Week 5 Term 2

Hey Guys! This week has been pretty busy. I've done Japanese, which has been pretty interesting. It's cool to learn about another country's culture, and also pick up on bits of their language. Just yesterday I had my last lesson of science. I had to do a test on everything I've learned from all the lessons. I think I did pretty well. Last night I had production practice. There is only four weeks to go before the actual thing. I'm not on the actual cast. I am in the band, I play the flute, and have been practising like crazy. I just hope my hard work pays off.

I am looking forward to several things involving band. Of course there's production, but there is some other events coming up as well. First of all, there is music day. One person from each instrument will get chosen. I don't think it will be me, but you never know. People from other schools come too. They will have a day of practising, much like band camp, and will celebrate with a concert at the end. The other event coming up, involves other bands, including the college, as well. We play pieces separately and then play a combined piece as well. I imagine there will be a lot of preparation leading up to this. I have already been given one of the pieces to practice.

Overall I've enjoyed the week. See you soon!

Week 4 Term 2

Hi Guys! This week in tech arts I did science. I made soap for mother's day. The first soap I made was red and yellow, but someone spilled water all over it, so I had to make a new one. this one was better anyway. It was pink and white, and the science teacher cut stars and hearts out to put on the top. We also did an experiment with blue food colouring and salt water. We had to distill the salt water, which also had the food colouring in it, to make fresh water. The only equipment we were allowed to use, was two side arm flasks, a hot plate, and a tube. The science teacher began by pouring the coloured salt water into one of the flasks. We connected the two flasks using the piece of tube, and then sat the flask, with the liquid in it, on the hot plate, before turning the hot plate on. It took a while to begin to work, but soon enough the water vapour began to rise. He went down the tube and into the other flask. Afterwards we learnt why only the water particles found there way into the other flask. Well the way it works, is to do with particles and temperature. The water particles don't need as much heat, as the colouring and salt particles do. The heat turns the water into vapour and it rises up, and because the flask is sealed with a bung, the only place it can go is down the tube. The tube, of course, is not heated, so when the heat is taken away, the water particles turn back from vapour into fresh water, which then drips down the tube into the other flask. Another thing I did in science just yesterday was pH testing. I had to decide whether a liquid was an acid, neutral, or a base, judging by what I could taste, smell, and feel. I then created a hypothesis for each liquid. The pH testing was really interesting. I had to use a red cabbage indicator. This is basically just dipping red litmus and blue litmus into the liquid. If it is an acid, the blue litmus will turn red and the red litmus will pretty much stay the same. If the liquid is a base it will do the opposite thing, and if it is a neutral it will turn a purple colour. Then I actually had to test the pH levels in each liquid. To do this, I had to use a universal indicator. This was done with a yellow piece of paper (obviously you can't just use any yellow paper, it has to actually be special stuff). I dipped a piece into each liquid, and watched it change colour. You had to run over to the pH chart really quick, otherwise the colour could change. If it was 6.9 and below it was a acid, and if it was 7.1-14 it was a base. A straight 7 meant it was a neutral. All my hypothesis's turned out to be correct. Overall it's been a good week. See ya next week!

Memoir

I could smell last nights rain mingling with the sweet scent of the nearby pine trees. The damp ground felt soft underfoot and the breeze cool on my face. Shaky fingers reached out to take the helmet, before fastening it on my head. I walked towards the majestic beast, and courageously mounted its broad back. My thumb searched for the electric start button and found success, but putting it into gear was a different story. Mum approached and did it for me. I took a deep breath and placed my right hand on the throttle and my remaining hand on the brake. The drone of the motorbikes engine filled the air, as I gently eased the throttle back...

I was riding. Sure, I was going slow and my hand wouldn't leave the brake, but I was actually riding. Adrenaline buzzed through my veins, as I unconsciously pulled the throttle back further. I looked behind me and saw the mud fly out from under my back wheel, landing several metres away. I had never felt this free before. All my worries seemed to disappear, as I made it go faster still. My speed ate up the ground, and soon I was approaching the first corner. I slowed down, but only slightly. The corner came and went like it wasn't even there. I zipped along and it seemed too soon that the next corner was already upon me, and I could see my family up ahead. I rounded the last bend in the track and was disappointed to see that there was only twenty metres left. I never wanted this to end.

I pulled up beside my family, and shut the bike off. "Did you have fun?"

"Yes," I replied, surprised that my grin hadn't already given that away.

"Would you do it again?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Character Description

His body, clad in lime green protective gear, gumboots and helmet, makes him easy to spot on the horizon. I watch as he disappears round the corner and reappears just seconds later. Although I can't actually see his face, I know that a proud grin is most likely to be plastered across it. Around and around the track he goes, faster every time, until his speed is so great I can't keep up with him. He decides to change his route and zips down the hill, out of my sight. I expect him to come back up the other side straight away, but he doesn't. I tell myself not to worry. He's probably just found a bump that he can use as a jump. I let out a sigh of relief as I realise that this is probably what he's doing, but my relief obviously came too soon. The sound of the motor no longer fills the air.

I sprint down the track as fast as my boots will allow me. My heart starts to beat faster as I enter the paddock. Worst case scenarios run through my mind, but all the while I keep on running. I come over the brow of the hill and scream. His small body is half hidden by the bike, but the half you can see isn't moving. I start to run even faster and find myself stumbling down the last part of the hill. I wrench the bike off of him and sink to my knees. I pull off his helmet revealing his perfect round face, complete with big green eyes, a button nose and smooth peachy lips. His eyes are closed, long lashes brushing his cheeks. Beads of sweat trickle down his forehead and wet his short brown hair. I call his name but he's unresponsive...

I sit in the waiting room listening to the buzz of the hospital. I try to distract myself by thinking of other things, but the sound of his bubbly giggle won't leave my mind. I think of his quirky personality, and how he would never hesitate when it came to helping others. He loved doing anything outdoors, but his main passion was motocross. Now he'd gone and fallen off his bike. I leap to my feet as the doctor comes into view. "He's gone." ” What? No no no no no. He can't be dead.”  "At least he died doing the thing he loved." I collapse into a chair. My precious little brother who never did anything wrong. Gone? At only nine years old his life was taken. "Do you want to see him." What! No. I can't bear the thought of his pretty olive skin, looking white and lifeless. I somehow manage the words "No thanks." I suddenly can't hold it in any longer. Tears create waterfalls down my face, as I rush from the confines of the building.

Band Camp

 Hey guys sorry I haven't been on in a while. I can't believe it's already term two. I was really busy last week. I was participating in the annual band camp, held at our school. This involved symphonic band, jazz band, and choir students from not only our school, but from Matamata Intermediate and Cambridge Middle School as well. This was a really fun event. It lasted two days, in which practically did nothing but practice. I feel like my music skills have improved vastly. I got to celebrate my hard work with a concert performed in front of my friends and family. Overall it was a really fun, but productive event