Marae Invitation

27th May 2015

Invitation to the South Wairarapa Super Whānau Advisory Group (SWSWAG)

Hurunui-o-Rangi Marae

Tuesday 2nd June

5.00pm (for a 5.30pm start) - 7.00pm

Kia ora koutou,

On the evening of Tuesday 2nd June there will be a powhiri (welcome) and hui (gathering) of families, parents, students, teachers, Board of Trustee members and Principals at Hurunui-o-Rangi Marae in Gladstone as part of the SWSWAG (Super Whānau South Wairarapa Advisory Group) initiative. Everyone from Gladstone School is invited and we really would love to see as many families turn up as possible to join in. The focus is to meet together and discuss ideas that can help our students learn in the best way possible in all South Wairarapa Schools.

Gladstone School is in a special position for this hui in that we are physically the closest school to the marae but also because many of the current marae whānau have learned at one of the contributing schools that make up Gladstone School. Because of this it is often mentioned that Gladstone School has a special place in the hearts of and connection to Hurunui-o-Rangi.

Our students have been invited to be part of the haka powhiri (the traditional welcome) on the marae for all of the visitors. This would mean that our students stand on the marae as tangata whenua (people who belong to this land) and perform haka and waiata in the powhiri. This is an honour for our students and we’d love for you to support them in this by helping them to get there on the night, and staying to participate, meeting some other families from other schools and see what it’s all about.

Interested students from Room 3, Room 6 and interested students from our previous Kapa Haka group will be practicing the haka and waiata for this occasion and it would be great to see as many Gladstone School students and whānau come along, as possible. There will be food, fun and possibly a few performances.

Please let me know if there are any questions you have about this event.

Naku noa, nā

Micaela Rutene

Gladstone School