A treasure for always...

Our end of term Values Celebration Assembly was a fitting moment for the gifting of our Toki Pounamu taonga to all new learners and staff. 

Luke explained the origins of the blessed stones and the narrative that sits behind the preciousness and symbolism each stone holds, before gifting a toki to each of our new staff. 

Following this our Kāinga Designers, Bonnie Talamaivao and Fred Strickson-Pua, called forth each of our MAC learning coaches to pass the treasures on to our new learners.

• Each toki is unique - there's no other like it in the world (and so a fitting gift to place around the neck of our new learners).
• The cut/shape of Hei Toki represents mana and strength - at OJC we believe in the mana and dignity of each individual and the significance of each person's essence contributing to a greater whole as a school community.

We hope each of our learners will treasure their gifts just as each of them are treasured by their learning coaches. 

It was a special moment indeed, which we are thankful to have some lasting photographs of, thanks to Whaea Pearl.

MACs are the most significant adult in the lives of our learners during their time at OJC and therefore, we held off presenting toki to the learners from MACs whose Learning Coaches were absent on this day in order for them to be gifted by these MACs. At our first assembly of Term 2, we will present the remaining MAC learners with their Toki Pounamu.