As you may have read in a previous pānui, we have been involved in designing and painting our very own Elmer to feature on the Elmer's Ōtautahi Elephant Trail.

We have joined 29 other schools around Ōtautahi in designing and decorating our very own Elmer the Patchwork Elephant sculpture. 

At Cotswold, sixteen year 2 and 3 students were selected to come up with designs and to decorate our sculpture. These children were supported by four year 6 tamariki who helped add the finishing details. The artwork is inspired by the theme of connecting Cotswold Mātāhae School's Past, Present, and Future. 

We have recently been gifted our cultural narrative from Ngāi Tuāhuriri. Our previous tohu (emblem) was an elephant which linked us to the local Bishopdale Park while representing the values of whānau and knowledge. Our new narrative links us to local waterways with special significance being placed upon the tuna (longfin and shortfin eel). 

The name chosen for our Elmer is 'Tohu'. Tohu means symbol or emblem. Our artwork depicts our new cultural narrative and tohu while being presented in the shape of our previous tohu, an arewhana (elephant). 

All sculptures can be found on the trail from 25th November.  Follow @ElmerChch to keep up to date with the trail.