HAKA BOOGIE

Kia ora Koutou!

Stoke COL Haka Boogie 2018

Nayland College Hall - Tuesday 30^th October meeting at 5pm, starting at 5:30.

All schools will be met by their hosts in the hall foyer from 5pm and shown to their allocated classroom to get changed. Your belongings will be safe to be left in the classroom. The evening is usually over by 7.30pm. This year there are likely to be signs to help guide us in.

Girls will come to Nayland College dressed in their kapa dresses. Boys will wear their black school shorts, and a plain black t-shirt if they wish.

Please indicate on the slip below whether your child is able to attend. If you are dropping off student(s) but not staying, please ensure they are “handed over” to a Birchwood teacher. Students being collected at the end will wait in the hall foyer.

Parent helpers- please let me know if you are available to help us on Tuesday.

Whānau- Please bring a plate for shared kai.

Little and easy finger food is ideal. Please label any plates or containers you want back with your name and Birchwood. Kai will be put on the trestle tables in the walkway outside (left of school office).

If you have any questions or comments, please do let me know.

Ka kite

Damian Hardman

damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

PS You can request a paper version of this form via your child's teacher or Damian, or complete the google form by clicking here.

My child ___________________________ of room ______ is able to perform at Haka Boogie 2018.

(   ) I can help on the night (crowd control, calming nerves, pinning dresses, helping fold clothes, etc).

Parent / caregiver name:                                      Contact number:

Te Rakau Whakapapa Isel Market Opening

Isel Park – Thursday 18 October. Meet at 4.30 pm, perform 5.00- 5.30 pm.

Birchwood’s kapa haka group have had a busy time with performances lately! We have been asked to open the Isel Park market this Thursday evening, which is quite an honour for us.

Te Rakau Whakapapa will meet at Isel house at 4.30 pm. We perform from 5- 5.30 pm. I hope we can get lots of parents, whānau, and other people from our school community to support our students and Birchwood school. There will be Birchwood teachers ‘backstage’ to help out, but as always, support from our parents is greatly appreciated!

Our kōtiro will please wear kapa dresses to, and home from, Isel park. Dresses can be returned the following day. Boys are to wear plain black (school) shorts, and a plain black t-shirt if they wish.

When you arrive:

·       Find a tipare (head band) and tapeka (sash).

·       Shoes, sweaters, etc are folded neatly on your shoes.

·       Girls: find somebody to check whether your dress needs pinning.

Students need to be delivered to, and collected from Isel park. We cannot let students get home by themselves.

A huge plea to send me any film or photos you take for our blog. We don’t get to see ourselves perform! Please indicate on the slip below whether your child is able to attend.

If you have any questions or comments, please do let me know.

Ka kite,

Damian Hardman

damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

(You could either email me the information below, or click here to complete a googledoc).

My child ___________________________ of room ______ is able to perform at Isel Market Opening 2018. I take responsibility for getting my child safely to and home from Isel Park (you could also email this permission through).

(   ) I can help on the night.

Parent / caregiver name:                                                       

Contact number:

Te Huinga Whetū Waiata

Kia ora Koutou!


Nga waiata mo te Huinga Whetū.

• Ko Toku Marae
• Utaina
• Kapo o Pango (haka)

PRACTISE!

Ka kite

Damian / Mr H
damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

Te Huinga Whetū- Final Notice

Kia ora Koutou,

I hope this is the final notice!

TE HUINGA WHETŪ (2)

24 Mahuru / September 2018

Kia ora Koutou!

Te Tauihu o te Waka ā Māui Culture Council are holding Te Huinga Whetū- a Kapa Haka festival- on Thursday 27 September, from 9am. This is held at the Trafalgar Centre, and is a festival for Ngahau (support) and Whakataetae (competitive) groups- many Nelson schools will be in attendance.

Te Rakau Whakapapa are performing as a Ngauhau group at 11.15 am and will have 10 minutes to share 3 waiata (Ko Toku Marae, Utaina, and Te Rakau Whakapapa Haka).

