The Joyful Mystery

Structure of the Catholic Church

Structure of the Catholic Church

CSJ

Catholic Social Justice Principles

Writing

My Ideal Weekend

In my ideal weekend, I would like to go to the movies, shopping in the mall, sleepover at my cousin’s house, or go out to a fancy restaurant, but….. sometimes, these do not regularly happen. Instead, sometimes we sleep-in, clean the house (this happens every weekend). Wouldn’t you want to do something fun in your ideal weekend? I would.

Part of my ideal weekend would be going to the movies. I like watching crime, fantasy or based-on-a-true-story type movies because they interest me. They are even way better in 3D because you have more experience than in 2D. Alongside me would be a box of popcorn because of the smell. I love the way it makes the room smell.

During my ideal weekend I would like to go shopping in a mall because I get to experience and buy new things but it would be boring if I didn’t have money! So in my ideal weekend I would have $100 to spend. How exciting! I would like to take a friend with me because it is good to have someone to talk to and give you advice. The friend I would take is Sebla.

My ideal weekend also includes going to a fancy restaurant for dinner because dinner at home is boring when you repeat the same food every day. It’s a good thing they serve you so that you won’t worry about washing the dishes or making food at home. My ideal dinner would be a chocolate milkshake and a fat base cheese pizza. Yum.

In my ideal weekend I would go to a fancy restaurant1, go shopping with money to spend and go to a 3D movie with popcorn. In fact, I might not be able to have an ideal weekend every weekend, but I think that I should start doing part of my ideal weekend so that I can enjoy myself.

By: Raheal Mengistu

Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai

Who is she?

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist who stood up for girl’s education when the Taliban had taken over her nation and her village, Swat Valley. Malala was born in the 12th July 1997 in Mingora, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. She is now aged 17 years old. She is named after an Afghan heroine, Malalai of Maiwand who is described as a folk hero because she organised Pashtun Fighters against the British troops. Malala has 2 brothers; Atal and Khusal Yousafzai. Her parents are Toorpekai and Ziauddin Yousafzai. Her father was an owner of a few schools, including Malala’s previous school, Khusal Girls High School until the Taliban came to power. Malala’s religion comes from a family who believe in Sunni Islam. She was taught by her father, the laws mentioned in the Qu’ran and examples of it.

What was Malala’s cause?

Malala was motivated to become a doctor but unfortunately this did not come as planned because the Taliban had wanted all girls in Pakistan to stop their education. She was mad that she had to stop going to school but that didn’t mean she had to stop her education forever. At the age of 11, Malala wrote under a pseudonym named Gul Makai on a BBC blog describing how hard life is under the Taliban and how she missed going to school. In May 2009, Malala and her family were forced to flee from their village because it was much too dangerous. On the 9th October 2012, when Malala was on her way back home from school by bus, a group of Taliban men surround the bus shouting “Where is Malala? Speak up or I will shoot you all.” Malala was shot with one bullet in her head which travelled through her neck and down to her shoulder. Two of her friends were shot too; Kainat Riaz and Shazia Ramzan.

Would the world be better or worse if Malala hadn’t lived? How and why?

After Malala was shot, she was airlifted to Peshawar, where they successfully removed the bullet. On 15 October 2012, Malala was airlifted again to Birmingham, United Kingdom, to a hospital called Queen Elizabeth Hospital. When Malala was still in coma, she came out of it, and was discharged from the hospital on the 3rd January 2013. Millions of people across the world couldn’t believe this miracle.

Awards that she won…

2011:

National Malala Peace Prize

2012:

Mother Teresa Awards

2013:

Sakharov Prize, United Nations Prize in the Field of Human Rights, Goodreads Choice Awards Best Memoir & Autobiography, Ambassador of Conscience Award, Simone De Beauvoir Award, The US Glamour Award for Woman of the Year.

2014:

Nobel Peace Prize

2015:

Shorty Awards for Teen Hero

In what ways does Malala inspire you and do you aspire to be like her? Why or why not?

Malala inspires me as a teen role model because of her actions she did for girls’ education. I would like to aspire to be like her because she is also described as a humanitarian and in the future I want to become a humanitarian standing up for the rights of children who are suffering.

