Kia ora my name is Oscar and today we played this game called Kind Kingdom and it was pretty for and cool. The aim of the game is to be kind and pick up these hearts off the ground and give them to these little bots that are sad so when you give the hearts to them they will not be sad and they will join your group. It will also ask you questions about being kind and what to do if you are getting bulled.

What changes would you make to tik tok to make it more positive for young people?

Some changes that I would make to tiktok to make it more positive for young people is to put more educational stuff for young people to learn off of, and so they can get more intelligent to be able to do more work in class so they don’t fall behind and get dumb.

 I also think they should make the videos at least 2.00, to 3.00 minutes long so their patience is not so low and they can focus  longer in class and also can focus during math. Also there is inappropriate stuff like people showing ai things that aren’t meant to be for kids

I think it would also be a good idea if their for you page was not so full with brain rot 67 memes like my for you page is full of which also does not help. It would be good if tiktok had something that you could choose how long the videos you watch.

Sore winner 

When we started the film festival we started out on the field playing Rugby. It was Tyson Jeremiah Oli Robert Roman Eaid Nyjah Cyrus and me that is all I remember but that is who was playing Rugby. 

After the rugby Jeremiah and Tyson were walking past then saw me and some other boys and girls sitting on a bench outside the class and they came over just to talk crap to us because we lost but Jeremiah said to Tyson we should just go. 

Then we had to go inside to do some Kapa haka and during Kapa haka Tyson stopped the whole thing to say that we were not good enough and that he can not here us but Eaid was not having it so he punched Tyson over and got him in a wheelchair. 

I don’t think some of the people were  feeling good after Tyson was not being very nice because Tyson was being a sore winner

Henri and the Castle Walls 

I am twelve years old, and I work on the castle in our village, high above the fields of France. The year is 1300, and our lord has ordered a new wall to protect his lands. Every morning, I rise before dawn, my hands raw and aching already from yesterday’s labour, and my stomach emptier than I would like. My mother wakes me with a mug of watered milk, and I dress in rough linen, knowing the day ahead will be long. 

The first task is to carry stones from the quarry to the scaffold. Each stone is heavier than I feel I can bear. Sometimes I stumble on the uneven ground, or the ropes slip, sending a shiver through me. The men curse softly, though some smile and encourage me. I have learned that complaining gets me nowhere. Instead, I focus on each step, each stone, counting them in my head to keep the rhythm. 

Mixing mortar is no easier. I measure lime, sand, and water, stirring until the mixture is thick but not dry. Precision matters, for one misstep could mean that a wall cracks or falls. Sometimes, the sun beats down, and I feel dizzy. Sweat runs into my eyes, and I blink against it, wishing for a breeze. But there is pride in the work too. When I spread the mortar under a heavy stone and

see it settle perfectly in place, I feel a spark of accomplishment. I am twelve, yet I can make something last for centuries. 

Life on the scaffold is dangerous. I climb ladders taller than our house, balancing carefully on narrow planks. Fear follows me, whispering in my ears: one wrong step, one slip, and the fall would be terrible. But I have learned courage, too. I grip the ropes tightly, I watch my footing, 

and slowly, I become confident. I can’t remember the last time I felt so independent. I choose my steps, I make my own mistakes, I fix them, and I survive. This is different from other children in the village who stay home and play; I am learning responsibility in a way no games could teach me. 

The men around me teach in their own ways. Guillaume, a mason with arms like iron, shows me how to check that a stone fits perfectly. Jacques, who is smaller and quicker, tells me stories of his travels when the walls are quiet. Sometimes they scold me when I make errors, but they also praise me when I get it right. I have become part of a team that relies on each other’s skill. There is a rhythm to our work: hauling, measuring, mixing, laying, and climbing again. I know my role, and I understand that if I fail, the wall might fail too. 

The cold mornings are particularly hard. Frost covers the ground, and the ropes are stiff. My fingers ache despite my gloves, and my nose feels numb. Yet, I am awake and alert in a way I never could be in warm beds at home. Hunger is a constant companion, but I have learned to pace myself and savor small morsels. Bread, cheese, or salted meat keeps me going, and the men share what they have. I understand now the value of work, of effort, and of relying on skill instead of comfort. 

Sometimes, I slip. Once, a heavy stone fell from my hands, scattering across the ground. I feared I would be punished, but instead, Guillaume knelt beside me and showed me the proper way to lift and balance the stone. “Even the strongest hands must learn the right motion,” he said. I remember that moment because it showed me patience. Strength is not enough; knowledge and care are just as important. Each mistake teaches me something I could not have learned from play or from watching others. 

