Our last couple of weeks have been busy ones and for Funday Friday last week some of our tamariki visited the community garden in Rangiora with Matua Beau. Where they learnt about planting and the importance of the soil etc. Matua Beau was given some plants to bring back to Kura to plant in our Māra kai.

Whaea Carla took a group of tamariki to the skatepark in Kaiapoi where the tamariki played on their scooters.

For funday Friday our ākonga also participated in ngā Toi, nail polish and make up, Halloween crafts, fitness, something pretty cool and Ki O Rahi.

Last Saturday I held a wānanga for whānau about how to start a māra kai and how to care for it.

We learnt about the importance of good soil, compatible planting, when to plant each huawhenua/ vegetable seedling and the nutrients and special soil, lime powder, seaweed etc that you need to create tasty crops. I thank Kate ( my neighbour) for all of her knowledge that she bought to the wānanga. Everyone left feeling very inspired.

A group of our tamariki in Year 7 and 8 have been attending carving lessons every Tuesday where they are working with Matua Raphael. Each week they are excited to get to carving to continue to work on their master pieces.They are creating carvings for our Kura and I am so proud of the mahi that they are producing.

We are very fortunate to have Whaea Michelle Kitto supporting in our Tari/office this term during the week. Whaea Michelle is an amazing asset to our team and I am so pleased that she is with us in this role.

We have also been blessed with funding to have Whaea Marlena in every week teaching our tamariki tāonga puoro and creating koauau and Whaea Lisa who is teaching our ākonga raranga/ weaving every week.

Whaea Crisanna, Whaea Kate and Whaea Awhina are away in Wellington for professional development in leadership. They are enjoying themselves and are feeling very inspired.

Whaea Michelle has represented our Kura today as WSL at a Kāhui hui. Thank you Michelle for your attendance and support at this hui.

I myself attended a hui in Methven Sunday-Tuesday and met many Tumuaki from across Canterbury. On Monday we all gave back to the community of Methven and cleaned up the Ngahere.

I really enjoyed meeting and connecting with new tumuaki and had fun cleaning up the ngahere and paying it forward.

Have a lovely weekend with your beautiful whānau.

Dot Singh

Tumuaki

Te Kura O Tuahiwi