Rurubao School
I was born and raised on Tarawa and grew up on Bairiki where I attended Rurubao School with a lot of 'Imatang' kids who's parents were working as 'expats' with the Gilbert and Ellice Island Government as it was politically known at that time....I have so much fond memories of the days and still keep in contact with some of whom I went to school with....A few of the local kids attending Rurubao at the time come from very prominent 'I-Kiribati' families such as the K** Kees, Murdocks, Mullers who all travel by launch from Betio each morning on a school day. Some of Kiribati's finest young men and women went to Rurubao and eventually went on to KGV and EBS for their secondary education. I was fortunate to be among the few that made it to KGV in 1972....I say fortunate because King George The Fifth and Elaine Bernacchy School was the best secondary education institution in the Pacific at the time with some of the finest and best qualified expat. teachers teaching there.
Anyway coming back to Rurubao School...I would be grateful if someone out there could update me on the school whether it still exists etc etc.....I would love to get as much info about my beloved Rurubao. Please feel free to email me at enaisali@xtra.co.nz or advise me where to get this information.
Kam Batin raba.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Siera Teaiwa on -
lol..Rurubao school is no longer exist now..well as a matter of fact I am joking, it living by it self the same spot you have mention and also living a peace life with not quite lot of student in it as usual. The sad thing about it is that some programs such as cake stoles, night out and some other entertainment are canceled. But still best student in English, the funnest thing is that they ignore Kiribati subject and so at the age of 13 up ward most of the student will suffer from the Kiribati skills, and also became the last in Kiribati especially in junior secondary school..anyway i apologize if my English is not that you expect to reply your discussion.
thanks and all the best
Cheers
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Permalink Reply by Miss Senyda on -
Hi,
Yea Rurubao is still there...still in their cute green and white uniform with the mwaneaba and trees but i dont think there's a swing anymore...and still a small school...but as for it being best in english...i wouldnt count on it..sorry Rurubao ma i dont see how different it is anymore with other primaries on the english side...havent been to the school in years but from what i hear they dont even speak english anymore as a normal playing-on-campus language...but yea thats just third hand news im passing on to you...hehehe...but yea cake stalls and night outs...hahaha...forgot we did all that back in the days...lolz!
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Permalink Reply by Michael Naisali on -
Siera Teaiwa said:lol..Rurubao school is no longer exist now..well as a matter of fact I am joking, it living by it self the same spot you have mention and also living a peace life with not quite lot of student in it as usual. The sad thing about it is that some programs such as cake stoles, night out and some other entertainment are canceled. But still best student in English, the funnest thing is that they ignore Kiribati subject and so at the age of 13 up ward most of the student will suffer from the Kiribati skills, and also became the last in Kiribati especially in junior secondary school..anyway i apologize if my English is not that you expect to reply your discussion.
thanks and all the best
Cheers
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Permalink Reply by Michael Naisali on
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Thank you Siera for your response.....I am so happy the school still exist. I am now definitely thinking of going back to see it all again before God calls for me hahahaha...There is no need to apologise for your english....you did better than alot of people I know....My Kiribati is so bad I am so ahamed of it.Lol...anyway thank you again...Godbless.
Siera Teaiwa said:lol..Rurubao school is no longer exist now..well as a matter of fact I am joking, it living by it self the same spot you have mention and also living a peace life with not quite lot of student in it as usual. The sad thing about it is that some programs such as cake stoles, night out and some other entertainment are canceled. But still best student in English, the funnest thing is that they ignore Kiribati subject and so at the age of 13 up ward most of the student will suffer from the Kiribati skills, and also became the last in Kiribati especially in junior secondary school..anyway i apologize if my English is not that you expect to reply your discussion.
thanks and all the best
Cheers
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Permalink Reply by Michael Naisali on
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Hahahaha...Yeah I forgot the uniform colours....Thanks for reminding me...now the memories begin flooding back to me together with tears of joy. I am not surprised English is not spoken there as it used to be....maybe because there are no more or less 'Imatang' kids on the block as compared to those days. Thank you Miss Senyda for your say....really do appreciate your response.
Miss Senyda said:Hi,
Yea Rurubao is still there...still in their cute green and white uniform with the mwaneaba and trees but i dont think there's a swing anymore...and still a small school...but as for it being best in english...i wouldnt count on it..sorry Rurubao ma i dont see how different it is anymore with other primaries on the english side...havent been to the school in years but from what i hear they dont even speak english anymore as a normal playing-on-campus language...but yea thats just third hand news im passing on to you...hehehe...but yea cake stalls and night outs...hahaha...forgot we did all that back in the days...lolz!
