NZ Music Month

May is New Zealand Music Month. Every year The New Zealand Music Commission run a competition called Hook Line and Singalong for school children. The winning school becomes the song of the Music Month and is learnt and sung in many many schools around the country. 

This year's winning song is 'Islands' by Julia Tu'uga, Maxine Vaihu and Meleseini Puletau from St Pius X Catholic School. This is the first year a primary school has won the competition. 

We loved learning this fun, catchy, upbeat song and performed it as a school during our assembly on Friday 30th May. 

If you want to learn the words and sign for 'Islands', please follow the link below:
http://menza.co.nz/islands/ 

Islands from Ham East on Vimeo.

Marae Visit

Today Hamilton East School visited Te Kohinga Marama Marae, at the University of Waikato.
Below are a series of photos and video to show how the day unfolded. Thank you to the Te Kohinga Marama Marae and all the speakers, parents and helpers who represented Hamilton East School.

Powhiri

Take a look at the movies of us walking onto the marae.
 

 

We are sitting and waiting for the speaking to start.

Kowhai Team

 

After the powhiri we were allowed to go into the wharenui. We had to take our shoes off before we went into the wharenui.

There were lots of beautiful carvings. We learnt what each carving was called - Manaakitanga, Whanaungatanga, Aroha, Wehe, Mana, Ehe.

There were also other carvings in the wharenui.

 

 

Totara Team

 
 

 
 

Kauri Team

We piled onto the bus excited about our trip, it was great to be on the flash bus!

Arriving first, we waited for the Kowhai and Totara teams to arrive. We entertained ourselves by reciting our Mihi and playing clapping games.

After the Karanga by the Tangata Whenua and the Kaikaranga by us the Manuhiri, we listened to Ray whaikorero. We sung waiata to acknowledge our speakers.

The teachers were welcomed by a hongi or a kiss on the cheek. 

Inside the whare were the most beautiful carvings!

While we were waiting for the other teams to come out of the whare, we sketched many of the things around the marae.

Inside the whare, Ray told us all about the kowhaiwhai panels, the carvings and the photos.

 We learnt how to read the panels on the ceiling too.

What a fantastic visit. Thank you to all the people of Te Kohing Marama Marae and our Hamilton East helpers.

Talking stick

Our Kaumatua

Look, Draw, Look at Te Kohinga Marama Marae

Shoes off before going into the marae.

Listening to the stories of the marae. Thank you Roy.

Tokutoku panels representing the spine and ribs.

Roy explaining the carvings in the marae. He told some funny stories.

Close up shot of patterns in the carving.

Moko carving.

Look, Draw, Look inside the wharenui.