Exploring elements of the Diploma and being of service
05 Dec 2024
Inspired by the story of Māui, Year 10 students have made the most of College’s three-day Kōhititia programme, researching, designing, and presenting their concepts based on the Māori mythology.
Students have also visited Ōnuku Marae on Banks Peninsula to learn more about Taha Māori and toured significant places of worship in Christchurch, reflecting on Global Citizenship grounded in spiritual identity.
Taha Māori and Global Citizenship are both elements of the Christ’s College Diploma, with the boys completing the first year of their Diploma.
Under the Kōhititia programme, the boys have designed a team name, logo, plan, storyboard, and comic strip to share the story of Māui. They have also created a working model – using flimsy materials – that can lift one kilogramme 10 centimetres above the ground, representing Maui hauling up the giant fish (New Zealand’s North Island).
In their final week of the term, the Year 10 students have been giving back to the local community, helping out with bush restoration, conservation, and gardening at multiple sites and community gardens, and reading to children at a preschool, along with supporting Hōhepa Canterbury, Red Cross, SPCA, Pregnancy Help, and a specialist school for students with ongoing needs. From Banks Peninsula to Silverstream, the boys have been digging, planting, creating tracks, stocking warehouses, helping out, and spending time with youngsters.
College Director of Character & Leadership, and Service Matt Cortesi says the boys have truly stepped up, getting as much out of their service as they have given to others.
“The opportunities to support so many wonderful organisations and spend time with those who most appreciate their time have been beneficial to our boys on many levels,” he says. “The feedback from the groups – and the boys – has been amazing, with students often toiling hard in tough conditions or discovering new ways to connect with those who need an extra hand. In total, they have put in more than 2500 hours of service to many communities.”
