Newsletter Term 1 - 2024
WSL Hui & Welcome
Term 1 | 2024
Term 1 | 2024
Ngā mihi from the ASL team.
Nau mai, haere mai from your ASL team this year: Cathee from Springlands; Giselle from Rapaura; Louise from Grovetown; Nadia from Renwick; Adam from Whitney Street, Delyn from MBC and Deepa from MGC.
From your ASL team, ngā mihi nui to the WSLs that attended our recent hui. We saw a great turn out at the first WSL Hui from across Marlborough and trust that we provided some valuable takeaways for kaiako to use in their kura.
We discussed what WSLs do in their school, the mahi that they can lead and gave examples of what an implementation plan may look like.
Kaiako were shown Reniham's Leading Change model and were taught a waiata based on the 8 iwi of Te Tauihu (Ngā iwi e waru). We then made links to Ngā Kawatau me ngā Tūmanakotanga o Te Tauihu to show that through small actions we can make a big difference to our Māori ākonga.
We finished by discussing our various personality types using native New Zealand birds, and gave an easy take-home 'test' to see what personality types our WSLs may work with on their staff.
Credit to Christchurch City Council for the 'test'.
Dates of Interest
Reap: Wed 27th March, 3.30 - 5pm at Good Home
All PCT's and OTT's are warmly invited to a meet and greet with REAP Marlborough and MOE.
Piritahi Workshops: Wednesday, Week 6, 5 June 2024, 3:30-5 pm. Venues to be advised. Please save this date and share it with your staff.
2024 Niho Taniwha
Scope and Sequence sessions
Week 4 saw Piritahi running scope and sequence sessions for Niho Taniwha. Some kura in our Piritahi cluster met with Doreen and Lynette to discuss their journey to date with Niho Taniwha. WSL's and principals identified the next steps for their kura going forward.
Further sessions are currently being planned.
Redwoodtown School
Niho Taniwha unpacking
Niho Taniwha unpacking
Redwoodtown School worked hard last year, unpacking Niho Taniwha and came up with an effective way to display their thinking. Cheryl explains the process to us:
"As a staff we looked at Niho Taniwha and unpacked the patai in each chapter. Sometimes this was done over a couple of hui to really get deep understanding and build strength in our teaching and learning teams. Through this mahi, we also looked at ways we could link in Ngā Kawatau me ngā Tūmanakotanga o Te Tauihu as well. We wanted our learning to reflect our journey but also not be an added extra - it added value to all we were doing already. The final chapter saw us discuss and record ways in which we could “lift where we stand” and make commitments to our teaching and learning. In small groups during our hui we recorded things inside piano keys, that we would commit to to make a difference for our ākonga. We chose to record these in this way to remind ourselves that it is a team effort to lift a grand piano (the metaphor used in Niho Taniwha) and that we didn’t need grand gestures to lift things way over our heads, we just needed to commit to the things we knew would make a difference to everyone. This visual reminder of the commitments we made is on our staffroom wall and in 2024, will continue to be referred to and drive our professional learning goals."
Renwick School
Creek Cleanup & Scooter Track
Creek Cleanup & Scooter Track
Renwick School's enviro-club have been doing some hard mahi helping to clean up the kura creek. The tamariki have donned their gumboots and been fully involved with clearing out rubbish, big rocks and concrete from the creek. Weeding has also been a big job for the club to encourage water flow in this hot season. This ongoing project has been a great way for ākonga to show respect to their school's environment.
Another exciting project for Renwick School's enviro-club has been designing their upcoming scooter track. This track will be a safe and fun place for tamariki to ride their scooters at break times. The track and rules to go with it, have been designed by the enviro leaders. What a great opportunity for leadership - we can't wait to see the end result!
This is an example from Ngā Kawatau me ngā Tūmanakotanga o Te Tauihu of Governance and Leadership - Kotahitanga mō te Taiao - the aspiration for people to live, care for, and benefit from the environment in ways that bolster natural ecology and the communities that live within them.
