Forensic Science

Today, two  detectives came in to talk about Forensic Science. Gavin Cross worked in fingerprints and footprints. They talked about how they analyze a crime scene and how they figure out who the culprit was. They took us through step by step via a picture slideshow.  One really cool thing that we learnt about was Luminol. This is a substance that they spray on the floor to detect any blood traces that we can;t see. They then put UV light over it. It was really informative and I learnt loads of new things!

Picture Writing.

Cloudless sky, crystal clear water. The beach, so perfect and pristine. Until you reach them. Those domed structures, perched in the shallows. That’s what I’m here to see. All the magazines, and tourist flyers say they’re beautiful. And they are, I guess, in a way. My eyes see further though. There is something about them, something dark and mysterious. I wade out to the algae covered stone. Fish are quietly swimming in and out of the pillars and cracks. You can see the spots where seagulls have perched in the many windows. Slowly I reach out and touch the smooth stone. Time stops. My hand is stuck to the cool rock. I can hear whispers in my head slowly getting louder until they are screams of pain, anxiety and torture. Jolting back I free my hand and cradle it to my chest. Slowly, a drop of blood blossoms there and falls into the water. A light feeling zips around my body and I crumple slowly into the now blood red water.

Electronics Tech - Final Presentation

They say you can't judge a book by it's cover... My Writing Sample

They say you can’t judge a book by its cover.

By Malena Shakespeare

The mismatched eyes stare back at me, burning into my skin. One a fiery yellow, the other a piercing grey. Lines are etched onto the pale white face, just visible beneath the powdery makeup. His cheekbones stick out, making his face look gaunt and strained. The bright pink lipstick, painted ever so carefully on, cracks at the corners. His lips are thin, like a piece of elastic, stretched to the breaking point. What could have been a subtle blush is smeared over the cheeks. A hint of mascara upon the eyelashes, spoiled by the pink macaroon eyeshadow around the unusual eyes. The cotton candy coloured hat perches on top of this man’s bright orange hair, shadowing the pinched face. His collar covers the skinny neck, and his nose is slightly lopsided. Orange eyebrows, blend into the hair. White teeth and a perfect face.

The Mad Hatter. Many have heard the stories, some different to others. But each time they are told, he is not a villain. He’s a character of love and help, well known for his excessive tea parties. His name gets mentioned, and everybody's minds are enveloped in their childhood fairytales. And now I’m face to face, staring up while he is looking down at me.  My childhood dream was to meet him, to meet this man whom everyone has such a high opinion of. But they say you can’t judge a book by its cover. And that’s the thought that whirls in my mind as I notice the smile that isn’t a smile, and the flash of silver glinting in the papery hand. And suddenly, the bright colour on his face doesn’t look as cheery as before...

Matahiwi Marae Trip

Today we went to Matahiwi Marae. I have done a Powhiri before, so it wasn't anything new to me. The only thing different was this year we all had to hongi! After a bit of Morning Tea, we split into three groups to explore the different places of the Marae. The first place my group went was the Wharenui. It was amazing inside. There were sculptures of people in tribes and Tuki Tuki panels on the walls. One of the men explained to us that Maui was the spine of the family, so he was represented at the arch of the Wharenui. There was a huge whale jawbone on the wall, that represented the sea people.

The next place we visited was the wharekai, which is like the dining room. There were paintings all over the walls, and the woman explained to us what it all meant. It was the story of Matahiwi marae.

Lastly we went to the Pae Pae. That's where the Powhiri happened. We were explained to about the theme of green around the marae. It was because there is young, living life all around Matahiwi, and green represents that.

Sustainability Poster

In class, we are learning about Sustainability. We had to make a poster that showed something bad that is happening in our world. I did mine on how our animals are losing habitat because of deforestation.

Back to Blackbrick Quick Write

In class we read the beginning of the book, Back to BlackBrick. We then had to carry on the story in a quick write. So, what happened was Grandad had given cosmo a key and he snuck out in the middle of the night to use it. 

The heavy iron gates creaked open, and before me was a sight I didn’t expect to see. A squat black building crouched in front of me, encased by barbed wire. Broken glass littered the ground, having fallen from the smashed windows above. The gloomy moonlight filtered through the clouds, illuminating the strangely intact front door. As I took a step closer, the smell of death hit me like a forcefield and I stumbled back. Holding my nose, I started forward again and the icy air surrounded me, tugging at my hair and clothes like frosty fingers.

Eventually, I reached the front door and gingerly placed a foot on the step. All at once, the heavy metal key in my hand burst into flames, scalding my hand that had so carefully held my prize. I dropped it, peering around for the source of danger. There was nothing. As I bent down to retrieve the key, I noticed it had something engraved on it. ‘Cosmo’ written in a haunting, floaty script across the handle. ‘OK, this is definitely creeping me out’ I thought.

