Welcome back to Term 3. During our holiday break our Matariki stars shone for the start of Maori New Year. It was celebrated from the 13th- 17th July. For the first couple of weeks at school we have been learning about Matariki in our classes.

Our Year 3&4 team have loved learning about Matariki. We have read Myths and Legends, sung songs, played games, written poems and stories related to Matariki and created beautiful artwork. Ruma Manaia hosted assembly last week for the first time since lockdown and loved seeing all the parents and whanau in the audience. Check out all the work we have been doing over the first couple of weeks of term 3. 

Celebrating Matariki in Rūma Paikea

Rūma Paikea celebrated Matariki by weaving flowers and playing traditional Māori games. We harvested Harakeke (flax) from our own school garden. We learnt about the tikanga and protocols around harvesting flax and made beautiful flowers.

Matariki artwork in Manaia

Ruma Manaia read the myth about Matariki and her 6 daughters. In groups they each then created artwork to represent each star and what she protected. We looked at what colours suited the star and what features we would add to her. 

Matariki Star Diamante Poems 

Matariki God's Eyes