Posted in General Le Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa!

Date: 03 June 2022

Faamalo fa’afetai (congratulations and well done) to all those students who took part in Le Vaiaso o le Samoa. What an exciting week it has been!

2022 is an important year for the Samoan community, as it is the 60th anniversary of Samoan Independence. Activities to commemorate Independence have been planned to coincide with Samoan Language week. Our students have delighted in sharing their language and culture with each other and others embracing this years theme, ‘Fa’aāuāu le Folauga i le Va’a o Tautai- Continue the Voyage with Competent Wayfinders of the Ocean’, chosen by the Samoan community, to ‘reflect the journey of language revitalisation as well as recognising the importance of having the right tools, good leadership skills and relationships and the correct va’a that is adaptable to faring the ocean and its elements’. On display this week at OHS among our Samoan students were all of these things. Great energy, enthusiasm, generosity and talent was evident in each event. The leadership and communication skills of the Samoan student leaders is impressive. In Samoan culture, dance as a way of expressing passion and appreciation for Samoan culture and heritage is important. In two concerts during the week we were lucky enough to see Taualuga. The boys rousing Fa’ataupati and the grace and elegance of the girls dancing Siva Samoa were very popular indeed. A cultural wear show case was enjoyed by both staff and students. This year senior Samoan language students spent half a day at Royal Oak Intermediate running workshops in a number of classes teaching lollie lei making,  Siva Samoa, Fa’ataupati, and language to students. This was a huge success, staff and students at ROI were extremely impressed by our students.

Congratulations to Mr Jay Faata, Mr Safotu Filipo, Mr Murray Saunders, Mr Sam Moli, Ms Bex Muipu and all the students and staff who made this language week the outstanding success it was.

Fa’afetai !