MHS Graduation Week

Temporary Office

They are remodeling the School Administration building so we have moved into some temporary offices in two of the classrooms.  Lita and Mary with several of the secretaries are in one room.  Rusila and ITEP are sharing another classroom as our office until the remodel is complete.  It was quite a task moving all the textbooks, computers and other equipment and supplies.  Fortunately we had some students help with the move.  We really miss the air conditioning.  Our temporary office has a ceiling fan and another fan on a stand. 

All the walls, ceiling and flooring were removed in preparation for the remodel.  New offices for Lita, Rusila, Mary and ITEP along with a faculty work room will be part of the remodeling project.  A construction company from New Zealand, who are building a chapel in Tarawa, are doing the remodel.  It should be completed before the next school year begins in February.

The debris from the clean up was placed in this very large canvas bag, which was then carried outside and placed in a dump truck to be hauled to the land fill.  We were wondering if we could use this canvas bag as a carry on when we return on the airplane in a few weeks.  Somehow I don't think it would be allowed.

 Taiwanese Performance at Moroni High

On Thursday evening a very popular singing group "Suming and Band" from Taiwan performed at Moroni High School.  The group was on tour performing throughout the Pacific.  The band has won numerous awards as one of the most popular singing group in Taiwan.  The group also won the best Aboriginal Album in 2011 at the Golden Horse Award Ceremony.   The group has performed throughout the world.   Suming and the Band only did three performances in Kiribati, one for President Tong, one at the Parliament and one at Moroni High School.  The Moroni students sat on the floor and really got into the music as Suming and his group performed several numbers.

Originally the performance was going to be outdoors but it began raining very hard so it was moved into the cultural hall.  Which meant it started about an hour and a half later than scheduled.  Prior to the performance a special luncheon was provided the special guests who included many of the village "old men" or "unimanes" ; these men are considered the most important men in a Kiribati village.

Prior to the performance by the Taiwanese group, a traditional dance was performed by Moroni students and a floral garland was placed on the heads of the singers, the unimane elders, and other special guests including President and Sister Shaw and several Taiwanese representatives including the Taiwan's Ambassador to Kiribati and his lovely wife.  It was an enjoyable evening for all in attendance.  The Moroni students especially enjoyed the performance.

The performers wore traditional Taiwanese dress, the significance of which was told to the audience. Suming, the lead singer is the second from the left.  They were very talented musically and use a lot of technology as part of their musical performance

The Taiwanese ambassador introduced the performers and spoke of some of the honors the group had won.  We have met the ambassador at other functions, he is a very gracious man.  He speaks very good English and has spent much time in the USA, where two of his children are currently attending universities.  Suming is standing in front of the group of performers, he has not only won many music awards but also awards for acting.

The backup performers for Suming helped entertain the group.

High School Graduation

Friday, 23 November 2012 was the academic graduation for Moroni High School.  The graduation theme was "Shine Forth".

Lita and her team moved graduation to the morning at 10:00 am in order to better accomadate all the events related to graduation.  President Shaw was the commencement speaker and I had the opportunity to introduce him.  Lita, Sister Shaw, and Sister Thorne were part of the reception line congratulating each student as they received their diplomas from President Shaw.  Form 7 students received a certificate of completion.  Form 7 is coordinated with the University of South Pacific so students can earn college credit.  Normally a representative from the Area Office in New Zealand is the speaker, in order to save money they asked President Shaw to represent the Church Board of Education.

Students marched in carrying the Kiribati and Moroni High School flags. The graduates entered to the traditional graduation entrance music - "pomp and circumstance".

The graduates all sat behind the podium and the Form 7 students sat to the right front of the chapel.

Lita gave the annual report on Moroni High School including the number of graduates in Form 6 and the number of Form 7 students who completed their studies.  She spoke of some of the highlights of the school year both academically and extra curricular.

President Thomas Shaw was the main graduation speaker.  There were also twp student speakers - the academic and career valedictorian.  The academic and career salutatorians gave the prayers and the top Form 7 students introduced the graduation them "Shine Forth" (D&C 115:5).  After the Ambassador from Taiwan said to Lita how much he had enjoyed President Shaw's remarks.  The ambassador said, "It is the Spirit".  I also felt the Spirit as the students spoke and sang and when President Shaw spoke. 

 The singing of the students was magnificent.  They sang beautifully, loud and in harmony, it was a really special graduation for the students - their parents and/or guardians.  Sister Thorne recorded each of the songs they sung and hopes to convert them into a CD to listen to.

