Tu Tane Ceremony The Following - Tane Uetika
The evening of June 29th 2011 was our Tu Tane mentors night. Three hundred men and Year 10 boys braved a cold wet winter’s night to make a commitment to growing good men. This is the second year of Tu Tane and this particular evening is about the link to men in our community and the shared responsibility we all have as our boys grow into men. Each boy was required to bring a mentor from home or whanau to share the experience. GBHS staff and senior boys stepped up to be there for our Year 10 boys who didn’t have anyone available from home.
There was a sense of shared purpose as the various speakers from the PE department led by Tom Cairns spoke of the programmes successes last year and outlined the challenges ahead for this year’s boys.
The boy’s mentors were all handed a Tu Tane T-shirt to give to their boy at the conclusion of the evening. The T shirt symbolised a ‘contract’ between the boys and men. The message was clear; “when you take this shirt, you are making a commitment to growing up. It may be uncomfortable, but this year you are going to leave boyhood behind. Do not take the shirt if you are not ready”.
Our part of this agreement is to show the pathway, open the door and make clear the expectation.
We will provide the opportunity to step up beyond a boy’s comfort zone through a series of challenges in the Tu Tane programme. The boys who were present that night are expected to agree to the terms and take the opportunities that are presented to them. But we cannot make them. Taking the opportunity will mean having to have an honest look at themselves and be prepared to deal with what they see. Being out of ‘their comfort zone” is where we want to take them on occasion, because that’s where real learning occurs.
During Term 3, the challenges will begin for the boys, both personal and group based - more information about the challenges will be provided through Tu Tane class teachers.