Matariki Family Event

Kia ora Whānau!

No doubt you've heard about the Matariki Family Event! This is Birchwood School's way of celebrating Matariki. A HUUUUGE thanks to the talented PTA for putting this together.

Whānau Classes
Birchwood School have been running whānau classes for the past couple of years. Whānau classes are where siblings, cousins, etc, can have a chance to mix, mingle and learn together. Whānau classes don't change- a student stays with the same whānau class and teacher until they leave Birchwood. Usually whānau classes meet twice per term, sometimes more, sometimes less. Your child's classroom teacher can let you which whānau class your child is in.

Karakia mō te kai
I hope we will take the time to bless the kai before we eat. There are two main options I have found:

1. Shorty Pants

E whakawhetai ana mo ēnai kai
E whakawhetai ana no ō mātou hoa

Waaaay back in the day, Mrs Saville and her new entrant tamariki recorded this karakia.

We are thankful for the food we share

And thankful that our friends are here

2. Traditional

Nau mai e ngā hua
o te wao 

o te ngakina
o te wai tai

 o te wai Māori
Nā Tane

 Nā Rongo
Nā Tangaroa
Nā Maru
Ko Ranginui e tū iho nei
Ko Papatūānuku e takoto nei
Tuturu whakamaua
Kia tina! TINA! Hui e! TĀIKI E!

Welcome the gifts of food
from the sacred forests
from the cultivated gardens
from the sea
from the fresh waters
The food of Tane
of Rongo
of Tangaroa
of Maru
I acknowledge Ranginui who is above me, 
Papatuanuku who lies beneath me
Let this be my commitment to all!
Draw together! Affirm!

Waiata

We hope you'll join us in two waiata.

1. He Waiata Matariki

You can click here to see this waiata on our waiata blog.

2. Matariki Macarena

This doesn't show the actions, you'll have to work that out for yourselves :) 
P.S. Shrek might help!

Te Rakau Whakapapa - Birchwood Kapahaka

You have some very special instructions I'd like you to follow, which will help with organisation on the night. Click here to go to the Kapa blog for those instructions. 

Thanks again to the P.T.A. for organising a Matariki celebration for us! Look forward to seeing you all there. Please do ask if you have any questions!

Ngā mihi

Damian Hardman

damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz

Lesson Plans

Kia ora Koutou!

There is a little bit of news to share.

(1) There is a waiata for us to learn. Hopefully we'll be able to sing together at the P.T.A.'s Matariki night. It's one we know: He Waiata Matariki by Rahera Davies. Click here to go the Waiata page.

He Waiata Matariki by Rahera Davies

(2) Speaking of Matariki, here is a new book by Miriama Kamo. It is available in Te Reo Māori as well as English. 

The Stolen Stars of Matariki by Miriama Kamo

(3) We're developing some special teacher resources, some of which have been shared already. There's a new page on this blog called 'Special Teacher Resources' where you can access them via googledocs. 

Ka kite

Damian Hardman
damian.hardman@birchwood.school.nz