Survival Guide (yay I found my password)

To all the year 8s that come to our school next year:

Well at the start of the year AC will seem very different to intermediate school but you will get used to it. It is not as scary as it seems. On the first few days of Term 1 you will be in your tutor class so don’t bother bringing books yet. Your tutor is a class you will have 3 times a week with people in your house. It helps you connect with people and make friends. After a few days you will feel more comfortable and begin you normal classes. You will be put in a year 9 class and given your timetable. After the first week you will get more familiar with AC and how it works. You’ll find out that it is not a scary as it may seem.

Once you have settled into your new class you will get more homework and instead of being in one classroom like at intermediate you will have lots of different classes. The homework you get might be harder and there is more of it but it is easy. If you don’t hand in your assessments you will most likely get an ROL which is basically detention. So make sure to finish your school work on time but don’t worry because you can write it down in your diary. Each student will get a Whanau coloured diary which you can write reminders in. It is also where teachers can give you commendations and excuse you from class so make sure to hold onto it.

Also when you come to AC you will be put into a whanau/house. Either Auaha (best house) Kaitataki, Tirohanga, Kaitoro or Whainga. Whanau are very competitive at Alfriston so you want to get as many points as you can by receiving commendations and participating in interwhanau competitions. Just because you are year 9 doesn’t mean you can’t compete in sports and activities. Do your best and try out for teams and participate. It’s really fun. Also remember to follow the school rules and wear the correct uniform. AC is pretty strict on uniform so be sure to wear what you are supposed to. High school is not as scary as it sounds. It is actually really interesting with more opportunities so just have fun.

Free Rice

If I was in charge of the school.

If I was in charge of our school I would replace Module and Tutor time with a different class. All students will get a free period and an option class instead. Most of the time not many people like their module/tutor class so the should have a different class that they enjoy. Then there would be less students wagging school as well.

Another change I would make is to the uniform. I would make it more comfortable. Currently our uniform and P.E gear is made from itchy material that is not pleasant to wear. I would make the P.E shorts made from a stretchier athletic fabric. As well as making the skirt softer. Then students would be more comfortable at school.

I would also use extra school funds to give away free ice blocks in the summer and free hot chocolate in winter. This will benefit students because some don’t eat while they are at school so free snacks will give them a boost and make them more willing to learn.

Finally I would organise activities and more things to do at lunch times as well as making them longer. 30 minutes isn’t enough time for breaks and there should be more things to do such as a computer room where no websites are blocked or sports games. That would make breaktimes more fun. If I was in charge I would make these changes to make school a more enjoyable place.

Bouncy Slide in Rotorua :)

Make it or Break it Review:

Make it or Break it is a popular TV show which follows the lives of 4 elite gymnasts named Payson, Kaylie, Lauren and Emily. The series is aimed at teenagers showing them what it is like to be a serious athlete as well as teaching good lessons that teenagers can relate to in everyday life. Many parents call it inapropriate because of some of the mild language, sexual references and alcohol although it teaches good values and is quite inspirational for many girls around the age of 12 and up. Although it is considered not appropriate I throughly enjoy this show and watch it every week. I am a fan of gymnastics so I can definitly relate to it.

When the show aired on June 22^nd 2009 it was an instant hit having over 2.5 million viewers. So far they have made 2 seasons with a 3^rd one in the making. The show’s concept, which was created by Holly Sorenson, is very unique and teaches young women to chase their dream and strive to achieve their goals. The actors also portray their characters very well. It is not only inspirational but also dramatic, informative, funny and packed with amazing gymnastics skills.

The Haunting in Connecticut review :

The Haunting in Connecticut is a horror movie directed by Peter Cornwall. It is based on a supposedly true story. The movie follows a fictional family called the Campbells as they move into a house( which was formerly a mortuary)in order to be closer to where their teenage son receives cancer treatments. The family soon becomes haunted by violent events from supernatural forces occupying the house. This movie had me hiding behind my pillow in fear. Some scenes were quite thrilling although I am a big fan of horror movies and the storyline as well as the effects had my eyes glued to the screen.

The Haunting in Connecticut was a moderately successful film at the box office making around $77 million. The ‘Haunted House’ movie in particular has been done to death but having said that, the movie did not fail to scare. The actors, sound effects and freaky make up maintained a consistent level of chills throughout the movie.