewer: You must spend a lot of your time with weights. Tell us about your  family?

Valerie Adams: Well, I have 1 brother who is Steven Adams, the basketball player. My mum is tongan and her name is Lilika Ngauamo. My dad is english and his name is Sydney Adams.

Interviewer: THANK-YOU Valerie for this amazing talk and we hope to see you at the next olympics!

Skinks - by Taamai

There are 2 type of lizards that are native to New Zealand, Skinks and Geckos. Tuataras are native too, but they are not lizards.
                                                                   
Their habitats can be anywhere on the seashore, rocky areas, cold places and in the forest  and on the ground. We have to protect the area they live in because skinks are protected.
                                                   
Skinks have small eyes but can see really well. They have to blink so that their eyes can keep clean and moist.
                                                                  
Sinks are mainly carnivores. They eat insects, spiders and bugs. Sometimes they like to eat fruits from trees.
                                                                  
Skinks have predators like birds and Tuataras. They can run really first to escape their enemies. Skins lose their tail when they are escaping their predators but it grows back.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
I am glad that Sinks are protected so that they are in New Zealand for ever.

Olympic Basketball - by Evan

Skinks - by Timoteo

Skinks are Lizards and they’re Native to New Zealand. They were here millions of years ago. They are protected by law. Tuatara are not lizards, they’re reptiles. Geckos can climb, and skinks can just stay on the ground.


Appearance
There tails come off  when a predators  grabs them. The tail grows slowly and the colour goes different from the one he had before.The scales look like the one’s  from a fish but their scales are dry.

Diet.
The food they eat is insects and spiders, and soft fruits. Most of the Skinks are carnivors that means that they eat meat.


When they try to escape their enemies they can run as fast as they can. Tuatara and birds eat skinks.


Skinks are very weird animal.

Olympic Archery - by Frankie

Narrative by Evan

At The Beach

In the holidays I went to the beach with my mum because it was hot sunny day. I asked my friend Kori if he wanted to come. We went in the car and when we got there I jumped in and it was cold. My mum said don't go out far!

My mum went home to get togs for her because she wanted to have a swim to.
Kori didn't listen he went out far He jumped in and it was deep. A wave washed him away I saw something moving in the water and it was going close up to Kori, I told Kori to get out but he didn't want to.I saw Kori panicking and stuff that looks like blood.Kori only had one
leg.

I was panicking too I did not know what to do so I jumped in with a chainsaw, I didn’t
want to get eaten. I was mad because he was my friend and he was getting eaten.
I went up to the shark and cut its head off. With the chainsaw.

I rang the ambulance and they came like in 2 minutes. I said to Kori are you ok and
he said no.When my mum came she said what happen I said Kori almost eaten by
a shark.

Thai Fish Cakes

 Guess what? Last Tuesday, the Extension group made irresistible Thai Fish Cakes for the Lets Cook with Parmco weekly challenge. We were in groups, and made fish cakes for Week 1, which was pretty awesome. It's a very simple dish, full of spices, veggies and FISH!! Did I forget to mention that we had a delicious salad on the side?

I think that it was really easy because even though our presentation looked AMAZING, it was bang on perfect and simple. Although we didn't win last week, I was still proud of all of us.

My favorite part of the process was of course, not  only eating it, but also frying the fish cakes. Just because the cakes were perfectly.

I would really love to cook this dish again for my family because I think that they will enjoy it a lot! Be sure to look out for my blog post about this weeks Marrakech Chicken meal!! And also PLEASE be sure to vote for our school in the comp! :)

 

Farewell Mrs Verry

When I heard something about Mrs Verry leaving, I was shocked. Mrs Verry is a really helpful lady. She is kind, generous, good, and like I said "helpful". 

Today I am writing a farewell post to her, so I can show that she is always welcome here. I wish she could stay and help. What I like about Mrs Verry is that, she is always there when you need here. THANK YOU MRS VERRY FOR BEING SUCH A KIND TEACHER, AND GOOD LUCK!
Taeshell

The Dreaming Place

 Leah had a lot of dreams and goals for her future until these were all shattered in an accident.What future can Leah have now?

This is one of the texts in our book club. In Room 17 we choose which book we would like to read and discuss. Feel free to join in the discussion on this blog if you have read The Dreaming Place, or want to comment on our discussion.

Darcy Devlin - Book Club

Darcy Devlin dreams about being a private investigator. He always keeps his ears and eyes open, and carries a notebook, in case something strange catches his eye. 
This is just what happens. Who is that strange boy who turns up in the same place every day looking shifty?

This is one of the texts in our book club. In Room 17 we choose which book we would like to read and discuss. Feel free to join in the discussion on this blog if you have read Darcy Devlin and the Mystery Boy or want to comment on our discussion. 

Looking For Amelia - Bookclub

Emily doesn't want to move, but the old house her family have shifted to is full of secrets and soon provide a mystery for Emily  and her brother to solve.

This is one of the texts in our book club. In Room 17 we choose which book we would like to read and discuss. Feel free to join in the discussion on this blog if you have read Looking For Amelia, or want to comment on our discussion.

Night Fishing - Book Club

Nat and her father have taken their boat Markita out to Gull Rock for some night fishing.
But as darkness falls there is an emergency onboard. Mayday! Mayday!


This is one of the texts in our book club. In Room 17 we choose which book we would like to read and discuss. Feel free to join in the discussion on this blog if you have read Night Fishing, or want to comment on our discussion.

Wrestling - by Jonathan

A Place To Sleep - reading activity by Kori-Lee