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A'oga Fa'a Samoa support Manu Samoa

posted 5 Sep 2011 20:26 by Stephanie Anich   [ updated 5 Sep 2011 22:34 ]

www.samoaobserver.ws    

Aigaletaule’ale’ā F. Tauafiafi In Auckland

Jane Taouma, Principal for A’oga Fa’a Samoa unit.


Over 50 pre-schoolers in central Auckland have pledged allegiance to the Manu Samoa. That’s the the truth according to A’oga Fa’aSamoa’s Principal, Jane Taouma.

“I think we’re supposed to support the England team,” says Taouma. “But we are A’oga Fa’a Samoa so we support Manu Samoa,” she says proudly. 

The early childhood unit is the feeder school for Richmond Road Primary school, famous as the school attended by Hollywood star, Samoan, Dwayne ‘the Rock’ Johnston. According to Jane the children had a field day making the flags.

“They drew and laminated the flags all by themselves then had a lot of fun making the string and hanging them along there [fence].” 
With the world cup only a week away there’s excitement in the air. And Manu Samoa touched down yesterday.

“They’re all getting really excited about the rugby games about to happen,” says Jane. 
“Their parents of course are enthusiasts so that gets passed down to the children.”

But just to make sure the stringed Samoa flags lining the fence were genuine, all 50 pre-schoolers were eager to perform their version of the Siva Tau.
Out they marched with serious intent. 

A’oga Fa’a Samoa pre-schoolers and their Samoa-flag decorated fence.

And that included the teachers, caregivers, plus the gardener and cook. With purpose the little warriors and warrioresses stood oozing menace portraying defiant bastion as the last line of defence to their laminated Samoan flags display in the background. 

In unison, their little feet stomped. With their best effort at facial intimidation, their Siva Tau rendition to the Manu Samoa melody echoed around ‘The Rock’s’ former school.



A’oga FaaSamoa lenei ua o mai Leai seisi A’oga latalata mai E le faatafa ma soso ese

Leaga o lenei A’oga e uiga ese A’oga FaaSamoa, A’oga FaaSamoa

A’oga FaaSamoa e faataua gagana Samoa, hi! Readers can view the video clip on www.youtube/users/samoaobserver 

As proud as Samoans were of the Manu’s victory over the Wallabies last month, Jane Taouma and her staff could not have been prouder of their charges on Wednesday.

“Go the Manu Samoa” cried the pre-schoolers after their fierce A’oga FaaSamoa war-cry.
Jane Taouma is married to Papalii Peter Taouma and one Kiwi proud of her Samoan connections.

“I taught in Samoa for ten years,” she says proudly. “Five of my children grew up there [she has seven] and I still have one daughter over there teaching and I’m going over next week, or week after to visit her.”
And guess who Jane will cheer for at the world cup.

“When Samoa plays I’ll be cheering for Samoa,” she made a fist. 
When asked about her thoughts as the Webb Ellis trophy boards the plane for Apia after 23 October.

“Well, you’ll be celebrating for a long time. I mean who knows, anything’s possible. That’s the thing with this tournament, anyone can win on the day.” 
As for the impromptu stranger turning up in their midst on Wednesday.
“We’re really glad you saw our flags and popped in,” smiled Jane. 

A’oga Fa’a Samoa is an immersion Samoan early childhood centre. It takes in pre-schoolers with Samoan heritage and with its established link with Mua i Malae, the Samoan Bilingual Unit in Richmond Road Primary School, it becomes the feeder centre for the ‘Rocks’ school of two-years during his childhood days.