Our theme for Hauora week was “We Rise by Lifting Others”.

This theme represents the philosophy that when we are kind and supportive to one another we can succeed and lift those around us. Collaboratively lifting ourselves and others is an important theme for Hauora because it promotes and enhances our overall well-being as individuals, classmates, school and community.

To kick off Hauora Week 2023 with a bang we started with music at the front gate. As students started entering the front gate, Hauora week celebrations began with senior students handing out origami hearts to show kindness and manaakitanga. In this way we embraced the theme “collectively lifting each other up” and promising a fun week of activities to come.

Thanks Lee Tepuia for coming and having a korero with us on Monday and Tuesday! It was great to hear Lee’s story and about how he overcame depression and sought professional help and the support of Whānau and friends. Being kind to everyone, lifting each other up and using physical activity can all help improve mental health. It was awesome to see that someone who looks tough and intimidating can not only be physically strong but mentally strong as well, by opening up and being vulnerable, as that is what being human is all about.

On Wednesday, we focused on Wairua with a collaborative art piece to enhance the spiritual dimension of hauora. In Whānau Time, students created, coloured and wrote on their own unique balloon. Next we plan to gather everyone's beautiful balloons and create a mural full of the meaning “We Rise by Lifting Others” .This was a fun and easy way for students to relax, have fun, contribute and celebrate the important message “we all rise together”.

To bring an end to our amazing week full of Hauora enhancing activities, we finished by celebrating taha Whānau, the social aspect of Hauora. This celebration involved bringing seniors and juniors together for some social fun on the quad at lunchtime on Friday. This included jump jam with some carefree dancing and singing fun! The youthline big bear joined us and provided additional fun, interest and hugs! We played ‘name the seven foot bear’ and students took the opportunity to get a photo with the bear. It was a great way to end Hauora week and bring everyone together to celebrate “We Rise by Lifting Others”.

Hauora Manutaki - Allie Treloar, Ashleigh McElhinney, Brylee Evans and Madalyn Winstanley