End of Term 1 - an abrupt ending and uncertain future.

Day 4: End of Term 1 - an abrupt ending and uncertain future.

Term 1 Holidays has been brought forward to March 30 - April 14. Originally scheduled for April 9th (week 11), the school holidays were shifted to week 10 by MOE as a response to COVID 19. School closure was in effect in week 9.

An abrupt ending to Term 1, everything has taken a huge halt and I have had to adapt (literally overnight) to a 'new normal'. Online learning - an uncharted ocean that I had never really opened up to - I have now become accustomed too.

Google Classrooms is a space that I have ventured into. My senior students have not posted any comments - that is OK, I am new to this and I do not expect them to be comfortable with it as I am still trying to find my feet with this. However I have found that this is a great and easy app to use. Like social media, this acts as both a information hub but also a forum for student and educator to comment and interact. This is yet to happen (I am hopeful) but what I am enjoying about this is that I am able to share different articles and readings, post questions, post my recommendations on what they need to do with assessments (the list goes on) and it is there for the students.

My Google sites  has been a place where I refer my students to for course program content, assessment criteria .... however it is quite a formal setting and I feel that I use it more than they do. I like the Google Classroom arena - it is less traditional in the way it functions and it is more inclusive and interactive (well the hope is that my students and I can interact online with this!). I look forward to using this and more efficiently in my teaching practice even more so once we are given the clear to return to work.

In the meantime, I am going to continue to try and make this 'new normal' a meaningful experience for all of my students. Both staff and students have had to adapt to this complete change in routine overnight. A nation in lock down, this abrupt shift in lifestyle can ignite all levels of anxiety, doubt and discomfort.I thought about my students today and how many of my senior students are working to support their families, that the last thing on their mind is doing assessments and that their priority is to ensure that their families are taken of. A somber and humbling thought.  I hope that my students and colleagues can use this time, now that we are on holiday, to rest, regroup, re-connect and reflect. Term 1 2020 is a term that I will never forget and I am hoping that term 2 will bring some type of normalcy, familiarity, routine and structure in what will be a 'new normal' for everyone.

New Normal

Day 2: New Normal

Google classrooms, Google hangouts, Gmail chat, Google Drive, Hapara Dashboard.....

All educators across the county are working from home amid the global pandemic that is COVID 19. The time is 10:13pm and in less than 2 hours the entire nation will be on an official lock down. This is our 'new normal' for the next 4 weeks. 

It is only my second day working from home. I will admit that I was slightly anxious about conducting online classes specifically video classes. I tried on day one but my students did not accept the invitation (they were probably asleep - Year 13s!) I have now created an online class via Google classroom for all of my classes. It is still early days but I am sure that my students will get bored eventually and want to get online and get some work done (well that is the hope). 

My approach going into the 'new normal' is to firstly accept that I am not an online, tech savvy digital warrior and that I am going to do what I can do, and do it well. From here I will move onto video classes and I may even post a video lesson online and get the kids to watch and then I will go live with them to answer any questions - very ambitious but it is a goal that I HOPE to achieve. Underneath it all, this 'new normal' is exactly that, 'new', understanding and accepting that this is going to be our 'normal' for the next 4 weeks at least, is something that I am still finding my feet with. 

This is a very uncertain, challenging and unique time that we are living in. I hope that my learners, my family, friends, colleagues stay safe, connected and healthy during this time. 

Day 2 over and out. 

Polyfest 2020 - Behind the cancellation; a story of hope and affirmation.

This year the Tamaki College Samoan Group entered the ASB Polyfest Competition 2020. This was 10th year competing on the Samoan Stage. Starting in 2010, I have had the privilege and honor of leading the Tamaki College Samoan Group for 10 years (we had a break in 2019).

Going into the 2020 season one of my goals was to approach the festival smarter and more intentional with rehearsals. Over a period of 6 week a team of teachers, tutors and myself lead 58 young people. We were able to finalize their performance set at the end of week 5 (which was a first for me in my 10 years - we usually finish the set the weekend before the competition). Unfortunately we were unable to take the stage due to the COVID 19 pandemic cancelling the Polyfest - which saw the cancellation of many large gatherings and eventually a lock down for the country, closing all schools until mid April.

Despite the uncertain chain of events that were out of our control, I am still so proud of the team. In particular the team of tutors who I had the privilege of working alongside. The tutorship team over the years but in particular the last 5 years has consisted largely of former students and members of the Tamaki College Samoan Group. This year 7 out of the 8 tutors are former students and members of the Samoan Group - Millie Mara-Oti (2015), Roni Kamu Wright (2016), Norman Fogavai (2015), Lisi Fogavai (2013), Kevin Savili (2010) supported by Jelsma So'oalo (2018), Tim Fatialofa (2018) and Kitiona Leitufia (2018). Pene Ueta, who has tutored the Samoan Group since 2012, was back on board this year leading the Pese section of the performance.

They say success breeds success and to have these former students come board to share their time,

talent and gift was and is a blessing. They know what it takes to perform at competition level, they have helped to build the legacy that is the Tamaki College Samoan Group. Personally, I am not phased by the competition aspect, what I am drawn to and what I want to be a part of is a movement where young people feel empowered to lead, share their gift and give back to their community. That is what this is all about for me. I am hopeful that going into 2021, I can work alongside a team of tutors who are just passionate if not more so to help bring this vision to life. I would like to acknowledge the teachers who do this with me year in year out, who make sure that the behind the scenes business is managed and sorted - Ms Dorothy Apelu, Ms Sonya Robertson and Ms Amber George. I am incredibly proud and humbled by what God has allowed me to do with the Samoan Group since 2010.

Here is a breakdown of what we have achieved at the ASB Polyfest since 2010 - we look forward to doing this again with our students, staff, tutors, parents and community.

• 2010 - 1st Place Ulufale (Entrance)
• 2011 - 2nd Place Fuataimi (Conductor - Falaniko Liava'a)
• 2013 - 2nd Place Overall (Co-Ed Section) 1st Place Taupou (Solo performance - Nive Isaako), 1st Place Equal Sasa (Group Dance), 2nd Place Fuataimi (Conductor - John Tuilata Lemalie), 3rd Place Ulufale (Entrance), 3rd Place Ulufafo (Exit), 3rd Place Mauluulu (Group Dance), 3rd Place Togiga (Uniform)
• 2014 - 2nd Place Togiga (Uniform), 3rd Place Taupou (Solo performance - Laura I'u), 3rd Place Sasa (Group Dance), 3rd Place Maluulu (Group Dance)
• 2015 - 3rd Place Pese o le Aso (Songs), 3rd Place Fuataimi (Conductor - Norman Fogavai)
• 2016 - 3rd Place Pese o le Aso (Songs), 2nd Place Fuataimi (Conductor - Roni Kamu Wright), 2nd Place Taupou (Solo performance - Mui Niue) 
• 2017 - 3rd Place Pese o le Aso (Songs), 2nd Place Fuataimi (Conductor - Tim Fatialofa)
• 2018 - 2nd Place Equal Pese o le Aso (Songs), 2nd Place Fuataimi (Conductor - Tim Fatialofa)
• 2020 - Polyfest Cancelled