Our Story

December 2015

* Vision Statement in Te Reo maori that aligns with our STAR Values and reflects our commitment to embedding Te Reo/Tikanga in all we do.

* We are looking at weaving this with the school vision once we have developed had had the opportunity korero with Tuahiwi elders in early February.

* Our whanau will be involved in this from the very beginning. To have input. They should be involved with Tuahiwi with us a united group.  

* Work with Tuahiwi to develop a korero,maori perspective/cultural mapping/for this Northwest area. Tuahiwi have mana for this land, they are Manawhenua.  Specific things for this kura to include in our vision and verified by the iwi.  This is the story of our turangawaewae. Being culturally located, how can we capture that visually? How can we develop our gardens to reflect our story - our connection to tā tātāu kōrero. So that it is inclusive, responsive and reflective of the diversity of our community in keeping with the principles of Te tiriti o Waitangi - Participation, Partnership and Protection.

After a day of korero with Jane Brown from the University of Canterbury, the following ideas were formed:

Ideas for embedding 2016:

• Karakia to being the day in whanau sessions - include translations to keep ourselves safe.
• Whakatauki -for whole school to be sent out each term - week 1 - with translation to align with the school values.
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi is Protection, and Partnership and Participation for everyone .  Not biculturalism but multiculturalism. Begin year with study of Te Tiriti o Waitangi before developing class treaties.
• Marae Visits  - Yr 7&8 every second year stay over night as manuhiri and then welcome younger group from our kura the next day for a day visit as tangata whenua . To be organised with Tuahiwi.  Tuakana teina.
• Values/whole school assembly to open with himene and karakia.
• Whole school Kapa Haka development - can we extend to 2hrs each week.  If we value this we need to resource this appropriately.  
• Have a bank of waiata that all kaiako can teach in class at whanau/iwi sessions
• Ask Tuahiwi about waiata appropriate to this area. kotahi mano kaika (1000 homes) - website for waiata.
• Mihi Whakatau each term - invite Tuahiwi.
• Modifying our School Entrance to reflect our values/korero.
• Establish a Te Reo Blog full of resources and references for staff and whanau. - linked to school website.  We will post the waiata along with audio supports and whakatauki on here each term also. This can also be a forum for teachers/parents to ask questions.
• Haka and waiata to be developed by Barry Mahanga specifically for Merrin - Whetu Kohara - will be launched at Cultural Festival 2016 and taught to whole school for use at Powhiri.
• Celebrating Matariki  2016 6th June- Could do Hangi some years but not our suggestion - only with buy - in from the whanau because we would need their help - Community involvement to prepare food. Special assembly to honour those who have gone before us.  Kapa Haka performance. Gardens - honoring our papa kainga - planting of harakeke.  Sharing the Matariki story, all different stories with whanau as well.  Acting out of the story at assembly.  Giving back - Burnside park. Planting at the marae.  Visual display for the marae from Merrin Kura about Matariki.  Cooking /sharing of fried bread. Harakeke earring making.  Anything activities that involve sharing, caring, giving aroha.  Waiata with the local community - Kindies/Rest Homes. Kite making/Harakeke Ika (Seven Sisters) - sending them off to the stars. Tuakana Teina activities to produce things to take home to share with community. Teams could come together at start and end of the day for this week because this is Matariki means - we get together to SHARE.
• Cultural Day/Matariki Day combined?  Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice and Subaru - Japanese and Plades are all Matariki in different cultures.
• Te Wiki o Te Reo Aoteoroa
• Reach out and connect to Te Reo teams from the Cluster schools????
• Meet out at Tuahiwi Marae for help.  Lynne Te Aika - Education Rep, Mel Taite Pitama - Education Rep

Jane Brown has provided us with a cohesive overview of Te Reo/Tikanga Maori development throughout the school. This is now on the Blog and will now guide our practice, delivery throughout the school.

Teaching of Te Reo must be implicitly/explicitly taught because we are not in full immersion classes.  Delivery is a three pronged approached:

• Te Reo Tikanga (explicit 3x 10mins)
• Integration (kei te pehea koe? Wananei!, group names, whanau groups, class/pod names, timetables, subject names, vocab, emails)
• Incidental (units (bicultural perspective), may need a little research)

Teachers should start with 10mins 3x a week at all levels of the school.  it is much better for the tamariki to have regular short bursts that a half hour session if delivered with passion and excitement.

Mihi - We have developed a structure that is built upon annually, throughout the school so that our akonga build up their own knowledge and fluency.

Tikanga development around Marae protocols and a graduated visiting programme from day visits to overnight stays. This will be set up with Tuahiwi.

Looking Forward:

Kapa Haka Review  - Waiata learned in all whanau but junior and senior performance groups.  Those with passion and talent are then chosen for the performance group. Multiple opportunities to still be involved but the kupu knowledge is built throughout the school and we have strength at Cultural Festival and multiple level performance groups for taking to the community.

Connection with Matua Sonny Wi-Parata’s whanau regarding visits to Tuahiwi Marae. - see above.

Modifying our School Entrance to reflect our values/korero. (Visuals/carvings based on Inquiry work done around our turangawaewae korero.

It is important to remember that engaging in and embedding Te Reo into your practice is a requirement for your Practicing Teacher Criteria.