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Tuarua – giving back – at Waikawa Bay School

The students at  Waikawa Bay School have been learning about the values of Matariki with a focus on tuarua – giving back.  

Free Fair at Waikawa Bay School

The first three weeks of term 2 students explored what it means to help and support others. They explored ways that appreciation can be shown and developed an understanding of how in working together as a community everyone is valued.

Ideas came flooding in as to how the school could say thank you to the people and local community groups that had given time, shared their knowledge and expertise, donated sports and classroom equipment, and funding for projects.

The ideas were sorted and grouped together into ‘electives’. Children were able to chose which one they would like to be involved in for the next 5 weeks. They then came together to organise a Free Fair for their community.

Well, what happened in these electives?  I can tell you it was a jam packed 5 weeks!

•       A group of students who called themselves the Furry’s made dog blankets, cat wands, and homemade dog biscuits for the Free Fair.  They also baked and decorated cupcakes selling them at school to fundraise for and adopt a Karearea from the Karearea Falcon Trust.
•       A beach clean-up crew visited 5 local beaches picking up litter and ‘other’ things not meant to be on a beach.
•       Children gave back to the Waikawa Marae working in and painting signs for their mara kai, helping with odd jobs and making pumpkin soup for the kaumatua.
•       Those that loved creating art could choose to work with a local artist to collaborate on a community mural.
•       Tahi, the rat detection dog for DOC, visited the children who had decided to give back to their community in ways that protected the environment. Tahi found a mouse in their classroom supply cupboard, which was a surprise! This group also reset a trap line and placed Blue Penguin nesting boxes around Kaipupu Point.  The children gifted a trapping box to Wild Waikawa and were able to see and hear how they are managing the pests on their wonderful property. Children made bird feeders and insect motels to enhance the wildlife around their school.
•   Creative musicians, dancers, and writers banded together to put on a talent show for the residents of a local retirement village, as well as handing out homemade book marks and treats.
• Budding bakers used their time to bake morning tea boxes full of brownies, biscuits, truffles and slices for groups and organisations that had helped the school.

  

  Waikawa Bay School students with their cat wand designs

  

  Falcon Adoption Certificate

  

  Visit to Wild Waikawa

  
  

Phew, so many learning opportunities and experiences for the children to connect to their place and actively participate in their community, walking the talk to what it means to be an Enviroschool.

Well done to each and every student! I’m sure those on the receiving end of your hard work were beyond chuffed to be recognised and valued.