New classrooms open on 15th June

Tēnā tātou kātou

This year we will be celebrating two very important events on the same occasion.   After six months without our central block, we are ready to reoccupy!  To honour our much loved kaumatua Pat Heremaia, we are naming the building for him.  Pat worked alongside Kaurilands School for many, many years and shared his wisdom and knowledge with countless children, staff and whānau.

One of the wonderful legacies Pat left us with is the annual Matariki (Māori New Year) hikoi up Mt Titirangi. This event has grown and grown with hundreds participating in recent years.  As Pat was instrumental in instigating the Matariki celebration at Kaurilands School, this year we will incorporate the two events simultaneously. The difference this year will be that we will not hold the hikoi on Mt Atkinson - all celebrations will take place at school.

Our celebrations will begin at 7.00am.  We would like all those attending to gather in the foyer area ready for the 7.00am start which will begin with the unveiling of a carving we are having installed for Pat. We will be led by our new kaumatua Warahi Paki and our senior kapahaka.  We will all walk through the refurbished building and then into the hall for the formalities to be conducted.  Following this part of the celebration we will all move down to the staffroom and Rūma Kowhai for a shared breakfast.

We are anticipating the event will be complete by 8.30-8.45am so school will start at 8.55am as usual.

A notice has been sent home with the students, please complete the slip and return it to Jackie Fletcher in the office by Tuesday 12 June at the latest if you and your whānau are attending as we need to know numbers for catering.

We look forward to celebrating this unique event with you on the 15th June.

Ngā mihi nui.

Jo