On the 8th of April 2008 Room Three and Room Seven went on camp. We all arrived at school by nine o’clock. By ten we had all packed into the cars and set off to Ohope. On the way there we stopped at Lake Okataina and ate lunch there. We set off again on our final approach to Ohope. 

When we got there we set up our gear and went down to the beach for about half an hour.  Then it was off to the pools.  We went on the hydroslide and played games in the pool.  When we got back to camp we had dinner, spaghetti and meatballs.  After dinner we played cards and then we settled down for the night.

On the second day Room Three headed to the high ropes whilst Room Seven did other activities around Ohope.  When we arrived at the high ropes we put sunscreen on and then settled down to listen to the instructor.  After that we played some trust games and cat and mouse.  To start us off on the ropes we played some games on the low ropes.  We then proceeded to the high ropes.  They were exciting.  A little bit frightening at first but adrenaline soon kicked in!

Once we had finished at the high ropes we headed to the Amazing Maze ‘n Maize.  At the Amazing Maze ‘n Maize we headed off with clues and a scavenger hunt to find various things within the maize maze.  We worked in groups and at one point my group lost Johannes.  When our group came out of the maize maze first we played around in the games that were at the end of the maze until all the other groups had finished. 

We headed back to camp for dinner and a well earned sleep.

On the third day our groups were broken up into different activities.  My group headed off with Mrs Flay’s to fishing.  The girls got the good spot and caught lots of fish.  But Darcy and I helped the girls to take the fish hooks out of the fish caught by the girls and to kill them as necessary.  

Following fishing we headed off to kayaking in the harbour.  We had sit-on kayaks and Ivan and I were the fastest kayakers in the group.  We had to do the limbo in our kayaks and we had to step over a pole still on the kayak and we had to play stuck-in-the-mud also.  

After kayaking our groups walked over the hill to Shelly Bay.  It was a bush walk over the hill, but it didn’t take very long.  We explored the rock pools and saw mussels, cat’s eyes, starfish and some small fish.  I tried to catch a small fish with my hand.  

We followed our walk by heading out to the hot pools outside of Whakatane.  When we got there we had a BBQ tea and we went swimming.  It was at this point on camp that my shorts got ripped!  When we got back to camp everyone was exhausted and went to sleep.

After a refreshing sleep, we all packed up our cabins.  We put up the mattresses and vacuumed the floors.  We packed up into our cars and headed to Te Puke for lunch.  Some of us had a brilliant idea of buying fish and chips for lunch.  After that, the boys all decided to play league in a local park and we had a great time before heading off to the reality of home.

When we got back to school, we unloaded the cars and people’s parents started to come to pick them up!  But not my parents!  They’re in the UK so I had to wait for my sister.  However I was glad to be home in my own bed for the night!

After my student lead conference, here are my revised goals, discussed between me, my family and Mrs Crowe. 

1. To improve on time management and to not leave things the last minute. I will achieve this by checking my iCal regularly and putting work that is due into my phone and iCal.  I will aim to watch less TV and play less computer games until due work is completed.
2. To improve my handwriting.  I will achieve this by persevering with linking my letters and practicing throughout all subjects.
3. To produce work that I am capable of in English.  I will achieve this by improving my time management and putting more time into tasks that need to be completed.  I will aim to have others give me feedback and feedforward before I have to hand in a piece of work.
4. To be on-task when using my laptop.  I will achieve this by allowing myself time to explore new programmes outside of school and using programmes at school which will help me to complete work and due tasks on time.