Malala’s Quote…

“I said to myself, Malala, you must be brave. You must not be afraid of anyone. You are only trying to get an education. You are not committing a crime.”

By: Raheal Mengistu

All about me

All about me

Raheal

Short, 11 years old, girl, soccer lover

Sister of Helen, Wondim, Mekbeb, Moses, Ferede, and Samrawit

Who loves to read, cook, play on her iPod, and chat with her friends online

Who feels excited when she wants to do something so badly, and also feels for people when they are sad or hurt

Who needs an alarm to wake her up to go to school on time, and her family to help her with her school work,

Who gives time for practices, school notices to mum and dad, and homework during the weekend,

Who fears spiders, high heights, scary places, and vampires,

Who would want to go to Ethiopia, and stay there for a year while doing her job,

Resident of Mt Albert, Auckland, in Richardson Road,

Mengistu

Peace Poem

Peace Poem

Peace sounds like silence where no one distracts you.

Peace feels like happiness shared with other people around you.

Peace looks like teamwork when people cooperative with each other.

What is Peace?

Peace is a sign of forgiveness and the opposite of arguments, war and other negative emotions.

What is the colour of Peace?

The colour of Peace is white and other bright colours.

By: Raheal Mengistu

Haiku Poem

 Haiku Poem

       There was a man who loved to cry,

         But before he cried, he ate his pie.

              He met a famous rapper,

             And acted like a snapper,

  So he changed his mind to be that guy.

    By: Raheal Mengistu

Plight of the Sea Turtle

Plight of the Sea Turtle

        By: Raheal

Sea turtles have swum in the oceans for over millions of years, longer than when the dinosaurs lived. A long time ago, they were easy to spot in the surfaces of the ocean. But now, there are a lot of sea turtles who have been dropped down. Today, each of the 7 species of the sea turtle is either threatened or endangered. The situation is so serious that many children in the Pacific want to see a live one!

Sea turtles are very important to the Pacific people. The laws controlled a lot of sea turtles so that they could be hunted to be eaten. They were eaten by important people on special occasions. People used the sea turtle’s shell to make tools, spears, fish hooks, jewellery, and combs. These items were highly used for trading things. Sea turtles were also mentioned in Pacific legends. In the past, they were described as the gods in other legends.

There are 7 species of sea turtles: Kemp’s ridley, flatback, green, olive ridley, loggerhead, hawksbill, and leatherback. The leatherback sea turtle is the biggest of the 7 species. The adult can grow up to 2 meters and weighing 600 kgs. It is the only specie without a hard shell.

Each year, thousands of turtles die when they drown in fishing nets, getting tangled in plastic bags or choke in plastic rubbish. Turtle products are now banned and illegal to trade. Each year, thousands of sea turtles are killed for the black market.

The visit to the Mary Mackillop Centre

WALT: WRITE A RECOUNT

The visit at the Mary Mackillop Centre

It is CTK’s School 60th Jubilee. The school decided we could go to Mission Bay to visit the Josephite sisters who founded our school. It was a long way away from our school because the ride was time consuming. We arrived and started off with a mass with Fr. Peter leading it. After mass, we went exploring the house of the Josephite sisters.

Everyone was amazed when they took one step in the house. It was beautiful. There were a lot of belongings that belonged to Mary Mackillop a long time ago. There was also her chair she used to sit on to write.

After exploring the house of the Josephite sisters, the sisters gathered the children from the learning zone and Room 4 so that we had a good question and answer time with them. They started telling us stories about how it was like in C.T.K long time ago. They also replied with amazing answers from children who asked the sisters.

While the sisters were talking, they told us many astonishing facts we didn't know. While they were talking to us, I was thinking about the past in C.T.K. Memories flashed in my mind and took me back 60 years ago. I imagined I was there back in their time and the sisters were teaching the children about God. There were only 2 classrooms. Can’t you believe that C.T.K was opened 60 years ago with 2 classrooms only? I wasn’t even born that time.  

After the sisters talked to us, we sang to them “Mo Maria” and we went back to the field to sit with our classes. That was the best moment I will never forget.

By: Raheal Mengistu

Book Review 7

A Picture Of Freedom

Clotee Henley is a 12-year-old girl who is a slave living in Belmont Plantation, Virginia, USA. She has the most wonderful terrible secret. While doing her job of fanning her master’s son during his daily lessons with his mother or his tutor, Clotee has taught herself to read and write. She knows that if she shares her secret with anyone who she can’t trust, then she will face death or bad punishment. Suddenly, she knows that the master’s son’s tutor, Ely Harms, has a secret of his own as well. Clotee uses her secret to save herself and her friends.

This book is a non-fiction book about freedom, the disloyalty of spies and traitors, the love of life and family, and the pain of death and slavery. I recommend this book 11-17 years of age. I rate it 5 stars.

By: Raheal Mengistu

Book Review 6

P.S. Be Eleven

P.S. Be Eleven is a book about a girl named Delphine Gaither who has 2 sisters; Vonetta and Fern. They are from Oakland and have recently moved to Brooklyn since their parents are divorced. Things have been changing when their father has a girlfriend and their Uncle Darnell has just came back from Vietnam from the war. When Delphine’s friend, Lucy, tells them to watch a show, they are very inspired by the Jackson 5. But there is only one thing that hasn’t changed. Big Ma still expects Delphine to do everything. That’s even harder now because her sisters don’t want to be bossed around and her father’s girlfriend is always correcting her opinions about other things. Since she can’t talk to her mother, they send each other letters while her mother reminds her to eleven while she can.

This is an outstanding book which has its own moving story of 3 sisters growing up. It also has the book taken into the 60’s. If you like books that have a change, then this is the right book for you. I recommend this book ages 8-12.

By: Raheal Mengistu

Book Review 5

The Last Thirteen

The Last Thirteen is a series of 13 books. This book is the 2nd book. The story is a book about a boy named Sam Smith who himself is a dreamer. There are other 13 people in the world like him as a dreamer. Sam’s nightmare is real and must face his destiny against the enemy, Solaris.

All the way from New York, he goes to Egypt with his friend, Xavier to find the Star of Egypt in Giza. After Egypt, he goes to Italy to find the 2nd Dreamer. The 2nd Dreamer is a famous  Italian popstar, Gabriella. She doesn't know that she is one of the Last Thirteen. When Sam tells her she is one of the Last Thirteen, she escapes from her mansion because their enemy is chasing them. Sam must find the Last Thirteen.

                             The race has begun.

This book should be recommended to ages 10 and up. I rate it 5 stars for this book.

By: Raheal Mengistu 

                                 

Kiwi Kids News Article (National)

Oh Lorde, you've done it  again!

New Zealand singer, Lorde, has been awarded the Best Rock Video award at the MTV Video music awards. This was awarded for her song, Royals which also won the Best Rock Song at the Billboard awards earlier this year. Lorde has also awarded for the Best Female Video but didn’t get the chance because it was for Katy Perry. However, she was awarded the Best Rock video over Linkin Park, Imagine Dragons, Arctic Monkeys and the Black Keys. Then Lorde introduced Taylor Swift as her good friend. Yet another win for Lorde!

By: Raheal Mengistu

 

Kiwi Kids News Article (Odd)

Dance of the Palace Guard

The Queen’s guards at Buckingham Palace are known for their odd headwear and their power to keep a straight face no matter what you do to make them laugh. But one guard decided to do something funny!

The guard planned that it was his turn to make the people surrounding him by the gates laugh. He succeeded in his task by twirling in slow motion in a odd marching dance. However, the British Army were not impressed. The guard is now under investigation for his foolery after the video went online around the world.

By: Raheal Mengistu

My trip to the Marae

My Trip to the Marae

On Monday morning, I was just in time in going to the Marae. Going with me to the Marae were the Y5-Y8 children. By 9:00, the bus had arrived and everyone was excited to go. As we entered in the bus, some people were sad because they didn’t get to go to the top of the double deck bus but that didn’t really matter. The engine was turning on and we were on our way to the Marae. It took a long time to get to the Marae because it was all the way in Pakuranga. Instead we played a game called Sweet & Sour. After the driver dropped us to the Marae, we walked to the Marae starting from the school call Edgewater College.

When we got there, we had to wait by the waharoa until someone would call us in. We were waiting and waiting and waiting… until a young lady called us in. Rose and Caroline led the karanga until we were outside the Marae. We took off our shoes and entered the Marae. Everyone wowed at the carvings on the wall because it looked so awesome. We sat down on the mat, and listened to the 3 ladies who were talking to us, the tangata whenua. We sat down as we listened carefully what she was telling us. After they talked to us, Bronson stood and said a speech. After his speech, the 3 ladies apologized because there was no gentleman to say something to him. After all that talking, the whole group stood up and sang “Mo Maria”. The ladies sang as well with us. After we sang, the ladies sang to us “Tutira mai nga iwi” and we joined in. After all that, we did the hongi, washed our hands, and went to the kitchen to eat. They served us each a biscuit which was fine.

After eating, we went back to the Marae and we were given an activity to do. The Y5 & Y6 girls were drawing an artwork of a carving on a wall and the Y5-Y6 boys were with the the Y7 & Y8 girls learning how to play and dance with poi. After we did these activities, we swapped over. After that, we had to say goodbye and went out of the Marae. Everyone felt sad, because it was only a short period of time to visit the Marae. That was the best trip ever.

By: Raheal Mengistu

Book Review 4

Whatever After Sink or Swim

Whatever After is a book about 2 siblings named Abby and Jonah who have moved in Sunville from Chicago. They have been used to the house and they know that there is a magic mirror in their basement. The magic mirror leads them to a fairytale.  They have to always end it, how its supposed to end. The first 2 times, they have messed up 2 fairy-tales. Until….. One night, when their parents are asleep, they have a sneak peak to the mirror and they are in a fairy-tale of Little Mermaid. They have no choice but to rewrite it. But the thing is, the story doesn't end happily. Together, they experience a great adventure and find a happy ending for the Little Mermaid.

This book should be recommended to ages 8-11 years. If you enjoy reading books that have a twist of a different fairy tale, then this the book you should read. 

By: Raheal Mengistu

Kiwi Kids News Article

Lionel Messi, All Time Top Scorer!!

Lionel Messi has become the all time top scorer in El Clasico games. He has scored a hat-trick over the weekend. His team, Barcelona has beat Real Madrid with the score, 4-3. Lionel also has scored 21 El Clasico goals, moving him ahead of the best player in the Real Madrid team, Alfredo Di Stefano. El Clasico was the name given to every match between Spain’s biggest clubs, Barcelona and Real Madrid. While Madrid and Barcelona were playing, Lionel had scored 2 hat-trick goals in a row, making him the second highest scorer in La Liga history as well with 236 goals. Lionel Messi also plays for Argentina in World Cups.

By: Raheal Mengistu

Book Review 3

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy

Ophelia and the Marvelous Boy is a book about a young girl named Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard who doesn’t believe in anything that can’t be proven by science. After her mother died, Ophelia’s dad gets a new job as working in a strange museum in a city where it never stops snowing. On her first day going to the museum, Ophelia discovers a boy in a prison that has been locked away for over 300 years. He is a prisoner of Her Majesty, the Snow Queen. The boy has been waiting for a long time for Ophelia’s help. As Ophelia goes on a great adventure to rescue the boy, everything she believes is tested. Along the way, she’s getting nearer into saving the world.

This book is a modern-day fairy-tale about the power of friendship, courage, love, and the importance of never giving up. If you enjoy reading these kind of books, this is the right book for you to read. I recommend this book from 8-13 years of age. By: Raheal Mengistu

Book Review 2

Call Down Thunder

Call Down Thunder is a book about a young boy named Reve and a young girl named Mi where they are thrown to a world with guns, hatred, and  betrayal. Reve and Mi are siblings and they live in a small village in Rinconda. Ever since their dad died, Reve and Mi search for their mother where she was taken away from them. Calde, another man, is a bad person who tries to destroy Reve’s family. Together, Reve and Mi work as a team to find the mother who left them for 8 years.

This is a great book about challenges, families, and friendships. If you enjoy reading these kind of books, you should read it. I recommend this book from 7-11 years of age.

By: Raheal Mengistu