Mark Ralston

Tēnā tātou,
He uri tēnei nō Kotarani, nō Ingarangi hoki
I whānau mai au i Waiheke
I tipu ake i Whangaparāoa
E noho tonu ana ki reira
Kei te kura tuatahi a Silverdale e mahi ana
He kaiako au
Ko Mark Ralston tōku ingoa
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa

As a local ‘Coastie’ raised on the Whangaparāoa Peninsula and a father of two tamariki who are growing up here too, I have a vested interest and a deep passion for the education of our ākonga/students. 

I have been teaching at Silverdale School since 2012 where I currently lead the Year 4 team and year in an ILE with 44 ākonga. At Silverdale, I have also had the honour of leading Te Ao Māori for many years. My journey began in kapa haka and led me to study te reo Māori me ōna tikanga at Te Herenga Waka o Orewa Marae and Te Wānaga o Aotearoa up to Level 6.

My experience at Silverdale and working collaboratively with kura on the coast has led me to this role as the across school leader of Te Ao Māori across the Kāhui Ako ki Orewa. I feel honoured to have been in this role for what is now my third term and to have been a part of the growth of our kura, kaiako and tamariki in this area. Together we have come so far and together we will continue to make our Kāhui a place where all tamariki can learn in a space where Te Ao Māori is just ‘What we do’.

I will finish my kōrero with our whakatauākī developed with leaders from the Kāhui Ako ki Orewa, ‘Orewarewa whenua, puāwai māhuri’ – On this fertile ground of Orewa the sapling thrives

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa