Extra! Extra! Read All About It!

Room 15 is full of amazing authors and recently some of them have featured in the Extra. Extra is an educational resource published by the Otago Daily Times and showcases current events as well as children's writing. Here are some of our published authors:

"Seeing my story in the Extra was really exciting knowing that it will be read all around New Zealand. My story was called: Billy’s adventure, I had sent it to the extra in March and they put it in for the June extra! I was also hoping they would put it in! First I had to write it, then I self edited by doing, COPS, highlighting my goals were I have done them. Next I added some things in.Then it was time for peer editing! I got my peer (Anika) and she read it and left 2 stars and a wish! When Ms Kerr called out “Jemmas story is in the extra” I came up and saw it in there. I was so proud of myself for achieving my goal, but I’m not stopping there!" Jemma.

"Previously in the last two months I made it into the Extra. My piece was a book review on Gangster Granny. When I saw it in the Extra I was stunned, I felt so proud of myself.
P.S. If you don't know what Extra is it is a kids news paper." Jordan.

"Last month I wrote a poem about figurative language. I sent my poem into the Extra and I was hoping I would get in. When the new Extra arrived I flicked through the poem section to find my poem. I felt amazed and proud of myself." Tiara.

"I've been trying to send a story into the Extra for a while. When I was finished typing my story I gave it to Ms Kerr to send. When the Extra came out I found my story, I was so excited!" Emily DL

"I wrote a recipe about chocolate mousse. When I sent it to the Extra I was really nervous and thought I wouldn't get in. But, when I saw it in the Extra my teacher Ms Kerr said that I won a recipe book. I was really happy that I got in and won something." Amaya.

MY HEART WAS POUNDING - By Brylie

This story is the sole work of Brylie, Room15.

My heart was pounding in my ears I was gasping for breath then suddenly splash I had fallen in to a pond. Then all my boot camp friends ran back to me they said who’s lunch now. What do you mean help me out but they just stood there and read the sign. Muddy pond you will get wet stuck and you will become lunch for the ells it was to late I was out.  Claudia my boss ran to her car and drove it to the pond the girls lifted me in to the car and Claudia drove me to the hospital. The doctor told me that I would have to get an operation then he left the room. Claudia said I better tell the girls what’s happening. So she left. Then a handsome prince walked in. Need a hand with that ell no. I nearly fainted. He ripped the ell of my leg and then he kissed me I did not fell a thing and when he stood back I looked at my leg and it looked like nothing had happened. I stood up and thanked him and we walked out and lived happily ever after.     

TOM CAT FINDS A NEW HOME - By Samantha

This is the sole work of Samantha, Room 15.

A big, fat round cat walked silently through his cat flap. This cat was so fat he looked just like a grey, black and white stripy ball. He walked across the road to a tall, old, wooden fence painted yellow, he squeezed through a broken piece of wood. The rather small fat boy Harry, He was wearing his dirty orange t-shirt with black shorts that went down to his knees and his old muddy sneakers. He stood out side aiming to kick the football. Tom cat knew that Harry was a great football kicker. Harry had hit the football so hard it had gone round the side of their new house. The house was decorated with blue and white paint. Harry raced round the side. Tom cat followed along just about touching Harry’s heels. Harry had found his ball and quickly turned and kicked it back. ”BANG”. The ball hit tom cat and made him go flying into the air. “THUMP”

He landed face first in the mud puddle. Tom cat strolled away meowing “I hate my neighbourhood.”

He began leading himself across the road avoiding traffic. Tom cat scratched at the door then walked once again silently walked through the cat flap. Something felt different he just didn’t understand nothing ever felt different before. Tom cat sat down and thought for a moment. “Ah-ha “ meowed Tom cat. He saw a small brown thing out of the corner of his eye. It was the grossest thing in the world of cats. It was a puppy! The puppy came running towards him. The beastly creature slid out his long, pink and licked right up the side of Tom cats face. Tom cat ran out the room and through the cat flap, he ran through the towns across the city in the buildings and over the hills. He ran as fast as he could into an old woman’s house. “I am lost and scared what to do, what to do? Meowed Tom cat. “Maybe I can just stay here for a few days. He slept under an old wooden bed, the wall was surrounded by pictures of puppies those small, beastly creatures. But soon enough he set out into the big dangerous world again and found his favourite family and his favourite cat flap. Finally he settled back in and quickly that was because they had got rid of that mean creature, the puppy!

