One fine morning as one of our Kaiako was sitting along with our Tui tamariki by the friendship chair they all noticed a rock that was made by our alumni Abby who left the centre some time ago and now continues her learning journey at school.
As the tamariki and Kaiako looked more closely, they discussed who made it, the designs on the rock and how the rock shall remain unique to Abby and to Bear Park after all these years. Impressed and amazed by what they had discovered in the garden area, our Tui tamariki decided that they too would like to leave an imprint of themselves here at Bear Park through their graduation ritual. Our Tui group had a korero with their Kaiako Lizzy and Wenwen about what they envisioned this special ritual to be and how they might achieve these plans.
Josh Shephard- “We should write an invitation for our parents to come for our graduation.”
Austin- “We should also make a rock like Abby did. “
The korero we shared was significant as it generated the clear expectations of our graduation ritual going forward for everyone involved, including parents, tamariki and Kaiako.
Now, each time a child leaves Bear Park for school, our tamariki volunteer to make an invite for their whānau which they share a week prior to the special day.
On the morning of the ceremony our graduating child chooses a rock and writes their name on it along with using the language of drawing to share something special that they want to communicate and leave a memory of. The rest of our Tui tamariki then design a “Happy Graduation Card” for their friend and to prepare the environment they decorate the walking path towards our beautiful graduation chair with flowers and resources that are important for them. Once the graduating tamariki has finished creating their special memorial rock it is placed alongside the path way.
With a strong awareness and understanding of the kaupapa and importance of the event, our Tui tamariki gather beside the graduating child to show their kotahitanga and support. As the ceremony begins, the graduating child walks in along with their Kaiako and sits on our beautiful graduation chair.
“Children have a strong sense of themselves as a link between past, present and future.”
– Ministry of Education, 2017
Kaiako then welcome whānau and read aloud the child’s very first learning story which tells of how their journey began here at Bear Park. We then hear the very last learning story which conveys how even though our friend is graduating today their unique contributions to our Bear Park whānau has been so valued and they shall leave a strong imprint on all of us.
Our tamariki gift their handmade cards with their special messages along with giving a high-five or a hug. Our whānau and kaiako then share their experiences and memories that they have made here together over the years followed by singing the waiata Te Taukaea Aroha which is a song of acknowledgement and thanks by Charisma Rangipunga and Paulette Tamati-Ellife. To finish, the graduating child places their specially designed rock in the enchanted garden accompanied by their whānau and friends.
Our graduation ritual is a very important part of our culture here at Bear Park Albany that celebrates the unique contributions that each child makes to our learning community. It is a time to come together, give value to the connections that have been made, share memories and look ahead to the rich potentials that the future holds as a child continues on their learning journey.
While Abby graduated from Bear Park Albany over a decade ago she has left her imprint through the language of drawing on a rock and will always remain a significant part of our Kaiako’s learning journey for years to come as does all our graduating Tui tamariki.
– Liz Knight, Bear Park Albany
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