Reflections from 9RTd

Today we discussed the purpose of reflection- review, thinking back on our year. We came up with some focussing questions on the board to think about our year.

I'm so proud of the students in 9RTd and the great strides that they have taken in their reading and writing.

Ite, Cheyaane, Henry, Tupou, Faaaoane, Jennyfer, Wakatere, Lose at the Manaiakalani film festival!

"Throughout this long challenging year in english I have learnt many things, such as how to write and includes metaphors and similes in writing, and how to annotate poems and even various texts. I learnt these basic learning skills by paying attention when ever the teacher spoke. To help me with my learning I read chapter books from time to time. Listening to the teacher helped me understand and gain basic knowledge. From time to time I learn’t at home and in B9, this learning area helped me to think and learn challenging and basic information. My strengths in English is reading and the area in need for more improvement is writing. Various skills I need to work on range from writing and reading and also listening. Things I need to improve on next year is to stay more focused and pay more attention to the teacher."

-Edward Baah

"What have I learned this year? I’ve learned a lot of things this year like one of them is learning new words.

What can I do better? What I can do better is to stop talking to friends during class and learning time and to also listen to the teacher more.

How did I learn? I learnt in so much different ways one of them are reading books which can help me learn new words and to also help give me ideas on how to write a poem or any type of writing.

Did I change? I think that I changed in so much ways like I have came to school more than I used to and also going around and asking people for help instead of sitting there and doing nothing until the bell rang."

-Wakatere Cecil

"From the start of this year 2015, English was a subject that was difficult. I’ve learnt many things such as poems, grammar, punctuation and many more. Learning these basic skills was not as easy but I eventually learnt these things and in which I endeavour to use in my everyday life. To do better next year, I will focus more, pay more attention, read oftenly and to become more involved in learning areas. I learnt in English by completing all tasks given and trying my best to my full potential. My strengths in English are learning and having an extensive vocabulary and having a very positive attitude towards my learning. Learning doesn't only take place at school meaning I can learn at home, in public and anywhere possible by reading or listening to things taking place around me."

-Dion Tuitukau

more reflections to come...

Dion Tuitukau's speech

What do we live for, if it's not to make life less difficult for each other? A quote from Mark Twain reads "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see" Science tells us that kindness directly influences your propensity for happiness. But kindness does more than that; it not only improves your health but increases your longevity, it’s a proven biological fact. It's easy to forget that sometimes people look at us and actually listen to what we say which can either make them feel really good or really bad.

What's in it for us? People reciprocate the favour of being kind or they will simply be altruistic. The very process of saying kind words can be short to say, but these words have echoes that never end. Great sacrifices and choices is what life is partly made of where little smiles, kindness secure comfort for people all around you. Three things in human life are important; the first is to be kind, the second is to be kind and the third is to be kind as said by Mother Teresa.

Sometimes in life we are so eager to talk, that we often forget to ask ourselves; who will benefit from I'm going to say, will someone be hurt.Asking  yourselves these questions may save others pain through needlessly hurtful words. A story of Kindness I found on the Internet reads

Successful people take control of their words, rather than letting their words control them. We are more conscious of our thoughts and words and the power we unleash when show kindness to others as human beings.

More importantly, your words can make a positive difference on the people you interact with every day. Before you speak ask yourself: Is what I am about to say going to uplift the hearer? Will it inspire, motivate, and create forward for them? Just remember kindness is the three important things in human life.

Jennyfer Fa'amita's speech

Kindness or not:

I am not gonna start my speech of with a I wonder or a question because I think that my question maybe quite obvious but if you want me to say it I will, What will the world be like if we’re all kind to each other? when I think about this question, I think it’s not possible because we weren’t all born to be perfect we were all born to be different, but being kind is not something you are born with, it is something that grows in you, I mean every single one of us in this room shows kindness but in our own unique way.