Sister Shaw, Sister Thorne, and Lita welcome each graduate as they receive their diplomas after six years of studies at Moroni High for many of the students

Principal Lita, Sister Thorne, Sister Shaw and President Shaw greet and congratulate each student.  Pres. Shaw also handed each their diploma.  Rusila, the assistant principal read the name of each student.

Among the special guests was the High Commissioner for Australia.  The High Commissioner from New Zealand was also in attendance as were representatives from government and other public and church schools.  

The students on the front row in the caps and gowns are holding their diplomas while the Form 7 students are shown in the background, the young ladies wore white dresses and the young men wore dark suits and ties.  It was an impressive site to see all these choice young men and women who will be the future of the Church and leaders of their villages and the Nation.

Following the graduation ceremony the parents and guardian line up outside the chapel to place a lei on their graduating son or daughter.  It is a wonderful tradition, the same tradition is performed at seminary graduation which was held the Sunday before the high school graduation

  Post - Graduation Activities

After the graduation ceremony, the special guests and faculty were invited to a luncheon under a tent in the front of the school.  Some of the special guests besides Pres. and Sister Shaw included the High Commissioners from Australia and New Zealand, The ambassador from Taiwan, one of the Sisters from the Catholic Diocese over education, government officials and others.

A luncheon for honored guests was hosted by Lita immediately after graduation.  It included many traditional dishes including freshly boiled lobsters

Evening Activities

In the evening was another banquet for the Form 6 and Form 7 students, faculty, the missionary couples, Priesthood leaders, and Church employees.  Part of the buffet included two roasted pigs plus all kinds of Kiribati dishes.  The honored guests ate first, then the students, followed by faculty and church employees.

Lots of food was prepared not only on the tables but also on the chairs to the left

Groups of students dressed in similar outfits for the evening activities, which include every student and partner being introduced at the dance.  The young men and young women dressed very sharply for the occasion.

Two large pigs were roasted for the banquet for the students, there was only one problem.  They forgot to bring a knife to cut the pork.  So most of the students had finished eating before the pigs were carved.  There mus have been a lot of pork left over, but the faculty and church employees did their best to limit any left overs.

The graduates and Form 7 students  enjoying the banquet in their honor.

Some younger family members caught the spirit of the evening and dressed 

Following the banquet, everyone including parents and guardians went to the outdoor courts to honor the students graduating; as well as the Form 7 students.  The decorations were very impressive as were the dances and singing.  A faculty graduation committee worked for several weeks in preparation of the event.

The hut used for the decorations was begun several weeks in advance at the school shop.  The frame for the hut was first constructed, then mats were placed on the roof trusses.

The mats made from Pandanus leaves were buried in the ocean for several weeks and then woven into long mats.  These were placed on the structure about 8 to 10 inches apart in a layered pattern.  This makes the traditional roof for the Kiribati huts which are seen all over the islands.

Once the roof is completed the leaves are trimmed to make a nice appearance.  The traditional roof is water proof and is much cooler inside than metal or wooden shingles used in Western society structures.

The finished product as the roof structure was placed above the platform of the small living quarters.  Mats were hung in the back of the hut and placed on the platform where people sat during the performance.

At traditional Kiribati fishing canoe was included as part of the decorations for the evening performance.  The canoes are still used for fishing and also races.

Mats were hung around the basketball standards and many floral arrangements were included in the decorations.  Fatele (shown on the right) and Banririe (not in the picture) chaired the decoration committee. Teaka was the chairman of the graduation committee, they did a marvelous job.  They would put most Jr. Prom decorations in the states to shame.

The final decorations included the small hut, the boat,  flowers, palm trees, coral rock, and a variety of native fruits including pandanus, bananas, and breadfruit were all part of the elaborate decorations for the evening activities

What the finished decorations looked like when finally completed.  It was very beautiful and required hours and hours of work by the graduation committee.

Palm trees were cut down and placed in containers and a variety of fruit was hung such as the pandanus fruit in this photo

Coconuts were on display in this photo

The hut is getting ready to be put in place

The center poll with balloons tied to it and lights strung from the cortage were part of the decor for the evening

Some of the faculty performed traditional dances for the graduates and their parents in the rain.  Some of them were really soaked by the time they finished, but they kept on dancing.

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The day after graduation was a large Thanksgiving meal for the full time missionaries - which will be shown in next weeks blog.  

Our mission is finished on December 10th so the time is short and the tasks to complete are many.