Week 8 Term 3 - Totara House: Leadership + Legacy (September 4 - September 8)

Totara House Leadership 2021, 2022 + 2023

 It is that time of the year where we start preparing for our new student leadership team for each house. Our Whanau House system is anchored by the student leadership team who are the hands, feet and eyes for their respective House. I find this time of year both challenging and exciting. Challenging in that I need to start to let go of the current leadership team and exciting in that I can start to work with and usher in the new leadership team. In Term 3, the Year 12 students apply for leadership and undergo leadership interviews. The students and staff vote for their House leaders at the end of Term 3. This year there are two year 12 classes in my House and from this we have 15 students who have applied for a leadership role for 2024. 

At our most recent House assembly, we focused on 'Leadership and Legacy'. I wanted to shed some light on 'leadership' and 'legacy' and what it means in our House, school, family, community and world. I am really grateful for the fact that since the introduction of the House system to our school in 2021, I have been able to help build our young people and transition them into leadership. From Year 9 - Year 13, I like to use all the students in our House assemblies and to lead the different House events to give them the experience. With the leadership teams supporting and anchoring this approach. Two of the House Prefects for 2023 spoke about 'Leadership' and 'Legacy' and what it means to them. 

LEADERSHIP
Leadership is the ability of an individual or a group of people to influence and guide followers or members of an organization, society or team.

Leadership is a call to serve. In my opinion it is not about self but about others, building others and supporting others in the process. In Week 6, I attended an online PLD - Rauhuia Terenga/Symposium explores Pacific Perspectives on Leadership. Hosted by Dr Michelle Johansson and Melanie Cottingham, they shared their thoughts on how teachers and educators can connect with other leaders and traverse the vast oceans between our unique contexts in education. I was particularly interested in a point that Dr Johansson raised when she said that " In Pacific society, leadership just happens. Pacific peoples hardly ever ‘set out’ to become leaders - often it is accidental, or inherited. Sometimes it is thrust upon us. Understanding how Pacific leadership works can be a powerful tool for teachers." I appreciate that leadership is not something that many of my akonga see themselves in, it is something that is often inherited or asked of them. There is a deep sense of service and responsibility that my students carry when they are given leadership opportunities.

Totara House Prefect/Head Boy 2024 - Christian Kava

Totara House Prefect and Head Boy 2024 - Christian Kava - shared his perspective on leadership at our most recent House assembly. "Leadership is the ability of an individual or a group of people to influence and guide followers or members of an organization, society or team. What leadership means to me is someone who supports and encourages others. Also a good example for others to follow. To those Year 12s who are going for Student Leader application for next year, I wish you all the best. I know you guys will do well." 

LEGACY
the long-lasting impact of particular events, actions, etc. that took place in the past, or of a person’s life.

Creating a legacy is something that I have tried to build into Totara House. We are a House that is anchored in our own House values, a sense of togetherness in both the events that we participate but also in our learning journey. Over the last three years, the legacy has been underpinned by the House values that the students have come up: 

2021: Teamwork, Respect + Family

2022: Unity, Resilience + Confidence

2023: Leadership, Gratitude + Integrity

We use these values as a measure of how we present and act (individually but also as a collective) at school. Creating leadership opportunities for our students beyond Year 13 and into our junior school cohort is something that I want to continue to build into our legacy. The beautiful thing about legacy is that it is something that is continually evolving and growing. 

Totara House Prefect - Alo-Ki Hingano

Totara House Prefect 2024 - Alo-Ki Hingano - shares his perspective on on legacy at our most recent House assembly. "Your legacy is the total of your life experiences, beliefs, values, and traditions passed down from generation to generation. It is the good, bad, and everything you leave behind. What it means to me is thinking about what you do at school and hope that you can do good for others to carry on in your name. To the Year 12s, good luck and all the best." 

Year 12 Student Leader Applicants - Totara House

Year 12s with some of the Totara House Leadership Team '23

Our leadership and legacy assembly has become a staple assembly in Term 3 throughout the years. It is an opportunity to reflect on what it means to us and to also look forward to what it could potentially look like for our future. I am excited by the potential that the young people bring to the House each year. I am inspired by their enthusiasm and excitement. I am also really grateful for the leadership team of 2024. I look forward to finishing the year off well with them. I look forward to bringing in the new team to help transition our house into 2024 with ease.