How do you show kindness? I show kindness by saying hi, but smiling is something I don’t like to do, but I know that Henry he is that type of person that likes to smile maybe that’s how he show’s his act of kindness, Cheyanne show’s kindness by not making others feel otl (only the lonely) she may not see it but her friends can realise her act of kindness, Wakatere is a person who is always mean to others but when you really get to know him actually does care believe it or not but it’s true, kindness is expressed differently it shows your originality, the kind of person you want to be and the kind of person you are.

In our own classroom, everybody is constantly mocking each other, shouting and screaming but when it does get rough they start to get physical, everybody thinks it’s a bad thing but I say let them fight but not get physical I know this sounds weird but when they fight they always seem to laugh and smile in the end, yeah they ain't showing kindness but it shows that they care, it shows that bonds are not only made by being kind but bonds can get stronger if you do it your way, kindness is something that we don’t show often in this class, especially in this class but we seem to get along, kind or not but as as we are all smiling that is what matters the most.long

To finish of my speech I would just like to say try to be kind to one another if you want to live longer in life.

Wakatere Cecil's speech

World Peace?

I wonder what it would be like if we had world peace? Well if the world was ever at world peace it will be so much different to what it is now as we all know that I think that everyone should not just show kindness but to also do and be kind towards other people so that way one day the world just might have world peace. Just imagine the world full of       kindness,peace,war free,happiness and full of huge smiles don’t you think that it would be so much wonderful that way? Do you think that the world would ever have peace? We also need world peace because of the trouble that has happened in France and i’m sure you’ve heard about that?,and those in France that has died during the attack their families must be swimming in a pool full of there tears for there love ones.

Any ways I think that world peace is really important to everyone if you want to live in a caring and loving world if not then something must be wrong with you.There are kids all over the world being bullied,picked on and even getting beaten up for nothing!!! we need to stop hating and start to appreciate people for who they really are. Everyone has picked on someone before including myself? and don’t say you haven’t bullied someone before because there is someone that you know you have bullied and also hated on. You might of bullied your siblings if you're an only child you would of came to school thinking that you can pick on the smallest person in your class or one that is the darkest or maybe that one person that everyone hates in the classroom. I really want the world to be a happy place and also to be safe wherever you go.World peace would just be wonder full for everybody don’t you think?

World peace is not the only thing we need in this world we also need the life of freedom.Freedom is what every single one of us in this whole entire world needs. Just thinking that if we all had freedom we could do whatever we wanted well not whatever we wanted but like most of the things that we never could do before. Like having to be 15 or 16 to get a license or also because we ain’t got know choice when the teacher says we have to do this but you don’t wanna do that but then they say you have to because it's the work I gave you now do it.

By the way have you ever wonded what it would be like if there was no such thing as bullying or moking? I’ve always wonded what it would be like mocking free know one calling each other names and also know more people judging other people basted on there sexualty or how they act. If there was ever know such thing as bullying and mocking we would be so much better everyone loving and caring for others that they don’t even know I would love to live in a world just like that. And here is a quote by the one and only (Tupac Shakur) “Before we find world peace we gotta find peace in the war on the streets”

Kindness recounts

The delightful RTd are focussing on the theme of kindness this term. In preparation for this we had a discussion around what kindess looks like.

Here are some of their pieces of writing about a time they were/ saw/ recieved kindness.

Latisha Puti

I saw kindness displayed when I was walking to my godfather’s house.This person helped this old lady walk across the road safely. She was having difficulties carrying her bags across the road .

Also it was interesting seeing someone help out someone other than themself. I haven't seen that much compassion in a very long time. People have been focussed on themself, knowing people need help right in front of there eyes.

People should show kindness or act kindly more often, ever me, so people see it. Then people might just carry that kindness on. Like that saying what goes around comes around. So if you do good things , most probable good things will comes back to you.

