Summarising Te Kura Tuatahi

                                   First Page Summarised

New Zealand’s first school opened in 1816. The school was run by a man named Thomas Kendall, a missionary from England. At the time, there were very few Pākehā in Aotearoa most were looking for money. Kendall was different. He had come to New Zealand to teach Māori how to read and write so they could understand the Bible and become Christians, just like him. Kendall worked for the Church Missionary Society (CMS), the society’s purpose was to spread Christianity. Ruatara, a Ngāpuhi rangatira who was friends with Samuel Marsden, one of the society’s leading figures. A few days later, on Christmas Day, Marsden preached the first Christian sermon on New Zealand soil. The sermon was in English, and Ruatara would have been the only Māori there who understood Marsden’s message. Afterwards, Ruatara gave his own interpretation in Te Reo Māori.

                                        Third Page Summarised

On fine days, Kendall found it difficult to keep his pupils inside. Describing his school in a letter, he wrote: “with a handful or two of potatoes daily, and occasionally a fish-hook, the children do at present very well”. The students were also rewarded with trinkets, such as beads and marbles. The school at Rangihoua became famous, and groups of travelling Māori – curious about Pākehā ways and what the missionaries had to offer – often called in. Ngāpuhi were only interested in trading food for muskets and gunpowder, and the CMS refused to allow Kendall to continue trading these items with Māori. Marsden and the CMS eventually lost interest in paying for the school’s expenses, and Kendall had to use his own money. When he could no longer afford to do this, the school closed in 1818.

Family Tree - Whakapapa

In my class we are trying {and succeding} to learn new Maori words linked to our whakapapa. We created a presentation on it so heres mine.<😊😊/p>

Narrating My Narrative

 In class, I was writing a narrative about a girl and her lost crew. She ventures to save them half way around the world🤗🤗🤗.

    Orientation

As Amethyst sat peacefully in my oak cabin below the deck of her ship, she stared out onto the vast open sea listening to the harmonious sound of the waves. While everyone else was above her in the welcoming grasps of the wide, open sky the seagulls flew by making her luscious red hair wave past.

                                                                       Problems

While she sat there the only thing she could hear was the waves ricocheting against the bottom of the ship. She could no longer hear the joyful voices of her crewmates but only the pitchy cry of a seagull. She got up and walked cautiously towards the deck. As Amethyst emerged from the cabin her emerald eyes darted back and forth not seeing any sign that her crew members were ever there. As she approached the main mast attached to a string was a note addressed to Amethyst June Walker. Her! Bewildered, she opened the envelope and read its contents. It said “Amethyst, If you wish to retrieve your crew follow the clues I give you and you will find them. The clue is….My nickname is the city of canals..” As Amethyst had travelled the wide-open world, she had experienced some wonderful cultures. Immediately she knew that she had to travel to Venice, the city of canals. She slipped the note into her pockets and she set sail. She was determined to save her crew at any cost....While she was sailing towards Venice the winds started to moan and the waves rocked the boat back and forth. With her mystic clothes dancing in the wind she was beginning to get cold. She decided to change into something warmer. Amethyst slipped on a wooly cardigan and a pair of track pants. After a while, the wailing of the winds got quieter and quieter. The waves returned to their harmonious song and Amethyst in the midst of it all was enjoying the peaceful relaxation….She finally reached Venice and saw why it was called the city of canals. It was the way of travelling! Canals weaved in and out of Venice like a giant anaconda. The water streamed through the city acting as a road. Caught in the city's beautiful scenery, she had forgotten why she had come. Amethyst shook her head and focused on the task ahead. The only clue she had been given was ´the city of canals´…..

