Tonga High School Ex-students Newsletter Volume 2 Issue

Tonga High School Ex-Students Web Site Newsletter
Date: October,2000
Volume: 2, Issue 10

WORDS FROM THE WEBMASTER & THE THSESWS NEWSLETTER EDITOR:
Welcome to the THSESWS monthly newsletter for the month of October 2000. The headline news of course is the "Tonga High School Fire". The news of the devastation caused by the fire was relayed by Halaevalu Palu to Tapani Mangisi and then to THSESWS only a few hours after the fire. October 1, 2000 will always be remembered as Tonga High School's saddest day. It has already been dubbed as "Tonga High School's Black Sabbath". However, through all these - one thing for sure; Tonga High School will rise again and stronger than ever. THSESWS has contacted the principal for details but there has been no reply from the principal yet. Siaosi Sovaleni, Halaevalu Palu and Samiuela Taufa are now our source of information regarding this tragedy. More news about the fire is published below.
The THSESWS would like to thank 'Evaline Ha'angana for compiling a variety of news for us prior to the fire at Tonga High School. 'Evaline continues to work with us in terms of getting news from the school to be passed on to all ex-students all over the globe. Dominating the news from Tonga High School prior to the fire is the PTA Concert. Dr 'Akanesi Makakaufaki and her team have done an exceptional job and must be congratulated. According to 'Evaline,"it was a very successful event indeed". It is evident that the PTA is doing a lot for the school. It is hoped that the Government will now join in to make Tonga High School retains its reputation as the BEST in the kingdom.
Recently, our forum has been unstable - the problems happened at the server hosting our forum. We are looking at possibilities of hosting our forum somewhere else where our data are secured. So for the time being please bear with us. There have been some great discussions on the "Lalo Kasia Forum". The topic of the month, "Friendship" and the Tonga High School Fire were some of the most interesting and useful topics of late. It is always a joy reading the responses and constructive discussions on our forum. For that reason, the THSESWS would like to encourage you all to visit our forum and leave some of your opinions there for us to share. There are some brilliant minds out there who have not involved themselves in our forum. Our message to you is to please come along as your contributions are very much needed. Some of our PhD holders have not visited our forum yet and therefore we would like to invite you to come along and share with us some of your ideas and philosophies.
Faka'apa'apa atu
Loseli M Hafoka & 'Amelia Piutau

NEWS FROM TONGA HIGH SCHOOL
THE SIGHT THAT BROKE OUR HEART!

