Latest news with #SamoanLanguageWeek
Otago Daily Times
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
School collaborates to produce artwork
Musselburgh School pupils and artist Ana Teofilo celebrate the unveiling of the school's collective artwork at an assembly yesterday. PHOTO: GERARD O'BRIEN The talents of the entire Musselburgh School have been combined for a new artwork. The piece, which is yet to be named, will be on display in the school assembly hall. It was completed in collaboration with artist Ana Teofilo, who helped bring all the different themes together. She said it took about a week to put together, after a one-day brainstorming session with pupils. "It's amazing just knowing that all the kids took part in it, and we were able to just put it in one big piece where they can celebrate it and feel proud." Each pupil drew something that was somehow inspired by Samoan Language Week. "There were a lot of connections through weaving. There were Samoan flags. Some drew cats because they have a personal, you know, connection to little cats. There were also a lot of florals." Seeing the pupils develop their work was also inspiring, she said. "So we had all the senior classes first, and then we had the juniors come through. So you could see the tightness of their drawings to the looseness of the younger ones, which is really cool." She had not put together a collaborative artwork before. "This would be my first piece where we've all collaborated in one piece. "Usually, I would do workshops where each individual creates a piece, and we would put it together. So, this was something special in one single piece. "I'd absolutely love to do something like this again if there's another opportunity for it." Principal Robin Taylor said they were delighted to invite Ms Teofilo to the school as part of their recognition of Samoa Language Week. "Ana had beautifully prepared the piece for collaboration with all of the students who were present on the day. "Each student created their own design, around a significance to them, to build up the background — Ana then took the piece and completed the design, which replicates our new school logo with a Pasifika flavour. "Our home and school association raised funds to enable Ana to spend time with us. We are extremely proud of this new and beautiful piece of work, which will be displayed in the school hall so all our school ākonga, whānau and manuhiri can view it."
Otago Daily Times
12-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Samoan culture put in the spotlight
Pupils from primary schools around South Canterbury take to the stage to celebrate Samoan Language Week. PHOTOS: CONNOR HALEY The strength of South Canterbury's Samoan community was highlighted last week with a variety of cultural performances. For the first time in three years Multicultural Aoraki held its Samoan Language Week coffee group in conjunction with several South Canterbury primary schools. This year's theme was "Ia malu lou sā, folau i lagimā"(a well-grounded self, is a successful self). The event was hosted at the Waimataitai School hall, and featured two hours of performances from six primary schools and several community groups. Multicultural Aoraki events co-ordinator Maturo Siaosi said the Samoan community in South Canterbury had come a long way since he first arrived in the area. "This community is really important. I came here as a young kid, 27 years back, and there were only a few Samoan families. "[Today] all the schools have Samoan kids in them. It's so good to keep that going; the Samoan culture, the language and it's good to see lots of parents and friends getting involved. "It's really great for the community, and for self-development. I think it's a positive note for Samoan Language Week.'' Multicultural Aoraki events co-ordinator Maturo Siaosi dishes out some sapasui. Samoan groups around Timaru also have weekly meetings and events to make connections and keep their culture and language alive. These include the Samoan Society's language workshops on a Monday and a coffee group on a Wednesday. It was more important than ever for culture and language to be preserved, he said. "I found with a couple of families that moved from Samoa, none of the kids now speak Samoan, they all speak English. "The message we want to push out to all the Samoans, or even any islander, is just to make sure you keep your culture and your language. "Don't lose all that stuff, because it's really important in life.'' He said he was pleased that Timaru was so supportive of and willing to learn about Samoan and Pasifika culture. "It was a successful event, and it was really good. We had to make it small last year because we ran out of funding but we could do it this year with the help of Waimataitai. "A couple of the principals have already talked to me about next year." — Nick Monaco is the Courier's Gateway Programme student.
