Year 8 Leadership Course

It was a fun two days filled with fun and learning combined. 
I learnt a lot of things that will help me be a better leader. I learnt things like how to support others and my team mates and that to use everyone to their strengths you have to communicate and trust in each other because if you don't nothing will work. I felt that some of the team building exercises could of been safer in saying that they were super exciting , the video of the dead people was very eye opening. Other than that it was a fabulous two day that were very informative. Thank you for sending me.

By Annabel

We had our leadership course in Somerfield School for two days.

On the first day we had been lectured on how a leader should act. Leaders should be role models so that their subordinates would follow their examples. We had a slide show of pictures and they were explained to us.

It was awkward with seven schools all grouped together and no one knew each other. Somerfield,  Christchurch South Intermediate, Sacred Heart, Addington, West Spreydon, Cashmere and Thorington had participated in the leadership course run by the Joshua Foundation. The first day was kind of boring as we all sat there on benches for the whole day. 

We did do a few activities but I felt very awkward when I was paired up with a boy that was two times taller than I was.

We all got sore bottoms from sitting that day.

The second day was more eventful. They had us split into teams. I still remember their names (which is a miracle): Sydney, Ruben, Shawn, Leon, Hsin Yu, Violet (our Violet), Abby, Zefer – or was it Zephier – or Zefar? I think I forgot someone (probably me).

We were the Aqua team with our own merry little theme song, ‘Teamwork’ from the ‘Wonder Pets’. Trust me; I had no idea where that came from…

The activities had involved a lot of communication, planning and (according to our song) teamwork. I had also confessed that I had a fear of falling, as they may have seen me unable to hold the plank while I was standing on top of a barrel, and I was only one metre off the ground!

Anyways, I still look forward to the meetings later in the year…I THINK Mrs Ferguson said that we all would be meeting up throughout the terms.
By Bi Ling

Memorial Prayer Service

The Memorial Service was held on Friday 21 February.

Room 7 started with the sign of the cross and read a few prayers. It wasn't a celebration since the silence was so thick that you could slice it like a cake.

We all still remember what had happened on 22 February 2011. During the minute silence, we all still remember terrible flashback of the ground shaking. Building collapsing on television and people being crushed and hurt. memories that will scar us mentally, emotionally and physically.

It was a day to never be forgotten and a tragic event that would be remembered throughout the generations to come.

The service ended with arranging flowers on the fence that surrounded the memorial tree for Ivy, who had died in the earthquake. We stayed for a few minutes on the field and then quietly left without a word.

By Bi Ling

Last Friday  21st February we had a memorial service to remember the devastating events at 2011 and to remember the loving mother Ivy, who died during the earthquake on 22nd February.  The whole school gathered around the memorial tree and thinking about Ivy.  After Bi Ling's prayer Rommel asked everyone to have a moment of silence to think about Ivy after about one minute we sat down and listened to Daniel's beautiful prayer.  When Willow,Daniel and Charlotte completed the reading Emma and Violet stood up and gave two flowers to each class.T hey put the exquisite flowers around the tree.  After the prayer service was over everyone went back to their classrooms.  By Mart

On Friday we gathered for a memorial prayer service to remember lvy, the twins mother , and all the people who died in the earthquake. we said prayer and put flowers around lvy's tree. it was a sad time for us .  By Emma

February 22, 2011 was the most unforgettable moment to the lives of Christchurch people. It was on this day when after all the series of aftershocks shaken Christchurch and made all the buildings frail. On the midday of that day, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake stroke the land of Christchurch again and damaged some buildings. The biggest effect landed on the CTV building when it did collapsed to the ground. If I were mistaken, there were almost 200 people died on that day. All the people mourn on this horrible incident as there were many lives lost. So, that we had a memorial service on 21st of February 2014 to remember the devastating events.  By Abe

A service was held in tribute of the tragic event that struck Canterbury like a lightning shot which ended in grieving for those who had lost their loved ones in the destruction. The school gathered and prayers were said along with a one minute silence. The service was finished off with members of each class placing a flower letting it nonchalantly rest on the fence around the memorial tree of Ivy Cabunilas.  By Violet

Beach Education

I actually thought it was going to rain on Monday morning.

The clouds looked so gloomy and depressing; not a ray of sunshine. The senior school of Sacred Heart were going to North Beach for Beach Education.

It was quite a long drive on the bus. Since I was sitting somewhere in the middle I was hoping that we wouldn’t crash into anything since the driver was making REALLY tight twists and turns. At first we made it to the wrong beach but then we just drove onward for a bit longer and we knew we were there when we saw the surf club building.

We all put our bags in the changing rooms, the area between the door and the room was small, so the girls had to take turns walking in and walking out. There were a few lolly wrappers on the floor and an old half-eaten jam sandwich which was stuck onto one of the hooks. Girls being girls; we completely avoided that hook. It must’ve been from a previous school.

We made our way upstairs and sat on the cold ground. The volunteer lifeguards ran through the sun-smart rhyme.