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Permalink Reply by Abuera Remaria Uruaaba on -
oh RS as it is well known still exists!! except that I heard from some people that it is not like it used to be in the previous years...I was there from 1995-1999 and it was still a very productive and quality primary school then....What I enjoyed most were the subjects which varied from Music, Physical education and the many many activities which I could not foget!! cake stalls, Christmas Carol services, Friday shows!! whcih rocked big time..shshshsh, sports especially on those swings which I definitely think they no longer attached to that very big tree (sorry i don't know tha name).....shshshsh so so many memories to express from those pri-years but I think Rurubao was and is the best primary school offering quality education esp in English....a good example to other Primary schools!! another good news is that our cleaner Roite still works at the school...shshsh those during my years know this very playful, fun and adorable lady!!
Our head-mistress back then was Mrs Danielu....and some very helpful teachers including.....Mrs Raobati, Mrs Bwebwe, Mrs Titaake, Mrs Kienene, Mrs Pat, Mrs Anja, Mrs Herney, Mrs Taoaba as I could still recall...lol,,....later on I went to KGV/EBS...as you mentioned, the longest and quality secondary school in the pacific and in Kiribati alone!!
thanks and God Bless!
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Permalink Reply by Maya Strub on -
Rurubao school is the best school ever!
i use to attend school there too.
i miss that school
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Permalink Reply by Michael Naisali on
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I can't disagree with you here Maya....I am an old man now but I can almost recall every moment I had there....its magic.
Maya Strub said:Rurubao school is the best school ever!
i use to attend school there too.
i miss that school
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Permalink Reply by Romeo on -
Michael, RS ae e bon exist naba... i pass by today ao e bon rang ni marurung taratarana.. tii kaokorona bwa e ai ti aki te rau taubukin maneabana bwa ai te kaabwa... I don't know in your days.. but in my time when I enter this school the maneaba roofing was te rau... now it is iron roofing.. those were in the 1990 to 1997.. shshsh.. those where fun days when compared today.. shsh.. being a child and enjoying yourself allday.. I wish i could rewind time.. hehehe
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Permalink Reply by Teken.K on -
I was there in 1970 to1975 and continue to KGV. During this time there is only one local teacher by the name of Mrs Betaia (Beiatarawa the wife of Timoti Betaia). All local students are not allowed to speak in their local language only english. Also this time when these expat teachers found difficulties pronouncing your name, they change your name right away to an Imatang name.Most of those students during that time are permantly called by their Imatang names until nowadays. There is a local cleaner by the name of Bweua(If my memory is correct) she,s from kawan Bairiki and the expat teachers are Mr F W Twiss from Otago NZ, Mr Power, Mrs Bell and Mrs Hard (I think thats where the name Hard house in KGV comes from) and there are more but unfortunately i forgot all of them.Rurubao still exist to this day with their flashing white and green uniform but something is missing , the big RS badge on the white pocket.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Naisali on
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Yes, you are right because I was actually there when they built it......and it was better then 'cause it was cooler with 'te rau' roofing. I remember clearly getting the 'strap' for drawing a 'borau' game (am I right here??) on the newly finished maneaba concrete floor hahahaha. Oh yes it would be awesome if time can be retracted to those good old days.
Seeker said:Michael, RS ae e bon exist naba... i pass by today ao e bon rang ni marurung taratarana.. tii kaokorona bwa e ai ti aki te rau taubukin maneabana bwa ai te kaabwa... I don't know in your days.. but in my time when I enter this school the maneaba roofing was te rau... now it is iron roofing.. those were in the 1990 to 1997.. shshsh.. those where fun days when compared today.. shsh.. being a child and enjoying yourself allday.. I wish i could rewind time.. hehehe
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Permalink Reply by Michael Naisali on
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hi Teken....if you were there in 1970 then surely we have cross roads....because I went to KGV in 1972 so you must have been there when I was there. Unfortunately I cannot recall your name but like you said you probably had an Imatang name hahaha maybe I could recall that hahahaha....but yeah I made it to KGV with Waysang Kumkee and we both played soccer for KGV A.....we use to clash with flying-tigers from Betio and combine devils from Bairiki.
Yes I remember Headmaster Twiss....he passed away about 10 years ago but I was fortunate to meet up with him before he died. His son Craig is in Australia and daughter Lynn is a policewoman here in Auckland.
Teken.K said:I was there in 1970 to1975 and continue to KGV. During this time there is only one local teacher by the name of Mrs Betaia (Beiatarawa the wife of Timoti Betaia). All local students are not allowed to speak in their local language only english. Also this time when these expat teachers found difficulties pronouncing your name, they change your name right away to an Imatang name.Most of those students during that time are permantly called by their Imatang names until nowadays. There is a local cleaner by the name of Bweua(If my memory is correct) she,s from kawan Bairiki and the expat teachers are Mr F W Twiss from Otago NZ, Mr Power, Mrs Bell and Mrs Hard (I think thats where the name Hard house in KGV comes from) and there are more but unfortunately i forgot all of them.Rurubao still exist to this day with their flashing white and green uniform but something is missing , the big RS badge on the white pocket.
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