Miss Tonga, 21-year Brittne Fuimaono graced the prize giving ceremony of Titikaveka College in the Cook Islands where she is participating in the Miss Pacific Islands pageant.
She gifted the school $200 on behalf of her team before performing a traditional Tongan dance, again presenting the principal with the money she was given while dancing.
The college interestingly started the 2015 year short-staffed and there was just $6 in the school bank account.
Today the school has $40,000. And on Wednesday principal Gaylin Lockington told parents, supporters and students at the school’s prize giving that the entire amount had been raised by the Titikaveka College PTA, a gala earlier this year and $20,000 from school tuckshop profits. She said the college now had 10 very committed and dedicated teachers who had all helped improve standards.
The college has returned a 75 per cent NCEA pass rate in literacy and numeracy and has a roll of 83 students.
Lockington thanked parents for supporting the school through their children.
“Thank you for sending our children to Titikaveka College, thank you vaka Takitumu.”
She also praised the college PTA for its support and consistency – just one meeting had to be cancelled this year. Lockington also applauded the attitude of students to the concept of Kia Orana Day – something she introduced to give greater appreciation for the term and for children to “dress up” in pareu wear.
The college school year has ended.