THE SECRET OF LIFE

A girl in our class called Gemma, got published in Rattle. Her poem is called THE SECRET OF LIFE and here’s the poem:

The sleeping lion

The living bones

The paper world

The matchstick bag

The book of secrets

Life and death.

A big well done to Gemma!

By Alice.

Get New Zealand Writing

This year Mrs Evers signed up to the “Get New Zealand Writing” challenge ran by Warehouse Stationery. We have been paired with a school in Auckland called Henderson Valley School to exchange writing. We received our poster from them on Monday the 13th of March.

We can only open theirs when we send off ours. We have to make a postcard each with our favourite line from our I am poem and decorate the back and front. The I am poems is a poem that represents us. We can’t use similes so we have to use metaphors. We had The Iain Sharp poem to guide us. Here’s the poem:

Iain Sharp is a fat parcel of mixed groceries tied with a clumsy knot.

Iain Sharp is a black kite adrift on changeable winds.

Iain Sharp is a pile of scoria tricking softly to the sea.

Whenever I peep in mirrors Iain Sharp frowns back at me.

It’s terrifying.

Iain Sharp is a runaway tramcar.

Iain Sharp is a chunk of moonrock.

Iain Sharp is nine letters wrenched from the Roman Alphabet.

Look there and there!

Bits of bright confetti blow from chapel to chapel.

I chase them with outstretched hands.

They might be Iain Sharp.

The line I put on my poem is: Alice is pink, brightening up everywhere she goes.

Here are six words Year 5 like the sound of:

1. Nerve-cited
2. Caring
3. Laptops
4. Risk takers
5. Mechatronics
6. Kia Kaha

Here are three things that make us smile:

1. Random acts of kindness
2. Bridie bloopers
3. Teachers, friends & Suzie the cat

The longest word we know:

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (which means  a lung disease contracted from the inhalation of very fine silica particles, specifically from a volcano; medically, it is the same as silicosis.)

By Alice :)

100WC week #27 😊

It was a beautiful morning and I was on set at my first movie, starring me. The day before I was very worried because I was scared that I would mess up my lines or do something stupid. Full of excitement getting ready, I went to go look at myself in the mirror and screamed. I was completely brown because I put too much tanning on! “This is going to be a hard day.” I worried in my head. I arrived and I was late! “I guess that I was right this morning.” I exclaimed in my head. “Lights, camera, action!” The camera man exclaimed. I just realised that I was on first! Right at that very moment I got fired!

By Alice :)

       

Beauty disaster

I have this friend Lydia. There is one bad thing about her. She is totally obsessed with being beautiful. I feel sorry for her because she’s got brown hair. I've got brown hair too. For me it’s hard to be beautiful when you've got brown hair. I’m getting worried about her because she’s been doing this nearly over a year now. Also if there’s another thing about her it’s that she LOVES taking selfies on her phone. But if I asked her if her house burnt down and she could only save one thing then it would be her camera.

By Gemma

Swimming sports  - 1 March 2017

On the first of March Year 5-8 went to swimming sports at Wharenui pool. We were very thankful for this help of doing this, as they have let us use Wharenui pool many, many times before for swimming sports. At swimming sports we had to wait and wait for our race, and that took forever! (unless you were the first race!) When the girls were lining up, we were shivering with fear and coldness. We were very nerve-cited. We were staring at the blank starting blocks and suddenly we were on them ready to dive! Every race we got on the top block but we didn’t go on the blocks for backstroke (of course!). We had to push off the wall really hard. Some of the girls were so strong that they made waves! We had a good time when we swam and we all tried very hard. There was a lot of false starts and splashing when the other people dived in to get started. All the girls tried to see who was winning so they could cheer their house on.

We loved all of the events we did, they were fun. The events were:

Freestyle

Backstroke

Breaststroke

Butterfly

A mix of all the strokes

We had to wait a little for to start in line to go for the race. There were a lot of people that had the same cap, and it was hard to identify all of the girls in the race. Good job, and good luck to the girls who are representing Selwyn House in the Zones. We hope to get good results!

