Sutton Park School celebrates first-ever Rotuman Language Week Wanting to help out with the relief effort, Sutton Park School principal Fa'atili losua Esera and the Tongan Bilingual unit Sia Ua put the idea together to fill a container to send to their sister school in Tonga, Queen Salote College. Almost as soon as they had the idea, the donations started rolling in. The container was presented to Queen Salote College in March by a team from Sutton Park School, who travelled to Tonga for the occasion A moving ceremony was held to present the container, where following singing and prestigious and memorable occasion Atea students who sang it marvellously a prayer, Reverend Dr Asinate Samate, principal of Queen Salote College 7-May 11 as the first ever inaugural The celebrations concluded wth a special expressed her gratitude lo St on are The Rotunan language week was embraced by both students and staff who said learning cant be fun? held at Sutton Park School from May Rotuman Language Week was celebrated. Rotuman is an endangered language during assembly School for their love and generosity assembly where the school was joined by a few representatives ich originates from the Polynesian Language Organising Group. Island of Rotuma, about 500km north Fiji, with a sizeable community living in New Zealand. Its language is listed orn UNESCO's list of endangered languages as 'vulnerable' and it is not often spoken outside of Rotuma and its neighbouring from the Rotuman After the container keys were presented Sutton Park School deputy principal Vaitimu Togi Lemanu spoke in Tongan and English to acknowledge the Mangere community, and thank Queen Salote College for their warm hospitality. Now back at Sutton Park, he has a few closing words on the experience At Sutton Park School, teachers and students embraced the uniqueness of a dying or soon to be extinct language that characterised a proud and unique minority group of people. I would like to acknowledge the different Kids and teachers alike enjoyed the Rotuman schools and businesses who also helped out bringing items for the containers. Thank you Wayne Ca from the After a Google slideshow about Rotuma Shuttle Express Ltd and your workers for dance at the school's special assembly to conclude the week's celebrations. and a Rotuman dance, the assembly the free container finished with entertainment featuring Mr Esera, Mrs Kaifa and some members I would like to thank the team that of the Rotuman community in true accompanied me to Tonga. It was nice to hear from Asinate who said they were Rotuma n style! For the best part of the week, staff very fortunate to have our school in T were blessed with a special in person, to present our container and delicious koua (umu) prepared by She is very thankful to Sutton Park man Language Week Mr Tui Lakokiperitania, and graced with school staff, students and our community the one and only Rotuman delicacy of for their continuous love and support s spesk held at Sutton Park School from May 7-11 by Mr Katafono, for Queen Salote College. Malo aupito A special Faieksia to Mr Esera and Fekei, prepared Management for allowing the school to be Mr Reupena and some Atea boys. part of the celebrations and most of all to Once again Faieksia e hanisi ma Gloria Tautaiolefua, Manuia Pelu, Ranadi Alalum! (Thank you so much for the Lako, and the Meke(Dance) group for love and support and STAY BLESSEDI) saying the words far better than most Rotumans themselves! Ofa lahi atu. From Mangere to Tonga, Activities of the Week included a Word with love for the Day, shared with the students When Cyclone Gita hit Tonga February 2018, the destruction was shocking: bowling buildings, destroying infrastructure and causing sevre beside the packed container they sent over to damage to the Island nation For the culmination of the week, r Katafono taught Atumotu Helava Rotuman National Anthem to the Staff and students of Sutton Park School their sister school, Queen Salote College in Tonga Sutton Park School Phone: 09 276 4560 89 Vine Street, Mangere EasEmail: mailoffice@suttonpark.school.nz