GOING TO ENGLAND - By Thomas

This is the sole work of Thomas from Room 15.

Just half an hour away from landing we were all so excited. When we were coming down we were looking over the whole of London, the m25 motorway, and the place where they did the Olympic rowing. We got some English sweets before landing. Yey we have landed at Heathrow airport.

 We were waiting ages to get off this plane, finally we got off and got our bags, and dad and Adam were so happy to be back they even kissed the ground. The taxi driver was holding dads name on a big bit of cardboard, that’s our cab dad ‘I said’ we got down to the taxi and put our heavy suit cases in the back. Adam just dozed off cause he was so tired. When we turned down nanas road I was so excited. We pulled up and nana came rushing out, grandad and Paul took our bags in I said hello to Jordan. I couldn’t believe I was actually taller than auntie Claire and nana.

We were going to leave for our hotel in Essex we went past a premier inn hotel and we all thought that looked like a prison we thought our hotel that we were going to stay in was really good but when we got there nana just wanted t get our bags and rush in. but dad said lets have a look first, we went in and the lights were turned off and no one was in the keys were left on the bench for us to let ourselves in we went to our room and the bed smelt like pee.

So back to the premier inn what we all thought was a prison. But after all I wasn’t so bad, it was quite cool, we could have breakfast and dinner. We went up to our room and put our bags in. we went down to the bar to get a drink and some dinner.

In the morning we had to get ready for the wedding, when we left the hotel we got to the place where the wedding was. We saw lots of people and family we haven’t seen in such a long time. Finally I got to go to sleep at two o clock in the morning.

DQ'd in Invercargill - By Jack.

This is the sole work of Jack, Room 15.
In Invercargill I was racing go karts. It was fun. The night before the race I had Burger King for tea and after tea Grandad and me went bowling. After bowling we went back to the hotel then we went to bed. In the morning it was freezing cold. We went to the track and we were the first ones there and we didn't have a key so we went to the beach and did donuts! We went back to the track and drove through the gate =`then`- we parked the car. We got the kart out of the car. We went through srutineering and went to drivers' briefing. We put my kart on the grid and Grandad started it for me. I was in second and my motor got checked for cheating and I got disqualified because I had too much carbon on my piston.

HOW MANY?

As part of mathematics we have been looking at how many days are in each month. It's a tricky thing to remember so here is a video that teaches us a wee trick:

We also have been learning about how many seconds in a minute, minutes in an hour and hours in a day. These are things we just need to remember. Here is a song to help us:

SNOW DAY

Yesterday school was closed because of snow. Today we read the description A WINTER SCENE BY LEO about a, 'Winter Scene'. It inspired the writing below. Some of them are only the beginning of a story some children plan on finishing.

I look outside to see glistening white powder covering everything it connects the road to the path and blends the houses into the icy landscape around them. I am overflowing with excitement I start wrapping in warm bundles of wool hats and waterproof jackets.
Next thing I knew snowballs came plummeting down like missiles in war. Splat! splat! They hit the trampoline hard. 10 minutes later the war was over and we went inside to warm up. 
BY DANIEL

I stepped outside into the cold, harsh world it felt great, it also felt really cold considering I was in shorts and a tshirt. Once I got a jacket on I sprinted to the gate when I realised it was piled with snow. I got the shovel and shoveled it all, it took at least 1000 years to do. When that was out of the way I stepped and snow was everywhere. My dad dared me to eat yellow snow so... crunch! crunch! crunch! it tasted terrible but it was one of the highlights of the day.
BY BEN

It was Tuesday the 27th, the freezing air hit me like a rocket. My dad walks in, "you're late for school, it's 8:53!" He said. I looked at him warily.
"Prove it!" I shouted angrily at him. He showed me his phone, 8:53! Ahhh, I was hesitated. I opened the curtains, no sun peaking from behind the clouds. Nothing but a cold wind and a white sheet blanket. "YAY!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. Jumping on my bed doing a little dance of joy. Running to the kitchen, it hit me.
FRENCH TOAST! I just woke up and already the best snow day ever! I stayed in my PJs because they were as warm as a toaster. What's that noise? Growing heavier and heavier the hail filled up to a milimetre.
WOW! I was stunned. The glistening crystals shimmered making me eager to build a snowman (or lady). I ran outside. Snowflakes crunching under my feet. 
Tomorrow it'll be sunny. I cry. I don't want it to end, not today, not ever!"
BY JEMMA

