Te Waka Calling Ceremony

Te Waka

Calling Ceremony

There was lots of excitement as Year 10 students gathered on campus at 6.30am on Thursday 3 March, to take part in the Te Waka ‘Calling Ceremony’, an important rite of passage, when they are ‘called’ by their teachers on their journey towards adulthood, and show gratitude to the people who have influenced them throughout their childhood.

The Year 10 students usually venture into nature for the sunrise ceremony, but an alternative had to be planned this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. Instead, they gathered on campus to watch a special video filmed at the Sign of the Bellbird, which featured piper, Toby Cammock-Elliott (Year 12), flag raising, a welcome from Matua Steve, prayer from College Chaplain, Rev. Paul Morrow, addresses from Head of Middle School, Mikae Tuu’u, Teacher in Charge of Te Waka, Kate Taylor and Rector Christine Leighton, a Year 11 musical item, and reflections from previous Te Waka students. “We decided to film the entire sequence on location, just as it would have been if the students were able to be there,” says Kate Taylor, who was instrumental in creating the memorable event.

After the viewing, the Te Waka groups enjoyed breakfast together outside, then wrote a childhood behaviour they wished to let go of on a piece of recycled paper. “The students were respectful and reflective as they put these into eco-friendly boats and placed them into the Strowan Stream to float away.”

The next Rite Journey and Te Waka ceremony, ‘The Departure’ took place on Thursday 24 March, when parents, carers and mentors joined the students in an online meeting to bless and support the programme, and to reflect together on the students’ childhood experiences.