Futsal

Futsal (pronounced Foot-sul) is another name for indoor football. Every Monday at 5 o'clock after school, I go to the Civic Centre in Greymouth to play. A teacher from the high school called Ciaran organises it, he also plays. There are 3 more people around my age, but every one else is older. 

The rules vary slightly from the 11 a-side football we all know. The rules are basically the same, but the big major difference is that instead of 11 a-side, it's 5 players on each team. Another change of rules is that instead of a throw-in, you actually put it down on the side and kick it in. Also, when it is a goal kick, you can pick it up and throw it. Lastly, there are no offsides, which I find great. 

Those are basically the rules, everything else stays the same. Well, that is what I do every Monday for an hour and a half. It is really fun, and I enjoy playing it.

Swimming

Yesterday at the swimming pool they did a fun day where you could swim and go on the hydroslide for $2!

They also did races. My friend Emil is the 2nd best swimmer in the whole south island, and he entered lots of races. I'm not too good at swimming, but I entered the 25m (1 length) Freestyle race. They do different heats and I was in heat 2, with people around my level.

They did quite a few races first, and then I had to go. I did a racing dive in and it was a bit shallow, but I just kept swimming. I tried to keep a rhythm with my breathing. When I got to the end I looked up and saw another person touch the wall half a second after me. The person timing showed me my time, which was 27.74. I asked him what place I came, because I wasn't 100% sure, and he said I came first. I was actually shocked.

I got a gold certificate, and I was ecstatic. Later that day I went home and admired the certificate. I still couldn't believe it. My first ever proper swimming race and I came first!

Participating & Contributing

Frozen II

When it comes out, me and 4 friends are planning on going to watch the new movie, Frozen II.

It comes out on November the 28th. Only some of us have watched the trailer as others don't want to spoil the surprise.

I have watched the trailer and it actually looks quite good. It will be fun to watch with my friends. I'm not 100% percent sure of what the plot is as it's a bit hard to tell from watching the trailer.

Anyway, it will be fun to watch and I will do a review on it after we watch it.

Toki Pounamu Film Festival 2019

"Tripods in short supply as student movies wobble their way to the box office."

Yesterday, the 14th of November, we went down to the Regent Theatre in Greymouth to watch the Toki Pounamu Film Festival. It is the first ever Film Festival.

Basically a few schools from around the area made short films about the West Coast and what made it special. Here's my review:

There were lots of different movies, some great and some not so great. There was lots of different tech being used, ranging from green screens to slow-motion to upbeat music.

My favourite one had to be the first, it was really good quality and the plot was well thought out. There is a news reporter who talks about a zoo being robbed. She then hands over to Chad who is on the scene and talks about the zoo being robbed. There is a detective on the phone who assures every it'll be fine. Then, they find the robber and she is under arrest.

I think it was really funny, and want to rate it an 8/10, 10 being Harry Potter, 1 being Peppa Pig. 

Technology

At Technology there are some groups. Me and a couple of my friends are in a group called Wacky Wood.

Wacky Wood is woodwork. Usually we use driftwood, but sometimes we use timber. 3 weeks ago we made these really cool driftwood Christmas trees.

Then 2 weeks ago, me and my friend made some really cool driftwood necklaces. Here's some photos...

Skulduggery Pleasant Book 1 Review

Japan & NZ

Halloween at Shantytown

On Halloween, Shantytown is the best place to visit. We got there at about Half past 5 in the afternoon (obviously) , and there were SO MANY CARS! We walked in and had to pay only two dollars and we got this bag with coupons for drinks, food and 2 other things. When we got there I walked around a bit with my brother, trying to find anything fun. Then my friend Marlin showed up, and we walked around and went in this fire maze. It was dark, it hurt my knees as it was on concrete, and it was very fun. After a while Marlins friend showed up and he went to hangout with him. Then some more of my friends showed up. They had just been in this hotel transformed into a scare house!
Then they came with me and we went in. It was so fun. There were lots of people dressed up who would jump scare us. There was this person on the piano who kept playing it whenever we walked past. After the intense fun we walked to this place where you can get lollies. Then there was a disco. They played Baby Shark and Old Town Road. After that we decided to go on the flying fox. Then, we decided that it was so fun that we had to go in the scare house again, so that's what we did. Then I had to go. It was the most fun Halloween ever. 

Japanese

On Tuesday we went to Mrs Gully's class and did Japanese. There were three rotations, and we had to do at least two. I did Origami, and made a paper fortune teller. Then there was an option to make a blog post which I'm doing right now. The other option was to put on a Kimono but I didn't really want to. 

Point Elizabeth

In the school holidays my family and I walked Point Elizabeth, which is a walk that starts in Cobden on the beach, and ends in Rapahoe. You can either walk to the lookout and back which is 1 hr 45 mins return. But to go all the way to Rapahoe and back it is 3 hrs. We walked to the lookout and back as I have some quite young siblings who probably wouldn't have been able to go to Rapahoe and back. It was a pretty cloudy day, it even started to rain a bit when we were walking around. When we got to the lookout we could see the waves crashing against the rocks. We had some biscuits whilst we were there. It was really fun and next time I would like to try and go all the way to Rapahoe and back. 

Shakeout

On Thursday 17th October we did a Shakeout. We had an early lunch so that it ended before we were meant to do the drill. For those who don't know, on Thursday we did a national shakeout at 1:30pm. Mrs O, our principal, said over the intercom that there was an earthquake and we needed to evacuate. Not real of course as this was a drill. We all took cover under the desks in our class and then walked out of the school grounds and up Dronfields driveway just across the road, as that was in the safe zone. Our school is just outside the safe zone. We only need to cross the road and then we are in the safe zone. We waited there for 5-10 minutes and then went back to class and carried on with work. 

It was actually quite fun, and great practice for if there ever is a real thing. 

RWC Activities

As we all know, the 2019 Rugby World Cup is happening right now.
At our school, we split into groups. There were about 15-20 people in one group. Each group was called a country. I was in Samoa. After an early lunch we went outside one afternoon, and did some activities.
First we played Duck Duck Goose against the Australia Team. They beat us. Then we played scramble and we tied. After that we played Rat's and Rabbit's. I can't remember who we played it against but it was my favourite. We tied. Then we played did a version of an egg and spoon race but it was Tennis Racket and Rugby Ball. We had another tie. Then after the egg and spoon race we played Rippa Rugby. I had a couple of good runs. We tied. It was my favourite after Rat's and Rabbit's.
Lastly we played Rob the Nest. We lost to Australia again. Australia came first out of the whole thing. They won every single game.
The top three teams got chocolate.

The RWC activities were really fun and I hope to do them again, or something similar.

My favourite kind of chocolate

My favourite kind of chocolate

So, we know there are 3 basic different kind of chocolates. White chocolate, which has no cocoa, milk chocolate which is 55 percent cocoa and dark chocolate which ranges from 60 to 80 percent cocoa.

Now, we all like different chocolate, but I'm gonna tell you my favourite chocolate. It is... drum roll please... white chocolate! Yes, white chocolate is my all time favourite chocolate. I'll tell you why.

Well, first of all, we all know how bitter dark chocolate is, right? Well, it is really bitter if you haven't tasted it before. So that's why I don't like dark chocolate.

Second of all, well, there is no real problem with milk chocolate, it's just white chocolate is yummier to me.

Lastly, white chocolate is so, so, so... I don't even know how to say it because there is no word to describe that yummy, awesome taste in your mouth when you try it. If you haven't already, you must try it.

That's why I think white chocolate is the best chocolate in the world (in my opinion).

Instructions For How To Make The Best Banana Smoothie!

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST BANANA SMOOTHIE!

EQUIPMENT / INGREDIENTS :

• BANANA
• PEANUT BUTTER
• MILK
• MILO
• HONEY
• KNIFE
• BLENDER
• SPOON
• CUP

1. PEEL THE BANANA. CHOP IT WITH THE KNIFE INTO HALVES OR THIRDS SO THAT IT FITS IN THE BLENDER.
2. ADD A SPOON OR TWO OF PEANUT BUTTER AND PUT IT IN THE BLENDER. 
3. DRIZZLE SOME HONEY WITH IT.
4. ADD APPROXIMATELY A CUP AND A HALF OF MILK TO IT.
5. BLEND IT TOGETHER INSIDE THE BLENDER. (PLEASE MAKE SURE THE LID IS ON.) POUR IT IN A CUP.
6. SPRINKLE A SPOON OF MILO ON TOP.

YOU ARE FINISHED, DRINK AND ENJOY!!!

Workbook Wk 7 Algebra

This week for maths we have to do a workbook which we haven't done for a while. We are learning to solve number patterns and algebraic equations. Here are the questions we have to do. Feel free to leave a comment. Thanks.

Book Review

Team Time

At our school we have a day where in the middle block, we do this thing called Team Time. Team Time is basically free time for the whole middle block. How do you get on Team Time? Well, we have a hand-in sheet where we link all our work. Miss Power checks the hand-in sheet and sees who is on Team Time. Team Time is today and I think I will get on it because I have pretty much all of my links on the hand-in sheet. Team Time is really fun. Last time I played basketball the whole time but this time I think I will play soccer with one of my friends, Emil. Team Time is really fun and I can't wait!

Cantamaths

Yesterday, on the 28th August, me and 7 others went to Christchurch for Cantamaths. Remember the Westamaths post I did not too long ago? Well, we made it through that, so then we went to Christchurch. I got to school just after 9 am and everyone else was in my class. We were going in the school van to Christchurch. I won't tell you everything, because that would take AGES, but I will tell you some of the highlights. So we got in the school van and Matt's Dad drove us to Christchurch. We stopped in Arthur's Pass and the snow there was beautiful. Then we got out and had lunch in Springfield on a playground. There was a basket swing and that was really fun. Next stop was Riccarton Mall in Christchurch. We split into 2 groups. I wanted to go to Paper Plus because we all had vouchers for it. But it turns out either there wasn't one, or it was just really hard to find. So then we had Sushi for lunch. I had Salmon in mine. Then we went to the Horncastle Arena, where the competition would take place. The year 7's would go first. The runner waits outside the doors of Door 2. Then they went through and chose where they wanted to sit. The guy on the mic kept talking and it was annoying because I just wanted to watch the year 7's go. In the end, the year 7's got 90 points. They came 3rd equal with about 5 teams. Then it was the year 8's turn. I was the runner so I went and waited outside Door 2. We went in and I chose the same desk as the year 7's. In the end, we did okay with 50 points. Then came dinner at MacDonald's. I had a cheeseburger and chips. It was really yummy. Then we drove home. Nothing exciting on the way home. We got back to school and I was really tired. I went home and fell straight asleep because it was 11 pm and I was so tired. It was really fun and a great experience, I really liked going to Cantamaths. 

Lionel Messi

For those of you who don't know who this is, this is Lionel Messi. He plays professional football for the Barcelona football club in Spain. He also plays for the Argentina National Team. He captains both. He is the best footballer in the world right now, maybe the best of all time. He set the record for most goals scored in La Liga. He has scored 253 goals in 289 matches. He is also the top goal scorer for Barcelona as well with 368 goals in all competitions. He has won the Ballon d'Or award 5 times. He won his first in 2009 and won it 4 consecutive years from 2009-2012. The last time he won a Ballon d'Or was 2015.

This is why, in my opinion, Lionel Messi is the best footballer.