Information for participants:

            8.00 am         Arrive at Birchwood, meet in Manukau hub

8.15 am         Leave Birchwood (leaving early, traffic)

9.00 am         Whakatau and karakia

9.15 am         First performance

11.15 am       Te Rakau Whakapapa perform

2.00 pm         (approx.) Birchwood leave to return to Birchwood

What to bring:

·      School bag with snacks, lunch, water bottle.

·      School uniform polar fleece, sweater, t-shirt.

·      Shoes and socks.

·      (Optional) Bring money- kai stalls will be available.

Other information:

• No need for transport- we have organized a bus! Thank you SO MUCH to those parents who offered to drive us!
• Parent helpers: thank you SO MUCH to those parents who have offered to support us at Te Huinga Whetū. I have sent a separate email to you which I hope explains everything. If not, please be in touch! (We DO NEED you, parent helpers!)
• All parents and whānau are welcome to come along to the event. Please check times so you don’t miss us. It’s an all-day thing so you’re welcome to come early and stay late.
• Parents and other audience- we will nominate a ‘media crew’. Te Tauihu ō te Waka ā Maui Culture Council ask us to ‘control’ social media. Any photos or video we take can be shared through the Culture Council for facebook etc. It would be amazing to have photos and video of our tamariki for Birchwood School use.
• There is limited space for getting changed, so students will wear kapa haka uniform to the event. We can remove shoes, socks, etc and store these while performing.
• Visiting the kai stalls: optional, students may not buy kai without asking me first, and must be accompanied by a buddy or parent helper.

Girls: You will organise your dress on Wednesday at school. You will need to wear this to school on Thursday, along with school uniform polar fleece or sweater, shoes and socks. Headbands will be provided on Thursday.

Boys: You will wear school uniform shorts (plain black), and you may choose to perform in a plain black t-shirt (strictly no print). Otherwise you will wear a school uniform t-shirt, school uniform polar fleece or sweater, shoes and socks. We will bring headbands and sashes with us on Thursday.

Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions.

Ka kite,

Damian Hardman

damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

You can download and print your own copy of this notice.

Te Huinga Whetū

Kia ora Koutou!

Te Huinga Whetū is next week. We're still waiting on some notices to be returned so we know who is coming... PLEASE HAVE THESE TO ME ASAP!

Waiata we're preparing for are:

• Ko Toku Marae
• Utaina
• Kapo a Pango

And maybe...

• Poi E
• Ka Pioioi

ALL performance group tamariki need to practise these for homework as well as attend all extra practise at school.

Te Huinga Whetū is held at the Trafalgar Centre, a detail omitted from the notice that went home. Aue, kei hea taku hinengaro?

We want to leave Birchwood by 8.30 am so we can make the Whakatau. 
Te Rakau Whakapapa perform at 11.15 am.
We intend to stay for 'the whole day' to experience a kapa haka extravaganza and support other groups.

Please email me or leave a comment if you have any questions.

Nā
Damian Hardman
damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

Te Huinga Whetū- notice

Kia ora Koutou!

Te Tauihu o te Waka a Māui Culture Council are holding a kapa haka festival on Thursday 27 September, from 9am to 2.30pm. This is a festival for Ngahau (support) and Whakataetae (competitive) groups- many Nelson schools will be in attendance.

Te Rakau Whakapapa are performing as a Ngauhau group and will have 10 minutes to share 3 waiata.

Your child has expressed an interest in performing at this event. Please fill in and return the permission slip, transport offer and parent help by Monday 17 September.

Expectations for interested performers:

·      Open to ALL interested and willing kapa kids- no age limit.

·      Commit to attending extra Wednesday lunchtime practises.

·      Practise waiata at home- using the Kapa Haka blog is good start.

·      Display positive behaviour at kapa practise, and in class.

Information for participants:

8.15 am         Leave Birchwood

8.30 am         Doors open

9.00 am         Whakatau and karakia

9.15 am         First performance

Performance schedule is not yet available- I will share that when it is.

Bring money- kai stalls will be available.

