Mangere College students and staff have started a new project called Healthy Living at M.C. The Student Health Council are helping co-ordinate the project and have got things off to a great start. Keep an eye on this space to see what is happening plus Check out MANGERE COLLEGE HEALTH COUNCIL on Facebook!
The School Garden:
We are presently reforming the old school garden. Parents are wanted! We would love your help. If you are a keen gardener, or even if you are not. Come along. A Gardening Calendar for the next year has been organised. (see below) These workshops will be held on a Saturday and will be a great time and place to learn about Organic gardening, to meet other parents, to enjoy a hobby with your son or daughter and to be able to learn more about growing healthy food.
Mangere College Gardening Calendar
11th November 2011
Planting Summer garden
3rd December2011
Tool Maintenance /Health and Safety
January 2012
Holidays
February 2012
Holidays/school commences
Gardening tidy up
March 2012
Garden to plate
Organic Practice and /Companion Planting
April 2012
Seed Saving
Planning Winter garden
May 2012
Culinary medicinal culture
June 2012
Matariki Celebration
The Mangere College Maori department
Sees the garden as an excellent opportunity for students to get involved with Matariki. Apart from the things normally celebrated by schools like Shared Meals, Hangi, Stories, Music, Games and the like; the garden gives the students an opportunity to do manual work and get their hands dirty. They are also involved by reciting karakia before, during and after the harvest. There is also an opening for the Tech Dept to get involved through the preparation of a Hangi and the making of Ngawehi (small noisy items to keep birds away, like a scarecrow only smaller and louder). These are just some of the ways that the school can be involved in celebrating Matariki.
Matariki provides an ideal opportunity to explore the ways that people pass on and sustain aspects of their culture and heritage. The beginning of the 21st century has seen a revival in Matariki celebrations. It is becoming an increasingly important part of the New Zealand calendar. Today Matariki means celebrating the unique place in which we live and giving respect to the land we live on.
How long do celebrations last?
Traditionally celebrations lasted up to 3 days after the new moon had risen following Matariki becoming visible.
Who celebrates Matariki?
Anyone who wishes to participate.
For all tribes, the importance of Matariki has been captured in proverbs and songs, which link it with the bright star
Matariki Karakia.
I te wā o Matariki, ka whakanui tātou i tō tātou mana motuhake i tēnei ao.
He manaaki i te whenua e noho nei tātou i runga, he mïharo ki tō tātou whaea,
ki a Papatūānuku.
I te roanga atu o Matariki, ka ako tātou i ngā āhuatanga ō rātou mā
kua hoki ki te kāinga tūturu.
Ko ngā mahi me ngā kōrero o mua. Ko ō tātou heke. Ko ō tātou wheinga.
Ko Matariki te tohu o te tupu.
He wā e puta kē ai.
He wā whakariterite, he wā kōkiri kaupapa.
I te wā o Matariki, he mahara atawhai ki ngā taonga kei a tātou inaianei,
hei koha atu hoki a taihoa.
He whakanui a Matariki i ngā tini ähuatanga o te oranga.
He whakanui hoki i te tikanga, i te reo, i te wairua me te iwi.
Ko Matariki tō Aotearoa tau hou.
During Matariki we celebrate our unique place in the world.
We give respect to the whenua on which we live,
and admiration to our mother earth Papatūānuku.
Throughout Matariki we learn about those who came before us.
Our history. Our family. Our bones.
Matariki signals growth.
It’s a time of change.
It’s a time to prepare, and a time of action.
During Matariki we acknowledge what we have
and what we have to give.
Matariki celebrates the diversity of life.
It’s a celebration of culture, language, spirit and people.
Matariki is our
Aotearoa Pacific New Year.
Breakfast Club and Zumba:
We are now enjoying Zumba every Thursday morning at 7am to 7.45. Then it is off to have a healthy breakfast in the Hot Spot. Please feel free to come and join in. Parents and family members are most welcome. Mangere College is thrilled to be assisted by Dennis Napara who is a qualified Zumba Instructor and great Heath Council member advocate.
Mangere College Intramural Volleyball:
This competition runs every Friday afternoon from 3.40 to 5pm. We have 10 teams entered already, but we still have space for 6 more. If you get your teams entered as soon as possible you could be part of the action every Friday after school! Grab 3 friends and enter your 4 player team now. See Mr Samu.
Next term Mangere College will be aiming to have Breakfast club every morning. There will be an activity first and then followed by a Healthy Breakfast.