What an incredible experience! Our Senior School learners have had a noho marae at Kirikiriroa.

On Monday morning, all senior students were officially welcomed onto the marae through a pōwhiri with our year 6 students staying the night.  Our year 5 students stayed overnight on Tuesday. This experience is one that all students and kaiako are very grateful to be able to have. We look forward to the ongoing relationship that this will foster between all of Silverdale and the marae. 

The tamariki heard important stories from iwi around the country as represented in carvings on the marae. They practised weaving harakeke (flax), made poi and purerehua (butterfly) that made an amazing sound when twirled around. We heard stories from our kaiako too - teaching us about what life was like for them growing up on a marae. 

Sleeping in the whare together was a new experience for many - and although we might not have had as much sleep as normal, some life long memories have been made.

It was an amazing time learning more about tikanga māori and te reo māori from such passionate people in such authentic ways. Also to have had this opportunity to be together as a school family and build into our own community through this shared experience was so very valuable. 

A massive thank you to our staff who made this happen and the team of kaitiaki at Kirikiriroa Marae. 

The BIGGEST thank you to our whānau who came and spent hours preparing food, building manaakitanga and helping make this experience an unforgettable one for our tamariki (and kaiako!).