Bazaar
The Annual Bazaar
Each year, students and staff of Queen Salote College host family, friends, and visitors at the Day School grounds for a Bazaar where students get to show off their craft-work skills and the community is treated to one of the finest collection of handi-crafts.
The handicrafts are an assortment of assessable student work for which the school is proud to portray as an emphasis on the quality work attainable by students. The opportunity is also shared with a chance for the school to raise funds for its continuing commitment. Funds raised during the Bazaar are put back into the operations of the school.
Craftwork include traditional garments, hand embroidery work, traditional house support materials and the show is organised and operated by staff and students of the college. It continues to be the privilege of the college to host Her Royal Highness Queen Halaevalu Mata’aho as the guest of honour at the display of handicraft each year.
Reflecting the prodigious efforts of students and staff, coupled with the schools 1,000+ student body, there are a lot of stalls run and operated by staff and students for the occassion. Each stall reflects the teacher’s and classes’ efforts and focus for the year. In one stall you may encounter traditional craft work, such as ta’ovalas kiekies, kafas, while in others you might pick up a ta’ofale, while in another embroidery work on pillows, bed-sheets.
Unlike the annual school day where many traditional performances are made, the focus of the day is on the craft work of the students and the full days entertainment is in the hands of the schools student brass band. The school does not have a long tradition with entertainment bands, having formerly left these in the hands of its brother schools, but is now providing students with a musical flair the opportunities to expand their knowledge through the school band.
This of course is not the only opportunity for the brass equipment to shine, but here infront of their peers and all the families, and the guest of honour, it is a special time to limber up the lips and with gusto and penache go through the bandmaster’s repertoire.
To help you make it through the day, students serve refreshments and have available for sale ’tunus’, a collection of foodstuffs prepared and cooked for visitors to enjoy at the Bazaar or take home with them. For lighter refreshments there are sandwiches, cakes readily available on the grounds.
When and Where it is
The annual bazaar is generally held in October to coincide with the conclusion of assessments of student works which greatfully coincides with some brilliantly warm weather in Tonga. The Bazaar is held on the grounds of the schools Day School facilities where stalls are set.