New Uniforms and Special Performance

Kia ora koutou

This year the Junior Kapa Haka has been very fortunate to have the support of many people, and this has led to a wonderful year for our tamariki/children.

In Terms 3 and 4 we had a generous group of parents and teachers who worked very hard to make uniforms for the children. The team of sewers was led by Pene Knowles and was greatly assisted by Jo Hurst, Lyndell Boaden, Vanessa Jones, Mrs Hogg, Mrs Bishop, Lisa Gestro, Sarah Hussey, Ashley Acklin and Lucia Garcia. We were also ably assisted by Ailie Somerville in Year 5 who is very capable on a sewing machine despite her young age.

Our thanks and gratitude go out to these wonderful helpers. They did an amazing job and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the way the uniforms turned out.

On Monday, this week, the children were excited and proud to wear their uniforms for the first time during a performance at school in front of some of our Kapa Haka parents and the Junior school.

The children performed five waiata; including the school hymn and a prayer in te reo Māori, two actions songs (Toia Mai and Ruru Koukou) and a waiata using poi and rākau called 'Whiti te Marama'.

As well as our special Sewing Bee helpers, we had some other people to thank on Monday, too.

We are very grateful for Melissa and Bradley Houghton who very kindly donated lovely tee-shirts for all of the boys’ Kapa Haka uniforms. Melissa has also very generously given up her time to come and support the Kapa Haka group for the past few months at every practise. Her involvement has been so helpful and appreciated.

We have also been really fortunate to receive a generous donation from Angela and Blair Skevington in the form of thirty poi for our youngest children. These are just wonderful and will be put to great use. Thank you, Angela and Blair.

Finally, we thanked Teina Makira. Teina has taken the time to come to school and support our group almost every week since the very beginning of the year, and she has been an invaluable source of support and encouragement for our group. The children loved her calm and positive guidance and help. Thank you so much, Teina.

Thank you to all the parents who have encouraged our tamariki throughout the year. Thank you to Mrs Duthie, Mrs Hogg and all of the teachers for being so supportive of Kapa Haka at Columba. We are very fortunate indeed.

Ngā mihi,

nā Ailsa Rose