Marist Primary School hosted a manaia (traditional dancing) event as part of a school fundraiser at their compound in Mulivai on Monday, bringing in over $6,000 for improved school facilities.

Parents, teachers, and students of the primary school looked on as the students performed in a cultural display but also a celebration of the conclusion of the first term of the 2021 academic year.

Certificates were also awarded to students by the teachers for the most improved, best attendance record, punctuality, and other educational benchmarks.

The school’s health and science head of department, 31-year-old Lui Malaki, told the Samoa Observer that the manaia was a display that taught students about the importance of their culture.

He said having students perform in front of a large group of people can be challenging but they have to push their pupils.

“Performing items and dances in front of a large group of audience is challenging, but they push the children to practice that experience to perform and to get money from their performance," Mr. Malaki said. 

The school normally holds a fundraising event annually but its fundraising activities are typically limited to raffle draws. The manaia is normally a strictly cultural event.

“But we did this manaia event as a cultural event to entertain the Parents and Teachers Association [who watched] our children dancing and enjoying themselves on the stage,” Mr. Malaki said.

“Every class collected money from the beginning of the school term up to now and that money kicked off their performances and items plus some money parents and friends [contributed during the event] today [was a welcome] addition.

“Another important thing about today’s event was the awards presented to children as a reward for this term’s work which normally happens at the end of the year.

“But we managed to do it today to motivate children to compete towards the end of this year with the same awards.”

The awards bestowed on Monday included those for the best attendance, punctuality, and the most improved award - a category for children who repeated a class but managed a high level of academic achievement.  

Some of the award winners included Valentino Manoo (ABC Letter Award winner for Year 1); Alapati J Gale (Best Attendance Award for Year 6); and Elijah Kalen Faamata (Silver Reading Award for Year 5).

The school raised a total of $6,300 cash with the principal and staff expressing their gratitude to the parents for their support.