Wednesday 13th July 2011 Dear Parents and Caregivers, Last week was a week of celebrating te reo and

tikanga Mori, and what a wonderful celebration it was. Our Year 7 & 8 students held their Trash to Fashion show, their theme was Matariki. Throughout the week, and during their lunch hours, students auditioned for the te Reo talent quest. All the finalists performed their items in last weeks community assembly which drew the celebrations to a close.

Last Weeks Mori Language Week the theme was Manaakitanga

While manaakitanga is but a singular word, its important to note that it does not have a singular meaning or application. Manaakitanga and its root word, manaaki, describes or manifests, in a Mori sense, more of a broader cultural concept around reciprocity of kindness, respect and humanity. Translating or re-defining the manaakitanga concept into one word would be short-sighted and restrictive, potentially limiting. There are several phrases in English that embody the concept of manaakitanga as per the graphic below:

Trash to Fashion Show ~ This years theme: Matariki

What an outstanding and very professional event. I would like to thank all our teachers (including RTLBs), all our support staff, our Year 7 & 8 (Rimu Team) students as well as the kappa haka group, the dance group and Rooms 21 & 22. We were fortunate to have both Sam Lotu-Iiga (our National Party MP) as well as Carol Beaumont (our Labour Party List MP) present at the Show. Both had to apply for special leave from Parliament to attend this means our schools name would have been mentioned in two separate Parliamentary leave applications wow! Other guests included: Lt. Ed Fulker & Berend Terbrake from HMNZS te Kaha /

Carol Over and Mary-Ann de Kort from the Mt Wellington Foundation / Tent Membrey from the C3 Church and Wendy & David Lelo from the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints.

Our Year 7 & 8 students designed outfits to represent Matariki as it is celebrated in three cultures namely Mori, Japanese and Rarotongan. The outfits brought us messages of new beginnings, the seven stars of Matariki and the treasures (tikanga) of these three cultures. What a wonderful way for our

students to communicate and celebrate their learning.

Room 2 Photos of Room 2, performing The Three Little Pigs.