Room 5 @ St Anne's: September 2013

Saturday, 21 September 2013

The Ultimate Survivor.

On December 12 1969 I went for a tramp in a hot and muggy jungle in Nepal for nine days. On the first day I had to run down a steep hill, but when I was running I tripped and lost my pack. I only had a knife, mirror and a spare shoe lace.

Firstly I went to find some materials for a shelter and also some firewood. I managed to use the last of the sun to reflect off the mirror to start the fire. It was starting to get dark and cold so I had get my fire started.

Secondly I had to construct a shelter to sleep in overnight. To make the shelter I had to find a good site that had a branch hanging over a flat dry spot. I placed sticks against the branched and then covered them with leaves and more small sticks. My fire and shelter were done, now I had to find food and water.

I remembered that I had a spare shoelace so I made a sneer to catch some small game. Now to find water, there were no sources of water. There was a lot of mud though and I made a filter with some bamboo, charcoal from the fire and a bit of fabric that I cut off my shirt. I shoved the charcoal into the bamboo, wrapped the fabric around the top and used it as a straw.

I slept well. The next day I went to check the snares, I got small hare and I skinned it on the spot with my knife. I took the meat back to my shelter and fire pit and cooked it. This was the first food for two days.

In the middle of the day I saw a helicopter in the sky. I used my mirror to signal it by reflecting the sun between my two fingers to the pilot. When the pilot saw my signal it landed near me. I was rescued.

Thomas Barrett-Walker

Friday, 6 September 2013

We are so proud of you.

Dear Students in Room 6,
You have really amazed me over the last 5 weeks. You have taken on board the Senior students role within our school. Organising for the Disco, coming early to "serve" the younger students and then showing them how to socialise and have fun. I look forward to seeing your skills put to the test again when you begin your organisation for our effort for the Mission Fair.
I am thrilled to see how the Year 8 students(girls and boys) have really engaged with their learning across the curriculum. Your writing is showing such strength and promise, in Maths you are persisting and trying to find new strategies to problem solve. Developing your time management skills, to ensure extension assignments and class work is handed in on due dates, playing Sport with flair, skill ,determination and fair play, all of these traits will serve you well as you transition to your chosen Secondary Schools. Which ever one you go to; they are so lucky to have you.:)
Arohanui tatou
MrsParker