By Mollie and Charlotte C

Glentui camp!

On Wednesday of Week 2, Year 4 and 5 went to Glentui Meadows camp. This was the first time for Year 4 to go on camp and they did really well for their first time! Year 5 were the leaders on camp, which we loved!

When we arrived, we walked the Glentui Loop Track. On the walk we saw an impressive waterfall. We also did a camp concert on the first night. It was very funny because some girls did comedy and there were fantastic singing voices from some girls too!

On Thursday we had three activities over the day. We took part in Nature Diary drawing with Mrs Dann, Photography with Jo and Creative Writing with Kerrin. After the activities we had free time and we got to go in the freezing pool, play table tennis, do colouring in, try military manoeuvres or kung fu.

On the last night we had a silent dinner. It was so much fun but hard for some people but we made it happen. We had to communicate by writing on pieces of paper with colouring pens, doing sign language or miming.

We all had an excellent time on camp.

By Annabel & Gemma

Juliet's 100wc Week #26

 The tale of Timothy Two-Fingers

I was walking down the street when I saw a tiny person busking. He was the size of two fingers. But how can someone be so tiny? Someone was about to stand on him! I rushed towards the little person and scooped him up in my hands. ‘‘Thank you!’’ he squeaked. He had an enormous grin on his face. ‘‘My name is Timothy Two-Fingers’’. Timothy saw my puzzled expression. ‘‘ I am Timothy Two-Fingers because I am so tiny!’’

"Oh,’ I answered. I put him back down a few minutes later and went home. When I got home Mum asked where I had been, so I answered . . .  

By Juliet!

Izzie 100wc Week #26

Disappointment

“I cannot wait till tonight, it is going to be epic!’’I exclaimed while I was  applying my sparkly new makeup on. Suddenly some ugly creature came. I tried and tried to get rid of it but… “Owww!” I yelled as the rude thing bit me right on the nose. My nose was killing me in pain.“Mum my nose! Come fast!”.

“Why?” Mum ran like a cheetah to see me.

“Mum, I can’t go to the party now. It is HORRIBLE!’’ I was so gutted. I thought that the party was going to be epic. I tried to put heaps of makeup on to hide it. “But how can something so tiny do that to me?” I wondered unfairly.

By Izzie

Annabel 100wc Week#26

The worst ever scratch...

It was a bright blue sunny day. I was racing down the footpath to my friend’s house with the warm sun tinkling on my back when I fell over. It did not hurt so I just got up and started to race back down the footpath. Then it really started to hurt so I looked down and I gazed at the scratch. But how can something so tiny like a scratch keep on growing? It was weird but blood was dropping out of my skin so I quickly walked home. When I opened the door Mum asked me in surprise, “What happened?” I alerted her that I  had fallen over and then my mum saw what had happened. She said to go outside. Mum gave me a towel and I put it on my scratch that kept on growing.             

By Annabel

Spider bites - Amy's 100wc Week #26

But how can something so tiny be so dangerous? Yesterday I was playing with my dog when a spider as black as the night sky and a tail as white and sparkly as the stars bit me. It crawled up my leg. Suddenly it sunk its fangs deeply into my leg. It was only about three centimetres but it hurt. I was astounded. I was expecting it to walk away but no .It was a white tailed spider. I didn't like it. It was poisonous and I was so creeped out. Finally it scattered slowly out of sight.

Annabel - Week #25

Every week I dread for two days - Tuesday and Thursday. Do you know why? It is Jump Jam. I dawdle over like a snail.  So that is why I am always last. I try to be late for school, but I am never because my brother has to go school as well. I get dropped last and always ask for traffic to be bad on those days. But it is never! Sometimes I stroll into school just to be last but then I have to finish school work so I am never late.