I will share more information as it becomes available. Please note this notice is also available on Birchwood’s Kapa Haka blog. In fact, keep checking the Kapa blog- there are more performances coming up and information will be posted there.

Ka kite,

Damian Hardman

damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

Download the notice here.

Citizenship Ceremony

Today, a small group of Te Rakau Whakapapa students went to the Nelson City Council Chambers to be part of the Nelson/ Whakatū Citizenship Ceremony. It was a really special time for several reasons:

1. Matua Rangi Kohe was there as kaumatua, and he recognised us! He was our kaikōreo at our mihi whakatau in term 1. He remembered my name and our school, gave me a hongi, and mentioned Birchwood School in his mihimihi.

2. They gave us morning tea. Mason tried to eat all of the scones (5).

3. We got to wear the Mayoral Chains.

4. Lots of people told us were were awesome. Several of the City Council staff told me that our group was one of the best they'd seen.

5. One of the tauiwi (an Englishman) spoke to the audience. He told us that his matua and whaea had traveled Aotearoa from England 16 years ago, and bought him back an All Blacks shirt. He had the shirt with him, and told us all about how much he loves New Zealand and how pleased he is to be a citizen. Honestly, hearing this fella made my day. It's so easy to forget what we have or take it for granted. We live in an amazing place and listening to manuhiri can remind us how darned lucky and privileged we are.

6. We don't have to agree on policies and politics, but our Mayor Rachel Reese is lovely. She made us feel welcome, and let our tamariki wear the mayoral chains because of a rule that says people under 18 are allowed to wear them. I'm sure she made that up, but how nice of her! She even took photos with some of our group.

As always, our Birchwood students carried themselves with mana. Their behaviour and waiata were exemplary. I really am privileged to be part of their learning and lives. 

Thank you so much to the parents who were able to transport us: Shane, Gina, Lauren, Jessica. Without your support we cannot do the things we do. Ka mau te wehi parents, you are amazing.

Also, an acknowledgement for the students who put their hands up to participate but weren't selected to be part of today's group, or those who opted to represent Birchwood School at the hockey tournament (which was postponed :/): Lydia, Mia, Chali, Charlie and Luca. 

And here I formally thank those who represented our kura at today's citizenship ceremony: Abby, Amelia, Ava, Evelyn, Gabby, Hannah, Georgia, Maya, Saskia, Cade, Mason, Leon and Joel.

Performers' parents: copies of photos are in a folder in your child's google-doc account.

Ngā mihi nui,

One very proud Damian Hardman
damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

Poi Making Workshop

Kia Ora

We have arranged a poi making workshop with Whaea Philipa who teaches at Mapua School. We need just a few willing parents and your children too if you wish to have an outing with them! Or you can come alone!

Because I live at Mapua I can meet you at Mapua School one Tuesday at 10am or a time that suit us all. I am thinking Tuesday 28th August at this stage. We can arrange that better when we know who is interested. We can also squeeze in a social coffee or ice-cream at the wharf too perhaps!!

Once we know how to make them we will bring our skills back to Birchwood and complete a new set for Kapa Haka.

If you would like a visit to Mapua for this workshop please e-mail me at hillary.gregory@brichwoodschool.nz  or let Damian know so we can make a plan.

Thanks - in anticipation of your involvement!

Hillary Gregory / Damian Hardman

damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

Citizenship Ceremony

7 August 2018

Kia ora Koutou!

A notice will go home this week for students who would like to be considered to perform for the Citizenship Ceremony. Notices are available through me in Tawa / Room 12, via your child's teacher, or by accessing the google-pdf-doc in this link.

Birchwood School kapahaka group- Te Rakau Whakapapa- have been invited to perform two waiata at a Citizenship Ceremony on Wednesday 29 August, starting at 9.30 am and finishing at around 10.45 am.

We can take 12 students who have shown excellence and leadership during practises.

Please indicate below whether you give permission for your tamariki to be considered for this performance, and also whether you are able to provide transport.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Ka kite,

Damian Hardman

damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

 

P.S. This was also posted to the Māori@Birchwood blog.

