Bay of Islands College stalwart Ruth Hills has recently returned from the Vancouver Island Indigenous Language Symposium where she was an invited guest speaker.
The symposium brought together traditional knowledge holders, Elders, advocates and educators from around the world to share stories and their journey to indigenous language revitalization from pre-school to post-secondary to answer the question “What Can School Districts Do?”
Ruth shared her 37 years of experiences in working with learners from 5 years old to adult education. She spoke of her years as the regional co-ordinator of the Te Kotahitanga Professional Development Programme which focused on building relationships between the learners and teachers, and raising Maori achievement. Of particular interest was her collaboration with staff and parents to establish the Reo Rua Language Unit within Bay College.
Typically Ruth shared the Bay College, Reo Rua journey using the voices of students, parents, grand-parents, care givers, teachers and data. Welcome home Ruth we are proud that you were able to share Bay College’s language revitalization success story with the Vancouver Island First Nation people.
Tangata i akona ki te kainga, tunga ki te marae, tau ana. A person trained at home will stand on the marae with dignity. Takutai Waiomio- Cassidy’s achievement is a reflection of this well known whakatauki.
The most coveted prize of the Tai Tokerau, Secondary Schools Regional Manu Korero held at Opononi from 5-8 June. The Senior Maori, Pei Te Hurinui Jones trophy was claimed by our very own Year 13 student, Takutai Waiomio- Cassidy. Takutai’s achievement is testimony to the collaboration of many including her Reo Rua teachers, her whanau and going back even further to Te Kura Kaupapa o Taumarere and Kohanga Reo staff. She triumphed over the best of the best from every Kura Kaupapa and mainstream secondary school in Northland and will now go on to represent our region at the nationals in Gisborne later this year. Takutai, her whanau and her trophy were honoured at a special assembly on Monday. Takutai was accompanied by her whanau and kai-korero from Matawaia Marae.
Once again Bay College provided contestants in each of the five sections of the Manu Korero. I want to acknowledge our kaumatua, Papa Hau from Waikare who at 93 years of age, continues to accompany our speakers to the Manu Korero as our kai-tiaki. Tena koe e te matua, nga manaakitanga o te Runga Rawa ki a koe.
Congratulations go to our four singing sensations who brought more kudos to our school. Jade Norman, Dayna Scott, Mihi Koperu, Danika Holland call themselves Harmonies Divergent, their sweet harmonising won the Smokefree Tangata Beats Award at the Northland heats. They are now preparing for the Nationals to be held in Auckland later this year.
Our long awaited specialist English teacher Mr Richard Higgins was welcomed to Bay College at a special assembly last week. We are excited about Richard and his wife Kimberley’s arrival in the Bay College community. Richard comes to us from Kerikeri High and previously Western Springs College.
NCEA Review – I have accepted the role as Regional Engagement Leader for Tai Tokerau. I am one of thirteen Principals from around the country that has been engaged by Ministry of Education is to encourage parents, students, local business owners and community groups to come to hui in Whangarei and Kaitaia and have their say.
The interactive, café-style workshop is open to everyone and is part of a series happening right across the country. They are designed to give all kiwis the chance to share their ideas and experiences of NCEA – the challenges, the successes and what we can do better in the future.
There are other ways to get involved, Tai Tokerau locals can provide feedback online or on paper, at workshops or hui, or through social media.
“The NCEA Review is part of the national conversation on the future of education in New Zealand. It’s about building not just a better education system, but the world’s best, for all our children and young people,”
More information about the NCEA review, the Big Opportunities and ways to participate can be found at conversation.education.govt.nz/ncea.
There are other ways to get involved, Tai Tokerau locals can provide feedback online or on paper, at workshops or hui, or through social media.
“The NCEA Review is part of the national conversation on the future of education in New Zealand. It’s about building not just a better education system, but the world’s best, for all our children and young
people,” [needs attribution]
Date: 25 June 2018
Time: 5:30pm-8:00pm
Where: Whangarei Girls High School
Date: 26 June 2018
Time: 5:30pm-8:00pm
Where: Kaitaia College
Book now: conversation.education.govt.nz/events
At a recent full school assembly Troy Baker, an ex-student of Bay of Islands College, delivered a captivating and inspirational speech, detailing his experiences as a boy from Waiomio rising to the top of the corporate world of Banking and Construction. It was affirming to hear Troy’s pride in his Bay College education and how he believed it provided his point of difference with other competitors at corporate interviews. He shared some poignant moments in his life through his love of poetry and has kindly consented to sharing the following poem.
A Modern Day Struggle by Troy Baker
Times we sit here feeling sorry for ourselves
No money in our pockets, no food for our mouths.
We continue blaming others for the shit life that we live
We have no money, thinking that’s all we can give.
Our ancestors forced to change how they lived everyday
Taught how to dress & speak, “It’s wrong doing it your way”
They came in numbers, raped our women, infected our race..
They were architects of our land even the features of our face…
I’ve got to the point where I’m sick of the same story
Told by those who blame others for their problems,
self-proclaimed hori
Addiction, repetition is the cause to your friction
Don’t blame anyone else, you’re killing yourself is my prediction
Take a step back and look at the life that you’ve built,
In a mirror, do you recognize happiness, regret or guilt?
A modern day struggle is not a new invention,
Airing some truths is my only intention.
My life started when my father parted
The man walked away from the family he started
I could have blamed him for failing at life
He left us vulnerable to deal with life’s strife
Lucky for both my brothers and me
He left behind a strong loving mother for we
She protected us, even when she wasn’t mentally strong
Mum dug deep within to show us right from wrong
There were many times where mum didn’t eat for a week,
To make sure that there was kai food for her 3 boys to eat.
Struggling to make ends meet is no joke,
Take a look in the mirror, do you see broke?
Look deep within yourself for the real reason to live,
Open your eyes to the love that YOU can give
It is only up to you to unlock your mind
A decision is made to be mean or kind
A modern day struggle is nothing new,
Your life is a story written by you
If you accept stereotypes of how your life should be,
You have accepted others ideas for your own destiny.
John Paitai,
Principal