In the early hours of the morning (Sunday, 1 October), sirens were heard on Mateialona Road as fire engines raced to the scene of a fire at Tonga High School. The firemen were confronted with the near impossible task of trying to contain a fire that has taken hold of the staff room and the second floor of the front wing of the school. Within minutes, the staff room and the library were totally engulfed in flames. In spite of the best efforts of firemen at the scene, both the staff room and the library could not be saved. The fire quickly spreaded from the library toward the tower fuelled by books, old timber and ceilings of the building. Fortunately, the new extension to the Tonga Side School side was left unscathed. The real cause of the fire is yet to be established and officers from the Tonga Police are now investigating. Two theories have emerged; one is "an electrical fault" and the other is the "work of arsonists". The former is the most popular theory with so many speculations. However, THSESWS has yet to receive the latest on the real cause of the fire.
At the scene of the tragedy, emotions were running high and the feelings of hopelessness, despair and desolation overwhelmed everybody. Most "by-standers" were Tonga High School Ex-students accompanied by the Minister of Education, Director of Education, Director of Civil Aviation and others. Even those who had no connection with Tonga High School could not hold their tears at seing the destructions the fire has caused. The tears shed by many people is a tribute to all excellent deeds served out by this school and its former students. Tonga High School is not just a school, it is a TREASURE, an INSTITUTION and more importantly it is an ICON. Nothing of any sentimental value would ever replace it.
LATEST NEWS REGARDING THE THS FIRE – Supplied by Samiuela Taufa(received Oct,9)
Tent City:
The school has acquired tents for two classrooms and is requesting further assistance from the government to put up further temporary structures to house all students on campus. Students are heard to mention that there is nothing wrong at Tonga High School (apparently in high spirits) and that the tents are cooler anyway. Originally the school hired tents from outside but after the principal went and begged the Prime Minister, his excellency then authorised the free use of tents from the military.
Destroyed Services:
The former administration area looks like the classical "open office plan" definitely no walls separating anything. Unfortunately it was sad to see burnt examination papers and the more important burnt student records. The scarred remnants of some student reports are being resurrected, but it is a sad sad thing to look over the charred remains of so much history.
The library reflects the schools obvious "open roof" plan, a nice view of the sky and mala'e Kula is available from all positions. Total devastation.
The storage room beside the library and the English book room is gone
The four classrooms adjoining the "English Book Room" are no more and the structural damage are obvious. Looking at the heat damage to the structure it would be fair to say that the upper floor is structurally unsafe for further use and should be demolished.
There are two class rooms available for school use on the upper floor towards the tower. Unfortunately one of those rooms shows fire damage to the roofing and is unlikely to be used. (room 10?)
The 1994 Computer Lab (later upgraded) is a total write-off. The torched remains of the walls indicate significant flame and heat damage. This was previously room 11/Geography.
The store room for the band equipment was not seriously damaged and all the equipment escaped damage. Maybe this is a sign ? It's Very strange there was no damage here and yet the fire was able to spread through the ground floor offices, go upstairs, show some damage to the stair well (although it looks more from falling flame debris than a climbing flame damage) and jump across from the library to the other areas of the building.
The wing to Tonga Side School shows no sign of any fire damage. It looks like two lower class rooms are being quickly converted to office / staff space. This wing recieved significant damage from fire fighters when they tried moving the equipment (in the attempt to salvage tools in case the fire spreads.) Unfortunately their actions (moving the equipment) caused significant damage to the wiring, and equipment. The language lab will require expensive work to rewire.

Principal's Information:
'Evaline said she was very happy with the immediate offers of assistance from the Catholic Education Services and LDS. Both education systems made immediate offers of material assistance to Tonga High School.
The New Zealand High Commission made an emergency assistance program of $10,000 for purchasing equipment for administration and an additional $2,000 for acquiring classroom tools.
Examinations are going well.
The Monday staff meeting with MOE asked what was to happen and staff members were committed to continuing the examinations. Of course this meant a lot of extra work with reprinting ALL examination papers, and some people having to reset papers. Hurrah for the take home floppy diskette.
With all administration equipment down, no telephone, no fax and no e-mail, there is difficulty contacting the principal.
There are rumours here and there that the cause of the fire is hatred toward the current principal. This could be, but the hate isn't any different from previous administration, and it is really the task of the police to find the culprits, whereas the existing administration and staff have to ensure students finish the year well (academically and morally)
Government has no money to reconstruct the school. Where Tonga High goes from today is definitely in the hands of those who put their hands together to work for the school.
As with other fire fighting efforts, significant damage occurred due to water and the efforts of the fire fighters.

Ex-Students Clean Up Day:
There were a number of radio announcements about the clean up but not many ex-students turned up.
It was disappointing to see only a handful of ex-students turned up, those who turned up did not do much but mostly hung around the BBQ burner and the beer.
The industrial arts staff were on hand to work with some of the students in preparing the new staff facilities and general handiwork.

ANALYSIS OF THE FIRE SO FAR - Looking for Motives!
There are so many speculations about the cause of the fire and one of them is that; "the fire was started by students". Setting the school alight has been rumoured to be a direct action against the principal. However, the following might point to the contrary.
Clear evidence against this rumour is the fact that the Principal's vehicle was parked outside the school on the day of the fire. The firefighters had to push the vehicle onto the road to minimise possibility of the fire causing damage to it.
The principal's vehicle has often been left unattended at the school and yet it has never been vandalized.

