Lumana’i Manuia Mo A Taeao

May Road School is committed to meeting its obligations under the NEGs (National Education Guidelines) with regard to the goals that have been identified in the May Road school charter. We recognise and wish to maximise the benefits of bilingual learning in the school in the delivery of the school curriculum as requested by the Samoan parent community.

Bilingual education is where teaching happens in two languages and students work towards becoming literate or fluent speakers, readers and writers in both languages.

A foundation for our way or teaching and learning is: ‘Ole ala i le pule o le tautua’.  The pathway to leadership is through service.

The contexts for learning come from  ‘faa Samoa’ perspectives.  These provide opportunities for our learners to celebrate and understand what it means to be a Samoan in New Zealand.

Expected Outcomes:

• Students who are able and confident communicators in two languages and literacies.

• Teachers who feel supported and believe in the benefits of the bilingual pathway.

• May Road School is known for meeting the needs of their students in bilingual education.

• The May Road School community has a love and respect for languages.

We currently have fifty eight children enrolled in our bilingual classes.

Children from Aoga Amata Fa’avae Mautu transition from aoga into Lumana'i Iva.  Fa’avae Mautu Aoga Amata visit Lumana'i Iva fortnightly so that the children are able to share songs, share activities together in preparation for easy transition into May Road.  This is a special time for children both from the aoga and our bilingual classes as it builds a stronger relationship between teachers and families reinforcing the forging of Samoan community links and connections.

Our Journey

‘A leai se gagana, ua leai se aganuu, a leai se aganuu ona po lea o le nuu.’  When you lose your language, you lose your culture and when there is no longer a living culture, darkness descends on the village. (Fanaafi, 1996:)

Our parents have been the key to the success of Lumana’i Manuia Mo A Taeao Bilingual Unit at May Road.

The  (PEP) Pasifika Education Plan-  puts Pasifika learners, their parents, families and communities at the core of all learning taking into account all processes and methodologies.  FAMILIES are the key to the success of our children. ‘It takes a village to raise a child’.

After an opportunity to hear and talk about Bilingual Education together with Patisepa Tuafuti and a visit to Finlayson Samoan Bilingual in 2012, a handful of Samoan parents were determined to start the 1st Samoan Bilingual at May Road.

The Late Thomas Cassidy Kaumatua opened and blessed our building  on March 17th 2013.

Lumana’i Manuia Mo A Taeao are currently in the top floor of Te ao Mārama.