By Annabel :)

Charlotte L's Week #25

I ran really slowly and quite gloomily. It was Cross Country. The worst school event ever in the past and that will ever come.I finally reach the end.As I walk down the path to the judges table, feeling blue, I stop just in front. They put a little mark on my hand and they don’t say well done. My enemy Sally who came 1st got a ‘Well done!’ from everyone and even my best friend Ali trudged over to Sally and glumly said ‘Well done.’Ali came 2nd. The only person who did say well done to me was Ali. A week later during a break I heard Sally talking to her friends. I managed to overhear a sentence.”My mum works at the cafeteria and every day before Cross Country she puts a little bit of a slowness potion in Charlotte’s water.”So that is why I am always last. I run and tell Ali. She is so super surprised.

To be continued…

By Charlotte L  

Izzie's Week #25

This time of year again

I hate this time of year. I am all blue that day. The disappointment I feel when we go to the A&P show. I dread having to walk past every place that my Mum, Dad and all the other people in my family want to go to. At last I go for food but I am always last in line of my family. I feel my tummy wasting away to get the food. I try to get to first but it never works one bit. “Mum! Izzie is trying to get there first.” Ameila groans.

“She should not be.’’ Mum replied like she was not happy. At last I get food and feel annoyed all the way home.

‘‘At last the day is over,”’ I say in relief.  So that is why I am always last.

By Izzie.

Sarah Week #25

It was one bright steaming hot morning. “NO!” I shouted, “ why does it have to be today!”

“Sarah time to get up!” Mum shouted.

“Umm Mum, I feel sick.” I moaned.

“Haha I’m not letting you off this time.” Mum growled.

“I don’t want to go to athletics.” I mumbled.

“I've got powerade for you.” Mum bribed.

“Ooooh I’m coming powerade!” I yelled.

“Now what! You’re dressed already.” Mum said surprised.

“Yes I am. I feel proud about it.” I replied.

“I've got some toast for you.” Mum said.

“Cool, let's go I’ll eat in the car.” I said in a stoked voice.

It was time for the running race. I ran and ran but for four years I have always come last. All thanks to my sister for putting super super super glue on the heel of my sneakers  to slow me down in my races. I still hate her for doing that. So that is why I’m always last.

Charlotte C's 100wc Week #25

                                     Cooking class  

Today was cooking class, I dreaded this day all week. Guess what? We had to make cookies to get into the top team of the class. I tried and I tried but I was far from the best cook in the class. I wanted to give up but I kept trying all day and night to practice but I did not get any better than I was. The time had come and It was time to get cooking. A little bit of sugar, eggs, butter and chocolate but there was something else… I did not know what it was. I still put it in and then in the oven it went. “I know I will win.” I thought to myself. When the timer went off  I took it out of the oven slowly, it was that heavy. Before my eyes there was an atrocious mess of gloop! It was scattered along the plate and I felt like bursting into tears. So that is why I am always last. I was washing away in my heart.   

By Charlotte C:)

Alice's 100 wc week #25😊

On Thursdays I have touch. I play for my old school, Ohoka. Our team is called Ohoka Sprinters. Our team is a boys&girls team. This year we came 3rd in the competition that we entered. Once you play the game you needed to say “good game” to the other team. So we line up to say good game. I’m at the back of the line again. “Why am I always last?” I asked Pieta. Molly heard me and answered “Because you always cartwheel to the line.” “So that is why I am always last.” I realised. They nodded. I felt way better. Then we shook hands. I said goodbye to all my friends, I got a Mr Whippy with Ruby and went home.  

By Alice :)

Laura's 100wc Week #25

On Pet Day I entered the best dog competition. The dog that I entered was my dog Ziggy. I brushed him, bathed him, pampered him like he was royalty! He didn’t like the fancy collar and the bows and bits. He refused to take a bath so he ended up smelling horrible and looked the most hideous he had ever looked! We had to do it because we had already signed up. When I got to school with Ziggy I got him on his patch of grass. He had such bad posture unlike all of the other dogs who actually looked like royalty! Of course me and Ziggy lost. Then it was time for the best behaved bit. I hadn't practiced at all! I had been so busy that week. I walked round in circles while Ziggy went crazy and of course we came last. So that is why I am always last on Pet Day.

By Laura

Gemma's 100wc Week #25

The car crash

My name is Rose Wingly. I was a normal person then the accident happened. It was a car crash. A truck was backing out a drive when we were going past. I was waking up so I couldn’t tell Dad to watch out. I was confused why it was dark. I fainted, and woke later in hospital. The doctor said I was paralyzed. I went to school the following week in a wheelchair. On Mondays it’s always P.E. I love P.E but today I was dreading it. I was paralyzed, so that is why I am always last.

By Gemma

Coco's 100wc Week #25

Dear diary,

Have I ever told you why I am always last? Well if I have not, this is why. You see my class has to do the roll every day. I am always at the top of the list and Gemma is at the bottom. But, I am still last because Gemma gets called out first so she gets a turn at being first. I adore school. Just not the shivering cold mornings. “Hola Gemma!” Mrs Evers announces every morning.

“Hola Mrs Evers!” Gemma replies, stoked.

Then Mrs Evers says everyone's name, and finally my name. So that is why I am always last on the roll.  

By Coco

Lily 100wc Week #25

Every Tuesday and Thursday I slowly walk over to Jump Jam while all the other kids are racing there like a bunch of rockets. I’m always last to get there. I absolutely hate Jump Jam. To me if I owned it, it would be shut down so fast you can’t even blink your eyes. But sadly I don’t. When I do it I always gently bounce just an inch off the ground and move like a dying Zombie. Phewf, we have finally finished. This time all the kids are slowly walking while I run like a cheetah back to class. And then we start another day. So that is why I am always last to Jump Jam.

By Lily H-W  

Sarah's Week 24 100 wc

The mystery hand

There it was.The mossy hand. My eyes were drawn to it, growing bigger and bigger. It laid there on the leafy ground no one touched it or cared about it. I saw a gloomy flash go by. I gingerly walked up to it and stroked it. It was softer than a cat. I saw a faded code. It caught my interest so I tried to solve it. The moss was like a blanket over it. I could hear a scream of fear. I turned round and glared into the leafy bushes. Nothing was there I thought I was dreaming before about the scream. Then I saw red gloomy eyes stare at me. I ran, I didn’t know were I was going. I crashed into the tree like a clumsy bird. I fell into this dark place I didn’t know where I was. I felt something on my head. Big bold bright lights shined in my eyes. Some people shouted, “Ahhh QUEEN!”

By Sarah

Izzie 100wc #24

There I was lazily flicking the channels on the couch at home on a Sunday night when finally I found a channel that caught my interest. I saw the people stand next to a huge mossy ugly hand. I wondered where it was. Later that night it told us where it was. ‘’Good evening the pale white hand is growing in Hagley park. Once they said that, I  thought I know that was the park that was near us. I thought how are  going to get the hand away? The next day I went to the park and  looked at it like I did not know what I was doing. I thought that they could just keep it there. One of the bosses ran around and yelled. “Do not touch it!” “Why?’’ I asked and explained how we could just leave it there.

“Oh I did not think it that way.” So they left it there with no problems at all.

By  Izzie

100wc #24

                                                         The giant

One crisp autumn afternoon I was gingerly tiptoeing through the leafy park. My eyes glanced to a great big marble hand surrounding a tree with a limey blanket of moss clung on to it like a spider. I turned round and questioned myself was this a dream? NO. It can't be. Can it? If you imagine stuff in dreams don’t they usually appear? I turned back around and saw that the hand had disappeared? But then thud. The ground shook like ice cream on jelly. Suddenly there were two hands and two giant feet peeking out from the ground. I thought there was a giant underneath the ground but then there was a head too!

By Lily H-W

Annabel week #24 100wc

Where am I? I wonder...

I started to walk into the speckled forest, my eyes darted to the hand that kept on growing. I questioned myself should I keep going to that hand? But I bravely did. I glanced at the hand, it had a code that you had to crack. I started to walk as slowly as possible, I got there in the end. I started to put the numbers in the pin, at last I cracked it. The next moment I heard, “Go and get in that elevator next door to the park.” So I got in it and it went down. I was amazed  to see a giant and it was his hand growing! I tried to escape but I couldn't. What do I do? I asked myself. The giant grumpily murmured “It was me, all that time.” I didn't know what to do.

By Annabel      

100 WC Week #24 Charlotte Chiles

I was cycling around the park with my mum when something caught my eye. Was it a hand? Yes it was. A giant’s hand made of stone was holding up a tree. It was very weird!  We got off our bikes and gazed at it in wonder. Was it a piece of art? What was it there for? How long had it been there ? I did not know! I gingerly touched it. It felt smooth and warm from sitting in the baking sun all day. People were walking past it and children were climbing all over the fingers. I could hear people talking about a friendly giant who lived many years ago and loved planting trees but disappeared and was never seen again. I guess the story I heard might be true.

By Charlotte C :)

The secret door week #24.

There. Beautiful - the secret door. I tried to open the moss covered door. But it did not work,. It was securely locked. Suddenly I realised something massive moving in the bush. I got goosebumps down my spine. I just shivered. “Ouch!” I screamed. The key to the door fell on my head. I shoved the key in the rusted lock and slowly turned it. BOOM! Leaves scattered  everywhere. I turned around and there... the secret garden. Suddenly stone fingers emerged from the ground like they were pausing to pick up a tree. Today they remain there - frozen as a sculpture.    

By Coco

Alice's wc week #24

I was going for a stroll at the park when I found it. The giant that lives underground. I gingerly walked up to it. His hand stuck out and would you believe it, showed the code to Candyland! People have been wondering what to do about it for ages. But I always say to myself “Please don’t do anything about it.” Over and over again. One day when I felt particularly brave, I sneaked in and it was delicious! Then a couple of hours later I tried to get out but I was stuck in Candyland! I thought that it’s probably because they found something to do about it. But the bright side was that I could eat candy all day long and nobody could stop me!

By Alice

Charlotte C's 100wc Week #23

Once when my mum was cooking dinner in her new pot that was yellow and she loved her pot she tried to cook but it didn’t look good so I did not eat it. I tried it. It was bad it turned was bad so I gingerly fed the food to my dog. Then I discovered a bright pink diamond well I was bending down to feed the dog my food mum made. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. It remarkable I sold it to get money to spend on toys but  however it was fake money the person called Lucy ripped me off. The toy person told me I got $10000000 that was a lot of money down the drain, she is so mean...  

By Charlotte C :)  

Gemma's 100wc Week #23

A girl named Holly...

Holly’s life was great, however she had just moved house...

While her parents were looking around the house, Holly discovered a secret tunnel. Then, she fell over and twisted her ankle. She didn’t tell her parents, she started to walk gingerly. On their first night, Holly’s grandma visits and Mum asks if she can recommend an interior designer. Gran said “I had an interior designer come to my house - she was remarkable. Call her” She came and recommended my room should be yellow because that’s her favourite colour. It looked weird, so that was how her life ended. Or was it?...

By Gemma       

Alice's 100wc week #23

I am walking home. I just crossed a lady wearing bright yellow. I walked gingerly past her. When I walked past her I discover that her pants were slipping down! You could see her undies! They were dora the explorer! The lady looked like she was in her 90s! When I got home I told all of my family and we all cracked up laughing. Then I told everyone at school the next day they also cracked up laughing. At the end of the day I walked home and at the gate there is a parcel addressed for me. I opened it quickly and realised that there was $1,000000000 it was remarkable. Then I noticed there was a letter so I read it and it said “Dear somebody thank you for not laughing at me or ask me a weird question. From the lady in yellow.” I was stunned then I went to bed at 6:00 (because I was not thinking that well because I was so stunned.)

Alice :)

Lily's 100wc Week #23

Every night I go out into the graveyard alone but tonight felt different. Ch ch ch. I heard something under a stone. I gingerly kept walking forward scared out of my mind. However I’d heard this before. Yes at home in the backyard. Where I discovered a dead body in the shed. Suddenly I saw a remarkable yellow diamond peeping through in the bushes. I sprinted over the grass and snatched the diamond from the bushes. Suddenly I realised I wasn't alone. I ran like a cheetah back home to tell my family. But something followed me.

By Lily H-W