Below are some of the ebooks Year 7 students have created in Science this year.
Year 11 Prize Winners
Year 11 Prize Winners
Year 11 Prize Winners
Year 11 Prize Winners
Year 11 Prize Winners
Year 9 Class Photos
Year 9 Class Photos
English Language Learners
English
It has been a busy year for the English learning area. With the departure of Jacqueline Yoder in 2019, Jodine Hardwicke took on the permanent HOLA of English role. Nicole Kilbride also left and Deborah Young became a more permanent fixture in the Year 7 and 8 team. We welcomed Madi Burnett into the department, and in term 3,
Chris Houghton took over from Andi Darby, who left to take on a more senior position at Rolleston College. Throw into the mix a global pandemic, and it is safe to say that 2020 has been a year to remember.
While there were several exciting opportunities planned for our learners in 2020, the consequences of Covid-19 meant that we had to cancel the majority of them. Apphia Rabuku and Tafesilafai Auina were due to go to Tūranga as part of the Write On School for Young Writers programme, but unfortunately, this was cancelled at the last minute. Fingers crossed for next year!
In term 1 we held our first Linwood College creative writing competition - with an amazing prize of a Master Class with one of Aotearoa’s greatest poets, Apirana Taylor. Again, the dreaded Covid-19 snuck up
on us the week the competition closed, which meant that Apirana Taylor had to cancel his visit as we all went into lockdown. Not to worry though, as we have already booked him in for 2021!
Finally, in term 4, we were allowed out and so we had three of our senior students help judge the Year 7/8 Aupkai speech competition at Heathcote Valley Primary school. Jessica Canton-Schimanksi, Magenta Brown and
Laura Mockford all volunteered their time to listen to the amazing talent within our kahui ako (photographed right).
Creative Writing
New Zealand’s iconic Amazon headquarters goes up in a flame
by Jess Mulligan, Year 9
A major fire has engulfed the iconic headquarters of a leading online store, Amazon, one of New Zealand’s most famous landmarks.
21st of August was the day Amazon met its most tragic event. The building rose up in a flame at around 9:30 am after, what police believe, an arsonist ignited the building ablaze after gasoline was poured around the interior of the building. Fortunately no lives were lost, however, 12 employees have suffered mild injuries and another 4 have been sent to Auckland City Hospital. The surrounding glass dome and roof of the building have completely collapsed alongside over 5 million dollars worth of merchandise. Fortunately enough according to officials, the fourth and fifth floor of the main building wasn’t majorly affected by the incident, and is within reason of salvation.
“A great tragedy to say the least,” exclaimed Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon, “the costs to restore the manufacturer are somewhat of a problem, however, the pain of the people affected by this incident are immeasurable.”
The prime suspect, 30 year old Zen Mambooshka Salavin Shnookum, was taken into custody this morning after police allegedly found evidence of his person being at the scene of the crime, estimated 30 to 40 minutes before the building went up in flames. Salavin has proclaimed his innocence but investigators are questioning otherwise due to his recent tweets claiming,
“the insolent shipping rates for supposedly cheap products are absolutely astronomical and Amazon should experience the same kind of anger and humiliation the people who can’t afford shipping have endured!”
A trial is set for late January where Salavin will be charged with an account of arson and destruction of private property. As a result of this incident, Amazon has heightened shipping prices of merchandise above $70 and has put extra security in Australia’s Amazon facility. International researchers located in Wellington are creating a 3d model of every nook and cranny that was destroyed to help with the restoration work.
Fading Echoes
Sian Owen, Year 11
People walking, people talking, people gone. The building, the stairwell in the train station… once crowded with life, now empty. The strong, smooth grey stone of the stations walls once clean, now dirty and dark with history. Once, there was a stench of sweat, anxiety and childhood that hung strongly in the air, so strongly that you could taste it on your tongue like a memory brought to life. Once, there were heavy, loud steps pounding bang! bang! bang! along like a song as men in dark, ironned suits with rough, leathery briefcases rushed up and down the stairs trying to get to meetings. Once there were women in bright, colourful floral dresses and soft, swaying skirts dragging suitcases along hoping they haven’t missed their train. Once there were small groups of kids, loitering to the side and laughing every now and again, eyes full of youth. Once the air was filled with the sound of hurried footsteps and quiet conversations. This was all once in the past but now… as if a strong breeze came along, it was all gone and all that was left was my sorrow and the sound of fading echoes.
Darkness. It was swept to a hidden corner by the gentle rays of sunlight as they pushed their way into the room. The walls slowly lit up revealing the bright colours that lay in wait for someone to come and notice its beauty. Now, like a young ballerina, these colours seemed to dance in gentle harmony with the new light as the sun's rays hit the wall directly. Now, the smooth concrete floor is covered in old dirt and rubble. Now, silence filled the tainted air like grey clouds covering the sky. Now, this station is a broken stage. The last of the trains fled long ago, and the people gave their last farewell. Now, all that’s left... are the fading echoes.