Prizegiving at Kia Kaha Primary School

Thursday School Journal

It is prizegiving day at Kia Kaha Primary School!

Prizegiving is when your family comes to see you sing
and maybe get a prize or a certificate.
They will give a big clap and take a photo of you and put it on Facebook.
They will also clap politely when other children get one.

The mums and dads and nans and grandads are all finding a seat.
A lot are already taken.

But there are plenty of spare ones around Amelia’s Dad.
If you sit next to Amelia’s Dad you will hear a lot about Nuremberg and Comrade Jacinda.
Prizegiving is nicer if you don't have to hear about that.

There would be a spare seat next to Zac’s Dad too if  Zac’s Dad wasn't manspreading.
Zac’s Dad also has his arms folded behind his head.
He is telling Kiera’s Mum about inflation.
He says,
Hard to say who’s the bigger disaster, Orr or Robertson.
Unreal the damage they’ve done.

Kiera’s Mum says,
You don't think it might have a bit to do with excessive profit-taking?

Zac’s Dad says,
How do you make that out, Sarah?

Kiera’s Mum says,
Oh I don't know just some of the stuff I’ve been reading by Robert Reich and Cory Doctorow.
Cory says giant companies are hiking prices because they know that they have a monopoly,
and because they know that their customers will accept higher prices because "everyone knows we have an inflation problem”

Zac’s Dad says,
Yeah but that's the States, what’s that got to do with us? 

Kiera’s Mum says,
You don't think some of the same thing might be happening here too, with, say, the banks and the supermarkets?
How about that report that said supermarkets are making excess profits of a million a day?
And on top of that, a whole lot of what we buy comes from those overseas profiteering companies.

Zac’s Dad says,
FFS spare me.
Suppose you're sticking up for the Three Waters rort and old barcode Nanaia too eh?

Kiera’s Mum says,
Let’s not spoil a nice afternoon shall we?

Will there be Covid at the prizegiving?
There might be. 
Ms Barry has made sure all the windows and doors are latched open.

Not many people have a mask.
But Tane’s mum does.
Amelia’s Dad rolls his eyes at her.
Tane’s mum pretends not to see.

Now everyone has a seat.
It is time to start!

Everyone stands up.
It is time to sing the national anthem in Te Reo.
The children all sing the national anthem in Te Reo in high voices.
Now it is time to sing the national anthem in English.
It is louder now because the parents and nans and grandads are singing too.

Ms Barry says,
Thank you everyone, please take a seat.
She says,
We’re going to keep things short because we don't want to keep you cooped up too long,
so let me hand straight over to our BoT chair, Roger Artichoke.

Roger Artichoke says,
Welcome everyone,
I’m pleased to say this has been a great year for Kia Kaha Primary School.

Roger Artichoke reads out numbers.
There are a lot of numbers!
How long will Mr Artichoke be reading out numbers?

The numbers are over!
Hooray!

Roger Artichoke says,
As you know I don't push any political barrow
Roger Artichoke winks at the mums and dads and nans and grandads.
Roger Artichoke says,
but I just want to share one leader’s vision that really resonated with me this year.
We will be out there in the world happening to our future,
rather than letting the future happen to us.

Roger Artichoke says,
How true that is.

Roger Artichoke says how true that is again,
and looks around the assembly hall.

Someone realises Roger Artichoke has finished, and starts clapping.
The rest of the parents and nans and grandads start clapping too.

Ms Barry says,
Thank you Roger.

Ms Barry says,
In two decades of teaching this has to have been one of the hardest years I can remember.
Sometimes you're doing well just to keep going,
and maybe that's the best way to look at this one.
But I can tell you these tamariki have taken it all in their stride and I'm very proud of them.  

Ms Barry says,
You may know that because it’s been such a struggle to keep a full roster of staff,
I took responsibility for a class myself,
and Room 13: I can tell you that I liked it so much being back in the classroom,
I’m going to see if we can find a way for me to be a principal with her own class again next year.

Room 13 gives a big cheer.

It is time to give out the prizes.

There are so many prizes!
There is a prize for Tash. 
There is a prize for Thomas.
There is a prize for Abi.
There is a prize for Caleb.
There is a prize for Kiara.
There is a prize for Moana.
There is a prize for Henry.
There is a prize for Tahlia. 
There is a prize for Sophie and Saskia and Madison.
There is a certificate for Patrick and Zac and Jordan. 
There are four prizes for Tane!

There are two prizes for Amelia.
Ms Barry shakes her hand and Amelia smiles.
Amelia takes a step away and another.
But then she turns and comes back.
She throws her arms around Ms Barry and gives her a big hug.
She says,
Can we have you again next year Miss?
Ms Barry’s eyes look a bit misty.
She says,
Let’s see what next year brings, Amelia.