I reached out and grasped the door knob. As I did so, I heard a piercing scream, and the world around me blurred and dipped, as though I was underwater. I tried to wrench my hand away from it’s place but it wouldn’t budge. The world was dissolving away and the only sound was the haunting whisper of “Cosmo, Cosmo, Cosmo…”

I woke up sweating and shivering in my bed. It was all just a bad dream and now I’m lying safe and sound in my room. Grandad never gave me a key, I never took a taxi to the gates, I never saw that huge ugly building and it’s surroundings. I swung my legs out of bed and stood up. As I did, I felt something in my hand. It was a key.

JESSIE J INTERVEIW!!

In class, we did a Quick Write about our Idol. Those of you who know me will know that my Idol is JESSIE J, and I love her! It was an interveiw and we had to be the interveiwer

Hello and welcome to this interview with pop sensation, Jessie J!

Thankyou, Malena, it’s awesome to be here.

So, I’m going to ask you a few questions about your career and life. (OMG, I still can’t believe I’m talking to you!) Anyway, where did you get your inspiration for your hit song ‘Price Tag’?

Well, that was when I was fresh in the pop industry, and I was feeling like money was everything. It’s not! There is so much more to life than just money and high heels.

I see that you have a new hair style. Would you care to tell me a little about that?

Absolutely. There are so many children and adults out there, struggling through cancer. It feels good to do something about it. I shaved my head and left it like that for 3 months. What’s the point of shaving your head if you’re going to grow it back the next day?

Ice age collision course! You seem to have a new role as a sloth!

Yes. It was my first time being in a movie and I didn’t know what to do or anything! Brooke is such a fun character and I loved playing her!

You are now back for season 2 of The Voice Australia! How does it feel being a coach on the voice?

Oh, it’s awesome. I love coaching the singers and sharing my knowledge. It;s amazing watching them grow throughout the show, and being there to experience ot with them.

What advice would you give to aspiring singers?

Just get out there and do it. There will be down falls but from those you will learn and get up again. I had a hard childhood, being sick and getting bullied but look where I am now. If you have a great talent you need to let it shine.

Interviewer:

Thank you for your time Jessie. You are a really inspiring singer and I’m sure you have lot’s of fans (like me)!

Note: Jessie J speaking would be entirely different. It would be punctuated with a lot of um’s and laughing ( not to mention the english accent)!

Sustainability Poster

In class we are learning about Sustainability. We had to make a poster that conveyed a message about helping the world. Comment below if you can guess my message! 

Wardini books poem

IMAGINE

Imagine

Tropical palm trees,

Swaying to the beat of your heart.

Fine golden sand,

Swirling in the gentle breeze.

The crystal clear water,

Lapping gently at the shore.

Imagine

Dark gloomy mist,

Swirling around your ankles.

Petrified screams,

Wafting slowly out of the blackness.

Quiet scuttling drifts into your head,

And you back away slowly.

Imagine

The tinkling bird calls,

Penetrating the still air.

Long tufts of grass,

Swaying gently in the fields.

Tiny little houses

Planted in the middle of a beautiful nowhere.

Imagine

A world of infinite peace

No war or fighting

Where people can be themselves

Create a better world

Live your life in a world of the best

Imagine your world

This was my poem for the Wardini books poetry comp

Olympic athlete simile poem

As quick as a cheetah

As light as a butterfly

As agile as a jaguar

As happy as a dog

As strong as an alligators jaws

Passionate like a tiger

Nervous like a mouse

Falling through the air like a bird

Determination like an Olympic athlete,

I am a pole vaulter.

This was my Olympic athlete poem. We had to use similes that compared us to animals.

OLYMPIC WRITING!

We had todo some Olympic writing about you being in a sport at the olympics. It didn't have to be an actual sport, it could be anything so I did dancing!

Boom! The spotlights flooded onto the stage of my dreams. Carefully I run on and take up my position. A huge scoreboard looms over head, bearing my name and flag. Slowly, I turn towards the judges and give a huge smile. I have waited all my life to be here. The music begins, I lift my arms and I’m away. 

Dancing to the music that’s so familiar. My heart beats in time to the song as I twist and turn around the stage. Adrenaline courses through my veins and I launch into the air , as graceful as a phoenix.5,6,7,8. Through my twirls I see the judges whispering to each other. I hope that's a good sign. 

I finish my routine and pose as a huge cheers erupted from the crowd. Leaving the stage, I see the medals come out of a door in the wall, a woman in purple carrying them. Then they call out the winners.

“Bronze! Alesha Carrington, U.S.A! Sliver! Chang Si, China! Gold! Malena Shakespeare, NZ!”  The crowd breaks into applause as I step onto the podium. A shiny gold medal is placed around my neck. I have never felt so happy in my life!

Electronics

This term we have been making an emergency light in Electronics

I enjoyed designing the cover for my light.
I am pleased about the way my light turned out. It was a great shape and had really cool coloured lights.
Most challenging was knowing what to do next.
Most difficult was using the soldering iron.

This is my amazing Light!

Persuasive Speech

WALT: persuade a reader to agree with the writer’s point of view through the presentation of relevant points and supporting evidence.

The effects bullying has on Teenagers

“Get lost freak.” The message pops up on your screen. Anger swirls inside you. This has been happening for a while now. The next day you go to school and start getting taunted by some mean children. Their words are like an arrow, hitting deep down inside you. As the days go on, the bullying gets worse and you get more and more glum. Soon you will end up suffering from depression.

Depression is caused by stress and sadness. This can sometimes be caused by bullying. For those of you who don’t know what depression is, it is when you become very sad, and sink into a hole of loneliness and stress. It can ruin your life, and extreme cases can lead to suicide. It can also lead to being very unhealthy. People can become so depressed they will stop eating and just think, “what’s the point.” That is one of the most common things people say when suffering from this mental disorder. Plenty of  people have been through depression.  You might even know someone! The best thing to do is talk to your friends and family about it. They will help you work through those hard times.

One form of bullying is cyberbullying. This is when a child is receiving messages through their computer from a bully. Say you had a Facebook account.  One day you receive a rude comment on a selfie that you have posted. You think it is a one off. But the nasty comments just keep coming. One thing about Cyberbullying is that it can be concealed. You can hide it from your parents and they will never know. But that is what gets most kids. They hide from it, thinking it will go away soon. In the end, it gets so bad, you could end up suffering from depression. We know that it is a bad idea. You need to share with your family so they can help you get through it. In ways, Cyberbullying is worse than normal bullying.

Bullying can stop your health and education. It sometimes affects people's minds and they can think a bit differently. Say for example, they were getting bullied about their weight. These kids might think that if they stop eating, they will become skinnier. This is true, but it is extremely bad for your health. It can cause you a serious eating disorder called Bulimia. This is when you eat a normal meal and then make yourself sick. It can lead to you being seriously ill. Bullies can also stop you learning. Thousands of kids worldwide wake up not wanting to go to school. Sometimes they pretend to be sick and wag school. They have trouble concentrating on their school work and can fall behind in classes.

Now you see the effects of bullying. Think. Have you ever bullied someone? Maybe you have, but we know it is wrong. For any bullies out there, stop bullying now. Think of what could happen to your victim.


Something I am proud of:
My paragraphs. I had a lot of information in all of them and they were each one point.

Keith Haring art work starter

In class we are going to start Keith Haring artwork. Here is a starter I did on the computer.

The making of Malena!

Today we went on a site called THE MAKING OF ME AND YOU. The link is there for you to go and look at some facts about yourself! If you can't read what I put below here they are

1. Oxygen is 61% of me.

2. I have 19.5 trillion cells

3. I have 5.0 million hair follicles

4. 70% of me is water

5. I have sneezed 5,221times.

Logo Design For Maths.

Maths-Design a logo.

In maths this week we have been designing a logo that has symmetry. I designed one for a dance studio called  'Dancing with the stars'. My slogan was

"5,6,7,8 Blast off!"

I found a picture of a dancing girl on the internet and the used her as my base. I then changed some things up when I drew her. 

My drawing shows symmetry. The mirror line is where the two girls toes meet.

Maori Body Parts

 Wahanga Tinana

We had to create a poster with some maori body parts on it. Below is my one!

Ode To My Ears

Success Criteria For Writing An Ode:

• Choose an ordinary place, object or thing✔
• Give your subject praise or thanks eg. Oh✔
• Speak directly to the object.✔
• Use descriptive vocabulary to bring the object to life (Personification).✔
• Use repeated lines.✔
• New idea, new line. ✔
• Simile??? ✔

ODE TO MY EARS

Oh, my stylish ears,

helping me to hear,

waggling on the side of my head,

waiting for a story to be read.

The music wafts inside you,

like bubbles that once flew,

you’re always listening to the sounds,

to the barking of my hounds.

Oh my, stylish ears,

You’ve been with me for years and years,

eavesdropping on my sister,

talking about someone who kissed her.

Maybe I could pierce you,

decorate with diamonds of blue,

but I’m pretty sure that it would hurt,

and a little bit of blood would spurt.

