Check out this week’s newsletter September 30th Newsletter 2022š®
Check out this week’s newsletter September 9th Newsletter 2022.pdf
This yearās theme for Uike KÄtoangaāi āo e lea faka-Tonga – Tonga Language Week – is: “Ke Tu’uloa ‘a e lea faka-Tonga ‘i Aotearoa”, which means “Sustaining the Tonga Language in Aotearoa.”
Ke Tu’uloa ‘a e lea faka-Tƶngaā² ‘i Aotearoa has a positive and progressive connotation. To support the overarching Language Weeks theme of Sustainability, the word TU’ULOA in the theme this year means to continuously grow, nurture, and sustain a valued idea, practice, event, or memory in an enduring way.
In hisĀ acknowledgement of Tonga Language Week, Minister for Pacific Peoples Aupito William Sio urges Tongans everywhere to embrace Uike KÄtoangaāi āo e lea faka-Tonga, to help stop the decline in its use by the New Zealand-born Tongan population.
Activities and events will be hosted throughout Aotearoa, to embraceĀ Uike KÄtoangaāi āo e lea faka-Tonga.Ā Given the success of Tongan Language Week online last year, some community groups are planning to deliver their initiatives online, while the majority will be face-to-face. Many of the initiatives this year continue to focus on youth and the passing of cultural knowledge from the elders to young people.Ā
Bookmark this page to see the Calendar of Events when published. Stay connected online by visiting theĀ officialĀ NZ Tonga Language WeekĀ Facebook page.
Leabank Primary School will be conducting a Lockdown Exercise
TODAY, FRIDAY 2 SEPTEMBER AT 2:00PM
Please refrain from contacting any staff at the school, as this could lead to distraction from their primary focus, which is caring for our students.Ā Ā This should only take about 30 minutes and is a practice so that students and staff know what to do in an emergency. Gates will be closed and the telephone will not be answered during this time.
At the close of nominations, as the number of valid nominations was equal to the number of vacancies required to be filled, as a result of this I declare the following
duly elected:Ā
Names:
Lei T
Returning Officer
Thank you for your interest in the Leabank Primary School Board Elections.
All the information you need to know about School Board Elections can be found below.
Parent Representative Elections
PARENTS’ ELECTIONS COVER LETTER
PARENT ELECTION NOTICE
Staff Representative Elections
STAFF ELECTION NOTICE
Nomination Form
ELECTION FORM
Matariki is a special occasion in the New Zealand calendar that marks the start of the MÄori New Year. Signified by the Matariki cluster of stars reappearing in our night sky, this is a time to reflect on the past year, celebrate the present, and plan for the year ahead.
What is Matariki?
Matariki is a star cluster that appears in the early morning sky in New Zealand during the mid-winter months. The star cluster is well known throughout the world and at different times of the year can be seen around the globe. It is one of the brightest clusters in the sky, containing hundreds of member stars.
Matariki has different names around the world. In English, it is called by its ancient Greek name, Pleiades or the Seven Sisters. In Hawaiian it is Makali’i, ‘eyes of royalty, and in Japan it is Subaru, meaning ‘gathered together.
Matariki is known as the MÄori New Year in Te Ao MÄori (the MÄori worldview). Closely connected with the maramataka (the MÄori lunar calendar), the reappearance of the Matariki stars in the early morning sky brings the past year to a close. It marks the beginning of the new year.
MÄtauranga MÄori (ancestral knowledge and wisdom) is at the heart of celebrations of the Matariki public holiday and it will be a time for;
Historically, the stars of Matariki were also closely tied to planting, harvesting and hunting. If the stars appeared clear and bright, it signified a great season ahead.
Traditionally, Matariki festivities included lighting ritual fires, making offerings and various celebrations to farewell the dead, honour ancestors and celebrate life. Nowadays, people all across Aotearoa come together to remember their ancestors, share (kai) food, sing songs, tell stories and play music.
Matariki is about reconnecting with your home and whÄnau (family).
Today there are many ways to acknowledge the MÄori New Year and observe the rising of Matariki:
STAFF ONLY DAY
On Friday 17th June all staff will be involved in training and professional meetings throughout the day. This is not like Alert Level settings and is one of eight days granted to each school as part of the Primary Teachers Collective Agreement. At times we need all staff to hear the same message from training providers and can only do so as a whole staff.
School Closed Friday 17th June
As part of this yearās overarching theme of āSustainabilityā, the Samoan community chose a theme that would reflect the journey of language revitalisation and maintenance as well as recognising the importance of having the right tools, good leadership skills, relationships and the correct medium (vaāa) that is adaptable to faring the ocean and its elements.
This year marks 12 years since Samoa Language Week has been celebrated in Aotearoa New Zealand. Following on from 2021, Samoa Language Week 2022 is led by three key organisations ā FAGASA, Fotu Å Malama and SAASIA.
2022 is also a significant year for the Samoan community, being the 60th anniversary of Samoa Independence. Communities are organising activities to commemorate this milestone, which coincides with Samoa Language Week.
Samoa has a unique historical relationship with New Zealand. It is the only nation that New Zealand has a Treaty of Friendship. The Treaty of Friendship between Samoa and New Zealand is about a commitment to partnership, friendship and a mutual endeavour to obtain for Tagata Samoa fuller opportunities for social progress. Language is critical in achieving this.
Below is a calendar of activities and events to be held throughout Aotearoa to embrace and celebrate Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa and the 60th Anniversary of Samoa Independence.
Stay connected online by visiting the official Gagana Samoa i Aotearoa Facebook page.