For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

Cheyanne Eagle

How I met my best friend , I was being kind at the time , I saw this girl just sitting there all alone on the first day of school . I felt kind that day and walked up to her and ask if she was alright we started talking about random things .I ask her if she had anyone to hang with she said no. I said well you do now , we hung for the rest of the  day . The next  day we never talked she was sitting in class with Mele , The girls told Mele to come cause we knew her but we never knew Coopa , I finally got up and went to her cause she looked a bit sad . I was just being kind to her cause she had no one but her brother to hang with so I just hung with her all the time . I week past and I still was being nice cause we just hung with each other , I knew People but I chose to hang with her , We just started to always hang out and stuff . We got really close  and That's how I got my Bestfriend ………I think everyone should be kind because it will make the world a better place and everyone will get alone and be nice . THE END

What this image means to me is :That you don't have to be told or given something to be kind to other , Its all in the HEART   

BE KIND EVERYONE

Faaaoane Ulipa

One time that I showed is when a new student started our school. How I showed kind to her was talking nicely to her and doing the best I could while she was here at our school for the first time. I was kind like never before. She sat down next to me and my friends but nobody made her feel welcomed. So I walked to her and asked her what her name was and so on. We worked together for the rest of the day and helped each other with our tasks and make saw our work for the day was finished. My teachers thought that I worked better with her than I do with my friends because I actually get work done with her than my group of friends that put me off task. That was her first and last day at our school. I stopped being kind then. Her name was Queenie.

To me, being kind is talking nicely to each other and also sharing things.

Everyone should be kind to each other. Show respect and all so everyone can be safe at where they are.



Lose Manuha'apai

One time I showed kindness was when I let the teacher walk through the door because I wanted to put a smile on her face, it's also showing respect but at the same time it's showing kindness. In the future this means that I will show kindness towards other adults with them not expecting it,

This influenced me because not all students show kindness towards the adults and I'm trying to change that and be a different person.

We should all show kindness to others because you might not know if something would come your way, as in a good way. But I'm just saying that people should not expect or ask for kindness the should get it unexpectedly.

Going forward I will take what I have with me now and use it in the future or learn more about what kindness is and what it makes people become more of. If kindness wasn't around I think this world

would be full of disrespectful people.

Kindness can be a hard thing to do but, if you do show it I guaranty that you would be known as the person who shows kindness wherever you go or whatever you do. Showing kindness can lead you to a role where no one can get, like one of the prefects or even a head boy or girl.

Henry Neemia

One time I showed kindness was when I cleaned Faaao's bag last night. I thought that she should have a organized and clean start for school so she can have the right equipment and have a organised bag so she can do her work and she won’t need to worry about not having the right equipment because I checked her bag for it! Ain’t I a good brother?! I really enjoyed doing this for her and I would do it in a flash anytime, anyday if I am not eating;). Hopefully she will remember my kindness towards her so she can one day display kindness back to me. This means in the future I will show kindness not only to Faaao but to anyone else so I can receive kindness back.

This other time my friends and I were going to Mcdonald's for a feed and we decided to buy extra meals for some homeless people we saw around the street where we parked in the city. We saw a guy preferably around his 20’s on the right side so we gave one to him and there was this homeless artist on the other side, so we decided to give one to him but he said no because he already ate and he pointed out these other homeless guys which we gave it to them. I thought that was the kindest thing I have seen yet to offer your food to someone else who you don’t know even though you need it too.

Another time I saw kindness displayed was on Youtube. It was a social experiment to see what people would do if they saw a homeless man and what they would do if they saw a homeless kid. So there was this homeless man preferably in his 30’s who was begging people for money but they got mad and told him to find a job but when the kid came people starting offering lots of money and food to him but when they saw the man they just told him off. After a while one man got really angry and tipped food on him. He got up and with the money he got he bought a meal, he walked over to the kid and gave him the food. I think people should start being like this man. Although he wasn’t getting much he still offered the kid all he had. He inspired me and it hit me right in the heart. We all need to start showing kindness to one another so you can receive it back, inspire others to join and to make our old world a better, safer and cleaner environment for us to live in.