I thank you ears for helping me,

you’ll probably will die when I’m ninety three!

And I know you will always be there,

hidden underneath my unmanageable hair.


P- It was really simple!
M- It was hard to come up with rhyming words!
I- I had no idea that I could write an ode so easily!

Electronics

My Learning Journey at electronics started today. I found that the Get Ready Get Thru website says that we need a torch with spare batteries in our emergency kit. I am going to design and make a torch ready for an emergency.

Body Parts!

Yesterday, we had to make a body part out of plasticine. I worked with Kaitlynn, and we made intestines! It took us awhile t come up with what to make. We actually originally settled on lungs, and then at the last minute we changed it. Kaitlynn and I worked well together, as we had a job each but maybe next time we should decide on what we're doing first.

I wonder.....
-Where do the intestines lead?
- Do the lungs inflate and deflate when you breath in and out?

OUR INTESTINES!

Working Away! :-)

Term 2 Goals

I'm back at HNI at the start of term 2. I am so excited to see my teacher and my friends again, and I can't wait to do all the awesome activities this term! :-) 

I am going to stop Being so unsocial. I still havn’t made that many friends and I would like to have a  wide range of friends.

I am going to keep... Dancing!!! I have done dance festival and that really got me into dance. I want to dance in the production and also would like to go through in the dance festival to Hastings  Intermediate.

I am going to start... Practicing more!!! I always forget to practice my flute and end up not being very good!! Also, I have just started football and I want to be awesome at it!! And If I do end up doing dance, I will need to practice a lot. I am going to start... Playing lunch time sport! It is my fav sport  and I didn’t play last term!

Recount Writing This Term- ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Recently, my class has read The book ‘Boy’, a recount of Roald Dahl’s childhood. Our focus this term has been on recounts. We have written poems, stories and recently read a book called ‘Boy’, by Roald Dahl. It was a recount of his childhood and this was our inspiration for writing in past tense.

Below is a plan, my story and my self reflection

Idea:

Camp Kaitawa, hike to the top.

• Windy
• Rickety Platform
• Hats
• High
• Huge Valley
• Trees
• Leaves
• Scary
• Wooden platform
• Glow worms
• 6 people max

Vocabulary:

• Scattering
• Creaking
• Whipped
• Glowed

Success Criteria:

Hook the reader in.

Include the important information for the reader.

Includes the details so that the reader knows how we feel.

Past tense.

On top of the world

Have you ever stood on top of the world?

One dark and windy night, my class piled out of the cars and stood around, waiting for instructions. A person covered in multiple rain coats and beanies, emerged from the van.

“Number Off!” She yelled. A range of voices echoed through the night air.

“Perfect. Off we go!”  Trooping towards the bush, I stared upwards at the towering trees. My friend and I chatted while looking ahead to make sure we didn’t fall over. Tramping on, tiny pinpoints of light appeared before us. A hush fell over the group.

Then, the night exploded around as as the torches turned off. Glow worms covered the rock walls beside us. The stars spread across the night sky like glitter. I stared around in wonder, pondering how something could look so pretty. Caves of darkness would have looked menacing if not for the glow worms. The beautiful scene didn’t last long though. The teachers ushered us further up the track.

We were at the top. A warning sign loomed in front of us. ‘SIX PEOPLE MAX’. Everyone was in a line, staring at the old steps that led up to the rickety wooden platform. My friend and I shivered, not wanting to step onto it. Chatting, we watched the line dwindle down till we were almost at the front.

“Up you come!” Yelled Miss Hill. ‘Oh No! Please don’t let me fall off!’ I thought, gingerly putting a foot on the platform. I heaved myself up.

Boom! The wind smashed into me like bull. I grabbed my beanie just as it started to slip from my head. The platform was wobbling dangerously beneath my shaking legs. Slowly, I crept towards the edge. Grabbing the barrier to steady myself I peeked over the side. ‘No!’ I thought, ‘We can’t be this high up!’

Below me, all was a swirling, twirling mass of green trees. Thousands and thousands of bushes and plants waved wildly, a couple of hundred metres below me. The monstrous lake stretched out at the very bottom, whipped up the by the wind. My heart thumped loudly in my chest as I backed away, scared out of my wits. I bumped into someone. I heard a voice say, “It’s O.K. You're not going over the edge.” Miss Hill must’ve sensed my fear. I decided not to look down again.

After getting down, my joints were still quivering with shock. It had been an amazing experience but it was definitely, the scariest part of my life!

Self Reflection

⭐  I think I did well doing my Introduction, Paragraphs, Conclusion.

⭐ I added lots of details and personal reactions.

💭 Challenge myself to use more advanced vocabulary.