Matariki Family Event

Kia ora Koutou!

This Friday (22 June) we have our very first performance of the year! So exciting, you have worked hard and you will be great. Our performance is to celebrate Matariki, which is the Māori New Year. (Hopefully you'll be able to find out more this week and produce "something" so our parents can learn what it's all about!)

A big TINO PAI Ō MAHI to the P.T.A. for organising this event! We are so lucky to have such dedicated and creative parents doing cool things like this for us!

Here's the flier: 

We will need to be really organised, so please read the following:

Girls 
Please try on dresses any time this week. Take your dress home in a boomerang bag or cloth supermarket bag by Friday. It can come to school on Monday.

You can come to school on Friday night with your dress on, SO LONG AS YOU WEAR SOMETHING OVER TOP IN CASE YOU SPILL TOMATO SAUCE OR SOMETHING ON YOURSELF. Other clothes, like sauce-stained t-shirts, sweaters, etc, can go in a cloth supermarket bag which you will bring to the hall with you at 5.45.

I don't know where you can get changed on Friday night, so you will possibly wear your kapa dress, with something over top, for the night. Wonderful if your dress can go through the washing machine, and DON'T pat your cat or dog while wearing your dress!

Junior students- we might not have a dress small enough for you this time.

P.S. the Māori word for 'dress' is 'kākahu'.

Boys 
You are allowed to wear a plain (PLAIN) black t-shirt, if you like. You will need to put sweater, other t-shirt, etc in a cloth supermarket bag, which we'll leave in the hall or Whānau room (breakfast club) for our performance. 

Tīpare (headband) and tāpeka (sash) can be collected from the hall on Friday just before our performance.

EVERYBODY
1. We will meet in the hall ready to rock and roll at 5.45.

2. Bare feet to perform, so look after your shoes.

3. Open to ALL kapa kids, even our teina. It's a confidence thing, and it's up to you whether you join us. You're still allowed to be in kapahaka even if you're too nervous to perform with us on Friday.

4. You have worked hard to sing well. We haven't had the hall for 3 1/2 terms, so you can afford to relax a bit with actions :) Try hard but be kind to yourself.

If you have any questions please do ask!  

Ngā mihi

Damian Hardman / Mr H
damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

P.S. Do let me know if I have forgotten something....

Oh yes, go to Birchwood School's Kaupapa Māori page to see waiata and karakia. 
Click here.

Citizenship Ceremony

Kia ora Te Rakau Whakapapa!

We have been invited to perform at the Citizenship Ceremony on Wednesday 29 August. That is a wee way away, which gives us time to prepare. 

Only 12 students are able to be part of that group, due to space at the Council Chamber.

If you'd like to attend, your challenge is to post a comment on any one of the waiata we have on this blog, explaining what that waiata means to you. You don't need to give a detailed translation, just a brief and accurate statement of the wairua of the waiata. 

Some of you have already done this, and I know that others have had trouble posting for some reason. Bah, computers! If you are having trouble, you could always email me instead.

Am loving the enthusiasm and excellence at practise- thanks so much for that! I just know the new citizens are in for a treat!

Ngā mihi

Damian Hardman
damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

Kapa haka

Kia ora Whānau!

Our senior kapa haka group is called Te Rakau Whakapapa, and practise every Friday 11.00- 11.45 in the senior hub. At the moment, this group is for year 4- 6 students. We are hoping that we can invite junior and middle team students to their own group- finding time is a challenge but one that we are working on.

I have had a couple of students asking if their whaea or matua or whaea-kēkē or koro can join our practise, and the answer is YES! Please do! Whether you want to have a cup of tea and be part of the magic, or you have some helpful advice for us, you're most welcome. Turning up unannounced is fine, but you take your chances ;)

It's been splendid to see new people joining the whānau. Some of our waiata and kaupapa is new to them, but they're working hard and learning lots. Hope I remember to get a few pics or videos for you some time soon....

Ngā mihi,
Damian Hardman
damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz