On Wednesday 11 June, the Pasifika Council hosted our first Fono for 2025. We gathered to talanoa, share kai, and connect with our students and whānau. The aim of the Fono was to provide an opportunity for whānau to express ideas and thoughts regarding the future aspirations of our Pasifika students at BDSC.
The evening began with a warm welcome, an opening prayer, and some icebreaker activities. We then shared a presentation on the council’s goals for the year. In 2025, the Pasifika Council aims to strengthen the presence of Pasifika culture at BDSC, establish cultural dance groups, and ensure that the achievements of our Pasifika students are celebrated. We also highlighted some impressive sporting, cultural, and academic successes of our Pasifika students.
As a council, we were excited to prepare for Pasifika Languages Week—an event that celebrates the rich cultures of the Pacific. The council’s responsibilities included decorating each whānau whare, preparing performances, and serving food at the stalls.
Our aim is to raise the visibility of Pasifika culture at school and inspire pride in our Pacific identities.
We would like to extend a special thank you to Bernadine Russell, who generously taught and helped us create the beautiful kahoa we proudly wore on the night.
The support we receive from our Pasifika community is deeply appreciated, and we look forward to hosting our next Fono in Term 4.
~ Aleisha Coleman 13D9