From left to right: Elena Ciobanu; Barbara Ala’alatoa, Principal, Sylvia Park School; Alin Ungureanu, Chelmer Ltd; Hon Jan Tinetti, Associate Minister of Education; Professor Peter O’Connor, Director of the Centre for Arts and Social Transformation in the Faculty of Education and Social Work, The University of Auckland; and Dagmar Dyck, artist and Deputy Principal, Curriculum Leader, Art teacher and Inquiry Lead Teacher at Sylvia Park School.
Last week, Chelmer celebrated the launch of new Te Rito Toi Pasifika resources, which showcase ways teachers can use Pasifika arts in schools post-crisis.
As part of our broader purpose, Chelmer provides support to initiatives that are making a positive impact by improving lives. Over the last year, we have been proud to support the wonderful work the University of Auckland’s Centre for Arts and Social Transformation is doing via Te Rito Toi – an initiative that uses the arts to help children cope with crisis and disaster.
Chelmer CEO Alin Ungureanu attended the celebration alongside Honorable Jan Tinetti – Associate Minister of Education, Professor Peter O’Connor – Director of the Centre for Arts and Social Transformation at The University of Auckland, Barbara Ala’alatoa – Principal, and Dagmar Dyck – Deputy Principal, Curriculum Leader, Art teacher and Inquiry Lead Teacher at Sylvia Park School.
“We are proud to provide continued support to Te Rito Toi, as it aligns with Chelmer’s broader purpose to improve lives, and the importance we place on creativity, innovation and wellbeing” said Alin.
Professor Peter O’Connor said the new Pasifika resources will be enormously popular in schools as the first significant resource on Pasifika arts in schools in a generation. “We know the arts approach is vital post crisis and having culturally relevant tools adds real strength to our work. We are so grateful to Chelmer for their support in making this happen.”
The event also presented research into the use of Te Rito Toi during COVID-19, with new advice for principals, teachers and policy makers to manage crises in schools. Recommendations included a greater focus on wellbeing for schools in post crisis recovery, providing culturally and socially diverse classroom resources, investment in professional development and education, and actively involving teachers and principals in emergency planning and training.
About Te Rito Toi
Te Rito Toi is an innovative initiative led by a passionate research team at the University of Auckland’s Centre for Arts and Social Transformation. By providing research-informed practical advice, classroom activities and lesson plans, Te Rito Toi helps teachers work with children when they first return to school following major traumatic or life changing events. The initiative uses arts as a way to re-engage children with learning and with eachother and has been particularly impactful during the pandemic – with over 300,000 downloads in the first month of schools’ return during COVID-19.
Learn more at teritotoi.org.