At midday, we rest for a short while. I sit on the scaffold, looking out over the village and fields. The river glistens in the sun, and I can see children my age running and laughing in the distance. I envy their freedom for a moment, yet I also feel a quiet pride. My hands are calloused, my back aches, my body is tired, but I am learning independence in a way few of them ever will. I make decisions, I solve problems, I see results from my own efforts. That is a joy no game could ever bring. 

By evening, the wall has grown taller, stone by stone. I am exhausted but satisfied. I wipe the sweat from my brow, and I know that the work of today will last for years. When I descend from the scaffold, my legs trembling, I still carry a spark of excitement for what tomorrow will bring. Each day is another challenge, another chance to learn and to grow. My mother’s words echo in my mind: “Strength and perseverance will take you far, Henri.”

Some days, the weather is cruel. Rain turns the ground to mud, and the stones are slippery. Thunder shakes the scaffold, and I cling tightly to the ropes, fearing the next flash. Yet, when the storm passes, I see the work we have completed in the sun’s light. Walls rise where yesterday there was only rubble. I think of the families who will live in the castle, the knights who will walk its corridors, and I feel proud. My efforts matter, even at twelve. 

Night brings sleep that comes quickly and deeply. I dream of stones and scaffolds, of hammers and mortar, and I wake ready to do it all again. My hands may be blistered, my back sore, my body weary, but my mind feels alive. I have learned patience, courage, and independence. I have learned that hard work can shape the world. One day, when I am older, I will look at this castle and remember my small hands lifting stones higher than I ever imagined. 

I know life is hard, and my work is only the beginning of challenges to come. Yet, I have also discovered that within struggle lies growth. I have learned that effort brings pride, that independence brings confidence, and that skill earned through labour is a treasure no one can take away. Though I am twelve, I feel older in spirit, wiser in small ways, and stronger than I have ever been. 

In the end, this work is more than just building a castle; it is shaping myself. Every stone I place, every scaffold I climb, teaches me patience, courage, and diligence. I am Henri, twelve years old, a builder of walls, a learner of lessons, and a child discovering the power of independence through hard work. Perhaps future children will play freely, but I know that this time of toil will stay with me forever, a foundation as strong as the castle walls themselves.

Henri and the Castle Walls 

Name: _Oscar_____________________ 

Date: __11-09-25____________________ 

Part 1: Multiple Choice (Circle the correct answer) 

1. Why did Henri work on the castle at twelve years old? 
2. a) He wanted to travel. 
3. b) It was expected of all children in the village. 
4. c) He helped build the castle and learned skills from the workers. d) He was playing a game. 
5. What was one of the biggest challenges Henri faced on the scaffold? a) Understanding orders from the lord 
6. b) Fear of heights and handling heavy stones 
7. c) Finding food to eat 
8. d) Teaching other children 
9. How did Henri gain independence through his work? 
10. a) By making decisions and learning skills on the job 
11. b) By reading books at night 
12. c) By avoiding work 
13. d) By supervising other adults 
14. What lesson did Henri learn from mistakes like dropping stones? a) That he should quit 
15. b) That strength alone is enough 
16. c) That patience, care, and proper technique are essential 
17. d) That scaffolds are unsafe 
18. Why did Henri feel proud despite the hard work? 
19. a) Because he earned a lot of money 
20. b) Because he was learning, contributing, and seeing tangible results c) Because other children envied him 
21. d) Because he could skip school

Part 2: True or False (Write T or F) 

6. Henri worked on the castle from dawn until dusk every day. __T___ 
7. He envied the other children who played but appreciated the independence he gained. __F___ 
8. Henri avoided learning proper techniques because it slowed his work. ___F_ 9. Working on the castle taught Henri courage, patience, and responsibility. __T___ 10. Henri believed that his work on the castle would have no long-term impact. __F___

Part 3: Short Answer 

11. Describe one physical challenge Henri faced while building the castle.  Henri faced having to lift heavy rocks pretty high onto the castle   12. How did the men he worked with help him improve his skills?  The men helped Henri by supporting him  to keep pushing through it.
12. Why did Henri consider his work on the castle meaningful beyond just construction?  Because he was helping the lord by building the castle. 
13. How did Henri’s work differ from the play or leisure of other children? Because some of the men did not have as much patience as Henri.
14. Imagine you are Henri. Write one sentence about how it would feel to see the castle rise, stone by stone. 

As Henri, I would be very tired and not be able to lift the stones but at the same time i would be happy to go to work.

I am twelve years old, and I work on the castle in our village, high above the fields of France. The year is 1300, and our lord has ordered a new wall to protect his lands. Every morning, I rise before dawn, my hands raw and aching already from yesterday’s labour, and my stomach emptier than I would like. My mother wakes me with a mug of watered milk, and I dress in rough linen, knowing the day ahead will be long. 

The first task is to carry stones from the quarry to the scaffold. Each stone is heavier than I feel I can bear. Sometimes I stumble on the uneven ground, or the ropes slip, sending a shiver through me. The men curse softly, though some smile and encourage me. I have learned that complaining gets me nowhere. Instead, I focus on each step, each stone, counting them in my head to keep the rhythm. 

Mixing mortar is no easier. I measure lime, sand, and water, stirring until the mixture is thick but not dry. Precision matters, for one misstep could mean that a wall cracks or falls. Sometimes, the sun beats down, and I feel dizzy. Sweat runs into my eyes, and I blink against it, wishing for a breeze. But there is pride in the work too. When I spread the mortar under a heavy stone and

see it settle perfectly in place, I feel a spark of accomplishment. I am twelve, yet I can make something last for centuries. 

Life on the scaffold is dangerous. I climb ladders taller than our house, balancing carefully on narrow planks. Fear follows me, whispering in my ears: one wrong step, one slip, and the fall would be terrible. But I have learned courage, too. I grip the ropes tightly, I watch my footing, 

and slowly, I become confident. I can’t remember the last time I felt so independent. I choose my steps, I make my own mistakes, I fix them, and I survive. This is different from other children in the village who stay home and play; I am learning responsibility in a way no games could teach me. 

The men around me teach in their own ways. Guillaume, a mason with arms like iron, shows me how to check that a stone fits perfectly. Jacques, who is smaller and quicker, tells me stories of his travels when the walls are quiet. Sometimes they scold me when I make errors, but they also praise me when I get it right. I have become part of a team that relies on each other’s skill. There is a rhythm to our work: hauling, measuring, mixing, laying, and climbing again. I know my role, and I understand that if I fail, the wall might fail too. 

The cold mornings are particularly hard. Frost covers the ground, and the ropes are stiff. My fingers ache despite my gloves, and my nose feels numb. Yet, I am awake and alert in a way I never could be in warm beds at home. Hunger is a constant companion, but I have learned to pace myself and savor small morsels. Bread, cheese, or salted meat keeps me going, and the men share what they have. I understand now the value of work, of effort, and of relying on skill instead of comfort. 

Sometimes, I slip. Once, a heavy stone fell from my hands, scattering across the ground. I feared I would be punished, but instead, Guillaume knelt beside me and showed me the proper way to lift and balance the stone. “Even the strongest hands must learn the right motion,” he said. I remember that moment because it showed me patience. Strength is not enough; knowledge and care are just as important. Each mistake teaches me something I could not have learned from play or from watching others. 

At midday, we rest for a short while. I sit on the scaffold, looking out over the village and fields. The river glistens in the sun, and I can see children my age running and laughing in the distance. I envy their freedom for a moment, yet I also feel a quiet pride. My hands are calloused, my back aches, my body is tired, but I am learning independence in a way few of them ever will. I make decisions, I solve problems, I see results from my own efforts. That is a joy no game could ever bring. 

By evening, the wall has grown taller, stone by stone. I am exhausted but satisfied. I wipe the sweat from my brow, and I know that the work of today will last for years. When I descend from the scaffold, my legs trembling, I still carry a spark of excitement for what tomorrow will bring. Each day is another challenge, another chance to learn and to grow. My mother’s words echo in my mind: “Strength and perseverance will take you far, Henri.”

Some days, the weather is cruel. Rain turns the ground to mud, and the stones are slippery. Thunder shakes the scaffold, and I cling tightly to the ropes, fearing the next flash. Yet, when the storm passes, I see the work we have completed in the sun’s light. Walls rise where yesterday there was only rubble. I think of the families who will live in the castle, the knights who will walk its corridors, and I feel proud. My efforts matter, even at twelve. 

Night brings sleep that comes quickly and deeply. I dream of stones and scaffolds, of hammers and mortar, and I wake ready to do it all again. My hands may be blistered, my back sore, my body weary, but my mind feels alive. I have learned patience, courage, and independence. I have learned that hard work can shape the world. One day, when I am older, I will look at this castle and remember my small hands lifting stones higher than I ever imagined. 

I know life is hard, and my work is only the beginning of challenges to come. Yet, I have also discovered that within struggle lies growth. I have learned that effort brings pride, that independence brings confidence, and that skill earned through labour is a treasure no one can take away. Though I am twelve, I feel older in spirit, wiser in small ways, and stronger than I have ever been. 

In the end, this work is more than just building a castle; it is shaping myself. Every stone I place, every scaffold I climb, teaches me patience, courage, and diligence. I am Henri, twelve years old, a builder of walls, a learner of lessons, and a child discovering the power of independence through hard work. Perhaps future children will play freely, but I know that this time of toil will stay with me forever, a foundation as strong as the castle walls themselves.

Henri and the Castle Walls 

Name: _Oscar_____________________ 

Date: __11-09-25____________________ 

Part 1: Multiple Choice (Circle the correct answer) 

1. Why did Henri work on the castle at twelve years old? 
2. a) He wanted to travel. 
3. b) It was expected of all children in the village. 
4. c) He helped build the castle and learned skills from the workers. d) He was playing a game. 
5. What was one of the biggest challenges Henri faced on the scaffold? a) Understanding orders from the lord 
6. b) Fear of heights and handling heavy stones 
7. c) Finding food to eat 
8. d) Teaching other children 
9. How did Henri gain independence through his work? 
10. a) By making decisions and learning skills on the job 
11. b) By reading books at night 
12. c) By avoiding work 
13. d) By supervising other adults 
14. What lesson did Henri learn from mistakes like dropping stones? a) That he should quit 
15. b) That strength alone is enough 
16. c) That patience, care, and proper technique are essential 
17. d) That scaffolds are unsafe 
18. Why did Henri feel proud despite the hard work? 
19. a) Because he earned a lot of money 
20. b) Because he was learning, contributing, and seeing tangible results c) Because other children envied him 
21. d) Because he could skip school

Part 2: True or False (Write T or F) 

6. Henri worked on the castle from dawn until dusk every day. __T___ 
7. He envied the other children who played but appreciated the independence he gained. __F___ 
8. Henri avoided learning proper techniques because it slowed his work. ___F_ 9. Working on the castle taught Henri courage, patience, and responsibility. __T___ 10. Henri believed that his work on the castle would have no long-term impact. __F___

Part 3: Short Answer 

11. Describe one physical challenge Henri faced while building the castle.  Henri faced having to lift heavy rocks pretty high onto the castle   12. How did the men he worked with help him improve his skills?  The men helped Henri by supporting him  to keep pushing through it.
12. Why did Henri consider his work on the castle meaningful beyond just construction?  Because he was helping the lord by building the castle. 
13. How did Henri’s work differ from the play or leisure of other children? Because some of the men did not have as much patience as Henri.
14. Imagine you are Henri. Write one sentence about how it would feel to see the castle rise, stone by stone. 

As Henri, I would be very tired and not be able to lift the stones but at the same time i would be happy to go to work.

      Hi this is my AI image on Adobe

Today I am writing about Cyrus and Noah’s speech and my opinion of their speech. First I am going to write about Cyrus’s speech. I don’t agree with Cyrus that rugby is the best sport because you have to run or jog for like 80 min straight and you have to be pretty fit and some people are not the fittest which can be hard to get into shape just play rugby.that is why I do not agree with Cyrus that rugby is the best sport to play.

Now Noah’s speech i liked his speech because i am also writing about fishing and why it is the best sport i liked how it is a stress relief and now i know that you should not by a rotten fish because it is not good for you and get you sick. I love that you can take you and your friends fishing. He said in his story that it is a good thing for like relaxation. that is why I agree with Noah and why fishing is the best sport.

Modern Story: Maia’s Leather Project

Maia was in Year 8 when her teacher, Whaea Tui, announced the class would be doing a unit on

traditional crafts. Each student could choose a different medium — weaving, carving, sewing —

but Maia’s eyes lit up when she saw a piece of soft, tan leather on the resource table.

Her grandfather, Koro Hemi, used to work in a small leather workshop just outside Whanganui.

He made saddles, wallets, and even kapa haka belts for local schools. Maia remembered the

scent of the leather in his shed, the rows of old tools, and the way his hands worked with quiet

Skill.

“Could I do something with leather?” she asked. Whaea Tui nodded. “You’ll need to research the

process — how it’s made, what it’s used for — and then create something meaningful.”

That weekend, Maia visited her koro and told him about the project. His eyes sparkled. “We’ll

make a little bag together — a satchel. Something useful and old-school.”

Koro took her through the steps. He showed her a thick piece of hide and explained where it

came from. They soaked it, scraped it, and even dyed it using natural plants from his garden. It

was slow, and her hands got sore, but she learned how to punch holes, thread sinew, and burn

designs into the leather.

As they worked, Koro told her stories — about how his father had tanned hides using bark and

leaves, and how leather was once traded across the motu. Maia listened, fascinated. “This is

like holding history,” she whispered.

On presentation day, Maia stood tall in front of her class. She showed her handmade satchel,

explained the tanning process, and spoke about working with her koro. Her voice trembled a

little, but her classmates clapped with admiration.

Later, she gave the satchel to Koro. “For teaching me,” she said. He smiled. “And for keeping

the story alive.”

Questions:

1. What school project is Maia working on?

• Maia was working on a better project for school.

2. Why is leather special to Maia?

• Leather is special because it is a big part  of her life. Her koro works with leather.

3. Who helps Maia with her project?

• Maia’s koro was helping her with her project.

4. What item do they decide to make together?

• Together they make a satchel for her project.

5. What materials and techniques do they use?

• They use from her koro’s gardan

6. How is the leather dyed in this story?

• dyed it using natural plants from her koro garden.

7. What kind of stories does Koro share?

• Koro told her stories  about how his father had tanned hides using bark and

leaves, and how leather was once traded across the motu.

8. How does Maia feel about the experience

• She liked the experience because she spent time with her koro

9. What does she do with the satchel at the end?

• She gives the satchel to her koro.

10. What is the main theme of the story?

• The story and the main theme is Maia making a project and her spending time with her koro.

Historical Story: The Tanner’s Apprentice

In the late 1800s, young Tama lived near the Whanganui River, where the sound of saws and

horses echoed through the town. His father worked as a labourer, but Tama wanted to learn a

skill. When he was twelve, he was apprenticed to a tanner named Mr. Dunlop, a Scottish settler

with a leathery face and strong hands.

Each morning, Tama rose before dawn and walked to the tannery. The smell was sharp — a mix

of wet hide and chemicals. At first, Tama’s job was to carry buckets and turn hides in the

soaking vats. His hands blistered, and the work was hard, but he watched and learned.

Mr. Dunlop wasn’t a cruel man, but he was strict. “Leather tells the truth,” he often said. “If you

rush, it cracks. If you’re careless, it rots.” Tama listened carefully.

Over the years, he learned to lime, tan, stretch, and dye leather. One day, a customer brought in

a piece of deer hide. “Can you make a sheath for my son’s taiaha?” he asked. Mr. Dunlop

looked at Tama. “Let the apprentice try.”

Tama worked late into the night. He carved a kōwhaiwhai pattern into the sheath and lined it

with soft fabric. When he presented it, the customer nodded slowly. “Your hands remember your

ancestors,” he said.

By the time Tama turned 18, he was no longer just an apprentice. He taught others — Māori and

Pākehā — and began blending traditional Māori motifs into leatherwork. His small workshop

became known throughout the region.

And long after the tannery closed, people still spoke of the boy who learned from both worlds

and shaped leather with care.

Questions:

1. Where and when does this story take place?

• The story takes place in the 1,800 hundreds by the whanganui river.

2. What job does Tama begin at the tannery?

• The job Tama had was carrying buckets and to turn hides in soaking vats.

3. What was the tannery like for young workers?

• It was hard for the young workers at the tannery.

4. How did Mr. Dunlop treat Tama?

• Mr. Dunlop treated Tama ok but tama says in the story that he is strict.

5. What important lessons does Tama learn about working with leather?

• Tama learned to lime,tan,stretch,and dye the leather.

6. What does Tama make from deer hide?

7. What traditional Māori design does he include?

• Tama includes a kōwhaiwhai pattern into the design.

8. How does the customer react to Tama’s work?

• The customer just nodded slowly and said “Your hands remember your ancestors,

9. What does Tama do when he grows older?

• He taught others  Māori and Pākehā  and began blending traditional Māori motifs into leatherwork.

10. How is Tama’s story an example of blending cultures?

• The two cultures became closer and they learned together.