A Christchurch primary school on Wednesday brought together tamariki, staff and whānau for a day of physical activity that embraces unity and diversity.

Te Kōmanawa Rowley’s Harakeke Cultural Olympics, created by teachers, students and whānau in collaboration with Sport Canterbury’s Healthy Active Learning team, showcased a fun-filled day that reflected the school’s diverse community.

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“The Olympics, for our children, isn’t something that’s always accessible,” school deputy principal Niki Penny explains.

“We also, as part of our school dynamic, have a number of students with neurodiversity and learning needs and physical disability, so part of what the children have done in their… learning this term is around, ‘How do we make the Olympics reflect us?’”

Participating students in years 3-5 dressed in colourful cultural attire for the occasion. The day started with an opening ceremony and parade before getting stuck into Lape – a Samoan game like softball, Boccia – a Paralympic precision ball sport, and Tī Uru – a traditional Māori ball game played on a netball-sized court.

Sport Canterbury Healthy Active Learning lead facilitator Lynn Kilpatrick says the day showcased how Te Kōmanawa Rowley School was “living out the intent” of Healthy Active Learning.

Te Kōmanawa Rowley joined Healthy Active Learning, an initiative aiming to enhance the well-being of children through quality physical activity, play and Physical Education, in 2022.

“The… exciting thing for our team is now teachers are leading all the mahi in their school, so they’ve got the confidence and capability to plan really high-quality physical activity opportunities – they’re co-designing with their ākonga (students), so they’re reflected and they have ownership of the process,” Kilpatrick says.

Teacher Susi Afitu says the day was about allowing the students to “love their culture”.

“All the parents have had a say in how we can make this accessible to all the other kids and we’ve incorporated different languages in certain aspects around the games.

“It links directly… with the [school’s value] of mana; it’s ensuring that we’re empowering the kids, that they’re able to be their true selves and not be ashamed of who they are and all the little things that make them, them.”

Parents in attendance spoke of how the event helped give their children a sense of belonging.

“Te Kōmanawa Rowley is an awesome school with a fantastic community and seeing the kids turn out, all representing their culture… and all the staff taking part making sure the kids all feel included is awesome,” parent Moira Sa’imoa says.

“It’s honestly, probably one of my favourite parts of being part of this school and community; just seeing all the kids come with their different heritages and just expressing who they are, where they come from and just being proud,” says Rae Lālahi, another parent.

Kilpatrick says it’s exciting working with Te Kōmanawa Rowley.

“We’ve been able to work in partnership with them to build their teachers’ confidence and capability and weaving all these things into the Health and Physical Education curriculum so that all of the physical activity they do…reflects the diversity in the school.”

Article added: Tuesday 17 September 2024