Welcome to Royal Oak Intermediate
Background:
Royal Oak Intermediate School has been chosen to represent Auckland and New Zealand at the Asian-Pacific Children’s Convention (APCC) in Fukuoka, Japan. The convention aims to deepen cultural understanding among young people through intercultural exchange, a home stay experience, school visits and a camp. The convention takes place in Late July early August for approximately two weeks. In previous years, around 46 delegations from various countries around the Asia-Pacific attended, amounting to some 300-350 junior ambassadors.
Objectives of the convention
- to foster a global perspective in young people, who will work to increase international awareness in their local community
- to generate appreciation of different cultures, languages and nationalities through exchange among Asia-Pacific children
- to promote peace and mutual understanding among Asia-Pacific countries
We have been invited to send 6 representatives, Three boys and three girls. The bulk of the costs are covered by the Japanese. Strict criteria have been placed on the number, ages and makeup of the group attending. For example, we must take 3 boys and three girls, students must be New Zealand citizens born between 1 September 1998 and 31 August 1999.
Many people have been involved in the preparation of the six students attending the convention. Ma Down has given up her lunch times and many hours over the holidays to hone the skills of the students. Mr Elmsly had taken the students for language lessons on Friday afternoons. Parents have been very supportive helping make poi, business cards for the students fund raising as well as getting student to practices during the holidays. Thank you all for your dedication to this amazing opportunity.Thanks to our sponsors:
- Tiger Turf
- Uniform Plus
- Fernware
Our Return
Occasionally events take place that change the lives of students. One such event was Royal Oak Intermediate School’s participation in the world's largest children’s Convention in Fukuoka, Japan. Six children from Royal Oak Intermediate represented Auckland and New Zealand at the Asian Pacific Children’s Convention in July this year. The conference was attended by 42 other delegations from 38 different countries. Over 400 students were involved in a wide range of activities. The Royal Oak students mixed with students from as far away as Nepal and Bhutan where they discussed issues that are important to them as our future leaders. In the 10 days they were in Japan the students spent time in a home stay environment and went into camp on Noko Island. The festival culminated with all delegations performing on three stages for a very large crowd of people. The Royal Oak Intermediate delegation performed a five minute medley of items that included a karakia, waiata, haka and poi.
Principal Comments: I was very proud of our students they got involved in everything and tried everything. The highlights for the students included the stay on the island with so many students from different cultures, attending a baseball games at the Yahoo Stadium and trying a wide variety of different foods. I asked the students to use one word to describe their experiences: Awesome!
Releasing Balloons: The students all wrote messages about peace and other issues that were important to them on paper balloons and released them. This video includes the students singing 'We are the Bridge Song'
