The Poets of Learning Community 4

The Big Shake.
Early in the morning the violent earthquake struck,
And it sounded like a roaring truck.
It was the most terrifying thing I have ever been through,
I had absolutely no idea what to do.
In the dark I was petrified with fear,
Even Mitchell was caught in his bright red underwear.
Some of our friends and family nearly got hurt,
We were lucky to escape with just a ripped shirt.
I thought the world was about to meet its end,
This was a very hard idea to comprehend.
We were all huddling tightly together, waiting for the finish,
Finally the quake started to diminish.
I was in desperate need to find a powerful torch,
Thankfully everyone’s house did not scorch.
Our house shook and rattled until it eventually stopped,
Nearly all our wine bottle corks had popped.
Some of us lit candles to create some light,
Others lost a brick chimney from a great height.
We found the house in a gigantic mess,
Many people now have a new address.
We checked our house carefully for damage and cracks,
Most of Christchurch tuned in to listen for facts.
Bonding together to help friends and whanau,
Roasting yummy marsh-mellows while waiting for power.
Sleeping in the cosy and cramped lounge all on edge,
Our frightened animals rushed for shelter in the hedge.
Two weeks on we are still tragically spooked out,
Life is nearly back to normal but we still have some doubt.
When we grow older we definitely won’t forget,
I now live my life without any remorse or regret.
Thankful for being with those I love the most,
Sharing and laughing over nice warm toast.
How it started is a massive mystery,
We know we have now lived through history.
Written by the children of Learning Community Four West Melton School.
Matthew, George, Jack, Cam, Nicky, Sam, Johan, Tom, George,
Jordan, Mitchell, Bailey, Isabella, Lucy, Jack, Grace, Josh, Brooke, Sarah, Max, Ben, Michaela, Katy, Max, Ally, Max, Adam, William and Campbell.
After Christchurch earthquake 4th September 2010

Chch Schools Music Festival - our school choir

Congratulations to our Year 5 - 8 school choir, who
managed to sing their hearts out at the Town Hall last
Thursday evening and represented our school so
exquisitely.
The evening performance was a true exhibit of all the
wonderful musical talent throughout our region, and it
was fabulous to have a group of eager singers from our
school as a part of this magical performance. Thanks to
the choir students for their efforts to learn the lyrics,
parents of the students for their encouragement and
support, and Ms McKendry and Mrs Haywood for leading
the choir.

Money for Maddie

Room 8 held a very special morning tea on the Wednesday
before the school holidays to present Maddie with a
cheque from the Fundraiser Auction.
The fundraising team really appreciated the support from
the school, the local community and businesses. This
support and generosity meant we were able to raise an
astonishing $13,300 that will contribute towards the
ongoing costs associated with Maddies illness.
Thank you!

Lincoln Environment Poetry

A pleasant afternoon was had by all attending the prize
giving at the Lincoln Community center. All children who
were involved in the Writing Enrichment Programme
with Amanda Haywood entered this competition. Sue
Jarvis spoke of how many entries they had received this
year & how they had enjoyed reading them all & seeing
some of the great pictures that the children had drawn.
There were prizes given for:
6 and Under - 3rd Megan Rawlins (6)
- commended George Bassett-Smith(6)
7-10 years - 1st Nicole Cochrane (10)
- 3rd Esther Blain (9)
11-14 years - 2nd George Watson (12)

School Athletics Results

8 year old boys 8 year old girls
1st – Benjamin Wright 1st equal – Grace Horsbrugh and
2nd – Joshua Esterhuizen Zoe Spinks
3rd – Benjamin Zwarst 3rd – Zita Spinks
9 year old boys 9 year old girls
1st – Sam Clarke 1st – Kacie Austin
2nd – Cole Spinks 2nd – Grace Manera
3rd – Ged Roessink 3rd – Katy Silva
10 year old boys 10 year old girls
1st – Jack Kelliher 1st – Isabella Hurley
2nd equal – Cameron Cook 2nd – Esther Blain
and Brock Hanham-Carter 3rd – Bailey Hughes
11 year old boys 11 year old girls
1st – Jack Manera 1st – Sarah Brown
2nd – Jack Ryder 2nd – Tristan Court
3rd – Jack Cleland 3rd – Georgia Doocey
12 + year old boys 12 year old girls
1st – Dylan Simpson-Mabey 1st – Sheree Tomlinson
2nd – Steven Wanhalla 2nd – Toni McKee
3rd – George Watson 3rd – Henrietta Haskell
Congratulations. A large number of these children are representing our school at the Lincoln Zone Championships.

Technology Whizzes!

On Tuesday afternoon our school representative team of
Ally Taylor, George Brown, Kacie Austin and Dylan Simpson-
Mabey competed in the BP Technology Challenge at Villa
Maria College. The team were selected during the
Enrichment Programme in the second half of Term Three.
The students had three challenges to complete: A known
practiced challenge - marble ramp, A measuring challenge -
how much liquid in the mystery bottles, and a mystery
challenge, which was revealed to be making a container to
carry a 500g object over obstacles. Our team performed
brilliantly - they were effective communicators, they
listened to each other, they allocated responsibilities, they
were self managing and very creative thinkers! Our team
managed to complete each task in the allocated time (an
achievement in itself!) and each task was completed
creativity and effectively to meet the objective. Mrs
Haywood was so proud of the team! Four fantastic examples
of great West Melton KC Kids!

Commonwealth Games afternoon and wearable arts

Last week at school all the students at school celebrated the Commonwealth Games with a Commonwealth games
afternoon in Whanau Groups, competing in activities such as equestrian (wheelbarrow races with children supporting
each other) and aquatics (moving water from one vessel to another using teamwork and creativity!).
Prior to the games afternoon, all the Year 4-8 students had a wearable arts parade. The students had made garments
based on a country from the commonwealth. The clothes were modelled in a parade in the outdoor amphitheatre.
Thanks to Miss Meyer for her awesome organisation of these successful events!