When we got to the pool early in the morning I could taste chlorine and I could see sparkling water ahead of me.

Once everyone was changed Vanessa said a prayer for the day we started the events. The first event was four lengths of freestyle all ages. When I was standing at the starting block I shut my eyes and calmed myself down. We started. I’m calm first, but at the back. I’m on my last lap. I want to pick up the pace so I can at least come sixth. I hit the wall, I’m done.

I hold the wall and take a big breath then we get told to go to the ladder. I went back to the benches for a quick rest before my next race. My next was here, time to swim.

I lined up at my lane and jumped in because the medley was first backstroke. When Mr.K said go I shot off and started swimming with thrashing arms and kicking legs. I go to do a tumble-turn into breast-stroke. I swivelled my arms and legs through the water. I was ready to turn around into freestyle at the big bumpy blue wall. I’m there and ready to turn into freestyle with thrashing arms and legs through the water ahead of me. I’m last, again. After the race I had morning tea.

I actually kind of felt good about losing because another person got a chance to come sixth.          

Slippery Slide

You can watch our movie at this link.

Rock That Party

This morning, we went into the hall to learn some dances. Our instructor was Kate and she taught us lots of new moves that we didn't know before and the dance was called Rock That Party. It was fun. I had a good time.

You can see our dance on our class blog at stproom4.blogspot.co.nz

Saint Francis

Pictures in the Mind

On the 14th of November, the whole school had Athletics day.

The 9 year olds’ first sporting event was Discus. The discus was as flat and round as a plate and as heavy as three large plates. We all had to line up after we signed up so we could have our turn. When I threw the discus with a strong high throw, it flew through the air like a UFO speeding over the land. When it landed, it started rolling towards the vortex. Nathanael and Josh were throwing it back to the line so the other people could have a turn. I was helping with the measuring. James excitedly with his super high arm throw, sending the discus far away came first, second was Dre jumping up and down, and third was Moses with him saying yes in a proud tone and walking off to Vortex.

Tau Ke Night

Last night, everybody drove to school for the Tau Ke night. The Tau Ke night is a night when all the classes put on a performance to show the parents. 
Room 4’s performance was a welcome song called Haere Mai and a song with rakau sticks, called E Papa Waiari. Our voices were very quiet but the rakau sticks were very loud - it was the action song that was the quiet one.After the Year 1’s and 2’s performed, the Year 5s, 6s, 7s and 8s did our Kapa Haka performance. The first song we did, did not have any actions but it was very loud. The second song did have actions and it was very loud. It was called E Te Ariki. 
Next, the girls sang a song, called E Rere Taku Poi. In their song, they used poi and the boys just stamped their feet and sung the song. After that, the boys did the haka. Some boys didn’t do it right but they fixed it up. Last of all, was a song that all the Kapa Haka group did together - it was called Ka Waiata.
If you want to see our performance, click on this link.

E Papa Waiari

River Flynn E Papa Waiari from Pam Thomson on Vimeo.