Our Kororā o Mārama is now complete and has been taken away to be re-introduced to all of its friends who have been out at other schools across Canterbury. He will then be taken to sit at Rolleston New World to become part of the penguin sculpture trail.

We would like to thank Dixon Rooney and his whānau for agreeing to host our Kororā over this period. We feel relieved to know he is being cared for by someone from our Clearview School community.

We will provide students with information about the Christchurch Pop-up penguin trail when it has been finalised, as it could be a great activity for your whānau to engage in during the term. Once the 10 week penguin trail is over, Kororā o Mārama will be returning to our school and going on permanent display in our school foyer.

The Kororā o Mārama school design process provided us with a great opportunity to engage students in a deeper understanding of our cultural narrative over Term 3. This insight into our rich cultural history and the importance of our local surroundings has been supported by our partnership with Te Taumutu Rūnanga. As you know, students were asked to incorporate elements from our school and Tauwharekākaho (Rolleston) cultural narrative into a design which they felt reflected our past, present and future identity. Some of the elements students picked up on that are evident in the final design. These elements reflect the:

• Clearview School logo and all colours represented on our Kororā (penguin) are different gradients of these colours.

• Southern Cross which represents the clear view of the stars at night from our school site. It also reflects Clearview whānau who remain an important part of our school identity.

• Canterbury plains (Kā Pākihi Whakatekateka o Waitaha) and the importance of horticulture and agriculture to the Selwyn district. This includes a nod to our rural heritage through the Skellerup Red Band Gumboots.

• Rakaia and Waimakariri braided rivers that border the Selwyn district.

• Elements of fire (Io-matua-kore), sky (Rakanui), water (Takaroa) and earth (Papatuanuku).

• New motif designs gifted by Te Taumutu Rūnanga which are soon to be displayed around our school.

• Significant flora, such as Harakeke (flax) and Mikimiki (Mingimingi) which traditionally grew in the area.

• Tuna (eels) from Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) which have been a key mahinga kai (food source) the Ngāi Tahu population at Taumutu.

• Foothills and mountains that make up part of Kā Tiritiri o Te Moana (the Southern Alps) and Mount Aoraki which was pivotal in the name Te Kura ō Marama (Clearview).