Words by: Ruaputahanga Takiari (She/her - Waikato/Tainui, Ngaati Maniapoto, Ngaati Raarua)
7AM — 7 degrees and a southerly.
Hauling books, bags and rewards is a daily occurrence.
The morning consists of marking worksheets and hurrying around the room
attentively preparing before school activities to nurture their students.
Building a class of lifelong learners.
Constant movement around the classroom causes
warm hands to turn on the radiator
cold dark room brightened by mana.
Our first unconditional supporter geared with
adaptable teaching styles to help us reach our true potential.
Reward stickers on your work to encourage your curiosity and
constructive comments to help you excel.
All the extra money spent on whiteboard pens and shared lunches.
Time spent after school on sharpening pencils, making powerpoint presentations and laminating
along with guidance given in all aspects of life.
I realise now they were more than a teacher
an aunty, an uncle, a friend.
Te whakamāoritanga
Ko te whitu karaka i te ata, e whitu tīkiri me he hau tonga.
Ka haoa ngā pukapuka, ngā pēke me ngā momoho i ia rā
Hei tēnei ata ka māka pukamahi, ka whāwhai huri i te rūma
E whakarite pīkari ana i mua i ngā mahi a te kura hei poipoi i ā rātou tauira
E whakatipu ana i tētahi rāngai tauira taumano
He nui nō ngā nekehanga i te karaehe e whakakāngia ai te [radiator] e te ringa mahana
He rūma makariri, pōuriuri kua toarihia i te mana
Tō mātou kaitautoko here kore tuatahi me
ōna tāera whakaako urutau hei āwhina i a mātou ki te whakatinana i te pito mata ake nō mātou
Ko ngā tohu momoho i runga ngā mahi hei whakakipakipa i a manawareka me
ngā kupu āwhina hei āwhina i a koe ki te eke panuku.
Katoa ngā moni āpiti i whakapauhia ki ngā pene papa mā me ngā tina whānui.
Ko te wā i whakapauhia i muri i te kura ki te whakakoi pene rākau, te whakarite whakaaturanga, te mahi tāpatu, me ngā kupu tohutohu i tukuna i ngā āhuatanga katoa o te ao mārama.
Kua mārama, ehara rātou i te kaiako anake, he whaea kēkē, he matua kēkē, he hoa.