Prizegiving is one of the highlights of Ko Taku Reo’s year. It is an opportunity to celebrate successes and acknowledge excellence amongst our students.

Thursday, 24 November, was the day to celebrate our Year 9 – 15 learners. The event was held at Ormiston Senior College in Auckland and the Sumner Campus in Christchurch. Thank you to Tanisha Pritchard and Taitaiki Taylor, who were the MCs for the event.

Provision certificates were awarded for:

• academic excellence
• improvement in NZSL
• attitude to learning
• contribution to the wider school community

After Louise Roe, Director of Teaching and Learning, addressed students and whānau, it was time to present our national awards. Each recipient was awarded a trophy, certificate and voucher. Phonak kindly sponsored the vouchers.

Our national recipients were:

• Callan Waters Māori Excellence – Year 9 - 12 
• Mercedies de Malanche Māori Excellence – Year 13 - 15 
• Aliziah Seiuli Leadership – Year 9 – 12 
• Anahera Strongman Leadership – Year 13 - 15 
• Rahui Lee Towards Independence 
• Andrei Deo Excellence in NZSL at NCEA 
• Fiero Estanislao Outstanding Academic Success 
• Jayden Edwards Contribution to Sports 
• Mea Manuofetoa Excellence in Culture and Arts 
• Rahui Lee Tuakana Teina Residential (Auckland) 
• Jayden Edwards Tuakana Teina Residential (Christchurch) 

Prizegiving is also an opportunity to farewell those students who have come to the end of their learning journey with Ko Taku Reo. One leaver, Rahui Lee, shared his learning journey with the audience. He talked about the high points and was honest about some challenges he navigated. Rahui wanted to express his gratitude to a special person, Pam, his NZSL tutor. We hope that your time with us has been a good experience. We wish you every success as you begin the next exciting chapter of your life. Please stay connected. 

Primary and Intermediate Highlights

The Primary and Intermediate prizegiving was held on Friday, 25 November. This was our opportunity to share our learners' successes in Years 1 – 8. The MCs for this event were Tere Ahohaka and Frank Irakiza from Kelston Intermediate Provision. Certificates were awarded for improvement in reading, writing, mathematics and NZSL for each of our Primary and Intermediate Provisions, Wharenui (Christchurch), Kelston Primary and Intermediate (Auckland), Linden (Wellington) and Ormiston Primary and Ormiston Junior College (Auckland). Denise Powell, our Acting Executive Principal, spoke. She shared some highlights from the year. Lisa Sharman, Head of Enrolled School, presented our national prizes:

• Cash Pilamo Values of Grow, Choose, Belong and Excel (Year 1 – 4) 
• Briaan-Ariah Horne Values of Grow, Choose, Belong and Excel (Year 1 – 4) 
• Parneet Jagpal Values of Grow, Choose, Belong and Excel (Year 5 – 8) 
• Tere Ahohaka Values of Grow, Choose, Belong and Excel (Year 5 – 8) 
• Maraia Tuhoro Williams Citizenship (Year 1 – 4) 
• Addison Mackay-Blundell Citizenship (Year 5 – 8) 
• Frank Irakiza Contribution to Sport 
• Carter Ferguson Contribution to Culture and Arts (Year 1 – 4) 
• Diamond-Eve Johnson Contribution to Culture and Arts (Year 5 – 8) 

Our national award winners received a trophy, certificate and a gift card again donated by Phonak. Congratulations to all the winners at both prizegiving events. We are enormously proud of your work to achieve your awards.
Acknowledging the many people who have supported you on your learning journey is also important. Firstly, to the teachers and support staff in the provisions who plan learning programmes to meet your needs. We must also thank the mainstream teachers in the partner schools who work alongside us. To your whānau and caregivers, who support your learning at home, we thank you for your continued support.

We look forward to continuing and strengthening these learning partnerships in 2023.