PHOTO FROM ODT.CO.NZ

White pretty little snowflakes falling on my nose, making my nose tingle.
Snow hail falling on my roof as hard like a gray round rock.
The road is very treacherous for cars to drive on them slippery, sliding, icy snow.
Chicken noodle soup, cooking in a pot steaming up the windows smelling very nice.
People riding on sleds down the hill.
My family all wrapped up as snug as a bug with gloves, hats and scarves and layers. I feel like a furry cat.
BY EMILY K

Once on a frozen, icy morning everyone was building big large snowmen. The snow tasted like dog pee. Luckily there was some delicious blazing hot soup waiting inside. There were some awesome ice-skaters doing some amazing moves. Screaming kids yelling "nananana" you can't get me!" while playing snowball wars. BY DEANNA

"Mmm, what's that smell?" I asked my mum. I looked in the kitchen. "Yum, hot chocolate." I said/
"You don't have school today." My mum said to me.
 I looked out the window and said, "YAY! Snow!" BY SHANAYE

As the snow glistens across Dunedin, Otago the children are happily playing in the snow. While their parents are tucked in bed listening to the list of cancelations for schools on the radio. As they hear their school getting called out from the radio they quickly yell out of the room, "Schools closed! Horray!" scream the children in happiness. My mum says quietly...
"What am I going to do with you two?"
BY MACKENZIE

On a wet, cold, snowy day my brother is like, "get dressed there's snow!". So I did. When I first stepped out the door I felt myself shivering like I have been out there for ages. I keep walking until I reach the grass. I touch the snow it was so COLD, "help my hand is stuck!" 
"Don't worry I got out it out" I said. I ran to the backyard and wow it was deep, it was about 20cm long. I live on a hill that's why it is so deep. I got my boggy board out and got on the road and it went...
BY BROOKLYN

Patter, patter. I hear on the roof. Patter, patter, patter, "What's that sound?" I say. Looking outside I see snow falling. Zane playing with his wrestlers and ad sitting down. I take a seat near the heater which is bursting with heat, I feel better now dad tells me there is no school and I can hop  back in bed. I choose not to. I run out and begin playing in the snow, "Zane and Maia come outside!" They came but didn't know I was standing there ready with two snowballs in my hand. I aimed and BANG! Straight in the head...
"Waaaa waaaaa!" Zane cried. 
BY PAYGE

Running down the footpath with snow in my hands I feel like I'm in the Pacific Ocean. Soon a kid comes racing on a sled down the hillside, he shouts, "FIRE!" 
I screamed, "Don't you dare!" but he wasn't going for me he was going for the adults. I sighed with relief.
BY KAYLA

On Tuesday it was a snowy day and watching the snow dropping down from the grey skies with me tucked in the warm blankets watching my sister play with her green dress twirling like a frog doing ballet...
BY ALISHA

PHOTO FROM tvnz.co.nz

On Tuesday we went to our farm to see the snow. We made a snow man. Dad drove over it and a cow hit the snowman. So we made another snowman and then we had a snowball fight.
BY JUDD

...I went out the gate and there were about 10 kids it was a battle ground! There were commets of snow flying everywhere, I could feel the snow under my hard boots...
BY HENRY

Have you ever been in a position where this gigantic snow ball is pounding towards you? 
Well I have. Yesterday afternoon I got into a furious snowball fight with my older sister, Shani. As I flew back onto the freezing cold snow. As it starts to sprinkle snow all over me. I'm very angry at Shani. It hit me like a bulldozer knocking down the sky tower. Next time it snows I have a tremendous plan.
BY ANIKA

I feel like an ice-berg
I look like a big bear
I hear the cold wind
I see the snowflakes
I sit by the warm fire
I drink hot soup
I make a giant snowman
I rug up nice and snug.
BY CHARLIZE

The blankets pulled over my head. Brr brr, I say in my head. "Emily! Emily! Come and see the snow!"
"It's snowing, it's snowing!" I say to my mum.
BY EMILY DL