1. Slip on a shirt

2. Slop on sunscreen

3. Slap on a hat

4. Wrap on some sunglasses

5. Step into jandals 

6. Slide into some shade

7. Smudge on lip balm

After that we talked about identifying a rip current; which was calm water between waves. They informed us on how they could use the rip to rescue swimmers and what to do if you were caught in a rip. Morning tea flew by quickly and so did lunch.

We played a few beach games such as ‘Octopus’, a game where you grab the ‘flag’ from the sand, a relay and a sand sculpture competition. Samantha, Rommel and I had built an entire village; too bad the tide washed it away. It had looked really good with the mountainside heads; okay, so the heads were really lumps of sand with holes poked into them.

After all the sculpting I sat on the dry part of the beach where the sand was really warm and talked with Charlotte, Violet and Willow on random subjects. Suddenly a large group of seagulls flew over us, we practically screamed in fright of being pooped on. Later on we were called in to get changed into our togs. We were all split into class groups and followed them back down to the beach. The lifeguards let us run into the water and scream on top of our lungs at the same time. I waded deeper into the water until it was waist length. I dived into the body of H20 and felt it rush into my nose even though I was holding my breath. I pulled up for air, my eyes stung and the over-salted water burnt my throat like acid.

I jumped up in the water with everyone else as a large wave headed towards us. We spent ages in the sea. Surely enough I had looked at my hands and they were wrinkled from the time spent in the water. I didn’t know what time it was but we got back to school five minutes past three.

I changed my mind about it raining because it turned out to be a beautiful day in the end. I had thoroughly enjoyed myself and had liked everything about Beach Education…well, apart from the mouldy half-eaten sandwich in the changing rooms. 

By Bi Ling

A day at the beach

On Monday 10th of February Rooms 7,6 and 4 went to North Brighton for beach education

When we arrived everyone ran out of the bus and went in the surf club, we put our equipment away and went up. The four lifeguards introduced them selves, then after that we talked about Sun Safety. About all the things we need to do and what to have while outside on the beach, Slip, Slop, Slap, Wrap. Later on we learnt about Surf Safety to know what the rules are and what to do when someone is in trouble

Later on the day we ate our morning tea then went out for beach games, we played octopus, built sandcastles and did many more things.

After the fun games we headed back to the club and ate our lunch, once we finished eating we went out to the beach and played for a couple of minutes then we changed our clothes and got ready to go into the water!

Finally it was time to swim! We went in the water, it was freezing but as we got use to the ice cold water we had so much fun! We were jumping onto the waves and had a lot of fun! 

Sadly we had to get out, when we got out it was so cold we changed our clothes and went back on the bus.

Everyone was cold and tired after one of AWESOME day at the beach!!

By Adrian

I woke up. my vision vague, my mind still unconscious, feeling lethargic. Nonchalantly getting up the gelid air brushed against my bare skin. Hauling the tepid blanket over myself, I could barely get up, too cold, too tired. Checking the time, nearly 7:50 I rapidly parachuted out of my bed and quickly got changed. Moments later I found myself scurrying through the gates and stumbling up the steps and into the classroom where I greeted a couple of my friends and waited impatiently for the bell to ring for us to travel to north beach to learn the requirements for being sunsmart and being intact in the water . Nearly an hour later we disembarked the bus and strutted towards the surf club building where we met a numerous amount of instructors, we observed on what they had to say such as the 7 sun smart rules; slip,slop,slap,wrap,step,slide and smudge. After morning tea we were all frolicking in the damp sand, crab walking, running and just having fun playing the convivial games. As lunch ended we were finally allowed to go into the water, everyone zoomed in , prancing and splashing, while others dreaded to get wet were awkwardly stumbling in, trembling in the cold water.

Overall the day was filled with teamwork, cooperating with one another and just having fun, cooling off in the hot sand and learning about beach education. 

By the one and only Violet !

New Year 8 Stories

My Last First day at Sacred Heart School.

I woke up, my eyes adjusted to the sun glaring through my bedroom window, gazing through the glass I felt alive as the birds perched nonchalantly plucking the sunflower seeds.

Memories reminded me of what it was like to be a Year 7 and all this gave me a nostalgic feeling.  Then suddenly my alarm broke the silence, I quickly muted the sound and got dressed as if it was a normal and typical school day.

I was getting emotional before entering the school gates, ‘my last year at primary’.  Mixed feelings flowed through my body.  What was I going to expect this year?

Plodding into the classroom my friends were calling my name, directing me to my desk.  I settled in quickly but was still quite emotional, thinking that this is going to be my last year at Sacred Heart School.

By Violet

First day of Year 8

I woke up to the shrill ringing from my alarm clock.  The bright light blinded me as I peeked through the curtains, it seemed too early for the sun to rise.  I wasn’t excited like last year.  Everything felt emotionless during breakfast.  The cereal was dry and crunchy.  It felt like just another day of the holidays.

I only felt emotion when I actually set foot inside the classroom. I was worried and a bit confused, how was I to find my desk?  Humiliation rushed at me like water as my friends called me from the other side of the room.  I was at the wrong table.

The day went smoothly with a lot of humour.  I was exhausted at the end, my energy had been used up on laughing, running around and mostly talking.  It seemed to be the best last day of primary school.

By Bi Ling