“Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves”
I’d like to first acknowledge Mrs. Koni, who joined us as Deputy Principal yesterday. It is a great privilege to welcome you to the school, Mrs. Koni, and we are all eager to see the positive influences of your leadership and input in the near future.
As we all know, Manaakitanga - hospitality, generosity, and upholding each others’ mana - is a core value in our school. However, it’s more than just a value.
Many cultures and traditions share this idea because communities survive and flourish when people build trust through mutual care. This purpose has not died away. Even now, as a band of brothers, manaakitanga is crucial to the wellbeing of our community.
So, how do I show manaakitanga to those around me at school? Well, you might have heard people say “simple things, like holding the door, all counts”, and that’s definitely true. But I think manaakitanga goes deeper than that.
Think back to brotherhood. While serving and uplifting each other is important for everyone’s success, it becomes a lot easier when we see everyone as a brother. If we truly see one another as brothers, then it becomes more than just a school value. It becomes the way we speak to one another, the way we encourage each other, and the way we build our community.
When manaakitanga is grounded in a strong sense of belonging and brotherhood, as Dr. Columbus has often talked about, we support not only those around us, but our school as a whole. Here’s something to think about: In the Bible, Romans Chapter 12 verse 10 says,
“Be devoted to one another in love. Honour one another above yourselves”
And I think this speaks to the heart of the theme: That we are called to treat others with respect, humility, and care, and in doing so, strengthen the community we are a part of.
Adrian Prasath
Prefect
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