Matariki Celebrations

Term two was a really busy term for us as we prepared for our special Matariki celebrations. We had our first powhiri (since we can’t remember when!) as part of our Matariki celebrations and welcomed up to 130 tamariki with their whānau, some kaiako and our manuhiri who joined us for the day. Seeing our tamariki both lead and experience a St Leonards Rd School welcome was very special indeed. We were all extremely proud of our Te Reo Māori and Samoan Bilingual Units who led us in the powhiri supported by Whaea Tania and our Kaumatua, Papa Ngaro.

Our bilingual units have grown to two classes since established in 2021. A Year 1-2 and a Year 3-4. So it was a real pleasure to have them lead us in waiata and speaking. Next year will be exciting as we welcome new enrolments for both our Te Reo Maori and Samoan Year 5-6 bilingual classes. 2023 will be the first year that we have the full pathway from Y0-Y6 in our Māori and Samoan bilingual units.

Our Matariki day began with powhiri in our hall and then outside to bless and unveil our mural. We then went on to bless the first planting in our Rongoa Garden. This was followed by morning tea and then back into the hall to enjoy classes sharing their Matariki Items and first off the rack were our bilingual units. It was a full day honouring Matariki, coming together as whānau to reflect on our mahi these past few years and celebrate our completed turtle mural and planting of our Rongoa Garden. Our hearts were full for multiple reasons; seeing our hall full of families, hearing our tamariki singing waiata and performing their matariki items for their whānau was something we have not been able to do for more than a year and it was so good to bring life back into our kura on a very special day of celebration.