Be Our Guest

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 1, 28 May 1985, Page 31

Be Our Guest

by the children and staff of Pipiriki School

From the beautiful bush clad environment oi Pipiriki, we people al school, both children and staff, greet all the readers of the Bulletin. For variation this week, this column is a joint effort by the children and staff of the school, and we hope, will provide interesting reading as we relate the most exciting happenings of our first term this year. Early in the term, on 26th February, we travelled down to Wanganui East Swimming Pool for the Country Schools' Swimming Carnival. This was a fun day for all, but probably the most exciting experience for the children was after the sports' day had finished and the other schools departed! The pool attendant allowed us to use the hydro-slide. It was an exhilarating first ride for all the children, the younger ones being assisted by a kindly attendant. Some personal comments from the children: "It was exciting as we rushed down the slide. The water swished over me and as I flew to the end, it was as if someone pushed me into the plunge pool. " T racy Tuirirangi, llyrs, Form 1. "As we turned the sharp corners, it felt scary. I screamed because 1 thought I was going to shoot over the side. But it was fascinating." Lisa-Shiree Hema, lOyrs, Std 4. On 28th February, Pipiriki School played tangata whenua (hosts) to a class of children from St Anne's School, Wanganui. For this occasion our classroom became a marae and we all slept at the school with our manuhiri (visitors). After a most enjoyable evening of searching for koura in the nearby stream; valiantly trying to catch eels by torchlight; and finally having our mihimihi and waiata session inside, everyone became acquainted quickly in an atmosphere of friendship and laughter. "We sang some lovely songs. It was warm and cosy sleeping at school. We went for a walk in the dark to search for crayfish. Some children made spooky noises and it was creepy." Nathan Fitzgerald, 8yrs, Std 1. March 20th. Probably the greatest surprise we have

I ever had, was when we . received an invitation from Mr Gerald Weeks of Hospitality, Wanganui, to send a ' delegation of school child1 ren to meet some visitors from the U.S.A. They had been sent to present us with a cheque of U.S. $1200 from the Friendship Force of Minnesota. An amazing windfall and totally unexpected! We have been in contact with members of the Friendship Force since 1982. Our initial contact was with Dorothy and Cliff Johnson who on their return to Minnesota related with wonder, their journey into our lush natural environment. As they explained, one rarely sees so much greenery anywhere in the U.S.A. They told too, of their visit to our small sole charge school. Again, another aspect of N.Z. life which just does not exist in America anymore.

For the last three years, we have had different visitors from the Friendship Force in Minnesota and have maintained our friendship through letters. Needless to say Dorothy and Cliff could not visit Wanganui without doing the trip up the River Road with our rural mailman, Mr John Hammond. It was a very warm and joyous reunion. Not only did we receive a big cheque, but Cliff also presented every child with an American silver dollar. Some of the children wrote of their feelings that day... "The sun is shining through the^ school room windows as we impatiently wait for our American visitors to arrive. It will be neat to hear about their country and see pictures of their town." Chevelli Allen, 1 lyrs, Form 1. And Francis Henare, who had practiced a special whaikorero to welcome

them... "I woke up filled with excitement as I remembered that our friends from America were coming. The sun glistened on the school windows as the R.D. van swooped up the drive, bringing our visitors." It was a wonderful day, the sun shone brightly, the children sang their waiata beautifully, and we all shared laughter and kai. Each term the three river schools have a sporting or cultural interaction. On March 21st we had the swimming sports' day at Ranana. I think the story written by Lisa-Shiree Hema, 10 years-old, describes it all: "Hot, sweltering weather so early in the morning! At last we are all loaded and ready to cruise. "Bump, bump, screech we go down the dust-curling River Road to Ranana. Behind our car Mrs Mikaere crawls through our cloud of

dust. Finally we arrive at Ranana, dusty and roadworn, but safe. "We wait with excitement for the tangata-whenua and their Rangatira to welcome us on to their school marae. All the whaikorero are finished and now we greet our whanaunga with the traditional 'hongi'. "The gruelling time has arrived for us all to take part in the activities organised for the day; throwing balls, bashing tins, running, crawling, jumping and swinging, in and out of obstacles to achieve a first, second or third placing. "Now the fun, the laughter, the moans and groans and the crying have come to a halt to allow our rumbling stomachs to be filled with delicious, scrumptious smelling hangi, and thirst quenching drinks and cooling icecreams. "After more running and jumping, swinging bats and swimming we are weary, and ready to ramble on home

over that rocky winding road, yet again." In Pipiriki we are blessed with an ideal climate, fruit trees blossom and produce endlessly. One natural 'treasure' is chestnuts. We all went on expeditions gathering chestnuts and distributing bagfuls to each household in our community. The junior children wrote stories about this, obviously a very "touchy" subject! "There is prickly things with chestnuts inside them, but you have to have gumboots on." Shane Tuhirangi, 5yrs. "Sometimes the prickles jab us. We stand on the shell and get the shiny chestnut out." Kirikowhai, 4yrs. "So! My Uncle Joegotthe chestnuts." Tamati Martin, 5yrs. "The chestnut shells look like hedgehogs ... some fell on us and it hurt, ouch! And I can't wait to eat the delicious chestnuts with melted butter."Chon Henare, 8yrs. "I like gathering chestnuts and I get some with a stick or with my feet inside shoes." Rayna Tuhirangi, 7yrs. Over the Easter holiday break, we had many whanaunga from all over the North Island come home to Pipiriki. One of our Kaumatua, Koro Rangi Te Hore, had a birthday party. It was a wonderful time for everyone... "We sang 'Happy Birthday'to Koro Rangi and then we had the kai." Renee Te Huia, 5yrs. "We feel aroha for Koro and it was great fun." Kirikowhai, 4yrs. The most recent happening at Pipiriki has been the blessing and house-warm-ings for the new homes in our district. As the weary traveller from Raetihi finally twists around the last bend and arrives at Pipiriki, he will be pleasantly surprised by the sight of all the freshly painted new homes set in such a tranquil scene. We hope you have enjoyed reading the children's thoughts about our small community of Pipiriki nestling in the warmth of the Wanganui River valley. Kia ora ra Na, Nga kaiwhakaako me nga tamariki o te kura o Pipiriki

Ruapehu te maunga Whanganui te awa Te Ati-Haunui a Paparangi te rangi E te iwi, nga mana, nga reo nga karangaranga maha, koutou otira tatou, e noho ana i raro i te maru o te Tupuna maunga i tena i tena o o tatou tini marae, tena ra koutou. Anei ra matou, e mihi ana mai, i te riu o to tatou awa, ki a koutou nga whanaunga, rau rangatira ma," tena koutou, tena koutou katoa. Ahakoa he poto enei korero tuwhera, mo nga mahi a o tatou mokopuna e whai ana i tenei, ko te mea nui ko te whakaaro kei muri, no reira, noho ora pai koutou ma te Atua e manaaki, e tiaki i a koutou.