Whitney Street School
Waharoa and pūrākau
Waharoa and pūrākau
The Waharoa
At the end of last year, Whitney Street School blessed their new waharoa. There is much meaning and significance around this very special piece.
When you walk under the waharoa, you see a flock of birds above your head - these are symbolic of the tamariki, whānau and extended family of Whitney Street School. They are a constant reminder of both the native birds around the kura, and represent the manu in Whitney St School's pūrākau.
As you walk along the the pathway, you are flanked either side by native plants. The seven pou tell the meaning of the school's vision. The waharoa aims to give tamariki a sense of belonging, identity and pride.
"This project wouldn’t have happened without the support of Vanya George, Ruihana Smith, and Kristie Paki Paki from Ngāti Kuia who we consulted with throughout the whole project, as well as our special committee consisting of some students, Board members and staff." - Cheryl Wadworth
In Ngā Kawatau me ngā Tūmanakotanga o Te Tauihu, the Whakawhanaungatanga and Manaakitanga aspirations outline a genuine commitment to whānau, hapū, and iwi engagement which seeks their voice and involvement at all stages of education. Extensive consultation went into the waharoa project and ngā mihi nui to Ngāti Kuia for their involvement.
Local pūrākau brought to life
A very eye-catching and magnificent piece of artwork now adorns the school grounds of Whitney St kura. This colourful piece brings to life the local curriculum and effectively integrates many important features of the kura:
Kaikaiāwaro (the white dolphin - a tipuna of Ngāti Kuia).
The birds from our pūrākau - Awhi, Pete and Rose.
Tapuae-o-uenuku - our place's maunga.
The three awa | rivers that our Hubs are known by - Wairau, Omaka and Ōpaoa.
A representation of Rakau Rangatira | The Whitney Tree and the other trees in our kura.
The fireworks behind the children representing Lights Over Marlborough.
'Hello' in some of the different languages of our kura.
The pūrākau of Whitney Street School can be found here.
Pūrākau are an important part of te ao Māori. Te Reo me Ōna Tikanga Kaupapa | Māori integration into curriculum content in Ngā Kawatau me ngā Tūmanakotanga o Te Tauihu highlights this importance stating kura should have a repertoire of narratives from our Kāwai Kōrero. We will use these narratives to enhance the mana and understanding of te ao Māori. You will find some of these narratives below and in the upcoming newsletters.
Ngā iwi e waru (song about the 8 iwi of Te Tauihu)
Ngā iwi e waru is a waiata that tells the story of the eight iwi of Te Tauihu. The waiata welcomes us all to their whenua and outlines which iwi came to Aotearoa on each waka. At the WSL hui, we shared this waiata with the aspiration that they would bring it back to your kura.
You will find this on the "Our Iwi" page of the Piritahi website.
Local Sites of Significance | Helpful resources
The Wairau Affray
The site of the Wairau Affray at Tuamarino is one of our local places of historical significance.
Last year Radio New Zealand released the “New Zealand War Series” which is a collection of documentaries from events in our history around New Zealand. The history of the Wairau Affray on the 17 June 1843 is shared in the NZ Wars: Stories of Wairau | Documentary | RNZ. This is a useful resource to deepen our kaiako knowledge in our kura.
"Ōrongo is a series that is designed to enhance your natural state of balance, by tuning into the soothing rhythms of Atua Māori. These tracks guide you through a journey of rejuvenation. Ōrongo - Sensing sound vibrations that resonate with the with the mauri of Rongo, he mauri Ōrongo."
This is a valuable gem that many classroom teachers use as part of their mindfulness programme/SEL.
Kōrero Tuku Iho | Pūrākau of Significance
Local Iwi and Te Kāhui Mātauranga* have been working hard to discover and develop kōrero tuku iho (narratives of significance) for local kura and whānau.
(follow the links and click bottom right of screen to turn the pages of the book)
*Te Kāhui Mātauranga is a committee made up of representatives from each of the eight Iwi in Te Tauihu.