Kia ora all students, teachers and parents
Ko Carson toku ingoa
No Ireland and England oku tupuna
No Otautahi, Ōpawa toku Whanau
No mawhera ahau
No Ross toku ingoa Whanau
He aku ahau o te kura o te Karoro
I am writing this letter to all the fabulous people that have helped me through my journey at Karoro School.
Before I went up the stairs I was so nervous I couldn’t hold back the tears. That’s how scared I was to enter a new zone I had never been. As I walked through the gate for the first time and saw the huge building that I didn’t recognize, Children I had never seen before were all around. The air was cold and I was just standing waiting for something to happen so I could get away from this awkward area that was called Karoro School. The clock hit 8:30am and I didn’t know where to go. I saw a door and I went straight there. Turns out that door led to Ruma 6, that’s where I was told to go so luck was on my side so far.
Ruma 6 felt weird. it’s a space I had never been in before and I was shaking. My palms were sweating so I had to keep wiping them on my pants. Then this person I had never met before came up to me asking, “ Are you Carson?” So I said, “Yes, who are you?” She was the teacher of this class, otherwise known as Ms Hanley. She said, “I will get someone to show you around the school.” “ Ok” I said while worrying who they were going to be. So she brought me to meet this kid I had never met before named Brandon de Goldi.
At the start, when we first met each other, I was very awkward at first. So the tour started. I was getting brought around this School. I had no idea where I was and no Idea who anyone was. Brandon showed me where the bathrooms were, where each class was and introduced me to some people. Those people were Caius, Kayden and Ezra.
My favourite memories about Ruma 6 was by far meeting everyone and learning the School. All of the people in Ruma 6 all came to be close friends. The only thing I hated about Ruma 6 is I wasn’t there enough.
You see during this time I was getting really terrible stomach pain in my left bottom part of my stomach. I was still trying to go to School as much as I could but the pain eventually got to a point where I couldn’t move so I was sleeping down stairs on my nana’s couch. After a few days of sleeping and agony my nana decided to bring me to the hospital and that turned out after 10-15minutes of getting tests, turns out I had Appendicitis.
The doctors were going to do an x-ray on me to be 100% sure but the head surgeon and doctor agreed that I most definitely had appendicitis so they rushed me into theatre then I blacked out. After a few hours I woke up in a bit of pain but I was on saline and there was a blood retractor in my arm if they ever needed more blood. I was in that hospital bed for about 2 weeks. I was meant to be out in about three days but since my fever didn’t leave, I had to stay in.
After the year had finished I then went to the next classroom, Ruma 5. On the first day I met the teacher that would be teaching me for that year. Her name was Ms Barrow. I had seen her before and now I was excited to finally be taught by her. My favorite part of this year would have been arts interchange. I had never done interchange before and turns out I found arts interchange really fun.
For my arts interchange class I had picked drama because I thought plays and that stuff was really exciting. I loved doing the plays. They helped me with meeting a few more people which was amazing. Sadly though during the time of Ruma 5 I had a lot of anxiety because personal things were happening and my anxiety gave me stomach pain so I was pushing myself to stay at School, because I do actually like School. I love talking to my friends and having such caring teachers is the best. When I was in Ruma 5 though I couldn’t wait to do the things the bigger kids do (Kea patrol, P:E shed Etc).
Ruma 7 was still very exciting for the fact I was able to do the P:E shed, the P:E shed was the best job to do at that time for the reason you didn’t have to do anything once everyone’s got their equipment. The saddest things about Ruma 7 that Ms Hanley left and then Ms Truman left which made me get teary a little.
All a year above me but that didn’t matter because they were in the same class as me. In Ruma 7 I always thought that I had to be at school within the time frame of 8-830am otherwise I would get told off. I don’t why but I thought getting to school after 8:30 was a crime. I find that funny now, what was I thinking?
In Ruma 8 I spent two years and those two years were a roller coaster, filled with excitement, disappointment and everything in between. Last year was my first year in Ruma 8. That class consisted of 26 people and the terrific thing about that class was that everyone got along.
Our teacher in Ruma 8 was Ms Kemp and Mrs Donovan on Thursday. I heard that Ms Kemp was a strict teacher but she’s only a strict teacher when you get on her bad side. But since none of the people in our class were naughty she was never mad, which was amazing because who wants a grumpy teacher, NOT ME!.
At the start of the year we got introduced to this program called William Pike, William Pike is when you have to do 20 hours of community service and 20hours of passion project and finally you have to do 5 outdoor activities with your class. I was able to complete everything apart from outdoor activities.
I was very nervous about this year because I didn’t really know the people that were coming up into Ruma 8. I was still excited to get to know new people that I hadn’t met before. I know that class will be fun no matter who is in the class because no matter if they don’t like me I’ll still try to socialize with them. The thing I was looking forward to though is seeing the desk groups.
This year has been really fun. My classmates are really kind and are really funny. Next year it’s gonna feel weird without all of them in my class, I’m really gonna miss Karoro School.
The one of the things I have valued the most at Karoro School is all the opportunities we get to do such as basketball, soccer tournament and cricket with Michael, those are only a few of the opportunities and without those opportunities I wouldn’t be the person I am today.
Another thing I value a lot at Karoro School is the amazing students. If you’re ever feeling unhappy or angry the staff will be there to help you if you need the help. The students that go to Karoro School always care about you the same as the teachers. If you’re feeling worried or ill about something, the students will always talk to you and try to help if they can.
I find I have contributed to this school as much as I like to think. The biggest thing I think I have contributed to this school would be the chess, I have been to most chess tournaments that I have been allowed to go to. I have had great joy at these chess tournaments, especially when I get in the top three (which is most of the time).
If I would have to say one thing to the juniors it would be this “ just because your sky has been covered in clouds, doesn’t mean the sun can’t shine through again” that means just because you’re feeling sad or something has happened, that doesn’t mean happiness can’t shine through.
Thank all of you for reading my letter. Before I leave the stage I need to say one more thing. “ Just because this chapter of my life has ended, doesn’t mean the book has finished and closed”.
No reira, Tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa.