St. Bernards College 2013 Yearbook #1 | Page 58

Māori - Kōrero Kia Kaha year! - another great Whānau Support Hui Kapa haka Regionals Success Slightly over 100 parents and the families of our Māori students met outside the school canteen for a BBQ appetiser in preparation for the school’s first Whānau Support hui for the year. on Wednesday 6th March Although the meeting focused on the impressive results achieved by many of our senior Māori students through 2012 – none more so than the 90% pass rate at NCEA Level 1. The term two meeting focused on what parents wanted for their sons at St Bernard’s College. Matariki Faculty During Matariki, we celebrate our unique place in the world. We give respect to the whenua on which we live, and admiration to our mother earth, Papatūānuku. Throughout Matariki, we learn about those who came before us – our history, our family, and our bones. Matariki signals growth. It's a time of change. It's a time to prepare, and a time of action. During Matariki, we acknowledge what we have and what we have to give. Matariki celebrates the diversity of life. It's a celebration of culture, language, spirit, and people. Māori Language Week Y7/8’s “Ki-O-Rahi” Days The Y7/8’s day long Ki-O-Rahi tournaments were a resounding success. The boys ran themselves silly the whole day and laughed and competed themselves to a standstill. After a sedate start to the day, learning the whakapapa and rules of the game in Miss Uili’s room, it was all on. The first two games before interval were lengthened so boys could learn the game while they played. Each of the five Y7/8 classes was divided into two even teams, to make a 10 team round robin tournament. Two points were awarded for a win, one for a draw and none for a loss. 45 games were played throughout the day. After points were tallied at the end of last game, teams C (16 points) and G (12 points) fought out a very close final with team C eventually winning to the joy and adulation of Miss Taylor (team C represented the first thirteen student’s in her class). The second tournament was a great end of year spectacular. Ngā Manu kōrero Two of our young men participated in “Ngā Manu Kōrero” Speech contest at Heretaunga College on Friday 17 May 2013. Rewi Ross-Hōtene competing in the Junior English section placed 5th while Brodie Henare, competing in the Junior Māori section, gained a very creditable 2nd placing. Congratulations to both boys’ for their hard work and diligence in preparing for this demanding event. 56 Māori Language Week was celebrated from Monday 1 July – Sunday 7 July (second to last week of Term 2). The theme of the week is “Ngā Ingoa Māori” or “Māori names”. The “ingoa” theme asks communities to consider important matters such as correct pronunciation, understanding the meaning of place-names, and using Māori names more often. Te Huatai Katorika (the name of our combined St Bernard’s College-Sacred Heart College kapa haka) has won its way through to next year’s National Kapa haka finals in Gisborne with a second placing at the Regional Finals on Friday 5 July in the Horticulture Hall, Lower Hutt. Congratulations to the following boys’ for being a part of the group: Eli Afoa, 9MN; Te Kura Hauwaho, 9KE; Brandon Mamea-Crawford, 9ZH; Ihaka Morehu, 9ZH; Anthony Rongokea-Simpson, 9MN: Orban Waitaki-Messenger, 9KE; Brodie Henare, 10HO; Campbell Bishop, 11NW; Josiah Martin, 11TO; Dakota Nuku, 13PI; Trey Ryder, 13HI; and Dakota Nuku 13. This will be the group’s second consecutive time at the Nationals having just represented the region last year in Whāngārei. Like most other groups in the competition, Te Huatai Katorika invested countless hours perfecting its bracket. Naenae College were placed a deserved first, with a combined Te Ara Whanua-Taita College-Hutt High School combination coming third; Wainuiomata High School, fourth; Heretaunga College, fifth; and Upper Hutt College, sixth. Special thanks to Verenoa Hetet for the use of two korowai for the performance on the day and making the pake and tatua at such short notice. Thank you also to Mrs Frost of Sacred Heart College and our amazing tutors. During Māori Language Week, all Y7/8 classes and Māori Language classes travelled to City Gallery Wellington to view Shane Cotton’s exhibition and participate in art workshops. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience and had a good time doing it. Shane Cotton Exhibition During Māori Language Week all Y 7/8’s and Māori language classes were bussed into Wellington to attend an art exhibition of Shane Cotton’s work at City Gallery, Wellington. Shane Cotton is a major New Zealand painter. He was born in Lower Hutt, with Ngāpuhi affiliations and has exhibited at many leading galleries in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in Spain and Prague. Students really enjoyed the opportunity of viewing his work as well as taking part in practical wor kshops. The workshops and visits, in general, provided lots of opportunities for written/project work back at school, particularly for Y7/8’s. Trip to Kāpiti Island It’s Saturday 21 Sept and I’ve just spent the last one and a half days on Kāpiti Island with four other adults and 24 students from St Bernard’s College. After leaving school at 8.30 am, by bus, we arrived at Paraparaumu beach and Yacht Club less than an hour later ready to start the big adventure. Janine, our guide, then gave us a 15-20 minute introductory talk on the Māori/ natural/colonial/political history of the island before we left on a launch that took everyone to Rangatira, a place half way down the island, and the starting point of the track to the 521 m summit called Tuteremoana. Just prior to her talk Janine instigated a back check for rodents – the St Bernard’s College 2013