Faahi Tapu e Vagahau Niue

Fakalofa hofihofi atu kia mutolu oti. Here at Weymouth, it is week one of Term 4. It is also Niue Language Week. The theme this year is:

The 2024 theme for Niue Language Week is ‘Leveki mo e Feaki e Vagahau Niue ma Anoiha – Protect and Nurture Vagahau Niue for the Future’. 

On Monday we had our Opening assembly. The challenges for the week were announced and on Friday it was our closing assembly. We had so much fun throughout the week. Check out the site for Niue Language Week here.

Enjoy our videos:

Te wiki o te reo Maori

Like all language weeks, Te Wiki o Te Reo Maori is celebrated here at Weymouth Primary School. To open the week, we had students from James Cook High School’s roopu Puutake come and perform for us.

During the week there were challenges that students across the school could take part in. On Friday was our closing assembly. The theme for the week is: “Ake, ake, ake” – “A Forever Language”. Check out our own Kapa Haka roopu.

Tongan Language Week

Uike Kātoanga’i ‘o e lea faka-Tonga – Tonga Language Week

Celebrate: 18 – 24 August

The 2024 theme for Tonga Language Week is ‘E tu’uloa ‘a e lea faka-Tongá ‘o ka lea’aki ‘i ‘api, siasí (lotú), mo e nofo-‘a-kāingá – The Tongan Language will be sustainable when used at home, church and in the wider community.

This theme derives from the overarching Language Week Series theme for 2024, ‘Sustainability’.

This picture is of Felisita and she is making our class Otai.

Our school celebrated Tongan Language Week. In our class we entered challenges and some children made Ōtai. Here are some photos and videos:

Cook Island Language Week 2024

This week our school celebrated Cook Island Language. We are very fortunate here in New Zealand to have the Ministry of Pacific Peoples. You can find all the language weeks and dates on the site. On Monday we had our opening assembly and the Waimahia Intermediate School Cook Island group came to perform at our school. Throughout the week, we learned a imene called Akapapa tatou nei and our school challenge was to build a vaka (canoe). On Friday we had our whole school closing assembly and lots of children performed. Check out some of our items:

WERO Trip 2024

Our team were very fortunate to go to the Vector WERO White Water park here in Manukau. It was a full on day and we all gave every task a go. The supervisors (adults) spoke to us about safety. Once we finished getting dressed up in wet suits, boots, helmets and vests, we practised walking across the river a few times by ourselves, in pairs and in groups. This was to help us realise the dangers around water, the current and how quickly things can change.

After that, we all got into groups again and this time we sat in a raft with our oars and worked together on the river. Once we had a few chances paddling down the river, we were then allowed to jump in the river and swim around to safety. Lots of children were scared but everyone gave it a go. We are so proud of ourselves and very thankful to the WERO park for letting us have this learning opportunity. We can’t wait to go again next year!

Here’s a video of us and our time there. Enjoy!

Rugby Match at Leabank Primary School

Last Thursday (Week 1) was an exciting afternoon for Weymouth and Leabank Primary School as they faced off in a rugby pre-match game held at Leabank School. The game was a big hit with students and families from both schools coming out to support their teams.

 

It was amazing to see so many people excited about inter-school sports! Both teams gave it their all and showed great sportsmanship throughout the game. A few girls played alongside the boys which was an awesome sign for growing the game of rugby. 

 

This rugby match was a fantastic example of how sports can bring people together and teach important values like teamwork and respect. In the end, both teams showed that they’re not just great at rugby, but also to give 100% in everything you do and to be part of a team. 

 

Hopefully, there will be more matches like this in the future, where everyone can come together, have fun playing rugby and cheering each other on.

 

Fa’afetai Mrs Vienna and Mr Ekepati Park from Leabank Park for allowing us to play at your school. Fakaaue lahi to Jacob Unuia (Jayveous and Dillon’s dad) who has been helping to coach/ train the boys. 

Shout out to Mrs McLaughlin for your support and helping with transport. Nga mihi nui to Miss Cash-Tatana, Whaea Dana and all our whānau for coming out to support and cheer us on from the sideline. 

Dylan Schmidt visits Weymouth

Yesterday we had Dylan Schmidt NZ Olympic Ambassador come to visit our school. Dylan is the first New Zealand athlete to gain a medal in trampoline. He spoke to us about resilience, participation and what it took for him to get to the Olympics. Dylan told us that there were times when he performed terribly in competitions but he kept training and never gave up. He also handed out his Olympic medals for us to look closely at while he spoke. We were all inspired by his journey and wish him and all our New Zealand Olympic team, all the best in the Paris Olympics later this year. Check out a few pictures and a video from his time at our school.

Term 2 has begun!

Term 2 has started. Every first day of each term our school has a Powhiri. This is to welcome all the new children and staff to our school. It starts with a karanga (only done by females) and the visitors (new kids and staff) walk in and sit down. While this is happening our school is saying a chant. Matua Reg opens with karakia and we all sing a hymn. Once Matua Reg finishes welcoming the visitors, a man sitting with the visitors will say his reply. This is all said in te reo Maori. Whaea Moana (our acting tumuaki) will also say a small speech and greet everyone. Once this is complete, only the front row of visitors will come and shake hands or hongi with Matua Reg and our senior leadership team. Following our Powhiri, we also had a short ceremony for ANZAC day which was last week.

Here are a few videos of our powhiri: