Middle School Writers: 

Kelly is in year four and writes about our Pōhatu Tūmu - Foundation Stones:

The School has 5 stones and these stones are very special to our school and us. These Stones Represent our school values. These stones are Called Turangawaewae, Manaakitanga, Whakapono, Whakamana, and Whanaungatanga. All stones have an important job in our school.

Turangawaewae, the first stone, is the belonging stone and this stone means our school is like our second home. Turangawaewae is one of the 5 stones that we are focusing on this year. This stone makes sure we are kind to our friends and treat them how we treat our family. To be kind, you must show it and this is how; help someone, hope, and just give time and love.

Manaakitanga, the second stone, is the respect and caring always stone. This is also the kind stone but most of the stones are the kind stone. Manaakitanga is the stone that you must show respect to complete it. One day I saw a little girl that got hurt and then many kids rushed up to her and this actually happens in real life. Manaakitanga is an important one because this stone can sometimes stop bullying if they notice this stone.

Whakapono, the third stone, is the honest stone and it is also called the truth stone as well. Whakapono wants you to be honest even when you do something bad. Sometimes, being honest might save you from trouble. Interestingly, being honest can also make people happy or proud because you were honest.

Whakamana , the fourth stone, is our best or leadership stone. This stone is the stone that we have to try hard if we want to complete it. Whakamana wants you to try hard to make people proud and happy for you. Whakamana might make you happy, proud, or excited.

Whanaungatanga is the family stone. This stone wants you to love your family as much as your friends. This stone is the 5th stone outside our school. When you walk past this stone, it might look like a slide, but it is actually also shaped like a mother holding her child.

All 5 stones are very important to us and these all represent something. These stones all mostly show kindness because kindness is free, it doesn't need money, it doesn’t need attention, but it only needs love. After you show kindness, you might feel it's the best thing in the world.

By Kelly Tian 

Room 18

My comments I shared with Kelly on her writing:

Thank you for sharing your writing Kelly. It is a quality piece of work.

You had clear, specific and relatable information about each stone.

You made connections between all the stones and our lives at school.

Your writing was easy for your audience to understand. It was concise but included enough information to ensure we gained a full understanding of each stone.

You have grasped a thorough understanding of the meaning and importance of each stone. You have then been able to communicate that understanding in a very audience-accessible manner.

You deserve to be proud of your work Kelly.

Megan is in year four and writes about Whakapono - Integrity:

Kia Ora, my name is Megan Gibson. 

Today, I'm going to talk about Whakapono. Whakapono is one of the five Foundation Stones outside our school. The Stones all represent values. 

Whakapono's value is integrity (truth always), and today I will tell you what that means to me. 

The reason I have chosen Whakapono is because integrity - always telling the truth, means quite a lot to me. Most of the lies people tell are told to keep themselves out of trouble or from being criticised by someone else.

An example is last year, my mum asked me every day after school how much water in my bottle I had drunk. I would always make it bigger than it really was. Sometimes, I would only have drunk maybe one quarter, but I might say I have finished maybe two bottles. Big lie, right? 

I don't do that anymore, but I used to do it almost every day. 

Another example is one that my friend Zoe told us:

"Imagine you are a ship captain. There is a hole in your ship, and it is sinking. To get all of the water out, you decide to make more holes in the ship. But what is really happening? The holes let more water onboard the ship, and as a result, it sinks. Then you realise you just made it worse, and you drown. 

It's just the same with us. If, for example, you have a friend who you lie to, by doing this you have made a hole in the friendship wall. Adding more lies and holes makes it worse.

Have you ever heard of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf?"

In that story, there is a boy who looks after sheep. One day, he gets bored and goes to the top of the hill and starts shouting. "Help! Help! There is a wolf, and he is going to eat all of our sheep! Please help!" 

When the villagers hear him cry, they all run to help. When they get to the top, the villagers find that there is no wolf and are very upset. 

The next day, the same thing happened. On the third day, when the villagers came to find out it was just a joke, they told the boy not to ever do it again. 

A few weeks later, a real wolf comes to the paddock. The shepherd boy once again went to the top of the hill and shouted, "Help! Help! There is a real wolf now! Please help!" 

But the villagers said to each other, "It is probably another joke. Let's not go to help."

All the boy could do then was watch his sheep being beaten. 

See what I mean? In the story, the shepherd boy was not believed when it was really true because of how much he had lied.

Here are five integrity phrases to finish this writing piece.

"Character is doing the right thing even when nobody's looking"  -J.C. Watts.

"The right to do something does not mean that doing it is right."  - William Safire.

The time is always right to do what is right.'  -Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Integrity is when you care more for the hard truth than for the easy lie."  - Maxime Lagace.

"Being honest may not get you a lot of friends, but it will always get you the right ones."  -John Lennon.

Thank you for reading my piece. Please follow and respect Whakapono and its value.