Scoop
03-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Samoa Language Celebration ‘Like White Sunday'
Article – RNZ 'That's the most important thing – that you're normalizing being Samoan in the home.' Grace Tinetali-Fiavaai, RNZ Pacific Journalist A student-led church service at Auckland's Papatoetoe High School celebrated the beginning of Samoan Language Week in Aotearoa. High school students have celebrated Samoan Language Week by showcasing their cultural heritage through Bible readings, prayers, singing, and dancing. Papatoetoe high school Samoan language teacher and dean, Timo Morisa, said the event was 'stellar'. 'It felt like I was in a white Sunday service,' he said. 'If you think about when our Samoan communities celebrate white Sunday – you've got the decorations, you've got the amazing performances, you've got the vibrance; we also had all this food that was prepared.' Morisa said it was 'bigger than just the importance of the service and the opening'. 'There are so many defining teaching points that we are handing over to the students that are coming,' he said. 'One of the other, just kind of side note things, was after the ceremony, kids were in the car park – like Manurewa kids and Papatoe kids and Alfreston kids, and they were just connecting and talking and chatting. And I think that relationship building is so important.' He said one of the chiefs of Samoan language in Aotearoa, Tauanu'u Tapu gave an emotional speech. 'He said: 'In 10 years and 20 years and 50 years, where will our language and our culture be? And it is our responsibility.' Secretary for Fotu o Malamalama Lemoa Henry Fesulua'i said parents shouldn't rely only on education systems. 'Most of the time your children are right in front of you,' he said. 'That's the most important thing – that you're normalizing being Samoan in the home, so when they do leave the home, there's other accessibility and support in schools and churches and in various communities.'
Scoop
03-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Samoa Language Celebration ‘Like White Sunday'
Article – RNZ 'That's the most important thing – that you're normalizing being Samoan in the home.', RNZ Pacific Journalist A student-led church service at Auckland's Papatoetoe High School celebrated the beginning of Samoan Language Week in Aotearoa. High school students have celebrated Samoan Language Week by showcasing their cultural heritage through Bible readings, prayers, singing, and dancing. Papatoetoe high school Samoan language teacher and dean, Timo Morisa, said the event was 'stellar'. 'It felt like I was in a white Sunday service,' he said. 'If you think about when our Samoan communities celebrate white Sunday – you've got the decorations, you've got the amazing performances, you've got the vibrance; we also had all this food that was prepared.' Morisa said it was 'bigger than just the importance of the service and the opening'. 'There are so many defining teaching points that we are handing over to the students that are coming,' he said. 'One of the other, just kind of side note things, was after the ceremony, kids were in the car park – like Manurewa kids and Papatoe kids and Alfreston kids, and they were just connecting and talking and chatting. And I think that relationship building is so important.' He said one of the chiefs of Samoan language in Aotearoa, Tauanu'u Tapu gave an emotional speech. 'He said: 'In 10 years and 20 years and 50 years, where will our language and our culture be? And it is our responsibility.' Secretary for Fotu o Malamalama Lemoa Henry Fesulua'i said parents shouldn't rely only on education systems. 'Most of the time your children are right in front of you,' he said. 'That's the most important thing – that you're normalizing being Samoan in the home, so when they do leave the home, there's other accessibility and support in schools and churches and in various communities.'
Scoop
03-06-2025
- General
- Scoop
Samoa Language Celebration ‘Like White Sunday'
Article – RNZ , RNZ Pacific Journalist A student-led church service at Auckland's Papatoetoe High School celebrated the beginning of Samoan Language Week in Aotearoa. High school students have celebrated Samoan Language Week by showcasing their cultural heritage through Bible readings, prayers, singing, and dancing. Papatoetoe high school Samoan language teacher and dean, Timo Morisa, said the event was 'stellar'. 'It felt like I was in a white Sunday service,' he said. 'If you think about when our Samoan communities celebrate white Sunday – you've got the decorations, you've got the amazing performances, you've got the vibrance; we also had all this food that was prepared.' Morisa said it was 'bigger than just the importance of the service and the opening'. 'There are so many defining teaching points that we are handing over to the students that are coming,' he said. 'One of the other, just kind of side note things, was after the ceremony, kids were in the car park – like Manurewa kids and Papatoe kids and Alfreston kids, and they were just connecting and talking and chatting. And I think that relationship building is so important.' He said one of the chiefs of Samoan language in Aotearoa, Tauanu'u Tapu gave an emotional speech. 'He said: 'In 10 years and 20 years and 50 years, where will our language and our culture be? And it is our responsibility.' Secretary for Fotu o Malamalama Lemoa Henry Fesulua'i said parents shouldn't rely only on education systems. 'Most of the time your children are right in front of you,' he said. 'That's the most important thing – that you're normalizing being Samoan in the home, so when they do leave the home, there's other accessibility and support in schools and churches and in various communities.'
