Multicultural Festival

 Kia ora koutou,

There is a MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL on Sunday 23 March at Founders Park. (Time to be confirmed).

Click here for some more information about the event.

We can take up to 30 Ngā Manu Tīoriori o Manukau performers, depending on their availability and waiata effort and ability.

Here is a "Waiata We Aim to Perform" list so you can practise at home.

• School Pepeha (one tama to recite)
• Nei Rā te Kaupapa
• Hareruia
• Matua Hautere
• Purea Nei
• E Minaka Ana
• Ko Te Waipounamu
• E Hoki Mai Rā
• Toia Mai

More information about the Multicultural Festival will follow as it comes available, such as our performance time, which stage we're on, meeting time and place.

Please feel free to ask any pātai in the meantime.

Ngā mihi,

Damian

damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz 

Waiata to learn

Kia ora koutou,

There are many people who like to practise waiata at home. Here is a list of waiata you can sing along to, learn the kupu, learn the ringa.

Click on the waiata- the link will take you to the waiata page. There are ones we'll perform at the Matariki event:

Matua Hautere

He Kakano Ahau

Purea Nei

Ko te Waipounamu

Remember that we are as good as the effort you put in.

Ka kite,

Damian

Kapahaka Expectations

 Kia ora Whānau,

Taylor and Mia have worked on 'Kapahaka Expectations' for us, so that our sessions are successful.

Kapa haka Expectations 

• Stay focused on singing and the people that are talking up the front.

• Try to join even if you don’t know the words. JUST TRY!

• Sit next to someone you will be sensible with.

• Listen to Damian because the history behind the songs we sing is important to know.

• Sit up straight while singing.

• Respect the Manukau people and teachers who use their time to help you learn about kapa haka.

• If people are having are hard time concentrating help them out.

• Be proud if you get picked to lead a song it just means we all think you’re a good singer.

Ka mau te wehī, Taylor and Mia! Thank you for thinking of us- we're lucky to have you!

Ka kite,

Damian

Community Evening Performance

 Kia ora Koutou,

Last Thursday, the Birchwood Kapahaka group performed. We are lucky enough to have Aunty Emma as a parent at our school, and grateful that she took and shared videos of the performance. Thank you so much!

I'd like to acknowledge the rōpū for the effort they put in to coming to lunchtime practises. Also, you'll notice there are juniors performing too. That was an unexpected but very welcome treat. I am sure they will grow into excellent performers.

Hareruia

Ko Toku Marae (Kaea- Sadie)

E Minaka Ana (Kaea- Taylor)

Matua Hautere (Kaea- Mara)

We hope you enjoy these videos.

Our kapa time for the rest of the term is likely to be 1130- 1230. Juniors can come for 1130- 1200, or stay till the end. Whānau, you're welcome to come and sit in (join in)- you don't need to make an appointment, and it's free :)

Ngā mihi,

Damian

damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

Matariki Performances Homework 2023

Kia ora Koutou,

The Birchwood School and Stoke-Tāhunanui Kāhui Ako Matariki celebrations are next Wednesday. 

We are performing two waiata at Nayland College, and we want to also practise at school and home so we can do our best on the night. Please find time to practise in your own time (not just during our practises).

Matua Hautere http://bwskapahakawaiata.blogspot.com/p/matua-hautere-ngati-kuia.html E Hoki Mai Rā http://bwskapahakawaiata.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_12.html (Make sure you practise actions too. Watch for her right foot takahi).

Ngā mihi,

Damian Hardman,

Damian.Hardman@birchwood.school.nz

Birchwood School and Stoke-Tāhunanui Kāhui Ako Matariki Celebration

Oops this did not cut-and-paste very well :/

Birchwood School and Stoke-Tāhunanui Kāhui Ako Matariki Celebration

Kia ora Koutou,

Birchwood School and the Stoke- Tāhunanui Kāhui Ako are each holding Matariki

celebrations on Wednesday 28 June. 

Birchwood school

event starts at 2pm. Parents and whānau are invited to come to school and experience

some of our learning around Matariki and our ‘Future Starts with Me’ inquiry. 

Birchwood kapa haka will perform at 2.45pm. We’re not sure where yet because the

hall will be a construction zone! But we’ll keep you posted. The BOT will run a

sausage sizzle.

The Kāhui Ako Matariki event at Nayland College is 5.30pm to approximately 7.30pm.

It includes time for local kura to share their kapa haka groups. Birchwood’s

kapa haka group will perform (at a time to be confirmed). There will be kai available

(example, Birchwood PTA will be serving pork buns). More information will be shared

as it becomes available.

If your child is able to attend the Kāhui Ako Matariki evening, or you’re able to help on

the night, please either sign and return the slip below, or email Damian (address below).

Please let me know if you have any questions. 

Ka kite,

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

****************************************************************************************

Please return the slip below (or email Damian) if your child is able to attend the Kāhui Ako Matariki event at Nayland College, between 5.00pm- 7.30pm.

My child _________________ room ____ will be attending the Kāhui Ako event.

I am able to be a parent helper on the night:  If YES, please print your name and

phone number: 

 Kia ora Koutou,

It is a lovely, rainy season at the moment but at least the lawns are being watered.

We are adding a couple of new waiata to our playlist: 'Matua Hautere' and 'Kia Ū, Kia Mau'. Both of these waiata were introduced to kaiako at Birchwood through the Te Ahu o te Reo Māori course. The really nice thing about Te Ahu was that so many of our kaiako have been on it, and the learning is all from Te Tau Ihu o te Waka. So, these are local waiata with important stories behind them. 

I have not yet asked permission to upload the videos etc onto this blog, but as they are here solely for the purpose of our learning them. I know that some of our expert kapa haka ākonga learn waiata at home, and we're very proud of them for doing this. 

If you have any questions or comments about these waiata, or anything else on this blog, please do be in touch. 

Ka kite,

Damian Hardman.

damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz