Week 8 Term 4 - Celebrating 2021 with Totara House (December 6 - 9)

This year has had its fair share of challenges. As a school, we introduced the new House system. The purpose of the House system is was to try a different approach in bringing the students together in academic, sporting and cultural celebrations. Ultimately the House system was to unite the students across the levels. Starting anything new is challenging and getting this new system has definitely been challenging. I am not alone. Led by Executive Dean, Ms Amber George, Mr Mansell (Puriri House), Mrs Geraldine Corray (Rata House), Mrs Carol Heka (Kowhai House) and myself (Totara House) have collectively driven this new initiative. It has been challenging that we were trying to figure it out as it was happening but it has also been rewarding in that we were doing something new (together) and we were experiencing it in real time (together). I am extremely grateful for Ms George and House Dean team and what we have been able to do this year. Of course, this is a collective effort and the staff and students we have been able to work with have helped to make this year memorable for us. 

I started the year off with Totara reflecting on 'what do we represent?' Now I finish the year off reflecting and evaluating how it has gone for myself and team Totara. Our House values (as determined by the students) are Teamwork, Confidence and Unity. The House Leaders spent time with the students in Term 1 to discuss what they (students) want Totara House to represent. The values that the students came up with became our guide as to how we (the students leaders and I) would lead this house as a team. 

TEAMWORK: the combined action of a group especially when effective and efficient

Over the year we have had several opportunities to work as a team. From the annual Athletics Day competition (house chants and athletic activities) to the various language week competitions (Samoan, Tonga, Te Wiki o Te Reo + Niuean Language week) to celebrating and acknowledging Mental Health Awareness Week and Staff Appreciation Week - teamwork has been something that we have tried to foster and take care of through each event. The most recent lockdown was a turning point for myself and both the mentorship and House leadership team. We used this time to really refocus and regroup, we knew that we had to have a presence online and to really try and reach out to our house in creative ways. I am so grateful for this time as I was able to work with the House leaders in a positive way, meet with them regularly and collaborate with them. 

Totara House @ Athletics Day 2021

Totara House @ Tug-o-war Athletics Day 2021

Totara House: Tongan Language Week online

Totara House: Samoan Language Week 2021

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CONFIDENCE: the feeling or belief that one can have faith in or rely on someone or something

The House system is student centered. It needs to be driven by the students for the students. If the students can see themselves in what we are doing, then they are comfortable. One way I have tried to strengthen the confidence of the students in this House is through public speaking. Since Term 2 right up to Term 4 students across all year levels and had an opportunity to share at assembly (both online and onsite). The students have the opportunity to share their story or open our assembly in prayer, it has been a great chance for students to grow in confidence. Some have been hesitant but still stepped up to the challenge and gave it a go. I could talk forever but I think the real impact when it comes to sharing is with our young people, I am more than happy to guide them and give them direction. This is something that I hope to continue with Totara in 2022. 

Daliz Betham (10TTt) presenting at the Totara House Assembly

Seini Misa (12TBk) presenting at the Totara House online Assembly

UNITY: the state of being united or joined as a whole

Unity is something that happens naturally, well it should at least. I know that in order to get everyone on the same page, I had to be honest and up front from the beginning. I had to express my intention for the House and what direction I believe we should head in. The mentorship team were awesome to work with because they were supportive from the beginning. They also understood that we were all learning how to be a House (together) and that we had to put in time before we could see any results. From the get-go I understood (very quickly) that Totara House's strength was in academics. We were not necessairly the loudest or most vibrant group when it came to inter-house performances (we tried :D) but I knew that the strength lay in the learning. I used this as our directive, as a way to unite. Every assembly we acknowledged our academic success for our NCEA Level 1, 2 and 3 students. We spent time during Term 2 and Term 3 talking about our priorities at school and the mentor teachers continued this during mentoring sessions. Tracking student achievement was a focus for us as weekly updates on their NCEA progress was shared (every Friday). I knew that this House was all about the learning and that is why I am not surprised but also equally proud and humbled that they were named Academic House of the Year. All of the students Totara worked hard and tried (which is all I asked for). I am proud that the two of the top three Level 3 Academic students are from Totara House with the Dux of Tamaki College 2021 (Alexia Ramos) being one of them. When you have a vision or a goal it is important to share this with whoever you think will support it and value it with you. In leadership, having a vision or an idea of a finish line is key to giving your team a purpose and drive. I hope to continue this legacy of learning with Totara House in 2022. I am very proud of the students and what they have achieved. 

Totara House mentorship team 2021

Totara House student leadership team 2021

I am extremely grateful and humbled by everyone who has contributed to Totara House 2021. It has been a challenging year especially for our students with having to do online learning for the most part of Term 3 and 4. I think that at some stage during the lockdown, being with the House and doing all the online house competitions, check in meetings and online assembly preparation was a nice distraction from some the realities that we had to face at the time. A verse that I shared at our final House assembly from Colossians 2:7 says "Keep your roots deep in him, build your lives on him, and become stronger in your faith, as you were taught. And be filled with thanksgiving." I look forward to 2022 with Totara House, working on what keeps up grounded and rooted, growing and becoming stronger (individually + collectively) and showing gratitude in everything that we do. But for now, I am going to enjoy the journey I have had with the team this year. Totara 2021!