New Term, New Class

Hi everyone -

Term Two has started and we are a new look class, as Year 7 & Year 8 have been combined for the remainder of this year. We had a number of pupils leave our School because of the earthquake, and were left with numbers less than fifteen in both classes.

You can check out our new Senior School website at  https://sites.google.com/site/smaaseniorschool/

It has lots of reminders, info and links for the happenings in the senior end of school.

You can catch some very good pieces of narrative writing on this blog page in the coming weeks.

Regards,

Tony Kendrew

Being an international student

I think being an international student is hard. When I came here I wasn't used to hearing English even though I went to America when I was young. I think it is probably because it had been a long time since I used English.

But after a few days I was able to hear what the teacher or the other students were saying. So I was able to learn stuff that I didn't know. I also learned a lot of words in English that that I only knew in Korean.

I think that being an international student at St Michaels is fun and worthwhile.

Daniel Kim

Northern Tour

Last Monday year seven and eight arrived at school around 7:30am. We packed our heavy luggage onto the bus and chatted with our friends for a while. When the bus was ready to go, we stepped inside and sat down for the next seven hours. Finally the bus arrived at Nelson Girl's College. While the girls got off the bus and met their billets, our driver tried and struggled to get the bus out of the impossibly tiny park he had managed to get the vehicle in to. When we found ourselves in Nelson College, we met our billets and went home with them.

The next day went was extremely busy. First we stopped at Nelson Cathedral, and were given a tour there by a woman who must have worked there. Everybody was taking out their cameras and taking pictures of the artwork whenever possible. Our next stop was the museum, which happened to be just down the street. There were lots of electronic, interactive screens and devices which seemed to keep everybody amused. Later on we had a look at the wearable arts museum and the classic cars museum. I had no idea costumes could be made out of drinking straws! In the afternoon, everyone was playing sports against Nelson teams. I think we won most of them. And after that, we all went home with our billets for the night.

The following morning, all of the St Michaels pupils met at Fairfield Park at 6:45am! Only minutes later, we were in the country, driving to Picton. When we got there, Mr Boyce explained to us that our Ferry would be three quarters of an hour late. The people at the Interislander terminal gift shop didn't seem to mind though. When we boarded the Ferry, we stayed in our groups for about ten minutes. But after that, everyone was running around on the deck, in the arcade, and in the resturant. A few hours later, our ferry came into Wellington Harbour. We were seated on a new bus and driven away to Te Papa. Inside the Museum, there were what seemed like endless exhibits, from and earthquake house to a giant squid. We visited the Marae, entered caves, and saw a huge whale skeleton. But sadly we only got about half an hour to spend there due to the ferry being late. Soon it was time for us to catch the bus to St Marks school and meet our new billets. When we arrived at the school I was introduced to my billet and then went went with them to their home.


The next day was probably the busiest of all. It started at St Marks school, where we got a new bus again. The driver took us around town and dropped off the year 8s at capital E. Our class was then taken to Parliament to find out about Government and Laws. The tour took around an hour and a half; plenty of time to learn. We visited many rooms and buildings, including the debating chamber. After our parliament visit, our class ate lunch in a small park. Lots of people ate quickly, they were eager to get to Capital E. Mr Kendrew said we could have some time on the playground. Nobody argued. Later on, we found ourselves being dropped off by the bus outside Capital E. There wasn't too much to say about Capital E, apart from that we made cool video games at www.atmosphir.com. Mine was a haunted forest with lots of evil guys you had to destroy. After that we were taken back to St Marks school and went home with our billets for the last night.

Friday morning was full of sport interchanges, and lots of excitement. We won most of the games, but lost a couple. After all of the interchanges, we farewelled our billets and continued on to the last part of our Northern Tour. At the airport, I got stopped because my inhaler set off the metal detector. On the plane we had a short flight back to Christchurch. I think we were all relieved to be home again. All in all the tour was a great and memorable experience.

By Henry.

Year Seven have recently been very busy with their Science Fair projects, testing, calculating, writing and researching. The Science Fair is one of the most important events of the year. The Cross Country has just been run and many pupils who were successful in our own schools' run went on to the Independent Schools Cross Country which was held on Tuesday.
Soon the first Inter house Sponge ball Competition will take place and there will probably be many Year Sevens competing in this event. This term we are also preparing for the Inter house Music Competition.
The Soiree is a major event this term and Year Seven have already done lots of practice.
The Senior Syndicate will be doing many other things to follow their Victorian Christchurch Social Studies unit. We have already gone to the museum and are to be going to Riccarton House and Ferrymead soon.

Year 7 highlights!

Recently Year 7 attended an art programme for the afternoon with Wendy Duggan. We were learning how to draw portraits. We started off with a practice picture and then did the real thing. Megan modelled for us. Everyone managed to draw using the correct techniques.

Years 4-8 have competed in the school swimming sports. The age champions for Year 7 were: 10 year old girls, Saskia Klinkenberg and Karenia Anderson and 11 year old boy, Jesse Simkin.

We have also been attending Technology for the first time with half the class doing food tech and the others doing sewing. Another responsibility has also been put upon us: Junior School monitoring! Luckily Year 7 have enjoyed doing this and have monitored well.

We have had fun for this part of the term and we are looking forward to the rest of the year, which will include going to the Rehua Marae to gain some experience and as part of our Te Reo and Social Studies programmes. We have been learning our mihimihi in preparation for this.

By Saskia Klinkenberg

My Christmas wish list:


May everyone feel love and joy.

May all addicts learn to give up.

May every orphan share Christmas with a family.

May all countries live in peace.

May all animals be treated well.

May all races understand each other.

May those who are hungry have plenty of food.

May all students have safe holidays.

By Jacqui-Lyn Welch

A Christmas Prayer

This Christmas, I pray
For all people to feel peace,
For every child to be happy,
For every individual to feel unique,
For all man kind to shine like the star
That shone over Jesus Christ.

I pray
For every person to be equal
No matter what their race is.
For all humans to unite,
For all living souls to feel wanted,
For every spirit to be safe.

Finally ,I pray
For all living creatures to feel loved
And for everyone to rejoice and remember
The birth of Jesus Christ at this special time

Amen