                                                     Solution

Taking the note out of her pocket she carefully examined it. As Amethyst turned it over she saw a little piece of writing saying “P.S. try the Ca' d'Oro, Palazzo Da Mula Morosini, and San Polo.”  Amethyst recognized these names from somewhere. Then it hit her like lightning. These were the names of the palaces that surrounded the Grand canal! First she needed to get there but how? “Hai bisogno di aiuto'' said a soft voice behind her. “Si'' said Amethyst in her rusty italian accent. She remembered those countless summer days she would spend with her dad learning Italian. Sitting on the deck and talking for hours on end with her dad in italian. Amethyst snapped out of her daydream and looked at the person that just saved her from a whole lot of struggle. It was a little girl. She was wearing a floral blue dress and had a yellow bow in her frizzy hair. She wore yellow socks and had tap dancing shoes on. Her brown skin was beautiful and as Amethyst looked around she was the only one with brown skin! She said in english “ My name is Kiara Winchester, and what would you like help with lady?” Amethyst was a little surprised that this girl spoke fluent english and italian. Kiara was so small and was already bilingual. “Hello Kiara. My name is Amethyst Walker and I need a way to get to the Grand canal.” Her blue eyes had specks of gray looking like the beach on a calm day. Amethyst didn’t think it was possible but her hair frizzed even more with excitement. “It’s so amazing there” said the little girl gazing into the cloudless sky. Kiara looked back at Amethyst and said in her calm, sweet voice  “Come on, it’s time to take a canal.” Excited Amethyst hopped in the boat alongside Kiara. As the boat finally left the dock it began to sway and rock. The wooden boat drifted in the water only being nudged a little for steering. When they finally reached the grand canal Amethyst said goodbye to her bilingual friend and watched her drift away in the boat with her frizzy hair dancing in the wind….Amethyst stared at the magnificent castles standing side by side overlooking Venice’s famous canals….

                                                        Ending

The lights shimmered on the calm water and illuminated it. Amethyst looked closer and she saw a Symphysodon Discus nesting in the safe grasps of the canals water. She looked deeper and she saw the world's prettiest fish swimming swiftly beneath the water. Amethyst hopped off of her knees and continued towards the castles. She looked at the castles and saw standing right in the middle was a magnificent golden statue of a man wearing a hat. Amethyst gazed at it and saw how the statue reflected the vermillion sunset. Then she noticed something peculiar. Sticking out of the man's hat was a note like the one she had seen on her ship. She unfolded it and all she saw was “237’N 56’E'' Amethyst wondered what they were and then she realized they were coordinates! So as she followed these mysterious coordinates and became more and more determined as she made her way closer to her crew…. Amethyst arrived at the coordinates and she saw that she was standing in front of an abandoned mansion. She thought ‘of course. Someone that travels around the world has to live in style. Like duh’ but as she continued on towards the mansion, she looked a little closer and saw that the house was covered in webs giving off the impression that it’s been uninhabited for years. Amethyst carried on ignoring the fact that she was absolutely terrified of spiders. Amethyst reached the door and knocked. When she knocked a large booming sound pierced through the air and wondered what was going on. The door slowly creaked open and it revealed that hidden behind it’s old oak  structure was a full out feast. Seated there were her crewmates and a mystifying boy. Amethyst’s friends looked like they were enjoying themselves. This mystery boy stood up and said hello. Shocked Amethyst approached him and as she got closer she could see the details in him. She saw rosiiemariie eyes and stunning blonde hair. He had a fragile face structure with freckles dotted on his face. He was skinny and as Amethyst drew closer she could tell he was fast. The boy greeted her and said “Welcome to my home. I am Lincoln Livingstone. Thank you for that interesting game of Treasure hunt.” His voice was soft and welcoming. His smile was bright and inviting. With caution Amethyst said “Hello. My name is Amethyst Walker and I’ve come to save my crew.” Lincoln answered calmly and said “What exactly are you saving them from?” As she looked around the room she saw happiness and laughter as they feasted upon roast turkeys, mashed potatoes and cakes galore. She wondered what it was she was saving them from? Amethyst raised her voice and blinking back her tears said “Who would like to sail the seven seas on the ship with me?” Surprisingly, everyone of the crew members lifted their hands including Lincoln. Amethyst glowed with happiness then Lincoln said in a sweet tone “Would it be alright if I were to join you. I don’t want to be left alone again.” This took Amethyst by shock and said happily “Yes.”... They arrived at their old carribean ship and set sail. The ocean was as calm as it had been the day all of this started….

 

A day in Russel (Kororareka)

 For history we have been learning about areas close by. We visited Russel during camp and now we know about a famous battle. Here is the poster that shows what I learned from reading an article.

First blog post!

Dechei

I look forward to you sharing about your life and your learning!

Whaea Lana