This Year

As the 2011 end of year holidays came to an end, I very excitedly prepared for the coming year of school.

When I came to school on the first day at the beginning of the year I was ecstatic. I rushed to my friends and gave them massive hugs. We hurriedly told each other what we got up to in the holidays before the bell rang. We rushed to the hall to have an assembly.

As we settled into our seats Miss Waetford talked to us. She gave us the usual talk and checked for broken body limbs then we were put into our classes.

I was put in Room 12. I was so happy to be in Room 12 because it is the extension class. And to make it better we were given two teachers per class. I was lucky enough to get Mrs Raj and Mrs Parker-Tofa! They are the best teachers in the school.

As the first term drew on, we did the usual tests and assessments. Then we started in our Swimming. The lessons were great, Miss Curran was a brilliant swimming instructor and she helped us to learn new and different techniques. Then to reward us for our brilliant efforts we had a swimming carnival. It was fabulous to compete in races, and we also got a free time.

Something else that was awesome was our school sleepover. We got to cook our own dinner and we also watched The Sorcerer's Apprentice. I had a lot of fun and everyone got closer as a school and as friends.

Term two was a blast! The best thing that I remember was the the DARE Programme. We all learnt ways to keep ourselves safe from Drugs and Alcohol. But in doing so we also had a lot of intriguing fun!

In Term three we did an amazing amount of fun things. But one thing that really caught my attention was our Olympics. Not only did we have an Opening Ceremony but we also had games. Over a series of weeks we got to compete and win our countries medals. Then at the end your class got to have the whole amount. Room 12 ended up with the most medals, ten in all.

Something we all had a lot of fun at was our Wellington trip. We all fundraised as classes to go to our capital city for a week. It was awesome to go and a lot of us had our first experience on a plane. We visited many places including Parliament, Te Papa and the Weta Cave.

And finally this term, it has only just started but we have already had fun. A lot of our tests have started happening. But we got to participate in Haka Waiata. It was fun. All of our families came and for the afternoon we played sports games and Ziggy Marley. Calliope gladly won Haka Waiata but we all learnt that Leander is the best.

This year I had lots of fun. But to make things sad it is our last year. We are a legacy now that Tamaki Intermediate is closing. We have all had fun and now that school is nearly to an end we are all closer than family.

My Holidays By Maria

I enjoyed my holidays but the best thing that I did was go to Pukekohe. I went because I was going with my family to meet up with my other two sisters.

We went on the last Friday of the holidays and the day was hot. My family and I drove for ages. Then finally we got to the house.

We got out of the car and I ran straight to my little sister Darleen. I hugged her then hugged my Aunty Polly.

My mum was really happy because when my big sister Jessica arrived with her care giver, seven out of eight of her children were there.

I hugged my big sister Jessica, then we all started playing kicks. The baby Leonardo got hit in the face with a ball. And then he tackled my little brother Anaru.

Then we played a small game of Held. Jessica plays a lot of sports so when she accidentally tackled her care giver "Chonch" her shoulder dislocated.

After all this we had a feed then kept playing.

Going to Puke was a great day for me, not only is it hot but I learnt that nearly everyone has a dog.

Olympic Final by Maria

Olympic Final

Tense moments at Tamaki Intermediate School as everyone sat waiting for results. Earlier on in the day competitions had been held. And this is what happened.

The first contest final was Frisbee. The competing teams were, America, Jamaica and China. It was a nail biting much but in the end Jamaica won, China came second and America came third.

The next contest was egg and spoon- it was a close match. South Africa came out the champions.

Lastly a special surprise from the teachers. Sprints! It was crazy. Each country selected their fastest runners. Tamika, Huriana, Catalina, and every other girl and boys run their hardest it was a close match. But Tamika tied with Huriana for first place for the girls. And Jimmy won for the boys.

I would like to say thank you to all the teachers for their awesome organization and their work. I wish I could see that momentous event again. It was so fun and everyone was enjoying themselves so much. It was a fabulous moment for our school.

Synchronized Swimming by Maria

Synchronized Swimming

Synchronized Swimming is a hybrid of swimming, gymnastics and dance. It is a routine done by either a solo, duet, trio, combo or team. Synchronized swimming demands advanced water skills, and requires great strength, endurance, flexibility, grace, artistry and precise timing, as well as exceptional breath control when upside down underwater.

When performing routines or in practice swimmers wear nose clips to stop water from entering their noses. Some competitors wear ear plugs to help stop water from entering the ears. Hair is put in a bun and a type of gelatin is put over it called Knox to stop the hair from falling out. Competitors also wear costumes and head pieces that are custom made to reflect the music and swimming routine. The costume and head piece do not effect the judges score but if the head piece falls off during the routine points will be taken off. Heavy make up is often worn to help portray emotion in the dance. Underwater speakers are used so that the swimmers can hear the music and keep in sync with each other. These speakers are also used when the coach would need to communicate with the swimmers. Goggles are not usually worn in swimming but if the swimmer has a chlorine allergy then the judges will usually make an exception.