The question is, if the attack on the school was motivated as a hate campaign against the principal. Why burn the whole school when you can simply smash the principal's vehicle? The exams were to start on the next day (Monday) and surely those rumoured to have started the fire would have known the disruptions such action would do to their friends' exam preparations. Students might do stupid things at times but very rare do they let their fellow students(peers) down by committing deeds such as burning a school.
It is quite unfair for rumours about the fire being set by present students since it casts a bad smear on all of them when it may have been an accident or an electrical fault or the possibility of the fire being set by thieves?
The THSESWS would like to ask everyone to please wait for the outcome of the Police investigation. Rumours will not solve anything but they will surely harm certain people.

KONISETI 'A E PTA
As you read the following news from Tonga, please take into account that this was received one week before the fire. It is rather ironic to see how things have dramatically changed within a matter of few days!
THEME:
A friendly smile makes you happy
A good news makes you feel strong
Na'e fakakakato 'a e tanaki pa'anga 'a e PTA 'i he 'aho tutuku 'o e ako he teemi hono 2 (17/8/00) Ko e fokotu'utu'u ngaue eni 'a e komiti ngaue mo e palesiteni ko Dr Akanesi Makakaufaki ke kumi ha pa'anga ke tokoni ki he puleako mo e kau faiako 'i hono fakanaunau 'o e loki Industrial Art mo e loki Computer 'a e Ako. Ne kau foki ai moe tokanga mavahe ke langa'i hake 'a e tu'unga lolotonga 'o e laipeli pea 'oku faka'amu ke fakahu kiai mo ha computer ke fakapolokalama ki he research 'a e fanau ako. 'Oku nau lolotonga fakavahenga foki mo e kau ngaue 'e toko 3 'i he 'Apiako. 'Ikai ngata ai ka 'oku nau monomono 'a e ngaahi lokiako mo fakalelei 'a e ngaahi sea & tepile. 'Oku fakafuofua 'e laka hake 'i he $5000 ke ngaue 'aki ki he monomono fale ka 'oku te'eki vaevaeua 'a e monomono.
Fakamalo lahi atu ki he tokoni lahi ne mou fai ‘i he ngaahi koniseti ko eni. ‘Oku masiva lea ke fe’unga moe fakamalo atu kiate kimoutolu. ‘Oku tau fakatauange pe ke fakafoki atu ‘e he ‘Otua ‘a e ngaahi tapuaki ‘o e foaki ke ‘inasi kotoa ai mo homou ngaahi famili, ngaahi siasi mo e ngaahi kolo. Ko e ivi mo e kelesi lahi ne lava ai ‘a e fatongia ni. Ko e ola eni ‘o e pa’anga ne mou foaki mai:

Fanga ‘o Pilolevu $3204.45

Pahu $2177.70

Haveluloto $3206.00

Navutoka, Talafo’ou, Nukuleka $2403.50

Longolongo $3504.50

Vaini $2050.25

Ha’ateiho $3217.00

Nukunuku $223.00 (one girl)

Malapo, Holonga, ‘Alaki $2513.20

Tofoa $2015.00

Hala’ovave $2412.90

Niutoua $2069.10

Ha’asini,Hamula, Nakolo $668.15

Fasimoeafi $2136.00

Halaleva, Mataika, ‘Anana $3417.10

Ma’ufanga, Pili $3648.70

Folaha, Nukuhetulu,Longoteme $1018.00

Sopu $1381.40

Popua $535.30

Ngele’ia $884.55

‘Utulau $2105.20

Kolofo’ou $1429.00

Tatakamotonga, Lapaha, Hoi $4018.30

Houma $1600.25

Tu’atakilangi, Vaololoa, Puke $2377.60

Kolovai & vahe hihifo kotoa te’eki ‘iai ha longona mai

Tokomololo, Lomaiviti $870.00

Fua’amotu $3000.00

Houmakelikao $400.00

Veitongo $50.00(one student)

Kolomotu’a $5653.37

Ngaahi fakafiefia kehe pe ‘o e ‘aho $89.25

(KATOA) TOTAL = $64,278.77

'Oku tau 'amanaki pe 'e toki fakakakato mai 'e he ngaahi kolo ne te'eki lava ha koniseti, 'oku kei ako tatau pe ho'omou fanau mo kinautolu ne lava 'enau koniseti. 'Oku pule'i kakato pe 'a e pa'anga ko eni 'e he PTA.
SIVI FAKA’OSI ‘O E TA’U (FINAL EXAMINATION)
‘E fai leva ‘a e ngaahi sivi F5 & 6 ‘i he ‘aho 2 ki he 13 ‘o ‘Okatopa. Oku fkmanatu atu ki he fanau ke fakapapau’i ‘e fakafiemalie ‘a ‘enau sivi ko eni, kuo tau femahino’aki ka’ikai a’usi ‘a e tu’unga ke hiki ki he kalasi hono hoko he ta’u kaha’u pea ‘oku totonu ke fakakaukau’i leva kinautolu ke kole atu ke nau hiki ki ha ‘apiako kehe. Oku lolotonga lele ‘a e kalasi mavahe ke tokoni’i‘a e fanau ki he teu sivi ‘a e Form 5 & 6. ‘Oku fai eni he 4 ki he 6 pea $3.00 ki he lesoni. Fakatokanga’i ange ke totongi ‘a e ngaahi kavenga fakapa’anga, kotoa, hange ko e term 3 school fees,textbook mo e PTA ke kakato kimu’a he sivi. ‘Oku ako’i e fanau ke fai e me’a hono taimi totonu pea ‘oku totonu ke tau taai mu’a ‘i he ta sipinga lelei kiate kinautolu. Kataki ‘o fakatokanga’i‘a e fanau form 5 mo e 6 ke fakakakato ‘a e ngaahi project & assignment. 'E kamata 'a e sivi Tongan School Certificate mo e Pacific Senior Secondary School 'i he aho 7 Novema. Ko e sivi faka’osi ‘o e ta’u (Final Examination) ‘a e Foomu 1 - 4 ‘i he ‘aho 30 Okatopa, Sivi ‘a e Foomu 2 ‘i ‘Okatopa 23. Ko e me’a lelei ka lava hano tokoni’i fakakolo ‘a e ngaahi teu sivi pea ke fatongia ‘aki ‘e he kau tauhi fanau hano kumi ha feitu’u ke poako mo ako ai ‘a e fanau he efiafi. Fakamalo ki he matu’a ‘o Malapo mo Niutoua ‘i he toe tokoni mavahe ‘okumou fai hena
TEXTBOOKS
Kuo ‘osi fakatau mai‘a e ngaahi tohi ne totongi mai ‘aki ‘a e pa’anga ko e ‘ofa mei Ako Tutuku pea kuo kamata ngaue’aki ‘e he kau faiako mo e fanau ki he’enau ngaahi kalasi. ‘Oku lava heni ke ofiofi ki he fakakakato ‘o e fiema’u tohi ki he Fika mo e Science ma’ae kau faiako mo e fanau ‘i he foomu 5 moe 6.
Ko e fakaikiiki eni ‘o e ngaahi tohi ko ia:

Form 6 50 Biology Books $958.50

Form 6 50 Chemistry Books $958.50

Form 6 75 Maths Books $1437.75

Form 5 75 Maths Books $1330.50

TOTAL = $4685.25

NETBALL
'Oku tau fakamalo mo polepole he ngaahi va’inga ne fai ‘e he fanau ‘i he ngaahife’auhi mo e ngaahi kolisi kehe ‘o ikuna ai ‘e he ngaahi timi ko eni ‘a e sila:
Senior A
Intermediate A
Junior A & B
Midget A
Fakamalo lahi heni ki he kau ako na’a nau coach e fanau ‘aia ko Apolonia Lea, Liliani Muti, Senolita Matafahi, Vaopina Nau, Siaosi Tongilava, Peseti Vea , Ariana Pele, Toli’a Fifita &.Falakiko Helu.
SOCCER
Ne lava lelei mo e ngaahi fe’auhi ko eni pea na’e taki 2 e timi ma’ae fanau fefine & tangata. ‘Oku lolotonga fili e fanau ke folau ki Falanise ‘o fakafofonga ‘a e ngaahi ako ‘a Tonga ni pea ‘oku ‘amanaki ke kau kiai e ni’ihi ‘o etau fanau na’e va’inga soka. Fakamalo kia Siaosi Tongilava & Ilaisaane Latunipulu ‘i he ngaue totoivi ‘i hono tokanga’i ‘a e ngaahi va’inga mo e fanau lolotonga ‘a e ngaahi fe’auhi.
NATIONAL QUIZ
Na'e ikuna'i 'e he timi mei he Apiako 'a e fe'auhi tali fehu'i 'a e Pangike Fakalakalaka 'o Tonga ma'ae fanau ako 'o e ngaahi kolisi 'aia na'a na final mo e Queen salote he efiafi 20th sepitema 'i he Dateline Hotel. Ko e fe'auhi eni ma'ae fanau ako foomu 6 pea fakamalo ki he fanau mo e kau faiako na'a nau kau ki he fe'auhi ni, pehe foki ki he kau tauhi fanau na'a nau poupou mo tokoni ki he fatongia ni.
Faka'apa'apa atu
'Evaline Ha'angana (Principal/Tonga Correspondent)

NEWS FROM UTAH(Salt Lake City Chapter)
Malo mu'a e lelei kihe 'aho ko'eni. Ko kimautolu eni na'e fai 'emau hulohula faka tu'o 2 he ta'u, pea 'oku fai ma'u pe ia 'i October pea mo April. Koe taha eni ha hulohula faka'ofo'ofa pea mo fakalata foki he 'ete sio ki hoto to'u ako pea lava ai kete 'ilo'i pe kohai oku kei mou'i foki. Koe palesiteni foki 'emau kautaha kolisi tutuku ko Sione Funaki 'Akau'ola mei Foa, Ha'apai 'aia na'e kau ia he kalasi 'oe ta'u 1961. Koe tokoni Palesiteni leva kiai ko Supi Ma'ilei 'aia ko e memipa ia 'oe kalasi 'oe 1962. Na'e fu'u tokolahi 'aupito 'ae hulohula pea na'e me'a ai ae Konisela, 'Emeline Tuita. Na'e fakalata pea fakafiefia foki. Tupu mei he fakamafana pehe 'e mau hulohula ne loto vela e taha kotoa ke toe fai ha hulohula tatau pe 'i October 'oe ta'u fo'ou.
Ko 'emau project 'oku ofi mai, koe fakamavae moe Konisela Tonga, Emeline Tuita, pea 'e fai ia ki he 'api 'o President Molitika Va'ivaka, koe palesiteni Stake ia 'a e siasi Mamonga 'i heni. Temau talitali ki ai pea koe me'a ia 'oku mau sio kiai 'i he kaha'u vave mai.
'Oku 'oatu ho mau 'ofa ki he kautaha kolisi tutuku kotoa pe 'i ha tapa pe 'o e kolope.'Oku fefe hake 'a e 'ea 'oho mou ngaahi fonua na, koe taimi Fall eni heni, pea faka'ofo'ofa 'ae lanu 'oe 'akau 'enau turn yellow foki and the weather is so beautiful. Teuteu aipe kihe snow ha'ane kamata 'i he uike faka'osi 'o Novema.
Faka'apa'apa atu
Lupe Prescott (Utah correspondent)
Until next time, take care!

WEBMASTER

T H E K I N G D O M O F T O N G A
Copyright ©: Loseli Ma'ukie Hafoka 2000.