Intro

Kia Ora, Room 13!!! Well, Term 2 is almost over - or over, depending on when you read this - and I am proud to say strong, positive personalities in our class have had their personal successes as well as brought success to our class in one way or another. If I look back over this term, it has been another busy one.

It is exciting to write that at many times since the beginning of the year, members of Room 13 have involved themselves in different activities. Starting with Arlien, Krystyn, Lauryn and Samuel campaigning for Rutherford Learning Community leadership. Lauryn and Samuel have shown strong leadership for Rutherford in the many competitions we have had so far. Arlien and Krystyn are kept busy as our class councillors.

Then it was Tina with her support team of Kelly, Leeanne, Makayla, Meleane, MJ, Morgan, Renae and Sian creating the Rutherford banner for the school swimming sports. With a powerful chant and a back-up song, Rutherford LC brought the noise to the Jubilee pool that day!! Kelsey was quick to make our second banner. Both are proudly displayed in our class. Thanks girls! media type="custom" key="19677926" height="252" align="left" width="116"

On a great summer mid-morning, you were able to get out and enjoy extra PE/Fitness with Nikki and Lance, a Year 11, who comes across from PHS to assist in creating and teaching new games in sports. He helped you develop some Longball skills and learn some strategies to win the game against each other. It was our first mufti-day of the year, but some still remembered to bring their PE gear in for sport. Well done Nioso, Bradley, Kare, TK, Trinity, Kalem, Tina and Meleane. Some even remembered to wear their hats!!! media type="custom" key="19649530" width="266" height="266" align="center"

Before Term 1 was over, students from Hara Junior High School visited Pukekohe to experience NZ home-stay with students of our school and their families. This was a group of Japanese students who I had first taught basic English conversation skills when they were nine-years old!! How cool were they in teaching you to fold a flying crane - Japanese origami-style? There was concentration on your face TK, Jasmine, Sian, Leeanne, Haimona. You looked very happy with your efforts KJ! And then, as if THAT wasn't challenging enough, you got to experience Shodo - Japanese calligraphy. You used the same brushes they use in their Shodo classes at junior high, you got to see how they hold the fude - brush - and make the strokes. Jordan, Morgan, Gabe, Kare and Bradley, at different stages there was concentration as well as enjoyment. Most of your work is currently displayed across our windows. To the students from HJHS - minna-san, honto ni, arigatou-gozaimashita! Sayoonara.

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Term 2 has been all about research and investigations. In particular, your Science Fair investigation. It was a revisit of what you had learnt last year, shake out the cobwebs and create a new study. Small group experiments gave you a chance to explore different scientific properties. Choosing an experiment to study and relate how it influences or impacts on our world today, buying a Science board and filling in a Log book to show the progress of your investigation was the challenge for the term. Thanks Gabe for demonstrating your parachute. Leon, those poor eggs! I am looking forward to seeing your presentation. Firstly, well done to Jethro whose Science Investigation was voted as the best of Rutherford's effort. Second, well done to Sian, Gabe, Jordan and Ryan, who represented Room 13 at the school fair. Congratulations to Jordan - Is Treated Timber Working? - and Ryan - Wonderful Water Crystals - who made it as finalists at the high school. Ryan got a merit for his project. A special mention, Nioso received a Principal's Award for 'Oil Spill Kills'. To be completed, is your Scientist/Inventor project, working in pair in doing the research and then creating a unique presentation of what you have learnt about someone who has had an impact on our world today - positively or negatively. Use your Explanation writing skills - good practice. A poster or booklet showing what you have learnt is a presentation idea. I am looking forward to seeing the Keynote/Powerpoint slideshow some pairs have done. Also to come in, is your Statistical investigation. Surveying for data was a little difficult to do, so you could get a decent representation for making statements against each graph. Asking friends or family is an option. Just follow your checklist in the back of your booklet to cover all that you need to, to do well. While the Olympics are happening, you have another chance to collect data from our athletes.

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There were many other memorable moments, for you all, Room 13. There was camp at Totara Springs, Matamata, the week before end of Term 1. Feeling the fear and doing the Senior Abseil was a personal success for many of you - enough to want to go down a second time. Ryan is all concentration, as was Renae, Kelly and TK. I loved that you were ready to go down a second time before you even reached touchdown! Heights seemed to be the theme of Camp One activities - the Rock climbing looked like you had to have a strategy as to where you put your foot to where you put your hand to push/pull you up. MJ and Jethro, were you two racing each other? Flying Fox - either with no hands or blindfold on added a touch of danger to the excitement. Some of you were even doused with a cold shot of water from "who-knows-where!" Patience, that's the biggest smile I've ever seen on you - a smile as long as the flying fox! Lauryn, coming in for a landing very gently. Burma Trail required you to trust your partner and follow the hand-rope available to you. How much can you really see under the blindfold, KJ?  After the Fox, the Hydroslide was another speed-thrill provider. Once again Patience has got his smile on! But whether sitting, Kelly, or flying down the slide, Jordan, dunking into the warm-water pool was the best finish! The Archery poses are amazing, Haimona, Lauryn and Patience, your eyes were on the target - I almost felt sorry for Miss Austin, serious competition, right there. Bottom camp shots includes a great pose of Jethro and Leon in their kayak, looking victorious, boys? The end of camp was marked with a Quiz in the Kitchen/Hall run by Mr D and a Top Team set of obstacles. Falling out of the sack looked like heaps of fun, and you can see some more amazing smiles.

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So, how do you recover from a half year of new-ness and busy-ness? You set new goals for the next two terms and you continue to be the best Year 8s you are capable of being. You act confidently and think positively, you remember you are parts of a whole. You have already changed so much, as the last slide show displays. You support one another and help each other realise each others goals. It will be like when Team NZ Rowing came in and some of you could revisit the excitement, congratulations to Samuel and Makayla who went on to represent Rutherford LC at the finals we managed to sneak into cheer you both on.

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