Our School
Queen Salote College, Our School
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What does our school mean to us, the schoolers ? This very old photo shows a number of students sitting around under the shade of the old hall, and staff dining room. What are we waiting for ?
Well, on a sunny afternoon there’s always plenty of things to do. Hopefully you get to choose what you want, and not a chore left incomplete that someone remembers and you get sent to finish.
Many of the warm afternoons, we would just sit around in the shade each completing their lalanga or Tongan craft work whether it be weaving a ta’ovala or pleating a kafa or some other similar task. Of course, the enjoyment in these handicraft work is having plenty of time to talk and talk and talk with friends while hands feaverishly dance across the material. As a matter of fact, putting girls together is very conducive to free conversation ?
Our Clothes ?
I’m afraid the photos seen better days, and I don’t have any photos of today’s school kids. The school uniform is still the same though, and we’re proud of it.
The girls wear a long sleeve, white shirt inside a Royal Blue uniform. The girl wearing the black arm-band is signifing that she is in a mourning period due to a close relative. Likewise, the school’s black tie symbolises the school’s respect for our departed Queen Salote who had accomplished many things for the school.
Hair is double pleated to keep them neat and respectful while feet can be covered with sandals or more commonly the regular thong/slippers.
[ref: Photos used © Sarah Raasch]