Sharing Te Reo
Sharing Te Reo
November 03, 2020 at 9:39 AM
Towering over their Boys’ School hosts, a group of Year 10 boys from the College, accompanied by Matua Maurice Nelson, visited the Junior School at the Shore Road campus yesterday to share their love of Te Reo.
A group of Year 3 boys joined the ‘big boys’ out on the field, and like boys anywhere, as soon as a ball was introduced, the inhibitions came tumbling down! Dodging between the legs of older boys, the pint-sized rugby players were keen to share their skills, whilst the older boys facilitated play between the age groups.
With the boys now relaxed in each other’s company, it was back in the Junior School for Matua Nelson to lead both groups of boys in some hand, language and co-ordination games, picking up the speed as the youngsters caught on.
To complete the visit, the entire Junior School was joined by boys from Years 4 and 5 to watch the College boys perform the new Saint Kentigern College Haka - ‘Te Haka o Te Kura O Hato Keneti’. This was recently written and choreographed by two of the Year 10 visitors, Rawiri Martin and Sua Hotere-Sosopo, who led their peers in the performance.
The timing of the visit was perfect, as the Boys’ School prepares for their own annual Haka competition later in the term. Traditionally, a Haka is seen as a ceremonial dance or challenge, and is usually performed to represent the group’s pride, strength, unity and belonging. For Saint Kentigern, the Haka brings our people together from all cultures and helps connect us to our surrounding areas. It also represents identity and being proud of who we are and where we come from. This was clearly evident today as students from two of our schools enjoyed each other’s company.
Matua Nelson is keen to further the connection between the campuses and hopes that next year, his senior students in Years 12 and 13 can return to share their learning with the Boys’ School.
In thanks, Reverend Reuben Hardie said, ‘I want to acknowledge the gift you have for teaching our boys the games in Te Reo today – the boys are still talking about them and I know the teachers observing are keen to try and teach them to their own classes. Our sincere thanks to Matua Maurice and the College boys for taking the time to visit the Boys’ School. It was greatly appreciated.’
