Kai festival cash teaches Rhode Street pupils a lesson
Pupils got down to business at the Rhode Street School Kai Festival, selling meals they had made themselves, using produce from their gardens.
A Dinsdale school’s kai festival gave pupils a taste of the business world, with their hangi rolls, nachos, watermelon ice-cream and berry iceblocks pleasing a crowd of hungry punters.
The Rhode Street School Kai Festival on Thursday was both a fundraising and learning opportunity for the pupils. Each class ran as a separate business, selling their dish at a stall. All meals contained something grown in the class garden, be it tomatoes, corn, berries, or otherwise, and a cup was on offer for the class which best used their produce. Pupils not only decided what to make and helped cook it, but also set the pricing, made posters to advertise the product, and dealt with customers at the stall.
To make it an even more realistic business experience, each class paid a $25 stall fee, and gave 15 per cent of profits to the school. This covered the cost of fundraising and the work of the helpers on the night, as well as the DJ and band entertainment. The class which raised the most money would win a cup, and all classes would decide how to use the money they made. This year, it was earmarked for activities like senior camp, resources, or a trip to Rainbow’s End.
Winnie Pasene, office manager and co-organiser of the festival, was flat out exchanging cash for the tokens used to buy the kai. She said the festival was a great source of excitement for pupils, and there was excellent support from the community, with many old pupils coming back. Having experienced all the festivals since they began, about six years ago, her favourite part was still “looking at our kids’ faces. Look at them!”
Also watching the smiling children were Lex Kemara, chair of the school’s board, and Richard Waitoa, a teacher at Nawton School. Kemara said the festival had grown steadily ever since it was first inspired by the Kawhia Kai Festival, and she loved everything about it. It was a fantastic opportunity for pupils to understand the food process, and get enthusiastic about growing their own kai.
“They’re so excited. They love it, absolutely love it. And they’re more involved now because they get a say in what they’re learning.”
She said amazing recipes were coming out of the school kitchen.
Waitoa said growing food was part of the Enviroschools intiative, involving learning in science and technology.
“It’s kind of like when we were kids – I mean there was no curriculum for that.”
Although he taught at a different school, he was a festival regular.
“We know half the kids. I mean, half of them are our whanau anyway… quite a few of us always come to support.”
And there was no shortage of whanau support. Medina White, who has three grandchildren at the school, enjoyed a six-dollar hangi pork roll.
“It was worth the money… nice and full of meat.”
Charmaine Waiterekau said it was easy to spend up large with three children’s classes to support.
“It’s all worth it, because it’s for the school.”