Basic skills you will need in Synchro Swimming is first Sculls. Sculls are used to help move the body around underwater. The most common scull used is the support scull. It is when a swimmer moves the arms back and forth to help keep the body able when up side down. It is used if you are doing leg movements above water with your body underwater. The eggbeater kick is also another important part of Synchro. It is when you are kicking the water underwater to keep your torso and arms above water. You usually use this when you are doing arm movements. And then there are lifts it is when a team will use egg beater kicks to help lift a fellow team member out of the water. There are also hundreds more positions that Synchro swimmers use to help there routine.

1. In a Synchronized Swimming contest one would first enter the arena and bow. Your face has to be smiling all the time and your body has to be straight and poised.

2. Then you take your position at the side of the pool and dive. You may get into your starting position or start straight from the dive.

3. As the music plays through you have to perform your routine perfectly and you must portray emotions extravagantly.

4. After your routine is finished you stay in your finishing pose for a while then you are free to get out of the pool.

5. The judges will then decide on a score.

Judges score out of 100%, with 50% being for artistry and 50% being for technicality. The judges will also deduct points if you mess up the routine or miss steps and if the performers aren't exactly in time.

Synchronized Swimming is a lot of hard work. Months of training go into one competition's performance and swimmers try their hardest all the time. Diets and training, costume fittings and worldwide competitions are all apart of a Synchronized Swimmer's regular day.

My moment of Excellence

Applause is all I could hear. Clapping, laughing, I was so happy. As I sat in my chair waiting for that one award. The Sharpe Cup! I had worked hard all year, aiming for the best in everything I done. The word for it was excellence.

As the awards rolled past, I began to ache with anticipation. There were so many other students who could have earned that award. Then the dreaded announcement, the winner for the 2011 Sharpe Cup is, Maria!!!

I rose to my feet, so excited, thrilled that I could be given the honor to receive this immaculate award. I worked and worked each day leading up to this momentous event, Prize-giving. As I walked up to the stage, I let out a sigh of relief, it had happened.

I shook the teacher's hands and faced the audience. I could see my parents faces beaming with pride. My little brothers and sisters jumping up and down. My photo was taken and I sat down I was so happy!

That day was brilliant not only did I receive an award but I also was given inspiration to go for School Dux and be the absolute best I can be. I will take this moment with for the rest of my life.

Ron Cribb by Maria

Ron Cribbs' visit

Yesterday on Monday 11th June 2012, Tamaki had a very interesting day. We were going to powhiri ex All black Ron Cribb into our school. We practised and practised our, Sasa, waiata, songs, and haka. And then the moment arrived.

I was given the privilege alongside head girl Irasa to do the karanga for Ron Cribb. We also officially welcomed St Heliers students into our school.

Halfway through the karanga, KapaHaka leader Vea started the haka. After the haka several things took place. Many people spoke and songs were sung.

Then Ron Cribb showed a DVD on his career through rugby playing with the Blues, Crusaders and the All Blacks!!! It was quite exhillirating watching the way he tried.

After that we all went outside and we were taught by Ron Cribb how to pass without looking and how to keep the ball straight and hard.

At the end of morning tea Ron Cribb had to go away. Everyone was scrambling to shake his hand or get an autograph.

That day was awesome even though I went home and my mum didn't even know who he was!!!

DARE Programme by Maria

Drugs and Alcohol Resistence Education- or simply DARE, a wonderful opportunity for students of Tamaki Intermediate School to learn how to resist those horrible things we call drugs and alcohol.

Our lucky school was pleased to have Constable Teina Karaka from the Police Department come and teach us all about the side effects of drugs, the uses and disuses and the punishments for the use, possession and distribution of all these drugs.

Things were interesting from the very start when we played the Electric Shock game to the very end when a Customs officer came in with his Customs dog.

That assembly was awesome we saw a slideshow of what Customs officers do and where we saw what happens when you come over from a different country with drugs on them and we also saw weird places where people hide drugs. One place was in kids toys, strapped to the person around their stomach and many, many more weird and sometimes disturbing places.

Then there was the dog it was very happy and excited by all of the kids and when volunteers went up by the stage, the dog straight away went to Mrs Sigamoney. That was probably because the customs officer hid something on her before hand.

DARE was a fabulous and awesome thing to experience I am glad that this programme has been set up to help young adults to decide which is the right direction to go in and what one isn't. So I'd like to say hank you to Tamaki Intermediate and Constable Teina for setting up this opportunity and educating us on this.