Hey everyone!! Can you believe that there's just 3 more days of school?!?!?! Like seriously, how the heck did the year go by so fast?? I still remember the first day of school, where I got my ID and 8th Grade T-Shirts, and braced myself for 8th Grade...my last year of middle school. And now, now it's practically over!! Which means I have just 3 more days of being a student in the CKTV Media Productions Class :( Oh, this class has taught me so much, and has been such a wonderful experience! I'm really gonna miss it. But for all you lucky newbies who are entering the class, and even for those of you who are returning, know that while the class is amazing, it's also very challenging! So if you want to get the most out of being in this class, I have three pieces of advice that I have learned and I think are important to follow. Read on to find out!

So my first piece of advice is to be open to learning! I have to be honest, when I first came in to the class, I had no idea what the heck to do. In fact, in my interview, I kind of lied (yeah, you probably shouldn't do that) and said that I had some experience with media and knew the basics about using a video camera, when really, I had used one like maybe once when I was like six! I didn't even know how to work a PowerPoint at the time! But anyways, I think one thing that really makes the class as awesome as it is is the relationship we have towards one another. We always are thoughtful and helpful to one another, becuase we know that it is hard, and we have all not known how to do something at one point. So if you have a question, ask! And don't be afraid to make mistakes, because trust me, I've made thousands of mistakes, and I've actually found that to be one of the most effective methods of learning. Also, if someone has a suggestion, listen to it. It doesn't mean you have to do it, but it's always a good idea to hear other people's thoughts and feedback because everyone has their own unique perspective and a lot of times when they share, they have ideas that can make your project even better!

Another piece of advice I have is to not procrastinate. I didn't know the defintion of that word when I first entered the class, but trust me, you'll be hearing it a LOT! And it is not a good thing! So here's just a little vocabulary lesson: PROCRASTINATE: (verb) to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.

Let me just tell you right now, CKTV is not a class that you fool around in. Yes, I think it's the funnest and best class ever, but you need to work hard! Have you ever heard the motto "Work hard, play hard." Well now you have, and that's kind of CKTV's motto. You can't just fool around and think "Oh, I have a whole quarter to do this one project... I can wait!" No siree! Trust me, if you do that, your gonna be rushing and so stressed and not happy with your final project. So DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!

My last piece of advice is to be reasonable, but also creative and interesting. So as you'll find out, quarters go by really fast when you're part of CKTV. I dunno, just something about those project deadlines just puts the whole year into 150% speed... So when your coming up with a project idea make sure to be reasonable. Make sure it's do-able and something that you have enough time to do a quality job. However, keep in mind that CKTV is also a class where you can be creative and come up with projects that will just blow people away by how awesome the my are! It's rare that a middle school student gets access to a whole room full of high quality equipment like Mac Computers, Canon Cameras, quality mikes, 60Ds, and more, so take advantage of the great technology provided. Even if your idea seems kind of challenging, I would say present it to Mr. M because he can really help to clarify and help you come up with a way to do a quality job!

In conclusion, if you are a student in the CKTV Media Productions Class, then congratulations!! Get ready for an amazing year filled with so much laughter and fun, some challenges, and most of all, an amazing opportunity and new friends! I hope that you all will love CKTV as much as I did!

Hey guys! So the end of the year is coming up, faster and faster, and while that means tons of good things (sleeping in, beach days, no homework...) there's one thing that I'm really not looking forward to: having to give back my school iPad. Oh my gosh, I can't even tell you helpful my iPad has been for me this year! I've used it for so many assignments, as a dictionary, calculator, theasarous, book, camera, notepad, and in so many other ways! Right now I am writing my blog in it, as I lay in bed! But, even though I'm not going to have it in just a few days, I'm glad that students next year will get to use it. Students in the CKTV Media Class work very hard, and having an iPad helps makes the workload easier and more convinient. Of course, getting an iPad of my own might be nice too... ;)

Hi guys! So today I'm going to be talking about my Fourth Quarter Project, which will also be the last project I'll ever be working on as a student in the CKTV Media Productions Class. So as some of you know, I kind of changed my project last minute.. as in the end of last week.. Or about 10 days away from when the final project itself was due. But I'm pleased to say that even in that major time crunch, I've made lots of progress! Read on to find out more!

So just about a week or so ago, Lilly and I were working on a music video to the song "Brave" by Sara Barielles. Anyways, we hadn't done any filming, so it was decided that we would just do our own projects, because that would be easier and faster, and we could do a more quality job. I decided to do a movie trailer. Here's the synopsis: Rebecka is a nerdy girl who’s life is all about her grades and overachieving in school. When she finds out that student government elections are coming up, she’s all over it. There’s just one problem: she’s the most unpopular girl at the school. But, being the smart girl she is, she comes up with the perfect plan: Brennan Chichi-Dango. He’s the most popular boy at school, and not the mention, the cutest. If they can become a couple, there’s no doubt everyone will vote her for class president. It’s a foolproof plan...sort of..kind of...maybe...

So as you can see, it's kind of just a funny, lighthearted storyline. So far I've filmed about 75% of what needs to be filmed, and edited a lot of it. I'm trying to film and edit at the same time so that I don't have to do all the editing at the end. I've gotten really good "reviews" so far- everyone thinks its really funny, so that's awesome!!

In order to finish, I'm working on my project every single chance I get. That means in the morning before Advisory, at recess, lunch, and after school! Hopefully by putting in lots of time and hard work, I will be able to finish with a quality project.

In conclusion, I would say my project is going okay. I still have to film and edit some, but I'm putting in a lot of hard work so that it will hopefully be done by the deadline this Wednesday! Wish me luck!

Hey guys. So if you look at the calander, we have just 13 days of school. And now, look again, and point to the 21st of May. Yeah, that's when our fourth quarter media projects our due. In just 10 days. And recently, I have decided to change my media project idea. Here's the quick and simple story behind why: Lilly and I were working on a music video for the song "Brave" and basically we hadn't filmed anything yet, which is NOT a good thing when your media project is due in 2 weeks and you have to film and edit 4 minutes worth of footage. Yes, we procrastinated and now we are paying the price by having to start a new media project just a little more than a week away from the deadline. I am really upset, but I know that I've made the right choice by starting a new project. It would be pretty much impossible to shoot and edit a whole four minute music video in just 10 days, especially when it had so many special effects that I've never dealed with before. I still want to try and do a quality job even in this super time crunch, and having a project that requires less filming and editing will allow me a little more time to do that. Oh, I'm going to be doing a movie trailer, by the way. Of course, if I could redo this whole 4th Quarter from the beginning, I would be on it from the start. Slacking off is never the right thing to do, and now I have to pay the price of doing so. Please wish me luck getting this project done!!

 Hi guys! So this year is coming to a close, and that means one thing: Family Night!! Basically, at the end of every year, all of us Media Students bring our families, and we get together for a night of fun and showcasing a media project we worked during the year! Mr. M also says goodbye to the 8th Graders going onto high school or any student that won't be returning. So it's super fun, and it will be a great way to end my time as a student in the CKTV Media Ohana. 

 So now that you know a little more about what family night is, a question still remains: what project am I going to use for family night?? Well, I am pleased to say, that after much thought (just kidding, it was a pretty easy decision) I've decided to use my 3rd Quarter PSA, called "Life Story." My PSA is about a girl (Leanna is the actress) who has a storybook of her future. At first, you see her looking through it, and you can see that she has a great future. However, she then takes meth, and the video fades to black. It fades back on to her with a title that says '6 Months Later', and she looks all depressed and scary. When she looks back through her book, it has changed to a life completely different, and the end page says death.

I chose this project because it was the best project that I've done this year. My first and second quarter news stories were unfortunately...not the best, and I am still a little undecisive about my Fourth Quarter Project. I was actually honored to have my PSA recognized as a finalist in the Olelo Youth Xchange, a statewide competition for PSAs. Even though it didn't win, I was still pretty happy that it made it as a finalist!

When I go up to talk about my PSA at family night, I'll probably just say a short little speech in which I introduce myself, talk about being in the media class, and talk about the project I chose to share. It might sound a little like this: "Hi guys, my name is Haven and this is my second and last year in the CKTV Media Productions Class. CKTV has been such a great experience, and I'm so glad I got to

be a part of it. The project your about to see is my Third Quarter PSA, and it's about the dangers of meth. It was a finalist in a statewide PSA competition called the Olelo Youth Xchange, so I hope you enjoy!"

In conclusion, I'm really excited for family night. It's going to be a great way to end my year, and I want to make sure to show my best project to make new media students all the more excited!! Thanks for reading!

