Loto Taumafai School Celebrates Samoan Culture

By Hyunsook Siutaia 02 October 2020, 6:00AM

Children with special needs who attend Loto Taumafai enjoyed a day of cultural performances as part of their Samoa Day celebrations on Thursday.

Loto Taumafai School's Assistant Principal and teacher, Iunaite Mapesone, said the children were able to celebrate their identities through various Samoan performances that they learnt in the past weeks. 

The performances are the final activity for the school’s residents before they go on a week’s break.


"The children with disabilities will be able to celebrate our culture because it’s their identity so they have to celebrate in honour of where they’re from and appreciate our Samoan culture so that in the future they’ll be able to clarify more on this special occasion, especially because they’ve never experienced this before," Mapesone added

"It’s an experience for them to dance and perform a taualuga in front of their parents so it’s a big day for them. 

"We have a variety of Samoan dances, some presentations by the students on what they have been taught over the past few weeks, tomorrow [Friday] is the last day for school and so today is a good take away for the kids when they go home."


The Samoan Day celebration has become an annual event for the school which the children always look forward to.

Ms Mapesone said she was pleased with the day's turnout and how the children performed despite the challenges they faced during practice. 

"The last two weeks they’ve been preparing and it’s difficult for them because they are children with special needs and they have different disabilities and as far as I can say today, they have managed to do it today.


"It’s a privilege for me to say that if a normal kid can do it, so can they [children with special needs], they are quite capable as well."

She also added that for the next academic term, they are looking forward to bringing in new ideas and introducing them to the children. 

The Assistant Principal and teacher acknowledged the management and board of Loto Taumafai as well as parents for their continuous support which made the Samoan Day a success. 

Eight-year-old Lafitaga Hunt, one of the students, told the Samoa Observer about his performance. 

"I did a Samoan dance and it was so cool! I love dancing and I love this program and I’m also doing a bible verse for White Sunday," he said 

By Hyunsook Siutaia 02 October 2020, 6:00AM
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