Inspiring writers

Recently we watched this video by Dai Henwwood sharing his experience of writing and coming up with a story starter to inspire others.  Well, we love really cool story starters too, so we had a go at coming up with our own inspirations for other writers out there.

Tiana and Aroha
Sophie T
Dara and Akasha
Anna, Freya, Bella
Piper
Alex and Kayla
Lizzie

Delroy, Neco and Sophie

Nina and Mariah
Hollie and Lucy  (black screen but clear audio)

If any of these inspire you to write, please share your stories.  We'd love to hear them.

Everest

Day 1

As I lay in the crisp snow it slowly eats away my only body warmth I need to survive.My skin screams every time I make a move.It feels like my skin is one with the icy snow.

Why did I even want to come here?  Now because of me I’m risking my life.I sit up bend forward and check my fingers,they are purple, solid and extremely sore.

I don’t have anything on me, I lost everything when I slipped. I only have the clothes on my back and a crushed biscuit in my pocket to live off.

I’m literally hanging by a thread on the side of this powder-covered mountain.The only things holding me here are my crampons and my reliable ice axe.  I would say I’m roughly two thousand meters above ground and if I slip it would be a deadly ending.

Anything could go wrong in the matter of seconds.

Day 2

A night and day has past and I need help severely.  The cold is making my strength deteriorate and I’m nearly the size of a matchstick,I also think my hypothermia will soon become deadly.  I’m too tired, too weak to hold on any longer,when will my help arrive?But on the other hand I don’t want to move as I’m in pain and scared of what could happen if I do. The best thing to do is to sleep. That’s the only way I can escape the cold for a minute.

Icicles start to form at the end of my nostrils, the cold wind whips my face and the bright snow blinds my eyes.

Day 3

With my health worsening I need to find a way down fast. I try hard to think but my brain is frozen numb. I then see a helicopter flying high going in and out of the clouds that hug the gigantic mountain, I do everything in my power to get the pilot’s attention. After minutes of waving, yelling, screaming and pretty much anything it just slowly fades into the distance.

I think the only way out now is to use my crampons and slide down the mountain and slowly manoeuvre around big rocks to the bottom.  I have no choice. I get into a suitable position to do so and start on the big slope.

My tongues dry and my stomach is growling for food and my feet are starting to cramp up from wearing the crampons for so long.I try to push through the pain and think about all the things I could live for when I do get out.

After a few hours of moving quickly I’m now 200 meters above ground. My hands are now solid and they crunch as I bend them to grasp the ice axe. Tears start rolling down my cheeks because I know that help and safety is very near.

As people rush out to help me I thank god he brought me back safe and I kiss the ground beneath my feet.

By Hollie

Post Camp reflection

Today the year 8s invited the BOT to come and hear about how much they had learnt from camp, and how this has been reflected in the leadership teams that have developed this term. They spoke clearly, sharing their thoughts and experiences.

This is Hollie's contribution.

This story is about what I learnt about myself on camp.

When I was on camp I learnt a few new things about myself that were quite interesting and I didn’t even know about. This camp has helped me learn and take on new leadership roles and has also helped me look at myself and learn something new about myself I never knew before.

I learnt that I have a few leadership roles that I seem to do when I’m in a group, I’m an encourager in a team and encourage my teammates, I can also be a leader of the team and take the reins if I need to, I’m also a helper or worker and happily do a job that needs to be done.

I also learnt that I don’t like being silent and sitting in one place for a long period of time, another thing I learnt about myself is that I’m not that comfortable being in high places, I found this out when I was at camp doing the high ropes challenge and I was really scared when I was on one of the highest courses, when I was doing the high ropes challenge I kind of realised that I have a bit of a problem trusting people. One more thing I learned is that I CAN handle the eco toilets and that they are not as bad as I thought.

I think this camp has really helped me to find out more of what I do that I didn’t even know I do and I think every year eight should go to this leadership camp because if you actually put your mind to it, it can really help you with everything like leadership,confidence,learn stuff that you didn’t know about yourself,and could possibly change your whole attitude.

A Frosty Morning

As I step out of the toasty warm car I feel the frosty temperature nip my nose. It’s cold enough to freeze a rat inside and out. I make my way up to the front gate and walk up the swirvy path,since the year seven and eight class is at the end of the big buildings I make a quick short cut between the kindergarten and the pool.

As I walk upon the frosty-glazed grass I hear it crunch beneath my feet.  The sound is somehow satisfying. I look down and see distinctly how the frost defines the skeleton of a leaf unlike on a humid summer morning.

The school is quiet but will be buzzing in the next half hour. I slowly approach my big classroom and ignore taking my shoes off because I will probably get hypothermia in under two minutes. I step into the class and the warmth envelops me like a warm blanket, I am glad I made it into the warm classroom.  

By Hollie

Pool party

This week, students from Rāwhiti came and enjoyed themselves at the pool party run by some amazing year 8 students as part of our fundraising. 

Our Tangaroa leaders did a superb job of organizing the event right from the word go and everyone enjoyed the games, prizes and fun in the pool. 

Thanks to everyone who came along and supported us!

Tino pai o koutou mahi!

Debating begins!

Last week eight students in Tangaroa took the floor to debate whether winter sports was good for personal development (or not!). Arguing for the affirmative were Tyrone, Neco, Alex H and Delroy. Arguing the negative were Lizzie, Hayley, Hollie and Tiana.

It was a lively debate with well reasoned and researched arguments and just a little bit of friendly interjection. 

And who won?  It was closely fought but let's just say we won't be taking winter sport out of the curriculum just yet!