The day started with attendance and a short meeting in the staff room, where a few teachers talked about some things that are happening at school and a couple of upcoming events. Everyone seemed a bit quiet at first, but it was a nice way to start the morning and kind of get into the day. After that, we had a workshop about New Zealand’s culture, history and identity, which turned out to be really interesting. The main focus was the Treaty of Waitangi — when it was signed, what it stood for, and also the problems that came with it afterwards. It was actually quite fascinating to see how something from such a long time ago still affects the country today and how it shapes the relationship between Māori and European culture. You could really see how both sides are still trying to exist next to each other, keeping their traditions but also finding ways to connect. We also talked about New Zealand’s national holidays and how they are celebrated differently across communities, which showed how many different traditions coexist here. It became clear that New Zealand really tries to protect and value ist cultural diversity, and that’s what makes it feel so open and welcoming. During the session, there were a few points where you could really think about how culture builds identity and how everyone kind of carries their background with them, even if they don’t always notice it. Later on, we went to the Year 9 assembly, which had a really positive and funny atmosphere. Students who were always on time or had perfect attendance were acknowledged, and the names of those with 100% attendance were put on a big spinning wheel. The teachers spun it to pick one student for a small prize, and the whole thing was actually pretty entertaining to watch. It was a simple but creative idea and showed how the school manages to make even small achievements feel fun and appreciated. After that, we joined a poetry and identity workshop, which was one of the most creative parts of the day. We read two poems, including Afakasi Chameleon by Selina Tusitala Marsh, which explored mixed identity and belonging. The discussions showed how differently people understand identity, and in the end, we wrote our own short poems inspired by animals we felt connected to — a surprisingly personal and reflective activity. At the end of the day, we had another workshop, this time focused on Samoan culture and language. A few Samoan students joined and told us about their customs, some greetings, and even explained the meaning behind a few traditions. It was really nice to hear it from them directly because it made everything feel more real than just reading about it. The way they spoke about their culture showed a lot of pride and warmth, and it tied in perfectly with the things we’d learned earlier about cultural coexistence. Altogether, the day showed a lot about what school life here is like — a mix of learning, community and openness towards different cultures and ideas.
Ein zweiter Blick auf den Tag:
After morning attendance and a quick meeting in the staff room about some upcoming events, the first workshop started with the topic of New Zealand’s culture, history and identity. We mainly talked about the Treaty of Waitangi — when it happened, what it meant, and what problems came with it later on. It was interesting to see how important that treaty still is and how it continues to shape New Zealand’s identity today. We also looked at how Māori and European traditions are balanced in modern life and how holidays bring different communities together. One could really see how much effort goes into keeping those traditions alive and respected at the same time. During the second period, we went to the Year 9 assembly, which was actually quite fun to watch. Some students got recognised for always being on time or having perfect attendance, and their names were put on a big wheel that the teachers spun to choose someone who’d get a small prize. It gave the whole assembly a really cheerful energy and showed how the school values consistency but in a light-hearted way. After that, we went to a workshop on poetry and identity, which was probably the most creative part of the day. We read two poems, one of them being Afakasi Chameleon by Selina Tusitala Marsh, which talked about mixed identity and belonging in a really powerful way. We had some great discussions about certain lines and how identity can mean something completely different for everyone. Towards the end, we wrote our own short poems based on animals that we felt connected to, describing how those animals might represent parts of who we are. It was surprisingly personal and reflective, and it gave everyone a chance to express themselves through writing. In the last workshop of the day, we learned about Samoan culture and language. A few Samoan students came and shared stories, taught us some greetings, and explained the meaning behind a few of their customs. It was really interesting to see how much language and culture are linked and how strongly people identify with their traditions. The atmosphere was relaxed and friendly, and it felt like a nice way to end the day — learning about something new but also seeing how all these different cultures connect and influence each other. Overall, the workshops were varied and creative and showed how much identity, history, and self-expression are connected to one another in everyday life.
