Animators Apprentice!

Animations. Most of us grew up watching them, like The Lion King trilogy, Pocahontas and Disney Fairy tales, but over the years these animations have grown more advanced. Have you heard of the rated cartoon named Bro Town? Well last week on Thursday we were lucky enough to get to meet three of the artists.

At the beginning of the lesson they introduced themselves as Ali, Maka and Nils. To start the lesson off, they showed us a presentation which educated us on a brief history of Animations. We learnt that Mickey Mouse was the first moving animation but with sound. After an educational talk about history, we learnt how to split lines. How do you do this? Well you have to draw a line down the middle of whatever you are trying to split.

After a session of splitting lines, we were going to learn how to make a Zoetrope. This is a contraption made out of cardboard to create an illusion that makes an object seem like it’s moving but it actually is just a couple of still frames of an image which goes from one state of movement to another. We all started with something easy: A jellyfish.  After decorating our Jellyfish, we finished the session off with the joy that we have made our first ever comic strip for a Zoetrope!

Devonport!

Walking down these mysterious steps, I looked into the tunnel but it was pitch black. Using my senses, I ran my fingers over the rough walls. My niece Maya tried to use her phone as a light but, the light was drowned out by the conquering darkness. “We’re lost...” I moaned, then all of a sudden we caught a glimpse of what looked like light. we followed it and came across a contraption. Smothered in spider webs we studied it hard. It had all sorts of levers and spikes, which made it looks like a former contraption used for torture. We were so concentrated on it that we didn’t hear my sister calling us. “Lena, Maya, come lets go and eat!”. We reluctantly did as we told, and exited the tunnel. We were visiting the Devonport caves.

10 bruises and a scar later, we arrived at another set of steps. As we stepped onto the boardwalk, we were greeted with a stunning scenery. The sun hung gracefully in the sky, while it shimmered on the deep dark water. My feet ached like I had just run a marathon. Sitting down on the seats, I took out a packet of chocolate brownies. I bit into one, and it tasted like heaven on a platter. 5 brownies later, we packed up and were heading to the caves now.

On our way to the caves, we saw something interesting in the corner of my eye. We looked and saw a couple of people sliding down a hill on pieces of cardboard. It looked reckless, but what would be the harm just to go and check it out. We looked and saw that there were tracks where you slide down. “Hey Lena, If you go down I’ll give you 10 dollars!” My sister dared me. To be honest it didn’t look like the best thing in the world but, I looked fun. I searched for a piece of cardboard in good condition, and snatched it up. Calmly laying it down on the edge of the hill, I stared at the density of it. Sitting on it, I felt the pressure of my sister’s eyes on me. “1,2,3...GO!” She screamed. Riding down, It was a bumpy ride.....and when I say it I mean it. Pieces of long grass somehow landed in my hair. At the end of the hill, I looked up and saw my sister laughing hysterically. “Well I’d like to see you come and try it!” I screamed, But that was physically impossible...especially since she was pregnant. “Come Lena, We have to go home now.” Walking up the hill, I made my way to the car.

We finished the day off with a box full of steaming hot Pizza. While I bit into the Beef and onions, I reminisced on the day we had. It was full of scares, food and FUN with the family, But the downside...We were stuck in traffic, though this was the perfect time for a snooze. The day was awesome and hopefully we could come back again!

Webzidazical

Before going backstage, Mr Jacobsen gave me a little advice: It’s pitch black in the hall so you can’t see anyone, Guess what: He lied. You know how I know? Well 1 of the technicians (Techies) told me. Walking backstage I hoped onto my platform. It was time for the Production*: Webzidazical.

I was standing there awaiting for my cue. Mr Burt was talking and I heard the crowd roar with excitement. My heart was pounding so loudly that I think that the whole audience heard it. Feeling like I was going to faint, I started singing a little song. Suddenly I realised It was nearly time for me to go on stage, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Here goes...

While I was saying my lines, I could feel the lights beaming down on me. Looking out into the hall, Seeing 1000 eyes staring at me. My butterflies were fluttering like mad! Fearing I would forget my lines, I remembered that it was the Fakebook scene relief took over. Why I hear you ask? Well in this scene I barely had any lines.

Finishing the Fakebook scene, Came: World’s got talent! In this scene I act as a judge on a famous show that is called, you guessed it: World’s got talent. I act alongside the other actors: Pale Fanua (Judge) Becky Green (Judge) and the MC. Reciting my last line I felt my pocket for my laser. It was going to be used in the scene ‘Youthtube’. “Oh no!” I whispered quietly. Panic took over. Searching my pockets for my laser was hard especially when the audience is RIGHT THERE!!! The scene was nearly over, and that was a relief because I needed to warn the Techies about this situation. I ran off stage (Part of the act) and I was trying to look for the person in charge of backstage, Mr Marks. “Selena go on” I heard Helen tell me. A little too late...

Scene 3: Youthtube. Worrying about the laser, A good Idea sprung into my head. It was improvisation. I didn’t need to take it this far but you got to do what you got to do.
With my laser I had to point to a video but, if you haven’t realised I don’t have my laser. So instead of pointing I touched it with my fingers. Nothing happened. Touched it again, still nothing happened. Thinking I looked like a fool up there I was preparing to give up, when a miracle happened. It worked. Finally they worked out where the flow was going. Guess improvisation works out.

Sadly the Production was coming to an end. Everyone was taking their final bows. It was my turn to take my BIG bow. “And our Main actor Selena!”. The crowd cheering for me was the best feeling I have experienced. Making sure my final bow was the biggest, I was grinning from ear to ear, because the whole cast from the production did a great job. If I had to do this again I certainly would!

*If you’re wondering what a production is, it is kind of like a show that happens every 2 years. It is a screenplay written produced and performed by the lovely children and teachers at Pt England school.

Around the field in 1 hour!!!

While the sun was beaming down on us, we were making our way down to the bottom field. Why, you may ask? Well our fabulous teachers had set up an AWESOME activity day where there are 4 game sections. Each section is run by a teacher and every 15 minutes we rotate to the next activity.

“SPLASH” Went the water as we dropped it into the dirty, but refreshing water. I watched as the sponge absorbed the water slowly. “GO” Mrs Nua shouted, My team seemed to still be asleep when the rest of the class heard her. “BROOKE HURRY UP!!” I screamed frantically, As if I was her mother, She rushed for the sponge. Around, Under, Around, Under, It seemed as if the sponge was travelling at 100 miles per hour. The thing I worried about the most was teamwork. This team I was in had 1 person I worked with perfectly, The others...Not so much. The result of this was...Well let’s just say that we didn’t come first but we didn’t come last. Let’s just leave it at that.

"We're playing Ball Tiggy" announced Mrs Langitupu. Another co-perative game? This should be good. The WHOLE class was practically fighting for coloured bands...Literally! First off I was put in the Yellow team...I wasn't very happy, So when I spotted a lonely blue band, I ruched for it. YES!! O.k, You must be thinking" Why is she so happy to get a blue band? It's only a band, Well you're wrong I was happy because It's my favourite colour...O.K It's only a little reason, Can't blame me for being so ecstatic. O.K back to the game. The first opposition team was red. I stayed in the game for a while, So I started having thoughts " Maybe I might like this game..."TAG!!!". I spoke too soon.

By the time I got to Miss Titos’ Game I was exhausted, and the weather wasn’t helping much either. So the aim of Miss Titos’ game was to try and fling a ball from an elastic band, so It can drop into 1 of the hoops. I watched the other anxiously and awaited my turn. Quickly, I grabbed the lightest ball I could see. “ I stepped up to the elastic band, thinking about my stratergy...O.K I didn’t have a strategy, but I had a plan: JUST LET GO OF THE BALL. That plan was absolutely WORTHLESS?? My first try I dropped the ball, The second time I was determined to get it far but...It dropped. Giving up on the 2nd try I made my way to the end of the line. I finally clicked as I sat down: The ball liked me soooo much, it didn’t want to leave my side.

Mr Harris’s activity required great concentration. It was a 3 legged race. Me and my Partner Mino, waited at the starting line....”GO” shouted Mr Harris. We were leading by MILES until, “NOOOOO” Our ball fell. We remembered our Korero Champions never give up so we stood up, and made our way to the cones. “BAM” We fell right in the middle of the race. Since the lace was REEEALLLY tight on our legs, It looked like it was going to cut through our skin. I panicked so i tried to untie it...Big mistake! I tied it the wrong way so we sat there, the searing pain was unbearable. Then when we I thought I was about to die, Toreka untied our lace. We both Gave her a HUGE hug. I was so thankful that, the lace was off. Thank goodness.

At the end of the day I was in a GREAT mood. That was probably the best day of the week!!! We only spent 1 hour on the field but it felt like a whole day!!!There is an important thing I learnt today: Teamwork is an Important value in life!

Beach Extravaganza!!!

All you could hear was the excited chattering of children. We were walking hurriedly down to the reserve, so all of us could get the picnic started. As we were walking, I looked up overhead and saw the stunning scenery. The blue sky had some splotches of clouds, here,there and everywhere. The water was sparkling and the birds were screeching.

“There is a good place” I shouted. I pointed up to a great spot on the hill. When my friends Ala and Mubasshira got there we laid out our bags. We looked like a group of gossipers, whispering secrets into each others ears and the wind carrying the secrets away! I glanced down and saw Pt Englanders playing in the mud. The School picnic was going GREAT! Soon after I got bored just lying around, so I stood up and made my way to the field to play a game of touch.

“ I can make it, I can make it” I said to myself. My heart was beating like a drum, my legs were aching. I was panting. Lungs searching for air, trying to go the extra mile...SCORE!! Breathing a sigh of relief , I fell to the ground . Confidence rushed through me as I put that ball down for the score. What a BREATHTAKING but AWESOME game of touch.

“AAAHHH” I breathed. I got back from a game of touch , so I just flopped onto the grass .A relaxed feeling came over me as I became calm. I glanced around the GIANT field, looking at the variety of activities people were playing, but I could not believe they could handle the heat of the scorching sun. As they were playing you could hear the speakers blaring with music. That was great entertainment.

If a bird was looking down on us from the sky, they would think that we were a big clan of red ants crawling to a tree. The sun was beaming down on us and the heat was unstoppable. We gathered at the tree, so we could get ready to go back to school.

The journey back to school was breathtaking, but at least it was over. We were back in our natural habitat and that was good.

A define highlight was spending time with friends and just relaxing, gossiping and playing about at the beach.

Welcome to Point England school

This is a glimpse of what happens at Pt England school. It has little snapshots of what we do and how we do them. It also has a photo of our new Intermediate. You'll see clips of new entrants lining up and Senior boys playing on the court. The Pt England way is important to us because it helps us understand how to respect other people, mould our behavior, taking charge of our belongings and classroom tools and lastly to take charge of our learning. Hope you enjoy watching this movie.