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Emily & Tom Portobello School

  • Our goal is in reach!

      24 May 2026

    Here’s some video shot by our support team at Forsyth Barr Stadium on the day (see links below)!

    We’ve got just $155 to go to reach our Toss the Boss target. We’d love to smash it for Polyfest, so please share our Givealittle page on your social media 🤩.

    Huge thanks again to all of our generous donors 😍.

    See video at…

    https://www.facebook.com/share/r/18b3J8LJ2z/?mibextid=wwXIfr

    Or…

    https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYlg8TYTXiA/?igsh=bmw1MjR0c2U2NWNz

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  • We did it!

      21 May 2026
    Main image

    How fun was that?

    Thanks to the awesome team for keeping us safe and making the experience so fun - no time to be scared, in motion the whole time.

    Our tamariki cheer squad had a great time too, and were very proud to see some of their performance from Polyfest 2025 up on the big screen.

    We’re thrilled to see that we’re nearing our fundraising target. Your generosity has blown us away ❤️.

    Small schools can do big things!

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  • It’s nearly time to Toss the Boss!

      20 May 2026
    Main image

    Tomorrow is the big day!

    Tom and I will be abseiling at 10:40 on Thursday, with a small support crew of tamariki coming along to witness our bravery. They might even get some footage of us overcoming our nerves and fears (because neither of us are comfortable with heights)🤞🏻

    Huge thanks to everyone who has donated so far. At a time when every dollar really counts toward the basics, we’ve been blown away by your generous donations. We’re over the halfway mark, and our donation window will stay open until the end of the month. Please share our Givealittle on social media to help us reach our goal for Otago Polyfest 2026.

    I’ve added a photo of Portobello School’s Parihaumia on stage opening last year’s Otago Polyfest. The tamariki were so proud to wear their new uniforms (purchased in 2024), with the addition of piupiu for the 2025 performance 😊

    Mihi nui,

    Emily.

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  • What Polyfest means to our school

      12 May 2026

    As the noho school for Ōtākou Marae, Portobello School’s Parihaumia has had the opportunity of opening Polyfest on several occasions, including last year.

    With a roll of around 60 tamariki, from New-Entrants to Year 8, all tamariki learn, practise, and perform together. Performance day is the culmination of months of learning, rehearsals, and generously shared time and expertise of whānau in our community. Taking the stage at this treasured event provides countless opportunities for learning and growth, and there’s nothing quite like the buzz of pride and excitement they come off stage with, having represented their school and community as a united team.

    So, Tom and I are proud to be stepping (a long way) out of our comfort zones on 21 May with Tosstheboss Ōtepoti to raise funds so the tamariki of Otago can take to the Polyfest stage.

    Help us by donating on our Givealittle page and/or sharing this post far and wide.

    Huge thanks,

    Emily and Tom.

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