BACKOur annual Kotahitanga Day took place at the end of February, and it was a day where our school values came to life. Our Year 9 students traded their uniforms for team colours to embrace being united as students of Rangitoto College.
For the new Year 9 cohort, the day served as a way of finding true belonging and connection within the college. Chenumi Danwatta Liyanage of 9BE reflected, “Kotahitanga Day meant realising that I had already made a lot of new connections after only having been at Rangitoto College for a couple of weeks. Delin (Leo) Xu of 9RH noted that the event was designed to “make the students feel proud of being a Rangitoto College student and develop a sense of belonging in being part of our school community.”
The core of the day was found in challenges that required cooperation and encouragement. Activities like bridge-building, the tug-of-war, and the blindfold race were highlights. Lucien Burke of 9PT said, “The blind race is when one person is blindfolded, and the other one has to help them get over hurdles and run back. This was my favourite because it was a fun way to enjoy trusting the other person.”
Another highlight was the pipe challenge, where students had to transport water between buckets using handheld tubes. Delin (Leo) Xu found that it required “teamwork, unanimity across people, and communication.” The reward wasn’t just winning, but the feeling of success when “everything worked out, and the water went through smoothly.”
Beyond the competition, the day was a chance to enjoy each other’s company and bond. Between all the activities, the atmosphere was one of friendly competition and fun. Ultimately, the day proved that while the students arrived as individuals from different backgrounds, they are moving forward as one. As Ethan Paterson of 9PT concluded, “Kotahitanga Day was a really great experience for me, getting to know my classmates a lot better.”
Written with the support of Chenumi Danwatta Liyanage, Delin (Leo) Xu, Lucien Burke, and Ethan Paterson.
