Talofa! This years theme for Samoan Language Week is "Ia malu lou sā. Folau i lagimā" which translates to "A well-grounded self is a successful self"
This year in the Pikopiko Room at Tawa South, we have been incredibly busy celebrating Samoan Language Week!
Our days have been filled with vibrant art, joyful dancing to our favourite Samoan music, singing songs, and learning alongside one another. Through these rich learning experiences, our tamariki have been developing important skills such as fine motor control, communication, social interaction, hand-eye coordination—and most importantly—a deep love and appreciation for culture.
We were incredibly lucky to have one of our lovely mums, Jordan, visit and read a couple of books to our tamariki. Thank you so much, Jordan! It was such a special moment, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to share this with our children. We also enjoyed a delicious treat, with our amazing manager, Tagi, getting busy in the kitchen to make traditional Samoan donuts—what a highlight!
Celebrating language weeks is an important part of who we are as a centre. One of our core priorities is "to create a culturally sensitive learning environment for our tamariki to thrive and develop their sense of identity." We believe it’s vital that all tamariki feel a strong sense of pride and connection to who they are and where they come from. It’s equally important that they learn about and appreciate the diverse cultures of those around them.
O le tausaga lenei, ua matua pisi lava le matou potu Pikopiko i le Tawa South i le faamanatuina o le Vaiaso o le Gagana Sāmoa! Sa matou faatāua le tele o galuega faatufugaga, siva fiafia i musika Sāmoa e pele i le loto, pese, ma aʻo faatasi ai le tasi ma le isi. I nei a'oa'oga manaia, o lo'o atinaʻe ai e le fanau tomai taua e pei o le atinaʻe o lima (fine motor skills), tomai fa’afesoʻotaʻi, agavaʻa i fesoʻotaʻiga lautele, fetaui o mata ma le lima (hand-eye coordination), ma sili atu i lea – o le alofa ma le fa'atauaina o aganu’u.
Sa matou laki tele ona sa mafai e se tina pele o le fanau, o Jordan, ona asiasi mai ma faitau tusi i le fanau. Fa’afetai tele lava Jordan! O se taimi tāua tele lea mo le fanau, ma ua matou matua talisapaia le avanoa. Na matou fiafia fo’i i se meaʻai suamalie na saunia e la matou pule, o Tagi – na ia kuka ni keke Sāmoa (panikeke)!
O se tasi lea o vaega na sili ona fiafia i ai le fanau. O vaiaso fa’apenei e matua tāua tele i le fa’asinomaga o lo matou nofoaga. O se tasi o a matou sini autu o le “fausiaina o se si’osi’omaga e amanaʻia ai aganu’u, e mafai ai ona tupu ma atiinaʻe le fanau i lo latou fa’asinomaga.” E tāua tele i le matou nofoaga ina ia lagona e le fanau le mitamita ma le mafutaga i o latou tupuaga ma o latou lava tagata. E faapena fo’i ona tāua le aʻoaʻoina e isi fanau i aganu’u eseese ma le fa’atuatua i le tele o eseesega matagofie o aganu’u o lo’o si’omia i latou.