Children Make Sausages

I must take many teachers out on the boat because I am often asked about the school, the size and the location in particular. 

This year we have 7 children at the school, ranging from 5 years old to 13.  Next term we will be down to 5 children.  The school opposite my house is the only school between Fox Glacier and Makarora.  It is difficult to find people to work in this region and the school has the same problem, with just one Principal teacher and a lady that shares the admin and the school bus driving. 

My friends tell me that back in the old days there were over 60 children, because we had the mill in this village and so lots of families lived here to cut the trees and help get the wood to Jackson Bay to load onto a ship. 

The mill closed the early 90’s and the school role has been going down since then.  That is why the parents chip in and help the principle where we can.  Last week Wayne and I taught the children how to make sausages. 

This is because we are having a Christmas Market day and the children are learning about economics.  They learnt how much each component of the sausage costs so that they can decide what to sell the sausages for at the market. 

The sausages were made in the commercial kitchen at the school.  The school is really well equipped as you can imagine, for many more children than just the 7 that are there.  They all had a go and then they learnt how to tie the sausages up. 

One of parents kindly went out and got the deer to make them, and we grew onions and herbs to mix into the sausage mixture.  We think they will be the most popular lunch at the market day, if you are passing Haast that day, come along and support the school and buy a homemade venison sausage. 

It is on the 10th of December 2022.