Owairaka 20/20

Kashin, the elephant at Auckland zoo was put down by vets yesterday. She has been suffering from foot abscesses and chronic arthiritis. She was 40 years old and had been at the zoo for 36 years. She had become depressed and withdrawn. We have some questions we are wondering about.

1. Is it cruel to keep animals like elephants in a zoo?
2. Was it right to put Kashin down?
3. How long do elephants live for in the wild and in captivity.

What do you think?

Have you got any questions about elephants you want to ask?

Here is a video of Mr Waller’s adventures with elephants when he was in Malaysia. People got to ride on elephants and to swim with them.

How worried are you about this latest world pandemic called swine flu? Do you also think it’s a bit of an ugly and unfortunate name? Do you prefer it’s other name, H1N1 Flu.

At Owairaka School we have been fortunate to not have any swine flu cases so far. Of course, that could all change so quickly. One class at Kowhai Intermediate has been sent home because one child in that room has swine fever. Health officials admit it will spread rapidly through the community.

To help prevent any cases of swine flu at our school we are introducing new procedures and practices. Each class has a new tissue dispenser. We also have a new plastic bag lined bin to collect the used tissues only. These will be collected and disposed of separately to all the other rubbish. 

I think it’s the worst idea to have school uniforms because if you play rugby and you get your uniform dirty and you have school tomorrow your mum must do the washing the whole night.  But if you have a normal t-shirt and it gets dirty you can use one of your other normal t-shirts.

There is another problem we shouldn’t have uniforms because if you have swimming lessen and need to change into your togs and need to change back, you might get mixed up with other people. Same as doing p.e.

 People may not like the uniforms because they have been wearing their own t-shirt for a long time so when they wear a uniform they get uncomfortable. But why should parents pay for uniforms, don’t you think they have paid too much for other clothes?

So I think we shouldn’t have uniforms because of the time your mother has to clean your uniform for you, you might get your uniform mixed up with other peoples while doing swimming or p.e and you may be uncomfortable. That’s why we shouldn’t have uniforms.

By Kofi

Here are the results from the Uniform Poll. It was a close call.

57.1% Great idea

42.9% No way!!

What would be harder, being a midget or being a giant? Why? Send me your black hat (negative) and yellow hat (positive) ideas. In doing that it would be hard to ignore your white hat (facts) and red hat (feelings) ideas.

Ali’s opinion

I wouldn’t like to be either but if I had to pick one I would rather be a giant because if I am little I cant do many things such as sport and all sorts. They will kick me out so I would like to be a giant. Also people if they are trying to hurt me they will not. I will be yo tall. If you are a little guy they will tease you and pick on you and beat you up. So I will be a giant.

Thank you Ali for being the first to offer your ideas and opinions. I think I agree with you that very small people may get picked on more than very tall people but I have no facts to prove that. Where could I find out?

Segun’s Opinion

Mr. Waller I like being average but if I had to choose out of a giant or a midget I would take giant because you can still do the normal things average people do. while being a midget you feel like a baby and you can’t do normal things humans do.