We had an early start on Monday morning, with our building blessing at 6:15am. We needed to ensure that we could have the whole of our beautiful new space blessed before the sun rose for the day. Our kaumatua, Jack Kaa (Papa Jack), and Callum Katene from Ngāti Toa conducted the blessing together, taking our gathering around the entire building blessing the the different spaces. Dr. Katene then spoke on behalf of Ngāti Toa, Urs and John Bunting spoke on behalf of the school, and Timothy Johnston spoke on behalf of the parent community. We then shared some beautiful kai prepared by our wonderful Gail.
It was a lovely ceremony, and we are so grateful and honoured that Papa Jack and Whaea Nina were there on behalf of our school, and that Callum Katene was a part of it on behalf of mana whenua. Dr. Katene is also the koro (grandfather) of one of our previous students, Māui Katene, and it was lovely to make that connection with him. Jackson (our self-appointed school cat) also solemnly joined us, which seemed only fitting. A huge well done also to Tara, one of our year 6 students, who accompanied Papa Jack around as part of the blessing, and led the whole group in our karakia kai before we ate.
With our new building blessed and ready as a safe space for everyone, the team spent the day on Monday moving in and getting acquainted with the different learning spaces. There are a wide range of different spaces in the building - spaces for quiet individual focus, small guided groups and workshops, small group collaborative spaces, and spaces for larger workshops and louder activities.
It has been lovely spending time in Pōhutukawa this week and watching the different ways ngā ākonga use the spaces. I was in there this morning while there was one larger workshop happening, several smaller guided groups happening, and one teacher on roam, supporting ākonga working by themselves in the many nooks and quiet spaces available. One small group of tamariki were doing a louder fitness activity involving a ball, and had taken themselves into our movement space, closing off the doors so they could be loud and throw a ball around safely without disturbing anyone else.
Pōhutukawa Hub will stay in this space by themselves for the rest of this year, so they can take time to get used to the different spaces. Next year we will move the students currently in Harakeke Hub over to join them.
It has also been wonderful finally having our hall and library spaces back for whole school use. We have had some Harakeke Hub groups in the hall this week, and they seemed a bit bemused to begin with when they were told they were allowed to run around in this space. Needless to say, they got the hang of it pretty quickly!
The external area around the side and back of the hub is not due to be completed until early October. This work is very weather dependent and so we are scheduling our formal building opening for the middle of Term 4, to give us a bit of buffer in case of weather issues. We will make this a community gathering and a chance to come together as a wider group, socialize, and celebrate our beautiful new learning spaces. We will send out more information about this event a bit closer to the time.
In the meantime, you are all most welcome to come on and have a look around the new building whenever you are able to pop by.
