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. 

Swiss family Robinson

The Robison family get ship wrecked on a deserted island so far off their designated course that no one knew were they were. When the ship was washed on to rocks not too far off shore and the ships crew abandon ship and make for shore but were not successful in their attempt. The Robinson family wait and gather some useful tools for on the island. A few days later they make for land in a improvised raft. On the island the family set up camp for 3 years surviving on what they had retrieved from the ship and the naturally growing food on the island.

I really enjoyed this book for several reasons, my main reason is the story line and how the story could actually happen and the fact it wasn’t fantasy out of this world. Another reason is that the characters were all portrayed early in the book so when reading it it’s a lot easier to create an image in your head of what the characters are doing. Also I enjoyed the old style vocabulary and how words like fibrous, sufficient and agreeable, words that don’t occur often in conversation. I would highly recommend this book to any one interested in an adventurous, exiting and all around good book. I would rate this book 8/10.

 By Iain

Lt D R Miller

After stumbling through the darkness, I spied something, a light, the first I had seen in hours. It seemed to light a pearl white door. Slowly I walked up to the door, my legs were on fire. I had walked for what seemed liked years. I opened the old, rusty door. It creaked as it slowly and light flooded in. It seemed to light the entire corridor, half rotted beams of oak crisscrossed across the roof. I was glad to get out of that place as it could collapse at any moment. A ladder, old and worn, lead skyward. I climbed up ward to a trap door. It opened with a crash and plumes of dust exploded like fireworks around the room. Old bunks surrounded me and I breathed in musty air. Dust-laden bedclothes draped over edges of beds and ancient tin utensils were set for five. What had happened here? A strange, eerie feeling came over me. I looked around some more; the dust became unsettled as I walked across the old wooden floor.  I approached the bunks on the furthest side of the cabin and I started to feel around under the lumpy, linen mattresses. I checked every bed working clockwise around the cabin.  I checked all but one, the one in the corner by the door. Then something caught my eye. A glint, like some one was shining a mirror at me.  I traced it across the room, squinting in the muffled right.  It was a small, silver canteen, some tarnished but some still revealing the polish of its former days. Embedded in the lower left corner was a copper bullet, above it, it read, “To protect and to serve”.  As I turned it over in my trembling hands, I thought of the many souls that had occupied this room. I glanced down . . . once, twice . . . was I reading it right?  The initials said “Lt  D R Miller”.  Could this be the flask my grandfather had told me about?  Is it the one he drank out of?  Was it the one which saved his life?  I had so many questions.  I tucked the flask into the side pocket of my cargo pants and turned to head back to the trap door.  Could this be real?  I coughed as I emerged, covered in dust and returned, weary and unsteady on my feet, to the bus where my class were waiting.

Iain

I got a new laptop as you might tell by the title. It’s an apple ibook G4. I have taken it to school three times but have failed to get it on to the school’s network. I mainly use it for school work as it does not have many games. Now that I have worked out how to get on to the net I have used it a lot for doing school work online as our class does a lot of stuff online. 

My goals for the first half of 2008 are:

Culture:

1. To perform to the best of my ability in The Elves And The Shoemaker.

2. To play trumpet well in simphonic band and Jazz band.

Acedemic:

3. To proof read my work more carefully.

4. Im going to improve on my basic facts.

Most people go into the bush at some point in their lives and a few might just get lost, if you are one of those few a little knowledge and a high moral could easily keep you alive.

Here are a few traps.

The basic snare.

http://www.the-ultralight-site.com/wilderness-survival-guide.html

Tie a running knot on a rope and attach it to a firm stake planted in the ground. Hold up the noose with grass blades or sticks. Make sure the snare is somewhere that a lot of the targeted species will be, for example feeding areas, burrows and migration trails.

 The pole snare.

This trap takes a very patient operator tie a running knot and attach it to a long stick. Wait for a creature to come out of a burrow and suddenly jerk the pole, this will capture and/or strangle the animal.

Rabbit stick

This isn’t really a survial trap but more of a weapon. Get a hard wood stick about 4-5cm thick and about the length of your arm, from shoulder to finger tip. Scrape off the bark with a stone or knife to make it fly smoother. Practice throwing it at a target a reasonable distance away. When hunting the rabbit, it should freeze as a defense making it a easy target.

These traps are not that successful so make a few of them to get decent results.

If you would like to find out more visit http://www.the-ultralight-site.com/wilderness-survival-guide.html

The holidays  have gone quickly, hope every one had a great  break, anyway welcome to 2008 have a great year and I’ll see you all soon.

Academic.

• I’m going to improve my writing.

Culture

• I’m going to learn how to dance.
• I’m going to improve on my trumpet playing.
• I’m going to play drums well for the Kihikihi School production.

Sport

• I’m going to play touch to the best of my ability.