Snow slips down the dusty chimney.
I got Diesel and Mum.
Mum got the Ipad and I had a snowball fight!  picked up some snow and made it nice and round like an apple...
BY JACKSON

The wet icy snowball hits my face, it tastes like sa snow cone without any flavour. "Got ya" My dad said.
"You'll be sorry!" I shouted.
Smash, Smash... I ran up to him and plummeted a humungous snowball in his face, "don't mess with me," I said
"Give me your worst" he said.
"OK, I'll give you my worst." I said. I went up to the back and got a really, really really, really big snowball. It was so big I had to roll it over there at the end I couldn't throw it at him. It was too heavy. I could smell the cold air...what a great day!
BY SAMUEL

I hear the wind like a hurricane around the house. Hail smashes against the walls. I left a trail of footprints in the snow. Crunch, crunch as I lead on. Snowballs hitting me from different directions, down I go. I try to get up but all the weight from the snow held me down...
BY BRYLIE

One Tuesday morning I jumped out of bed, put my dressing gown on and my ug boots and sprinted down the hallway. I screamed with happiness. All I could see was white glistening snow all over my backyard. I ran back to my room and quickly put some really warm clothes on. I ran back down the hallway and opened the door. I felt the chilly air hit my face.
AMAYA

Yesterday morning I was fast asleep until twelve o'clock, I looked at the clock then I looked at it again. GEE! I thought, twleve o'clock... how come I'm not at school? My mum said it snowed last night. I rushed outside, in the snow I could feel ice crystals in my hands and smell fire from the chimney. I could see snow falling all around then I had a snowball fight with Lucy and Millie my next door neighbours.
BY HARRISON

On a wet cold snowy day I was watching the freezing snow dripping down like cold water. I feel the cold wind coming through the window as I climb out of my bed.
BY TIARA

Photo from: http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/

The icy slushy snow hits my body like a bolder. I am getting bashed by the crunchy snowballs as I bolt down the hill on the tobogen. The fresh snow fills my nose causing it to freeze. I taste the scrumptious soon as I munch away.
I hear the wind wailing as the snow mixes the sky.
I do love a squishy snow day.
BY JORDAN

The snow is dancing like little ballet dances.My teeth chatter as the cold wind winds through my teeth. My wet pants grip with cold snow and ice. My feet slide across the ice, my lips go purple like purple goo...
BY SYMONE

The shimmering snow covers my eyes, as I face at the sun trying to peek through the dark clouds. The snow in my hair as the wind picks up the breeze. It smells as pure as fresh hot soup. The wind swoops down and numbs my ears clean off. As I make the shape of a snowball my fingers fall off because of the icy cold snow. I look behind myself and I see lots of foot prints as fas as the eye can see. A hot warm sensation dripping down my throat. I am looking at the fluffy snow I just payed in.
BY TEVYA

Splat!Splat! I throw a snowball at my brother trying to hit him hard in the head. the sound of the snow crashing onto the ground as the children scream running away from the incoming snowballs. They leave a footprint in the snow that crushes the snow. I feel the anger growing inside me, I am a ticking time bomb waiting for the perfect time to invade Luke's base. I see the snow scattered like a carpet across the land. I trudge through the freezing snow as I grab a whole lot of snowballs to missile at Luke. I run to Luke throwing snowballs at him like a maniac. I made it past him and sprinted down the concrete stairs with snowflakes falling on to my tongue. I kicked off my gumboots and burst through the door. I smelt a burning wood on the fire and ran to my milo waiting on the table with steam flowing out. I took a sip, it was hot and just how I liked it.
I really enjoy snow days.
BY SYLVIA

Mum comes into my room, I am fadely awake, I thought she was going to wake me up. I just wanted to stay in bed and snuggle up in the covers. But then it didn't turn out how I though it would.
She said that schools cancelled today because it was snowing. I thought she was trying to be funny. I looked at my watch and it was 9am, so she wasn't jo;king. I got up and started playing Minecraft. Eventually I got a  bored of that so I went outside. Bedofre I did that I couldn't just out in my pyjamas, I went and just put some warm clothes on. 
I started chucking snowballs at mums car. Mum said she'd go out and get some KFC. When she got back she came back with nice hot KFC. The chicked was as huge as a massive rock. i was so soft in my mouth. The best snow day of my life.
BY THOMAS