Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa

Following King’s Birthday weekend, our school celebrated a beautiful short but powerful Samoan Language Week, centred on this year’s theme: “E afua mai i mauga tetele manuia o le nuʻu” – blessings to the village begin from the high mountains.

The week began with a Lotu (prayer) service to bless the days ahead. A dedicated group of Samoan students, members of the Executive, and key staff gathered to commit the week to prayer and acknowledge the importance of Samoan language and culture within our school community. This set a respectful and uplifting tone for the celebrations that followed.

Throughout the week, homeroom classes took part in a Samoan Language Week Home Room quiz, which was very well received. Congratulations to Mr Abraham’s Year 13 class for taking first place, and to Mr Onesemo’s Year 9 homeroom for a close second. The quiz encouraged students across all year levels to learn key facts and phrases in Gagana Samoa in an engaging and competitive way.

On Wednesday, the Whare hosted “A Taste of Samoa”, a vibrant food stall event that drew large crowds. Students and staff enjoyed a range of delicious goodies including Keke Mamoe (lamb buns), Panikeke (round pancakes), and Koko Alaisa (Samoan cocoa rice pudding). The lamb buns sold out quickly, highlighting the popularity of the event. Warm thanks to our students and their families for preparing and donating these beautiful dishes, which allowed our wider school community to literally “taste” Samoan culture. Meanwhile, the Avondale College Symphony Orchestra gave a pop-up performance of a traditional Samoan hymn in the Atrium.

Thursday’s focus was on service and giving, through an ula lole (candy lei) making workshop held in E8, our Samoan language classroom. Staff and students worked side by side, creating ula lole to gift to someone else. This simple but meaningful activity reflected the Samoan values of alofa (love), fa’aaloalo (respect), and tautua (service), and it was encouraging to see participants thinking intentionally about who they were making their ula for and why.

Friday rounded out the week in spectacular fashion with a full-day cultural wear celebration. Students and staff arrived in a variety of Samoan and Pasifika garments, proudly wearing ie faitaga, puletasi, dresses, shirts, and ula that transformed the school into a sea of colour and identity. At lunchtime, the highly anticipated Samoan Language Week Concert took place, featuring nine diverse performances from students across all year levels. For the first time, the programme included a siva afi (fire dance without the fire) performance by Tai Kingi, the 2025 Whau Amateur Intermediate Siva Afi Competition Champion, who quickly became a crowd favourite. The concert concluded with the traditional staff and Year 13 siva, ending in a passionate taualuga that brought students and teachers together on stage and in spirit.

In the spirit of this year’s theme, “E afua mai i mauga tetele manuia o le nuʻu,” we acknowledge our own mauga tetele – the Executive team, Directors, and teachers who continuously create safe, affirming spaces for our students to embrace their language and proudly share their culture with the school. Fa’afetai tele lava to all staff and students for your support, participation, and enthusiasm throughout the week. Your contributions ensured that Gagana Samoa and aganuʻu Samoa were not only seen and heard, but also deeply felt across our school community.

• Ms G Alai, Director of Pasifika Student Achievement/Technology