Here's are some quotes:

“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”

“Be the kind of person, you want to meet”

“Sometimes you gotta be kind to others, not because they’re kind, but because you are”

“Kindness is the language the deaf can hear and the blind can see”

“Kind words are short and easy to speak, but their echoes are endless”

The Absolutley True Diary of a Part Time Indian

9RTd have just started reading The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian.

Here's our site page- thanks to the kids who found the links and did the research. We'll be adding to this page and updating about the novel on the blog as we go.

We enjoyed the book so much yesterday we had to keep pausing for laughter and discussion and look forward to reading more...

Some of our Marae poems

9RTd wrote some poetry about their experience at school marae, or another marae with which they are familiar.


I see well-entwined patterns as I enter the Marae, I hear voices chattering away like seagulls. I touch the proficiently carved Maui and Hene Nui o Te po. I taste nothing but the sweet glorious air. I raise my hand to feel the giant carved fish scales.

- Edward Baah

I see history

I see strength

I see images floating in my head

Thoughts come here thoughts come there

How united we were then

Here we are so far now

How we grow from roots to trees

How we improved from then to now

How inspired I felt then

how we turned the right way round

-Latisha Puti

I see Taonga.

I see people.

I see Maori patterns.

I see shoes.

I see my teacher.

I hear giggling.

I hear talking.

I hear the wind.

I hear stomping.

I hear growling.

I taste the nice cold air.

I taste the food I ate before coming into class.

I taste nothing else.

I touch the Maori Artworks.

I touch the floor.

I touch the wall.

I touch my skin.

I touch my bestfriends hand.

I touch the beds.

It felt so soft and protective.

-Faaaoane Ulipa

I see the dexterous carving broadly expressing a well mannered Maori legend. I hear the laughter of humorous students and whispers that calmfully bristles pass my ears.I touch the well-intertwined flax creating vivid images of Maori history and heritage.I taste the freshly scented breezy air as it enters my mouth.

-Dion Tuitukau

I see taonga

I see a body

I see a marae

I hear talking

I hear thinking

I hear people

I touched a carving of a scaled fish

I touched Hine nui o te po the great women of night she is the goddess of death.

Hine nui o te po Lady of the dawn.

The taste in my mouth was like nerves with cold air my saliva was everywhere in my mouth.

I smell feet and the cold air whooshing through my noise.

Once I entered I smelt glory and cold air whooshing through my mouth.

I saw.

-Ite Taufa

9 RTd Responses to Sad Joke on the Marae by Apirana Taylor

Kapa Haka group at Te Poho O Tamaki

This poem is about a guy that entry a marae and said who he is and still is welcome after everything he has done. A marae is where everyone is welcome and pretty much anything can happen there. The poet writes “ jail is my home” this made me think that he wasn't taught properly and no one should blame him cause its not his fault.

Apirana Taylor writes “in the only maori I know” this made me feel that we didn't know his family and much people mostly it made me feel sorry for him because we wasn't accepted. The end of the poem was sad and happy. Happy because they understood him and still welcome him in because they didn't blame him for the result of his life, and sad because he is Maori and all he know in this language was Tihei Mauriora.

-Latisha Puti


This poem is about a sad joke about a marae. A marae is a courtyard of a Maori meeting house,especially as a social ceremonial forum.The poet writes that the tekoteko he “ripped his tongue from his mouth and threw it on his feet”. This made me think that going to a marae is a bit scary and challenging because there a chiefs and warriors around you and it feels like there’s a war happening.

Apirana Taylor wrote this because I think he had the same feeling when he entered the marae.This made me feel that going to a marae is a special thing and we shall respect that.

