WORDS FROM THE WEBMASTER & THE THSESWS NEWSLETTER EDITOR:

Welcome to the THSESWS monthly newsletter for the month of April 2001 and again we apologise fo the delay in publishing our newsletter. This month has seen a major "face-lift" to the front page of our web site. The THSESWS would like to thank all of you who have made suggestions to the layout and the overall design of the front page. At first, we were hesitant to change the look of the front page but since we implemented our new forum - it was logical to make a few changes as well. At the moment, we believe that the front page looks good and everyone seems to adapt to it. The use of Java Scripts for the menu is the first of its kind for any Tongan Web Site and it definitely gives the site a tidy look. The THSESWS is now fully driven by Java Scripts, a step forward in programming, maintenance, implementation and organisational purposes. The suggestions made by the newsletter editor were immensely helpful.

Some of you must have noticed a few changes to the logo as well. Instead of Australian & Overseas chapters and Melbourne, Australia - they are now replaced with Global Community and Tongan & Overseas chapters. This has been done to make others feel that this site is for all and not for Australian Chapters only. Our aim is to make everyone feel a "sense of belonging" whenever they visit the THSESWS.

Forum news - During this month and late last month, there have been some great materials discussed and posted on the "Lalo Kasia Forum". Imaginative writing by Fehuluni,and great poems by Nononsense and the Anynonymous Poet have dominated the poetry section. Some of the great poems posted on the forum have been published on the Ex-students' Poems link from the front page. This is an indication of what our ex-students can do and shows that our ex-students do have a lot of talents. For those of you who have not registered for the forum, please do so and join the fun!

We have also received a lot of news from Tonga compiled by Siaosi Sovaleni(first vice-president of the Tonga High School Ex-students executive committee). We hope that the executive committee in Tonga will work closely with us to make use of this medium and get all ex-students well-informed on all matters regarding our global community.

Finally, the THSESWS would like to thank 'Ana Faiva'ilo for supplying photos from Tonga during the launch of the Book Week Appeal. You can access these photos from the BOOK APPEAL link under the section NEWS FROM THSESA.

Faka'apa'apa atu
Loseli M Hafoka & 'Amelia Piutau

FROM THE ACADEMIC SCENE:

Field of Science:

The THSESWS would like to congratulate one of our ex-students who has done us all proud especially those from the "fo'i 'one'one". Sela Tu'ipulotu Po'uha; this month graduated with a BSc (first class honours) from the University of New South Wales, Sydney. Sela has excelled in the area of Biochemistry as her major.

Sela's success has been made more remarkable by the fact that only two students graduated with first class honours. One student is Australian and the other; a TONGAN. First Class Honours is the highest achievement one can get with a first degree. Sela attended Tonga High School first and after successfully completed Form 6 - she went on to Form 7 before being awarded with a scholarship to attend the University of New South Wales in 1997.

To celebrate her graduation, her proud mum(Tupou Po'uha) attended the graduation ceremony in Sydney. Sela is from Fakakakai, Ha'apai and I am sure there will be more celebrations when she gets back to her beautiful island.

Field of Medicine:

Dr. Viliami Tutone (Dux of Tonga High School,'85) will continue his research into kidney diseases in the United Kingdom and upon completion of his research, he will be the first Tongan to specialise in renal diseases. Dr. Viliami Tutone attended Auckland University in 1987. He graduated with an MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) and also a Bachelor in Human Biology. Dr. Tutone has spent time working in various hospitals in New Zealand as well as the Langimalie Clinic(the Tongan medical clinic) in Auckland.

One of his academic feats, was when he successfully completed the Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physician (FRACP) in his very first attempt. Well done Dr. Tutone!

At the end of his research in Britain, Dr. Tutone will become a Renal Physician (a specialist in kidneys' structure, function and diseases). According to Dr. Tutone, " a significant number of Tongans do suffer from diabetes, heart diseases and high blood pressure. For the Tongans, these diseases are on the rise in comparison to previous years. The contributing factors are not enough exercises, consumption of high cholesterol food, smoking and stress".

Dr. Viliami Tutone is from Felemea, Ha'apai the son of Finau Tutone who was a teacher at Tonga High School.

We are sure that there were some other spotlights for the month of April which should have been featured on this edition. However, in dealing with Tonga High School affiliates there bound to be many highlights in the Academic scene but we can only publish those that we receive information about. Again, this is an example of how you can help by sending in any news from your area. If we have failed to mention any other academic ahievement here then please forgive us for we simply did not receive the relevant information.

NEWS FROM THSESA- Nuku'alofa, Tonga! (Compiled by Siaosi Sovaleni)

Dear Ex-Students,

Malo e ngaue malohi mei he feitu'una. Firstly, I would like to convey the President's and Tonga High School Ex-Student Association's acknowledgement of your assistance to the THSEA and the school in the past and we are hoping this great working relation whould continue. We readily admit the problems with communications in the past and we're stepping up our efforts to minimize misunderstandings and lateness of notification of certain resolutions. We have now setup up an e-mail account xths@kalianet.to for the THSEA. So if you have any queries or clarifications just drop us a line. Furthermore, we have starting publishing the THSEA newsletter the Tefua 'a Vaka Lautala. If you haven't received a copy can please e-mail us the contacting address so we can mail you the next addition. Then you can photocopied and distribute among your chapter members. In addition, the Tonga High School Ex-Student Website is at http://www.tongahighschool.com and there's an online version there. So fellow ex-students bear with us as we hope the new approaches taken by the new executive committee will bring us closer together!

The Tonga High School Ex-Student Association is currently running a program appealing for books for the new library. As you are aware THS was badly damage in last years fire. Unfortunately, the library was totally burnt down. THSEA has benn running radio and TV progams promoting the book appeal and it was officially launched by Hon Lupepau'u on the 24/04/01 in front of the burnt library. Before that, the school was having a character parade down Taufa'ahau Rd to Pangai and back to school. Because of the dire and urgent need for a library for the school I am writing to ask every THS-Exstudent Chapters to assist us with this book appeal for a library for our school.

Please let us know if you might be able to donate any books and we'll try and work some arrangement in getting them down here. We're currently talking to airlines about certain cargo allowances in their flights.

REMINDER:

1. Money allocation for each chapters as decided in the last Annual General Meeting last year in Sydney, Australia is still to be collected even though the due date has expired! Still waiting for the Aussie and U.S chapters mostly! Part of the N.Z allocation was used to pay for some of the textbooks ordered for the school.
2. BOOK APPEAL: The Ex-student Association co-hosted with the present school special events in Tonga in their attempts to get book donations for our library! Donations are accepted in all forms ie. books, money etc. They have also called on the overseas chapters for their help in this matter.

Again, thank you for your kind assistance in the past and hopefully this will continue. Please do not hesitate to contact the THSEA if you have any queries or questions to the above e-mail address.

Malo 'aupito
Siaosi Sovaleni(First Vice-President, THSEA)

FURTHER NEWS: Compiled by the Editor

Malo e lelei to you all and welcome to our monthly newsletter. As this month has always been popular for Easter Eggs Hunting and April Fool tricks, it has taken its toll on our website as well! We painted eggs for Bunny and pull strings on certain tricks just for the sake of having fun. And sure enough we got it! It kept us so busy this month, but proven to be very entertaining and full of excitement too. To our surprise, Bunny in return brought us this basket full of news instead of eggs.

NEWS FROM TONGA HIGH SCHOOL:

It's in the middle of the first term now, and the inter college sports competition had just finished. No medals at all! Nothing! And what's new? However, Tonga High School with its tireless efforts in singing and cheering all day long demonstrated the best sportsmanship! And our favorite chorus kept ringing again… You have the speed and the shield is your gain ...But we have the spirit so as the brain!! Sounds like a very nice 'talatoo' but hey, at least we know how to fend for ourselves!!!

The inter house sports contest this year puts Kava in the first place, Sangone second, Tele'a third than Nua!

Finally we got this piece of news that we have been waiting for! The new Principal is Ms. Lata 'Akau'ola Langi. Deputy Prinicipal is Ms. Seini Vivili. Head Girl is Katrina Ma'u, Deputy Head Girl is Mele Taumoepeau. Head Boy is Tevita Tonga and the Deputy Head Boy is Lano Fonua.

NEWS FROM SALT LAKE CITY CHAPTER:

Salt Lake City, Utah.

The Salt Lake City Chapter had a pleasant Social Night on the 31st of March, 2001. The President, Sione 'Akau'ola and his assistants were very pleased with the outcome of this event. It was a blast! Everyone rocked the floor as they danced the night away. The highlight of the night was when the General Consul, Tevita Kolokihakaufisi did a special number on behalf of the Sangone elements!

Among the attendants were the General Consul, Mr. Tevita Kolokihakaufisi, the L.D.S Tongan Stake President, President Molitika Paongo Vaa'ivaka, and Professor Futa Helu whom were all ex-students. Moreover, according to Ms. Lupe Prescott the contact person for this chapter, this activity was planned in conjunction with the Tongan History Association Conference that was held later in Salt Lake City on April 2nd through the 6th!

There were also quite a few ex-students who were among the presenters in this conference. Their names are Viliami Afeaki and Lupe Prescott from Salt Lake City. Finau Kolo and Ika Tameifuna from New Zealand. Lu'isa Ma'ilei Latukefu from Australia. Gary Pasina Lavaki from Hawaii. Professor Futa Helu from Tonga and of course the General Consul, Mr. Tevita Kolokihakaufisi. They all did a great job.

At the end of the conference, the ex-students got together and went for dinner where they got to say their goodbyes to each other!

NEWS FROM SAN FRANCISCO CHAPTER:

Well, there is nothing much going on in the Bay area beside their dance on Friday, April 27th! As it has been advertised and announced in our forum, this dance is subject to be a little warm up before their celebration of the school 54th birthday. The Committee hopes that all their members will have a good time and an enjoyable night!

Announcement:

Don't forget our Forum fees! Again it's $30 for a year. Contact the Webmaster for details or read the forum instructions. Please encourage our fellow ex-students to register!!

Special Acknowledgement

Least but not the last, I would like to acknowledge our Webmaster, Mr. Loseli Hafoka in his continuous effort in managing our site. No need to say, we all recognize and are witnesses of the tremendous changes that have occurred to our site lately. There has been new features added on, and above all, that lovely new design of our front page. We can only say, 'Malo 'Aupito'

Faka'apa'apa atu
'Amelia Piutau (Editor)

Until next time, take care!

WEBMASTER 

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Copyright ©: 2001   Loseli Ma'ukie Hafoka.