Kia ora whānau

At the end of last term, our staff gathered with the staff of Holy Cross, St Patrick’s, and Clifton Terrace School for the first of 4 professional development sessions on Te Mātaiaho | The New Zealand Curriculum. Our focus for this one was an introduction to the  Mathematics and Statistics Curriculum, with us unpacking the learning structure and sequence of progress. The curriculum is broken down into clear steps for each year level, and we have seen how these are grounded in research.  We explored the key messages and how to engage all our learners effectively. Our next steps in our learning is to talk about more actively connecting Mathematics to the other aspects of the curriculum and invoke curiosity and engagement. 

We also had non-uniform day to end the term, and we say tena koutou (thank you) to the number of whānau whose donations well exceeded a gold coin. As we said, these donations will be going to Caritas whose work is focused on being ‘on the ground’ in the countries most in need.  

Our school-wide focus this term is I am Beauty | Ko au te ātaahua and we have been exploring beauty throughout the various curriculum areas. With art, we are looking at sculpture, and over the past two weeks our students have created their own sculptures using modelling clay and then natural materials as their medium.  We have seen some excellent creativity and form, so please enjoy!

The Tree by Harry

Next week is Road Safety Week so we welcome whānau taking the opportunity to also reinforce safety with our tamariki - check out details below for our Go Yellow Day.

Ngā manaakitanga

Denise

Kia ora to all the whānau who joined us for our Easter Liturgy, despite the cold and rainy evening.

We began with a scavenger hunt (moved indoors, of course) where our tamariki had a great time racing around to earn the various clues. Afterward, we came together to share kai, creating a beautiful sense of community.

We concluded the evening with a heartfelt liturgy. As scripture reminds us, “Where two or more are gathered, I am there,”—and we truly felt the presence of the Lord as our tamariki led us in prayer. Tēnā koutou tamariki

The things you had to do to find out faith clues!

Last week, we also held a  Liturgy of Remembrance for Pope Francis, known for his kind heart, a brave voice, and a friend to all. Our tamariki were reminded that it was not just a moment of remembering; it’s an invitation for all of us to continue Pope Francis’ mission in small, meaningful ways in our own lives. Let us take time with our whānau as to how we will carry on Pope Francis’ work in being kind and caring both to our fellow beings and to our Earth. 

We now wait and pray for the Cardinals who are together at the Conclave as they work to determine our next Pope. Please keep these church leaders in your prayers over the next few days. 

As part of our partnership with Te Tiriti o Waitangi, we have committed to the use of an online learning platform - Te Puna Reo Māori, which supports both kaiako and tamariki in their learning of reo. 

Over the last few weeks, we have been learning about the hōngi - the tikanga, the origins, and how to hōngi. The very first hongi was a key part of the creation of the first human being in te ao Māori oral narratives (pūrākau). After the body of Hineahuone was formed from clay at Kurawaka, Tāne leaned in for the very first hongi and breathed life into Hineahuone. She then took her first breath and sneezed! The phrase TIHEI MAURI ORA describes this moment. It can be translated as the “sneeze of life.” This phrase, and the shortened version of MAURI ORA is heard and used in a range of scenarios in te ao Māori including during:

• welcoming
• speeches
• greetings
• acknowledgments
• mihi
• karakia
• Whakawhanaungatanga

We have also learnt about singular pronouns like ahau (I, me), koe (you, 1 person), and ia (he, she, it, they, 1 person). Play this song with your child and sing along: Ko Au, Ko Au 

Here are some photos of us in action:

Kia ora koutou,

 I’m delighted to announce the launch of a new Parent Portal – an online resource designed to support families to play their part in their child’s learning.

 Education is a partnership of what happens in the classroom and what happens at home. Parents, caregivers, and whānau play an important role in supporting their child’s learning and development. The new webspace is designed to make it easier for parents, caregivers, and whānau to access clear and up-to-date information on the school curriculum, assessment practices, and ways they can complement their child’s learning.

• The Parent Portal can be accessed here
• The latest episode of Melissa Chan-Green’s School Shorts podcast explains more about the portal (episode available from 1:30pm today)
• Two information sheets are attached to this email – one for schools and one for parents, caregivers and whānau

 In my email of Friday 2 May, I expressed my thanks to you for your dedication to your students. Today, I also want to acknowledge the parents, caregivers, and whānau who continue to play a significant role in the education of their tamariki. Together, we can support our young people to be the best they can be.

Ngā mihi nui,
Erica Stanford
Minister of Education

Nathan Wallis Seminar Invite and Book Fair: