New Zealand Forces Continues in Afghanistan!

New Zealand prime minister, John Key says that Kiwi Forces will remain in Afghanistan till 2013. Although in sadness three New Zealanders Luke Tamatea, Richard Harris and Jacinda Baker has been killed by an attack of an roadside bomb. What is a roadside bomb? A roadside bomb is a improvised explosive device (IED).


Unfortunately kiwis Rory Malone and Pralli Durer were killed on the 4th of August during an ambush in Bamyan. That means there has been Ten New Zealanders killed in Afghanistan now!

John Key announces that  New Zealand Soldiers have been in that area since 2003 and it is fortunate that they will be brought back home in about next year on April.

Thank you Turuhira for checking my work.

Not So Bad After All!

Last week on Friday was  our school Cross Country, the worst event of my life. I have never liked  Cross Country but I had no choice but to run the long course. Here goes nothing!

READY STEADY GO!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the year 7 & 8 12 year old girls stormed down the field like a group of hungry predators chasing their prey. The field was really muddy and slippery that It felt like I was going to fall, lucky I kept my balance and carried on running. There were staff members standing at parts of the course cheering us on and helping us to keep on going. As I passed Miss Walters she was encouraging me by saying “go Mary”, that urged me to put some of my effort into the race. I stopped on the bridge and took a deep breath then power walked along the path of the Pt England Reserve. My shoes were really muddy! When I saw that I was getting closer to the finish line I ran until I finished the cross country track. All I wanted to do is finish it off properly, it wasn't so bad after all!

Thank you Vanila for checking my work!

My Two Best Friends

Do you have best friends that are very complex? Well if you do this is a great story for you!
Having two very best friends isn’t always easy. They fall out - we fall out. They are in a bad mood - we are all in a bad mood. Today was no different but for the fact that I was leaving forever my two best friends didn’t know what to do without me.

This morning I walked over to school with Charlotte and Kathryn, my two best friends. I knew they were still thinking about stopping me from going to Australia but they wouldn’t tell me. While we were strolling to school, I asked them if they were bothered about anything. Their response was “of course not why would we have something bothering us”. I was so sure that their words weren't true so I refused about what they said and asked them again. This time their response was different. They admitted that they didn’t want me to go. I replied to them and said “I agree with you I really don't want to leave you or New Zealand, I know that every minute I’m at Australia I will always remember my experience here.” At that moment I knew I belonged in New Zealand with my two best friends so I decided to ask my parents if we could stay.

The next morning I woke up and went to have breakfast. Mum saw my deprest face so she asked me if I was alright. I replied and said “mum if I don’t want to leave New Zealand and go to Australia will you and dad stay with me”, “of course dear why didn’t you tell me” mum said. I was relieved that it was easy to ask her and happy that we weren’t leaving anymore. I couldn't wait to spread the news to Charlotte and Kathryn!!!!

Nature Or Nurture

What do you think makes a good athlete? I think that physical skills like flexibility and Endurance makes a person successful at sports as well as someone that has allot of energy and independence. People that have lots of courage, desire and determination can also succeed in sports.

“Here's a good athlete Mark Spitz”. Spitz was born in Modesto, California. He was a expert in the art of swimming, in fact he started swimming at the age of two! When he became 10 years of age, he was recognised as one of the best swimmers in the world at just the age of 10. 2 years later he won five gold medals at the 1967 Pan American Games and planted claim to ten world records.

Mark Spitz showed confidence in his talent, he now took on his challenge in the Olympic Games, winning six gold medals held in Mexico when he was 18. He won nearly every competition on his way to an Olympic return. As he won these events he broke and set new records preparing for the ultimate challenge at the Munich Olympics. Spitz was determined to win 6 gold medals he arranged for himself.

When the Munich games started in 1972, Spitz was ready to back up his claim. He did it in great style indeed. Not only was he able to win 6, but he won seven gold medals. He won every event while setting a world record in each.

Mark Spitz was only 22 when he won his gold medals but after the Munich games, he retired from swimming. In 1991 however Spitz tried to make a comeback in swimming.

My Gold Medal

     

 I have received another gold medal for completing activities at the right time. I am proud of myself for finishing of my work and I am hoping for another gold medal!

I won a gold medal

I have been given a gold medal from Mr Harris for archiving my school work so far.