07/09/2026
We ran our “Who Am I?” program, which challenged our ākonga to look beyond the traditional idea of creating a self-portrait. Instead of simply drawing what they see when they look in the mirror, they were encouraged to think outside the box and represent their identity through appropriate words, symbols, colours, family, pictures, interests, hobbies; things that hold meaning for them.
The purpose of the activity was to encourage our ākonga to think about what truly makes them who they are. Their portraits became a reflection of their personalities, experiences, relationships and interests, rather than simply their physical appearance.
People can often form perceptions or make assumptions about someone based solely on what they see from the outside.
However, appearance only shows us one small part of a person. We don't always know someone's story, personality, interests, family or experiences unless we take the time to get to know them.
The program encouraged our ākonga to consider that there is always more to a person than what initially meets the eye.
By representing themselves through images, colours, words and symbols, ākonga were able to show aspects of their identity which others may not have immediately noticed.
We are very proud of our boys , they were so locked in with this program that it went for well over an hour.
It was a great opportunity for them to express themselves creatively, reflect on their identity and recognise the importance of looking beyond appearances and taking the time to understand the person underneath.
