This month's edition introduces Whaea Frankie West, current HOD Māori and past student who joined our teaching staff in 2016 after many years as a kapa haka tutor for Te Maurea Whiritoi.

Name and background 
Tēnā tātou katoa, he uri tēnei nō ngā maunga whakahī o te rohe nei o Waikato. I tupu mai i Kirikiriroa nei, ā, ināianei ko Kirikiriroa te kāinga tupu o āku tamariki. Ko Whaea Frankie tēnei e mihi atu nei, mauri ora ki a tātou katoa. Kia ora, my name is Whaea Frankie and I am from the mighty Waikato. I was raised here in Hamilton and now raise my family here too.

Your last year at HGHS
2006

What is it that you currently do outside of school?
I am a māmā of three beautiful babies who keep me busy with their co-curricular activities. I like spending time with my whānau at the beach, fishing and glamping. I am a kapa haka tutor and also like to perform in kapa haka. I tautoko kaupapa Māori when time allows as well.

What was your favourite thing about being a student at HGHS?
Te nohotahi a te tēina me te tuākana, the whanaungatanga - mixing together with our senior role models and being a part of the only Māori Whānau Class in the school.

What was your greatest accomplishment at school as a student and why?
Winning the Year 11 English Speech Competition. I had been in total immersion te reo Māori education since the age of 10. To attend a mainstream high school and then win the English-speaking competition was a big achievement. The Year 11 Speech competition was highly spoken of within school at the time. The experience was fun! 

What do you enjoy most about being a staff member at HGHS?

1. Teaching our native language to our rangatahi and showing them the many benefits of te ao Māori.
2. Being an advocate and role model for our wāhine Māori to strive to be the best version of themselves in this ever-changing world.
3. Developing a sense of pride and confidence within all our wāhine at our kura.

What advice would you give to current students?
Get involved! There are so many opportunities on offer, places to see, experiences to have and memories to make. You will thank yourself in future.