Last week on Tuesday and Wednesday I was lucky enough to practice my learner license in the library and on Friday I went down to Kerikeri and when I was taking the test I got 35 question right (out of 35) and after we all finished the test we went down to Domino’s. We got pizzas for ourselves then we went back to school and the day was normal after that.

This week me and a few fellow building academy classmates went up to the fence and carried on with the fence by measuring the rails so they could line up perfectly. We chiselled out a half joint so we could join the rails together, and we pre drilled before we put the bolts in to prevent the wood from splitting. After that, we secured the rails tightly in place and checked that everything was level and straight. This helped make sure the fence was strong, stable, and looked neat and professional.

Last weekend I went to my batch to put some insulation and jib into my cabin. When putting the insulation in the walls I had to cut them a little bigger than the space so that the insulation can stay in the wall. When I was putting the jib onto the wall I had to measure the size that we needed and then I put to marks and cut from mark to mark with a 1800mm straight edge than I held it agaist the wall and screwed it on with a screw gun. I then used GIB stopping to fill the joins of the walls and sand them down to make the wall smooth for paint.

Yesterday, Using the drop saw I took on the task of cutting 48 timber nogs, each measuring 955mm, to construct the framework for our new storage shelves. I held the shelving frames securely in position while Mere nailed the components together. This structural upgrade allows us to properly organize and stack our timber materials. By moving the timber off the dunnage and into dedicated racks, we have significantly minimized tripping hazards and created a much safer working environment for the team.

Yesterday me and some of the other year 12’s were able to go up to the fence under our own supervision. We were working on putting rails up on the posts. This was a fairly difficult task but I think we did well and managed to persevere which feels like an achievement. While we were doing this I learnt how to use a bevel to find and mark angles which was really useful when cutting our wood. I also learnt how to change the depth of a skill saw so that we didn’t cut all the way through the rails.

Project management is not just about planning tasks and meeting deadlines; it also connects back to yourself because you need to manage your own time, mindset, emotions, and responsibilities first. When you understand your strengths, weaknesses, and habits, you can make better decisions and stay calm under pressure. It also requires discipline, clear communication, and the ability to follow through on tasks. Overall, project management helps you become more responsible, organised, and confident.

A good example of project management is planning a small building job, such as organising the materials, tools, and time needed for one task on site. For instance, if you need to complete a fencing job, you must manage your time, stay calm if something goes wrong, and make sure each step is completed in the correct order. Hopefully, when I finish my drawings, I will have the opportunity to build a sleepout, which I am looking forward to in the next few weeks.

This week I started doing my hand tool paper work ,I found how accurately check a spirit level Checking a spirit level accurately doesn’t require specialized tools just a flat surface and the flip test. This method applies to any brand, whether you are using a standard box level from your local hardware store or a specialized tool.

We have made lots of progress on our fence that is in the making, after we concreted our post into the ground we removed our bracing and began cutting our angles for the rails. We had a small group of 4 that went up and we worked in teams of 2 assigned to different jobs, one team measured and marked lines where to cut the timber and how deep to go where the other team of 2 had 2 saw horses and a skill saw ready to cut the marked out rails using a half joint to join the rails together on the post.

We made some mistakes here and there but me and my team problem solved through and got 2 rails installed onto the post which was held in by a 10mm bolt.

 My first day in SCL

Today was my first day of SCL or sports academy and my initial thought were gonna be coaching year 9 classes and joining in with them to participating in sports for the first two periods, but my intended thought were wrong first we hand to sign this survey which was all good I guess then we went into the aerobix room to build positive relationships with the other the students in our class.

To build our relationship with the other students we had to grab a pair and get into a circle, one of the pair on the inside and  the other on the outside, we were talking about our favourite sports and our achievements from them. Once we finished talking we had to rotate and talk to other students about our achievements in sports, I think It was alright not too bad out of the comfort zone.

Once we finished with the rotation, all of us had to get into a line and spaced out into groups, my groups were pretty chill. I knew most of them, so it was good. In our group we had to think about 10 or more similarities we had, it took a while but we got it done if we knew we could of done more similarities we would of done more, but already I’m gaining confidence in this class and building relationships with other people, which is a big thing for me and I’m hoping to build more confidence and leadership skills in this class later on in SCL.

Today was our first day of SCL for semester 2 I felt excited and a little nervous but I think this program will help me grow and become a better leader 

Today I learned that good leaders do not just tell people what to do, they listen, help others and make sure everyone is included. One thing that stood out to me was how important it is to connect with people. When everyone gets along and trusts each other teamwork is much easier.

 I also learned that team culture matters. A positive team culture makes people feel safe, respected,  and happy to be there. When people feel good about their team, they work harder and help each other more. Building strong connections is important because it helps people trust each other and work together better.

Today showed me that leadership is about helping people, not just being in charge.

Throughout this program, I hope to learn more about being a good leader and working well with different people. I want to get better at talking to people, feeling more confident, and working in a team. By the end of the semester, I would like to be a more responsible and confident leader who is not afraid to share ideas.

I am looking forward to the activities, challenges, and new experiences and SCL this semester. Most of all, I hope to finish the program feeling like I can lead and a good way and help my team succeed 

Starting my first day of the second semester in SCL, I felt a mix of curiosity and anticipation. I was not entirely sure what to expect, but I was excited to meet new people and explore what the programme had to offer. From the beginning, the environment felt welcoming and inclusive, which made it easier to settle in. I quickly noticed that SCL places a strong emphasis on collaboration, growth, and stepping outside of your comfort zone. 

Throughout the day, I learned that leadership is not just about taking charge, but about listening, supporting others, and creating a positive environment where everyone feels valued. During group activities, it became clear that effective leadership involves clear communication and trust. I also learned how important team culture is in shaping how people interact. A positive team culture helps build confidence and makes collaboration more enjoyable. Building connections stood out as a key theme, as even simple conversations helped strengthen trust and understanding among the group. 

Looking ahead, I am excited to develop my leadership skills further and become more confident in expressing my ideas. I hope to learn how to lead effectively in different situations and how to support others in reaching their potential. I am also looking forward to the opportunities SCL will provide, such as working on projects, participating in discussions, and building lasting friendships. As a student of the SCL classroom, I want to contribute by being supportive, open minded, and willing to step up when needed.

Therefore, with everything that has happened today, I am incredibly excited to be partaking in SCL for a second time.

Kia ora, Today was the first day of semester two. This year for semester two I have decided to join SCL ( sports academy ). My initial thoughts going into the subject was “it’s going to be awkward and a little bit uncomfortable“. I thought that the program was going to be a lot of work with the juniors of the school. I think that it’s important to have a positive SCL class because it makes it easier for everyone to be themselves. 

Today we focused on learning about effective leaders, connections, teamwork and team culture. I learnt that effective leaders are confident, have great communication skills while being patient. Building strong connections is important because with strong connections comes trust and respect. Today we got into two circles and started to explain quick things about the teams we have been in, the type of coach we want to be and what sports we love or want to try. I really enjoyed this activity because I feel a lot more comfortable with my class.

This semester I hope to learn new coaching methods to help all kinds of people. I’m excited to get the opportunity to work with my peers and get to know other people better. I want to be able to contribute to my SCL class, I hope to be able to be more confident and easier for people to approach. 

In conclusion I am looking forward to class and whatever it brings. I think that over time our class will become very close and will slowly become effective leaders for our school.

SCL – DAY ONE

My initial thoughts on SCL (Sports, Coaching and Learning) was that it was a class that works on developing the athletic skills of the students within the class. However today we focused more on understanding the leadership side of sports.

WHAT I LEARNT 

Today in SCL we focused on what the physical and mental aspects of being a leader is. Many things that we had learnt about being communicative, supportive, encouraging and building positive connections with each other.We also discussed and did activities so that we learnt about others opinion revolving leadership. We also had to write a brief explanation on what we believe culture is, in my opinion culture implements tradition and cultural activities. 

LOOKING AHEAD

While being in SCL I would like to be able to improve many aspects of my leadership. A couple things are my team organisation skills and confidence. I would like to be able to have the opportunities to improve these skills to better myself. I am excited to be given the opportunities to better myself as a leader, as it will be an amazing feature that I will have.

SUMMRISATION

I have many goals within my athletic journey, but my main goal is to be able to improve my own personal and athletic abilities. Doing this will help me improve my mental state and will allow me to become a sports involved person. I am looking forward to being a part of this class as I feel like it will be a great place for my skills not only as an athlete but also as a person to get better.

During my first day of SCL (Sport, Coaching, and Leadership) in semester 2, we were learning about what makes a great leader.

What I have learnt about a great leader is you need to have a positive attitude, communication skills, good listener, respectful, empathy, and someone who can make hard decisions. Then we looked into the culture of what leaders are, and how they relate to “culture”. Culture is something that brings people together, through either language, clothes, or even favourite colour, but since this is a sport class, a leader brings culture within a sport, that can be a positive atmosphere, relating to others in skills or sports.

However, you’re really only a great leader if you make a great impact on your team, in P2 we spoke about the effective traits that leaders need to provide, traits like effective communication, and supporting each other.

In class we did activities to help everyone get more comfortable and learn more about each other. We started with making a circle and a circle inside of it, and facing the person on the outside, we then had to ask our partner a question, and then move to the left and ask the next person something new. The questions related to your personal sport, and your thoughts on what a leader is and if you know any leaders in your life.

Looking ahead I had to be able to be a better leader, with good communication, positive always, and having courage with every decision and move I make. By the end of this semester, I would like to improve my own personal sports which are Volleyball and Ki o rahi and be able to apply leadership skills.