275 Times February 2017

Back to school: Easy as ABC
by Tepara Koti
Across Aotearoa right now,
parents will be checking
uniform tags and shoe
sizes, ticking off stationery
lists, and trolley-shopping
for lunch box ingredients.
Next to Christmas shopping,
this can be one of the
most stressful experiences
of the year. So, how do
you survive the first few
weeks of school?
Māngere mum of six,
Cassandra Burgoyne,
shares some tips on how
she gets her whānau to
transition from happyholiday
mode to the “grind”
of the daily school routine.
Cassandra has lived locally
for nearly four decades, and
understands the pressures
families can face with
rising costs all around us.
Community
Car gets
learners
on the road
Young people in Māngere are stoked
about receiving a “community car”
from Auckland Transport to practice
their driving skills as they prepare
for their practical driving tests.
Last September, as a way
to help South Auckland
mums and dads, she
started ABC Lunches,
which delivers lunch
packs directly to schools.
ABC initially serviced
schools in Māngere and
Papatoetoe, but has
now stretched out to
Ōtāhuhu, Ōtara, Mānukau
and Manurewa.
“As a mother of six children
myself, I understand all
too well how hard it is
financially to provide
nutritious lunches for your
children”, Cassandra says.
The lunches she supplies are
a combination of locallysourced
fresh fruit or vege,
a sandwich or roll, yoghurt
and a home-baked treat.
“ABC Lunches are ordered
online and parents have
told me that they find the
convenience and quality
a great relief”, she says.
Having to make up to
600 lunches a week,
Cassandra has become
an organised master of
sorts. When it comes to
school preparation, here
are her top three tips:
Knowing exactly what your
children need is a must.
Shopping smart and staying
alert for specials can help
immensely. Most of all,
keeping a calm, cool head
can get your household
humming along in no time.
A) Alert Know where to
shop, find the deals. Secondhand
or used clothing
can help you save a lot.
B) Be sure Know what your
child really needs. Contact
your school if you’re unsure.
C) Calm Plan ahead
and keep your cool!
Learn more about
ABC Lunches at www.
abclunches.co.nz or on
Facebook: www.facebook.
com/abclunches
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2
Kayla was one of the first to take the
car for a spin. “It’s awesome,” she
says. “I have my Learner Licence but
I don’t have a car to practice in for
my restricted [licence test]. Now I
do, and it even comes with a tutor!”
Behind The Wheel, a communityled
initiative which aims to make
Māngere roads safer by supporting
people to become more competent
drivers, has led a major shift in
people’s thinking about getting
licensed and “driving legit”.
“The past year or so has been
an exciting journey”, says Hone
Fowler from the Māngere East
Community Centre. “Working with
ACC, Auckland Transport, the NZTA
and a wide range of community
In the driver’s seat: Kayla (left) tries out the Community Car with instructor Koia Teinakore.
groups, the community-based driving
programmes are really taking off.”
Through this process, a
growing network of schools
and community groups now
deliver a more accessible and
coordinated range of opportunities
for driving licence support.
“The Community Car will add to
what’s already on offer and provide
a safe vehicle to practice in for
people who need it,” Hone says.
To get involved or to find out
more about the Behind The
Wheel programmes check out
www.behindthewheel.nz