-Ite Taufa


This poem is by Apirana Taylor about giving a speech at a Marae. A Marae is a welcoming place where meetings and funerals are held. The poet writes “ He ripped his tongue from his mouth and threw it at my feet”, this made me think that this person is very aggressive and can be a threat. Apirana Taylor writes “ My name is Tu the freezing worker” this made me feel that this male is a hard working citizen.

-Edward Baah


A marae is a family house, where meetings are made or cultural maori events happen there and not only that, marae also holds funerals of those they have lost. The poet writes “grim death and wooden ghosts carved on the meeting house wall” this made me feel that my ancestors are around and there ancestors are carved onto the marae which makes it very special. Apirana Taylor writes “Tihei Mauriora I cried, they understood, the tekoteko and the ghosts” This made me feel that the sins that Tu committed thy still forgave him and welcomed him into the marae, and that Tu is going to repent for his bad sins.

-Jennyfer Faamita

This poem is about: a sad joke at the Marae. A marae is the courtyard of a Maori meeting house, especially as a social or ceremonial gathering place. The poet writes about jail is home. This made me think that the person in the poem always get in trouble. Apirana Taylor writes about a Sad Joke at the Marae.This made me feel that it is a sad poem because it says a Sad Joke at the marae.

-Langa Ravarua


This poem is about Maori things. A marae is a gathering place for visitors, family and friends. The poet writes,“I saw them” this made me think that he is crazy and needs to get put in a mental facility. Apirana Taylor writes “He ripped his tongue from his mouth and threw it at my feet” this made me kinda feel yucky cause if you picture that in your mind It feels gross. The end of the poem was pretty funny because he’s a plastic Maori.

-Henry Neemia

This poem is by Aprirana Taylor about being welcomed on the marae but the person in the poem does not know a lot about speaking in Maori and does not have detailed knowledge and experience. A marae is a house where people meet, have funerals, and other significant events.

The poet writes “My fist is my taiaha” This made me think that culture is more important than fighting and that culture and and family is one thing that can not be replaced. Apirana Taylor writes “The pub is my marae” This made me feel that my actions now can affect my future and that places like the pub will not be there when you're in trouble also that ancestors and sacred places are more significant than unnecessary things.

"He mahi te ata noho, e kii ana te wheke"

It is the octopus who says sitting is working

This relates to the poem because at the end of the poem he says “For that's all I knew” If he was taught and disciplined situations like that would be not as sad as it was and would of have known how to speak in his native language.

-Dion Tuitakau

9RTd Marae visit

We were lucky enough to have our kaumatua, Wally Noble, show us around Te Poho o Tamaki on Friday afternoon.

We are looking at poetry about identity at the moment, and we visited to get some context for our next poems- a poem by Karlo Mila and Sad Joke on the Marae by Apirana Taylor.

The concept of turangawaewae and connection is one often explored by poets in a NZ context.

9RTd in the library

We visit the library every week and have time to select and read books. Here's what this looked like last week.

Nathanial and Edward check out Lemony Snicket. 

Langa and Malulu enjoying their selections.

It's important to read regularly and develop an enjoyment of reading. It makes us smarter and increases our vocabulary. It helps us improve our concentration and understand the world around us.

Reading is the best way to improve our academic results, as well as make us more well-rounded individuals.

Arohanui books!

Integrity, Respect & Success

Values are beliefs that control our actions, they keep us on the correct path in life. Three values that matter to me are integrity, respect and success.

One value that i think is important is integrity because being honest with yourself can result in a less harmful consequence, lying means being dishonest or not telling the truth. This is a value you can have in life because when you get a job you wouldn’t want to lie to your boss. Positive feelings come from being honest about yourself and accepting your personality, and physical characteristics, from belonging to a family that accepts you without question.

The second value that I think is most important is respect because when you are respectful to others you usually get that respect given back, for example speaking politely  to other in a respectful manner.A helpful quote said by Charles w , “A healthy democracy requires a decent society; it requires that we are honorable, generous, tolerant and respectful”. Being respectful is a  polite way to show  manners and express the way you feel to others.

The third value is success, this means setting your brain to certain goals to achieve specific standards.We need to be successful so that we can get somewhere in life and achieve more. Success means achieving goals in life.A quote written by Henry Ford reads“Coming together is a beginning, keeping together is progress, working together is success”.

In summary values guide us towards the correct path in life, taking us step by step following through the values one by one.

Edward Baah

Success, Honesty, Responsibility

One value I think is important is success. The reason why I think success is important to me is because if you’re in a test and you feel like you’re going to fail there’s a saying which goes likes this, “ CHAMPIONS NEVER GIVE UP ”. So if you try your best at the test you will succeed in life. Success is something that you need to keep trying in order to attain.

Another value I think is important is honesty. The reason why I think honesty is important to me is because it’s always good to tell the truth and have honesty. If you lie you get into more trouble so tell the truth straight away. Also if you don something bad then you should be honest with yourself and speak up.

One other value that I also think is important is responsibility. The reason why I think responsibility is important to me is because we will always need to look after our belongings and make sure we have the right gear. When I show this value I always try to remember to bring my gear, I act responsibly.

It is really good to use these values in life because they can help you if you’re going through hard times. The reason why its good to use values is because if you’re going through bad things in life then you would know straight away on what value you have to use.  

Mele Lavaka

Integrity, Respect and Success

I have Values- Integrity, Respect and Success. Those three values mean something to me, and we should all have something that we hold and keep in our life..

“Don't waste your love on somebody, who doesn't value it.”

― William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

INTEGRITY

Integrity is a value that means lots to me and my family and hopefully you to. What Integrity means to us is being honest about anything and everything. I have learnt lots over these few weeks at Tamaki about how to show Integrity around the school. Integrity means being honest. If you lie you will make it worse for yourself then it already  was.  However if you show integrity, whoever you are with will show it back to you.

RESPECT

I think it is important to show Respect because if you want someone to Respect you, you have to show it to them. When I show this Value I try to be nice to everyone I see, and also to show this value I try not to judge them by looking at them before I know them as I don’t know what their  background is like. I try to show Respect back to anyone  no matter what happens and what they are like.  

SUCCESS

This value to me show that trying hard even if you fail. You just have to try in all conditions, so later on in life you can have and get a great job and great life with your awesome family and try your in  best even if you don’t know what it is . Taking charge with your things and also at school doing school work. Success is finishing work on time by the due date. Managing our time wisely to get the work done. Asking for help that will help you to succeeded because you will understand more better then you already knew.

Do you want these value in life .Even them being in your mind . Without values I think life would be messed up hard out .Because there will be bad people in the world. I can’t think what would happen.

Cheyanne Eagle

Values essays complete

I'll be posting the values essays as they are edited for publication. Here's one hot off the press.

Value Essay

We all have values that we hold and treasure for many generations. A quote from Norman Thomas reads “The secret of a good life is to have the right loyalties and hold them in the right scale of values”. Different people have different values therefore three values that are important to me are: Respect, Integrity and Faith.

Respect is a way of treating or thinking about something or someone. I place self respect first meaning  that you have to respect yourself before you can start respecting others.Respect is a very important value to me because it shows that I can value another as an individual, and that I honor the personal rights and dignity of the person as a fellow human being.

Another value that I treasure is Integrity. It is important to have Integrity as a value because you will feel good about yourself and you will have a fewer problems with things like self doubts and many more. Integrity means that the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. Speaking the truth at all times and at all places is a way that I show Integrity.

Faith is also a value that I hold. Faith is important to me because faith can lead me to happiness and it makes me a better person by doing things that I have never expected to do.Faith means complete trust or confidence in someone or something. To show this value I never give up cause I know there is faith that I can do it.

Values may change overtime but they will always be something that is held and treasured for generations and generations.

Dion Tuitakau