Hato Peti our kura every year gets behind Māori Language week and this year has been no different.

The activities for the week included:

• Monday – There was Ki o rahi at lunchtime and the Rosary reading was in te reo Māori
  
• Tuesday – Ki o rahi at lunchtime
  
• Wednesday – The Tino Reka Frybread Truck came to school and offered up a tasty selection of food which included a traditional boilup, raw fish, frybread and steam puddings.
  
• Thursday – During the staff meeting Dr Sonja MacFarlane gave a presentation on cultural responsiveness, and at assembly, the boys presented the school with a waiata that Jonty Challies-Gibb and Siaki Kata composed with the help of Norbert Muller, Jack Latu, Thomas Tong and Lopeti Sumner as singers.
  I conducted my address in Te reo and our Māori art was showcased. The guest speaker was Anton Matthews with his wife, and their food truck FUSH, provided the students and staff with some very tasty kai at lunchtime
• Friday – Prayers of the Faithful were held in te reo Māori at Benediction, and some of our students performed the Haka for Matt Rough at his tangi.
  
  

Last week’s update on the major rebuild projects was well received and following site meetings on Wednesday, I am able to provide a further report and also a photographic record of progress.

The photograph below shows the rib beams in place on the PAC extension. This area has now been back filled and shortly services will be added prior to the pouring of the slab. Once completed, this will create an extensive space on the southern side of the PAC. The temporary wall will be removed and the enlarged area will give the College a much needed hospitality and general use area that will also serve the new chapel.

The chapel blockwork has been partially completed with the remaining works to be finished off once the precast panels are in place. These panels are scheduled to be placed from next week with the task taking 6-7 days. Initially two cranes will be positioned on site with a third crane being used to place some of the northern most panels.

Rapid progress is being made on the new Grimes building, (also pictured below). I can report that internal works and the fit-out will continue with the remaining windows to be fitted within the next two weeks. Scaffolding at the rear of the building is scheduled to come down this Friday to allow external cladding to commence. Parents may not be aware that this building will house the Art Department, which has for so long now, been homed in a very old block at the rear of the property.

Excitingly, it will also be home to our Food Technology department which will be located on the ground floor. For the first time in the College’s history, we will be able to arrange subjects around food and hospitality.

I am happy to field queries from parents on the rebuild projects.

Mā te wā

Justin