Hi guys! So I was talking with my dad the other night, and he thought of an idea that I thought I would share with you. We were talking about the STN Practices, and my dad mentioned how we're pretty good and filming and all that technical stuff, but one thing he thinks could be improve is the acting aspect. After all, a good actor does make the difference between an AMAZING movie, and just an okay movie. When you watch a show, you want to be able to feel what the character is feeling, and delve into their world, which can only be done if their are good actors/actresses. So his suggestion was that maybe one day or for a couple days in a summer workshop, CKTV could invite Ms. Marly Madayag to help with acting skills. If you have never heard of her, let me just say that she is an amazing teacher! She teaches 5th Grade at Kalaheo School, and in her "spare time" (because we all know teachers have soooo much time to spare), she directs the Annual Kalaheo Elementary School Play. In 5th Grade, I got the chance to be apart of it, and it helped me a lot!! She taught us about emotion, diction, how to be believable and get in character, where to stand, and just all those acting skills that could help our class tremendously. So, you know, that's just a little suggestion... Thanks for reading!!

 Hey guys! So this week's 5 paragraph response is going to be much like the last blog that I wrote: basically all about finishing off the year strong. We have about a month left of school, and summer seems soo close!! However, that gives us no reason to start putting in less time and effort, or caring less about the quality of our work. I know that I have had trouble with that, especially this year. I kind of had the mentality like "This is my third year at Chiefess and my last few weeks. I'm never coming back here so what does it matter if I slack off a little?". Nevertheless, I realize that it's still important to put in my best effort. And not just because it's the right thing to do, but also because that's the kind of person I want to be. I want to develop the quality of persevering and not going the easy way out, because I know that it will be needed later in life. In the next few paragraphs I'm going to explain things that I will do to ensure that I finish off the year strong.

 So, the first way that I plan to finish off the year strong is to be more organized. At the beginning of the year, my binder was so neat and organized, and unfortunately, now it's a mess. I stuff everything into the front pocket and keep on telling myself to organize it, and I never do. I'm just thankful that Mrs. Chiba hasn't scheduled a binder check for the quarter yet, because if she did, I'd be in deep trouble!  I need to be more organized so I know where things are and don't have to waste time looking for things or re-doing things that I could easily have put in the right place.

Another way I plan to finish off the year strong is to plan things at a designated time so I know when I can do them. One way I can do this is by using my planner. Oh, I used to have my planner so organized- it was so neat and I knew exactly what I needed to do, and now, I hardly ever use it. So I'm going to try and get back in the habit of writing my assignments down and keeping my planner organized. Also, I'm going to try to plan time to specifically do my assignments. In my house, it's kind of chaotic, I have a two year old and seven month old sister, and there's always, ALWAYS stuff to do. However, my mom just bought a calendar and we have a new system of writing down stuff we need to do and when and in what time frame. It's really helped my parents, so I'm going to try and do something similar so I can mentally prepare myself before hand so I can budget my time wisely.

Lastly, I plan to finish off the year strong by not getting distracted. In today's society, getting distracted is easier than ever! Instagram, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Pinterest, Minecraft (I don't play Minecraft, just FYI) are just a click away, and sometimes there all I can think about!! Uggghhhh, they're just sooo distracting! However, I need to be strong, and tell myself that the next episode of my favorite show can wait, but my blogs are due tomorrow. If I develop that kind of self control now, it will dramatically help me in the future too! 

In conclusion, I know that I can finish off the year strong. It's not something I want to do; I would love to just slack off and be lazy, but being lazy and a quitter are not the kinds of traits I want to develop. By being more organized, planning assignments and when I can do them, and not giving in to distractions, I will be able to have a successful rest of the year! Now excuse me, I'm going to go work on my math homework ;)

Hey guys, so it's the end of April, and in about a months time, summer will be here! I am so excited for that, but until then, I'm going to try and do my bes work so I can finish off the year strong. I mean, I don't know about you but at the end of the year I always get lazy and just want to slack off. This year it's especially bad. However, what i keep telling myself is that the end of the year will be here soon, so instead of sitting around waiting for it to come, I should use my time productively so that it'll come even faster! I know I can make it!

I think it's pretty safe to say that CKTV is a pretty successful program. At just ages 11-13, we're getting the opportunity to compete in national and statewide competitions, go on the radio, and learn valuable media skills using quality equipment! It's amazing, really. However, none of this would be possible without the help of our community. They're the ones that support us, the ones who come out and choose to spend their day at one of our gold tournaments, or breakfasts, or car washes. I know a lot of people who have given lots of time and funds to our program. We would not be able to do it without the community helping and supporting us.

