BACKIn Week 5, Rangitoto College came alive as we celebrated Tongan Language Week with incredible energy, cultural pride, and vibrant community spirit. This year’s national theme, “Ko ‘etau hiva, ko e fe’unu mahu’inga ia ki he mo’ui ‘a e Tonga” – “Our music is a vital strand of our Tongan culture,” anchored our week as our Pacific community brought our kura together in celebration.
The celebrations kicked off with our students proudly speaking at year-level assemblies and staff briefings where they shared the significance of the week and invited everyone to participate. To encourage language learning, students shared daily Tongan ‘Phrases of the Day’ videos, giving staff and students a fun, accessible way to incorporate Lea Faka-Tonga into their daily interactions.
Throughout the week, our Pacific students hosted a series of engaging lunchtime workshops and activities:
- Tuesday: Students led a craft workshop teaching peers how to handcraft beautiful sei flowers to wear behind the ear.
- Wednesday: A high-energy lunchtime volleyball match brought out fierce, friendly competition and loud cheers from the sidelines.
- Thursday: The ever-popular lolly lei workshop saw a massive turnout, with students crafting (and sampling!) delicious chocolate goodies.
- Friday: The week culminated in a beautiful showcase of traditional Tongan dance, featuring powerful performances from both our Tongan boys and girl groups.
A standout highlight was seeing our Pacifica tutor class step into leadership roles, teaching traditional songs and dances to their peers. It was a privilege for students and teachers alike to watch our young people lead with such confidence and pride.
A massive thank you to all the students, staff, and whānau who supported, participated, and brought such unity and vibrancy to our school. Mālō ‘aupito!
