St Mary McKillop Catholic Primary School Celebrate

St Mary McKillop Catholic Primary School are like the first cousins of a graduation we hosted a few years ago.  The link will come to light in a moment.  First - the class graduation photo:

Graduation night with whanau, Hon Su'a Willaim Sio MP, Madam Chair Mangere Otahuhu Council  Lemauga Lydia Sosene, Principal Mike, Trainer Linda Wirjapranata and more whanau!

When I arrived at the school hall, Friday night, I was met by a flurry of activity in three different rooms preparing for the celebration.  The shopping had arrived, the food was arriving and the trainer had departed!  (home to change).  Principal Mike was standing in the middle of all the comings and goings admiring the packages our whanau were about to receive.  I stood there admiring the exceptionally great looking packages too.

Trainer Linda Wirjapranata is a graduate from a CIH project hosted by St Joseph's School in Onehunga.  Her lovely husband, Peter, is now part of the staff at St Mary Mackillop.  What an endorsement to have them share about the quality of their computer that still goes and has stood the test of time and children!  Through this family - we were invited into the St Mary McKillop whanau.

Sharing the night were leaders from the community and long time supporters of CIH in Mangere.  We have new friendships in the school trustees and staff now, not to mention the 23 graduates and their whanau.

One of the highlights for me was seeing 23 computers disappearing out the door into the family car BEFORE the celebration meal.  Usually whanau are relieved that the formalities are over and it's just time to enjoy fellowship.  Nope.  Not these guys.  The excitement level was high!  

Thank you for an amazing night St Mary Mckillop graduates - ohhhhhh and that banquet set me back a month in gym work!  Be the mentors and confident guides that you have spoken about and enjoy your packages.

Roscommon Graduate and Shine

Remember how I said to watch this space on the Roscommon School Training sessions?  Well ... here it is!  The graduation of the wonderful whanau from Roscommon School intake under the tutelage of Sarah 'Awesome' Ennor and Deputy Principal Christine Patea.

The graduation was embraced by the school wholeheartedly and planned as a 'first event of the day' for the school.  The morning began with the graduates and guests assembling outside the hall to be welcomed in an official powhiri.  How wonderful to be exhorted in such a way!

Parents/caregivers were treated to a beautifully decorated hall and dining areas.  Sarah and her crew of young people had spent quite a while getting everything just right.  A full hangi was cooking near the staff room and other dishes were being carried past us.  Quite the distraction.

Many guests had arrived to support the celebration - many thanks to Dr Jocelyn Williams (Auckland Steering Group), Councillor Calum Penrose and local kaumatua.

One of the highlights of the morning were the powerpoints created by students. A total of 193 slides that had the recurring theme of ‘Family’ and ‘Gratitude for new opportunities’, that says alot about the awesome parents/caregivers at Roscommon.

Enjoy their show!


ROSCOMMON SCHOOL SHINE on PhotoPeach
   

A WHIRLWIND OF GRADUATIONS - 2015 CIH CELEBRATIONS!

If you were wondering about the silence and the echoes around the blog ... I'm just dusting it off and bringing in all the celebratory news from around the region.

2015 was a fantastic year for CIH Auckland.  Over 200 whanau participants graduated and became the proud owners of digital skills, a new relationship with their school AND, as a bonus, a computer or laptop to call their own. 

Definitely worth a song and dance!  I was over to the left sharing love with the graduation cake - this little clip was sent to me via our ninja Principal of Mansell Senior School - Rebecca KauKau.  

Mansell School are on the move and amazing supporters of the CIH programme.  So much so that they have gone on to host two more intakes.

The celebrations that night included a film crew from TV One's Tagata Pasifika and Sports Legend guest speaker - To'aletai David Tua.

The hall was packed and the atmosphere was pure excitement.  The highlight of the night occurred before To'aletai David Tua's early departure, he unfortunately was heavily booked around Auckland.  We requested a 'team photo' to which he happily obliged.  I tell you, it had to be the FASTEST gathering for selfies ever!  

Thank you also to supporters National MP Judith Collins (she could not attend but sent a video message) and Labour MP Jerome Mika (Board Trustee). 

Please enjoy the album :)

Mansell Senior School Graduating Class of May 2015 with To'aletai David Tua

Mansell Senior Making Moves! on PhotoPeach