So I think it's important not just to thank the community with words and recognition, but also with action. I really like the idea of our class with a community service project. Not only will it be a bonding experience for us, but it will also help out the community, and as a citizen of Kauai, I think that helping out each other and our beautiful island is just a basic part of our responsibilities. We are never too busy to help out.

There are lots of different ways to help it our community, some pretty easy, and some a bit more challenging and time consuming. I think a good easy start for our class might be just collecting food and basic supplies for a homeless shelter or woman's shelter or something like that. It's so easy to us, yet it can make the world of a difference to those in need. For a more involved activity, picking up litter is always a good one that can also help a ton. Another idea I have (but that might be kinda tricker) is to get involved in something against drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, suicide, or anything related to that kind of stuff. I guess this means a lot to me because one thing that Nick Vuigicic said that really made me sick to my stomach is that Kauai is a really beautiful place, but it's one of the saddest places he's been; filled with so much substance abuse and depression and abuse. So I just think it would be really amazing if we could somehow find a way to help with that.

I think a reasonable place to start with community service is maybe a quarterly project. We are a busy class, and we shouldn't take off anything too much right off the get go, so I think just aiming for a quarterly community service project would be good. We could also collect supplies for the homeless over the course of the whole school year, and maybe just turn them in whenever we collect a lot. Then, when we start to get the hang of things, we can start to do even a little more.

In conclusion, I think Community Service in our class is a great idea. The community has helped us so much, and it's only right that we give back. Thanks for reading!

 Hey guys! So for this blog post, I'm going to be once again talking about the STN Trip! I would say that overall, it was an awesome and definitely memerable trip with sooo many great moments and experiences! Like seriously, I am so blessed to have been able to fly all the way to Florida from Kauai, a tiny rock in the middle of the Pacific, and get to experience Disneyworld, Universal, an actual news reporting station, Gatorland, an Orlando Magic Basketball Game, Full Sail University, and so many other neat places with my peers andamazing teacher, and then bring home national awards! It was just amazing! So out of the whole entire trip, I'm here to share with you the three best memories of the STN Trip that I have chosen, and trust me, it was hard just to bring three. Hopefully by reading, you can get an even better picture of what the trip was like through my eyes!

 So, the first great memory I have is going to all the theme parks. And the reason is not just because I absolutely LOVE rollar coasters, but also because I got to hang out and become better friends with other students in CKTV. There were so many hilarious moments and inside jokes that happened on the trip, especially at the amusement parks, so that was awesome. And also, I'm pretty sure that on the Splashmountain Ride, we took the best picture ever! Seriously, it's priceless. So I really had a great time at all the Amusement Parks that we went to, and I got to become closer to friends too!

 Another great memory on the trip I have is getting to meet and hang out with pen pals. I think the whole pen pal system is just really neat and special because it introduces us to awesome people that we probably never would of met or talked to if it were not for being pen pals.  My pen pal this year, well actually I had two, and their names were Aiyannah (who was from Castaic), and Amanda (who was from Maitalnd). I really enjoyed getting to meet and hang out with them, along with others from their school too. I mean, everyone in the Castaic Media Class is super cool, and it was awesome having dinner with all of them!  And I liked getting to meet my pen pal from Maitland, although we didn't get to talk as much as I wish we could've.

 My last great memory that I will be sharing is the STN Closing Ceremony! Oh my gosh, I was so nervous the night before the closing ceremony that I was tossing and turning all night! And then when the actual thing started, I had so many butterflies in my stomach, and I was on the edge of my seat. I was preparing myself to not win, that if we didn't get called up for an honorable mention, we wouldn't get called up at all. So in that moment when they called "Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School" for winning second place in anchoring, I was like... overjoyed!!! I couldn't believe it, and at the same time Marlena looked at each other, stood up, and started screaming and hugging each other! We actually proabably looked pretty stupid, now that I think back, but in that moment, it didn't matter how silly I looked because I was soo happy!

 In conclusion, the STN trip was awesome. I loved almost every single moment of it, and really can't think of anything "bad" that happened. I do have to admit, I missed my other friends and family, and at some moments during the trip, really wished they could have been there, but just so they could experience all the fun! Thanks for reading!