A letter to Mr Diver

Dear Mr Diver,
I think that as a year 8, I would like to propose some changes for the better of the school.
I think that the amount of time some people spend out of class is concerning. Those people are missing out on valuable class & learning time. The amount of extra curricular activities in class time is astounding, they later come back to class and need a catch up session. Although they may be learning a valuable art, they will most likely end up with a job that has maths involved, because only a select few end up to be artists, famous singers or a sporting great. I think that you should continue these subjects but have them in a lunchtime or after/before school.

I also think that you should think of adding a sandpit. At my old school there was a sandpit, it was this that got me into like architecture. For some it's for little kids, but for me it is learning what support structures are safe and what not. I think that architectural design would be a dream job, this sandpit, would really help me on my way.

Catherine Van Pelt,
42 Rimu.

How to survive term 4

IT"S NOT UPLOADING NOT MY FAULT WON"T WORK UPLOADED IT AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES, STILL NOT WORKING I GIVE UP.

If you are having problems viewing this video please follow the link.
Le Rage quit.

Drug Research

This term we have had or life education sessions. We have been learning about drugs. We have all made a presentation on a particular drug, mine is Mersilene. 

Tauranga Girls College

12 Hour Relay

12 hour relay is a time of good fun,

There is a team who will run & run,

While the less athletic, fun run and play,

We'll show off our talents in a show that day,

Presented with challenges we will not be defeated,

Or at least until our energy is depleted,

A day of great fun,

Although we shall run, 

We shall chant,

Until we can't anymore,

Can't get enough, 

Till our voices are rough,

Lets homestay!

Are the cries of the ones having fun.

Who shall reign supreme,

The houses and classes, 

Competing to take the top,

A good day it is,

From dawn to night,

The runners shall be running.

Advice scenario.

I've got some older friends (I'm 13 they are 14/15) Who have invited me to a party on Saturday night at someones house. I'm pretty sure everyone there will be drinking. I've never had alcohol before. I'm going to tell my parents that I'm staying the night at my friends. I feel quite nervous, cos I know it's bad. What should I do?

Well you should tell your friends that drinking is illegal -at their age- and that you don't want to break the law. You could also bring a drink for yourself, like fizzy and just drink that. If they offer you beer or the such like just decline and say you have your bottle of fizzy and mixing flavours would be weird. I wouldn't lie to your parents either. You should tell them that you're going to a party with your friends, at their friends house. I think that you should also find some 13 year old friends, that you can hang out with and do 13 year old stuff.  

I hope this helps.

Life Ed

We are doing a program called from the shadows, where we are learning about peer pressure & drugs. We have been told to delay the decision, which means to delay deciding to do drugs until we are at least 25.  We have 9 ways to get out of peer pressure this is called,
R
Excuse
Assertive
Change the subject
Humor

Walk away
Ignore
Toughen up/Tell someone
Say no

We have two other acronyms to remember about, GIB and GAP which tell us the effects of drugs on teenagers. The meanings of GIB and GAP are,
Greater                  Greater
Addiction               Impact on
Potential                Brain

Giving advice

Scenario: 

I found out my two friends smoke. I'm only 13. I don't know what to do. I am really confused. Please help.

Advice:

Firstly I would find some new friends or hang out with old friends, till you are comfortable enough to confront your smoking friends about how dangerous smoking is and that it's illegal. 

You'll want to be really close friends with your other friends and tell them that you want to confront your friends. You should tell your other friends, because smoking is addictive they won't want to stop and will be mean and/or hurtful. It's probably a touchy subject for them.

You should also tell an adult like a parent, they are really good for advice.

Police in Holland are using ratty-tats to solve crime.

Police in Holland are using 5 brown rats, named after famous detectives, to help them solve crime. 
They are training in a training center in Rotterdam. At this stage they have been sent into crime scenes to sniff out gunshot residue. Police said their accuracy is remarkable and they could also be used to detect drugs, money, bodies or blood. I think that this is cool and that unlike drug dogs they can get into small spaces.

NZ teenage statistics

31% of NZ boys appear in court before their 25th birthday.

45% of NZ boys reported adolescent-limited delinquency such as vandalism, carrying hidden weapons, arson, running away, truancy, selling drugs, buying alcohol underage, fighting in public places, shoplifting, burglary and buying and selling stolen goods. 

1999-2000, violence has risen by 32% per cent, robberies have risen by 55%, grievous assaults have risen by 70% and sex crimes have risen by 15%.

Internationally, from 1982 to 2002 juvenile crime grew 200% 

Nearly two out of three adolescents at age 18 have one or more diagnosable mental health disorder.

In 2003, among 15–24 year-olds 23.8% of all deaths were attributed to suicide.

Troubled teenagers flooded counselling helplines in 2006 with more than 700,000 calls to disclose problems such as sexual abuse, bullying, violence, depression and self-harm.