Back to school at Kia Kaha Primary

Thursday School Journal

It is back to school time at Kia Kaha Primary school!

In February it gets so hot and muggy you think you will melt.
It is a funny time to go back to school.

Ms Barry says,
I know it's horrible and hot and muggy but after lunch we can….
Ms Barry has stopped talking. 
She has remembered that there is not a school pool any more.

Ms Barry looks out the window.
She has thought of something else to say.
She says, 
…sit under the trees in the shade and do creative writing

It is after lunch.
It is even hotter and muggier.

Ms Barry says,
The title for today is This is my family on holiday.
What are some things we could write about the lovely holidays we just had ?

Caleb says, 
Miss, Dad kept getting into arguments on the internet and Mum kept saying honestly Steven let it go. Could I write about that?

Moana says,
Miss, my brother got one of those stupid radios that plays tinny crap music outside your car and he drove round every day and night annoying everyone. Could I write about that?

Thomas says,
Miss, my brother took me out every day on his jetski and it was cool but no-one at any of the beaches we went into looked like they were having a good holiday. Could I write about that?

Grace says,
Miss, Mum and Dad did a lot of talking about mortgages and then Mum was crying and it made me feel sad. Could I write about that?

Ms Barry says, 
Those all sound like good ideas, I suppose. But does anyone have a happy story? And Grace, why don't you come and sit with me.

Harry says,
Miss, Mum got an e-bike for Christmas and she went for a ride every day and she just cannot stop smiling. Could I write about that?

Ms Barry says, 
That sounds lovely Harry. You haven't just made up a School Journal story have you? 

No Miss, says Harry, Mum says that's just what e-bikes do to people.

Amelia is not at school today.
She is in the car with her Mum and Dad.
They are in a convoy.

Amelia’s Dad sent Ms Barry a text yesterday. It said,
Pursuant to the Magna Charter we are taking Amelia with us to Wellington to demand payment in full of the Bill of Rights signed herewith Sue Grey (NB change this from ‘Sue Grey’ to ‘your own name’)
PS. Hello Ms Barry this is Amelia now, you can text me lessons if you like 

Ms Barry texts,
Hi Amelia we are writing This is my family on holiday. But if you like you can do one about the convoy.

Amelia texts,
Thanks Miss. It might be hard to write because Dad is using the phone for Telegram.

Ms Barry texts,
Maybe just make little notes of what's happening as you go and I’ll collect them for you here.

It is time to go back inside and do maths.
Ms Barry says, 
Who can tell me what is bigger, 98% or 2%?

Tylah says, 
Miss, it’s 98%. It’s way bigger. Everyone knows that.

Ms Barry says, 
And if we have a pizza and I take a slice that’s 2%, would you say the pizza was divided, or would you say that just a tiny bit had gone?

Jack says, 
Well it’s not divided, obviously. Who would ever say that?

Ms Barry says, 
You’d be surprised Jack.

It is home time!
Everyone is going home.
Ms Barry texts Amelia, 
Hope you're all good Amelia

Amelia texts,
We’re in Feilding and Dad is getting angry trying to find Cathedral Square and Mum's looking at the address on Telegram and saying FFS are you sure it’s not hoaxers?

It is the next morning.
It is time for a science lesson.
Ms Barry says, 
We are going to put a bean seed in this pot and put it into this cupboard and shut the door for month so we can see what happens to something when it's kept completely in the dark.

Ms Barry thinks to herself,
could be bloody Social Studies too.
But she does not say it out loud.

Ms Barry texts Amelia a photo of the bean seed being planted in the pot.
Amelia texts,
We are outside Parliament. 

Amelia sends a photo of her Dad. 
He is holding a sign.
The sign says,
Nz is a democracy not a communist state

There is a man next to Amelia’s Dad. 
His sign says,
Natural immunity = 99.6 % effective

Ms Barry texts Amelia,
Is there a responsible grownup nearby Amelia?

Amelia texts,
LOL not really.

Ms Barry tells the class,
Amelia is in a protest at Parliament, shall we see if we can see her on the Internet?

The children are excited to see Amelia and Amelia’s Mum and Dad being livestreamed!

Tane says, 
Miss it’s just like the Climate Strike we went on, only way smaller.

Miss Barry texts, 
All good Amelia? Maybe try to stand near the police.

Amelia texts,
Dad says the cops have to be wearing a hat if they want to arrest you. Him and some others are counting how many hats.

Amelia texts,
Dad is spewing. He just found out that the people in charge have snuck out the back and taken an Uber to the airport and the man from Counterspin and Damien who have been telling them what to do have been hiding in a garage. Now Dad and two ladies from Destiny Church are arguing and he’s poking one of them in the chest. I don't like it when he gets angry like this Miss.

Miss Barry texts, 
What about your Mum, Amelia?

Amelia texts,
She keeps taking off her top Miss, it’s so cringe. I kind of wouldn’t mind if they got arrested RN.

Miss Barry texts, 
Everyone in Room 13 says hi and we can’t wait to see you back at school.

Amelia texts,
BRB. They're getting arrested. FML.