Tiny trees at Tree Awamutu show
A Tiny Trees section has been added to the popular Tree Awamutu Christmas community event this year.
Children have an opportunity to create their own 30cm high Christmas tree, which will be added to the pop-up Christmas Tree Forest.
Tree Awamutu coordinator Jamie Budd says the Tiny Trees section is all about showcasing the creativity, personality and passion of each individual child — they can create a tree based on their passion or interest, such as music, sport or hobbies. It is open in two age categories (5-8 years, 9-12 years).
Guest judges will choose winners from each category and there will be a people’s choice award.
“Tree Awamutu is all about serving our community and helping to make this time of year feel extra special for everyone,” says Jamie.
“Waipa¯ Christian School and Tree Awamutu have been working together since our opening event four years ago and I am incredibly excited that they will be joining us again this year in a greater capacity through serving at our Matinee on Tuesday, December 10.
As part of their schools’ character and values their students will be taking the lead on all areas of serving those who attend — greeting guests, serving refreshments, involved in traffic management and hosting visitors through the pop-up Christmas Tree Forest.
And once again the choir and Kapa Haka group will be performing on stage.
“I love that as a school they are fully committed to teaching their students the values of serving within our community and I know Tree Awamutu is just one of those opportunities that Waipa¯ Christian School gets involved Jamie.
Waipa¯ Christian School principal Jaco Labuschagne says ‘To know, love, and serve’ is the school’s motto.
“First, we have to know Jesus Christ and understand what He did for us on the cross.
“Knowing God’s love for us, is our reason for loving ourselves just as He has created us perfect in His image.
“This knowledge gives us the mandate to love our in,” says neighbours, loves us.
“Loving our neighbours should not just be a feeling, it has to show in our actions,” says Jaco.
“This is where serving others becomes central to our school’s motto, our local curriculum, and our ethos.”
Over the years, Waipa¯ Christian School students have been involved with serving the Te Awamutu community in various ways, including performing songs and just as He dances for patients at Matariki Hospital, blessing residents at CHT Highfield Te Awamutu Home and Hospital with visits, shared lunches and activities, serving the wider community through performances at the Light Party and providing entertainment at Tree Awamutu.
“This year, we are extending that involvement by entering a ‘big’ tree representing the school community and encouraging as many children as possible to participate in the Tiny Trees section,” says Jaco.
“Students can get really creative, get stuck in with something hands-on, while at the same time contributing to an event which fits very well with our values.”
■ For more about Tiny Trees see zionpeople.nz/treeawamutu-2 or follow at facebook.com/treeawamutu Tree Awamutu 2019: December 9: 7-9pm; December 10: 12.30-2.30pm (matinee); December 10: 7-9pm; December 11: 7-9pm.