SLJ Week 4

Week 3: Experiments and Gadgets
Day 5: Creativity
Activity 1: Ministry of Inspiration

I used to really like watching that tv show, Robot Wars. The one where 2 people build robots, then the robots are put in a kind of ring and they have to try and destoy each other. The winner is the person whose robot survives and doesn’t get munted. 

So yes, I would like to join un underwater robotics team. So the purpose wouldn’t be to destroy but to do lots of different challenges. I think it would be fun and I would learn a lot.

SLJ Week 3

Week 3: Experiments and Gadgets Day 4: Hauora Activity 2: iMoko The last term of school my family and I decided that we needed to start taking better care of ourselves. Here are some of the things we are trying to do. Try and not have any bread. This is hard because we used to have bread with every meal, even if we didn’t need it and then we would feel over-full Eat more vegetables at lunch and dinner times Go to boot camp/gym. We go to a boot-camp training session thing run by a guy from our church. If we don’t have a chance to go, we will go to the gym at our local rugby club. Spend more time together as a family, whether it’s having a movie night, playing board/card games, going to church. Be kinder to each other and others. Hauora is not just our bodies it is also our minds and spirits too.

Week 3: Experiments and Gadgets

Day 5: Creativity

Activity 1: Ministry of Inspiration

I used to really like watching that tv show, Robot Wars.  The one where 2 people build robots, then the robots are put in a kind of ring and they have to try and destoy each other.  The winner is the person whose robot survives and doesn’t get munted.  

So yes, I would like to join un underwater robotics team.  So the purpose wouldn’t be to destroy but to do lots of different challenges.  I think it would be fun and I would learn a lot.

Week 3: Experiments and Gadgets

Day 5: Creativity 

Activity 2: Caine’s Arcade

One of my favourite games to play is a card game that I play with my family called Euchre (pronounced you-car).  First

SLJ Week 2

Week 2: “I Have a Dream…” - Politics and Activism
Day 1: Taking the Lead
Activity 1: Playing Favourites
Jacob’s Top 5 Things to Do (in no particular order)
Play Euchre with my family
Eat - RJLicorice  & Big Mac's
Spend time with my family
Play rugby
Play Games - Monoply & Game of life

Week 2: “I Have a Dream…” - Politics and Activism
Day 1: Taking the Lead
Activity 3: Dear Jacinda


Dear Jacinda
I am writing to you about this new rule from NZRU about not having representative rugby teams before U16.
I want to share my experience first.  I have been playing rippa rugby and rugby for the past 7 seasons at my local rugby club, Auckland Marist.  I have also been a playing for my school Pt England since year 5, and had a chance to represent Auckland at the Rippa Rugby championship in Wellington.  That was an awesome experience, even though we didn’t win.  I have practiced, trained, made new friends and had heaps of fun.  I knew when I got to Year 7 I would be allowed to trial for the Walter Dickson and Bill McLaren rep rugby teams here in Auckland.  It is unusual for a Year 7 boy to make it, but I wanted to try anyway.  At the trials I saw heaps of my friends from lots of different clubs and schools.  I didn’t make the Walter Dickson team, but it didn’t matter I was still determined to make the Bill McLaren team.  I made it! A few of my friends trialled and made it, and some didn’t.  But it is all good, because we knew that we could all train harder, trial together and then play rep rugby together.
Having the chance to play rep rugby gives me a goal to work towards.  I am competitive and like to know if I am as good as some of the others kids in Auckland.  I would like to one day represent NZ as an All Black, if I haven’t learned to accept losing early on in life, how will I cope when I am older.
I do think that people who are selected to play in these teams, should be picked because they are good team players, not because their parents are rich or they are related to someone.  I believe everyone should get a fair trial too.

Thanks for reading this.
From J



Week 2: “I Have a Dream…” - Politics and Activism
Day 2: Taking Action
Activity 1: A Long Walk to Freedom

Dear Diary
It felt good to be outside of my tiny damp concrete cell, but that sun was too hot.  My hands were bleeding today and my feet are starting to poke out the bottom of my shoes. I don’t think the guards care, they just make fun of us and treat us badly.  I don’t like when they are mean to us, I want to say something but I am worried they will beat us up too.  I don’t know how long I will be here.  I haven’t seen my family for ages, I miss them.  I hope they are ok, things haven’t changed out there, apartheid is still happening.  I wish I could stop it. Maybe someday.

SLJ Week 1

Week 1: Physical Limits - Exploration and Sport
Day 1: Explorers
Activity 2: Discovering Aotearoa

I am proud to say that my cultural background is a bit like a “fruit salad”, very mixed. My dad’s family are from the Cook Islands (Mangaia and Rarotonga) and Tahiti. My dad’s family from Tahiti have connections to France. My mum’s family are from Fiji and Aotearoa (Ngati Porou me Te Whanau A Apanui). My mum’s family from Aotearoa have family connections to a small town in Leicestershire, England too.

I have a lot to learn about my cultural background and can’t wait to go to family reunions later this year.

Week 1: Physical Limits - Exploration and Sport

Day 1: Explorers
Activity 3: Scaling New Heights

The SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) it one of New Zealand’s oldest charities. It has been around for over 140 years. They help look after and protect animals who have no home, are sick, are not looked after properly or injured.


Week 1: Physical Limits - Exploration and Sport
Day 2: Up in the Air
Activity 1: Flying Solo

Jean Batten and Amelia Earhart were amazing women aviators.

Week 1: Physical Limits - Exploration and Sport
Day 2: Up in the Air
Activity 2: One Small Step for Man

I can’t believe it

I’m really here!

On the moon

Where there is no air

I feel like I’m floating

Like a balloon

I better make the most of it

I won’t be coming back here anytime soon.


Week 1: Physical Limits - Exploration and Sport
Day 2: Up in the Air
Activity 3: Miracle on the Hudson

Did you know I have 2 steel pins in my arm?

When I was about 3 years old, my sister, cousin and I were jumping on the trampoline. Mum and Dad were going away for the weekend, so we were going to stay with my Aunty. As my parents were leaving, I started to fall backwards on the tramp. No big deal right? But I tried to stop myself from hitting my head so I put my arm behind me to steady myself. The next thing they knew I was scream crying and lying on my back. My parents raced back down the driveway and took me to the doctors. It ended up I had to go to Starship because my arm might be broken. The doctor at Starship said the xray showed my arm was broken but it would need surgery and 2 steel pins. This all happened about 4pm. Mum and Dad told me to be brave and to wait that the doctors would fix me and make me better. I went into my operation without my mum or dad at midnight. It took them about 2 hours to finish my operation. I stayed in the hopsital with my dad for the night and then was banned from playing on the trampoline for like 2 months. But I still sneaked on.


Week 1: Physical Limits - Exploration and Sport
Day 3: Team Players
Activity 1: Rugby Superstars

If I could have superpowers for a day I would want

SUPER SPEED - so I could get to places quicker

SUPER STRENGTH - so I could help people lift heavy stuff

SUPER XRAY VISION - so I could see through walls, so I would know when my parents are coming so I can pretend to be asleep.


Week 1: Physical Limits - Exploration and Sport
Day 3: Team Players
Activity 2: Defying the Odds


If I could I would interview Stephen Curry. I would ask him

How does it feel to win MVP?

Being a baller family (a family who plays ball sports), does your sister want to play b.ball or will she stick with volley?

Do you think you will be moving to another team any time soon? If yes, which team?

If you could be a superhero for a day, what 3 super powers would you have and why?

How would you feel if any of your kids wanted to play rugby for NZ Black Ferns or All Blacks instead of basketball?


Week 1: Physical Limits - Exploration and Sport
Day 4: Individual Pursuits
Activity 1: Making a Racket


Name: Billie Jean King (Billie Jean Moffitt)

Born: 22 November 1943

Where: Long Beach, California. USA

Her tennis career lasted 24 years (1959-1983)

She fought against sexism in sports and society

Her family weren’t able to pay for her to join the local tennis club, so she learned at public tennis courts.

I do wonder if Billie Jean ever had kids and whether they played tennis as well.


Week 1: Physical Limits - Exploration and Sport
Day 4: Individual Pursuits
Activity 2: What’s in a Name?


If I could change my name to a different name I would change it to Dan Carter. If I had the same name as the famous All Black, maybe I would be able to kick really good like him too.


Week 1: Physical Limits - Exploration and Sport
Day 5: Against the Odds
Activity 1: National Treasure


I treasure my family. My family love me, look after me and have fun with me.

I treasure my testimony of God and Jesus Christ. It helps me to know that God is always there to help me when I pray to him.

I treasure my good friends. I have some really good friends who help me to make the right choices, they look out for me and help me when I need it.


Week 1: Physical Limits - Exploration and Sport
Day 5: Against the Odds
Activity 2: Swimming to Safety

Yusra and her sister were off on a journey to find safety in Europe because their country, Syria was having a war.

On the way the engine of their little boat broke down, so Yusra, her sister and 2 other people jumped out and swam next to the boat for 3 and a half hours so the boat didn’t capsize.

A year later she was recognized by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and became a member of the first ever Refugee Olympic Team.

She has met famous people like, Barack Obama, and the Pope.