Newsletter Term 4 - 2024
Welcome
Term 4 | 2024
Term 4 | 2024
Ngā mihi from the ASL team.
Kia ora koutou,
As we wrap up an incredibly busy term, we reflect on all the amazing things happening across our schools within the Piritahi Kahui Ako. Our dedicated teachers and enthusiastic students have been hard at work, engaging in a myriad of inspiring activities and events that showcase the vibrant learning communities within our cluster.
In this edition, we invite you to explore and enjoy the highlights from across our kura. We hope you feel inspired by the incredible accomplishments and the spirit of collaboration and creativity that define our Piritahi schools. We are always looking for content for our newsletter, so please contact us if you have any exciting mahi to share from your kura.
As the holiday season approaches, we wish everyone a safe and restful Christmas break. May you return refreshed and ready for another exciting year of learning in 2025.
Ngā mihi nui,
Your ASL team.
Teacher Wellbeing
Andrea Greer - Nurturing Relationships
Andrea is the owner and founder of Nurturing Relationships -Trauma Responsive Education. Her vision is to empower the village that surrounds our mokopuna.
"Perhaps your nervous system is feeling a little like mine at the moment- exhausted, weary and tired from a big term and even bigger year!
I wrote this article for the keynote presentation I delivered at the NZ Literacy conference in 2023.
It is a timely reminder for us to look after our nervous system and practical ways we can stimulate our vagus nerve as we head into the busy holiday season." Andrea Greer
Dates of Interest Going Forward
2025 Dates
Piritahi Staff Only Day: 30th January 2025
Featuring guest speakers:
Dr Paul Wood, Anton Matthews, and James Nottingham
🌺 Language Week/s 🌺
What did these events look like in our kura?
What did these events look like in our kura?
"We will recognise the importance of language, culture, identity, values and prior knowledge of our students and whānau to strengthen learning and achievement. We will embed resourced that empower tangata whenua of Te Tauihu to see themselves strongly represented in the classroom, kura and throughout the curriculum."
Te wiki o te reo Māori in action at Whitney Street kura
For Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori, Whitney Street School randomly generated whānau groups across the school and provided an activity per kaiako for the whānau groups to participate in. The ākonga experienced two activities in 45 minute blocks. Afterwards, some ākonga were asked about their experiences.
This is what they said:
"It was fun learning te reo Māori. I was proud having the opportunity to present my culture to the wider school community"
"No matter where you are or the language you speak, you’re always welcome at Whitney Street and we will support you"
Some Helpful Resources
Helpful online sites consisting of language learning games, activities, word definitions and pronunciation.
What's been happening at Wairau Valley Kura?
Wairau Valley School this term
Our term started off with Pets Day, with many students bringing their animals and recycled items to Group Day. From there, we participated in the A&P Show, where we won many prizes. The flower decorations were outstanding, and our tamariki did very well.
Our junior tamariki designed and stitched cushions in response to the need for technology skills. Here are some pictures of tamariki learning to sew their names.
🥾 School Camps 🏕️
This collection of resources has been compiled with the help of our local Piritahi kura. These resources aim to assist with planning school camps and provide new ideas for activities as well as valuable materials.
Clicking the images will direct you to a school camp site in that area. Please note that some locations have multiple site options. You can access the folder for each camp site by clicking the green button. These are ongoing sites for information and will be updated over time.
If you wish to see examples of RAMs with Principal awareness, please contact ASL at <asl@piritahi.school.nz>
(Please note: It is imperative that anyone accessing this resource is aware of its purpose and limitations - there will be a disclaimer to read.)
Thank you to everyone who contributed to creating this collection. This space will continue to grow with new resources - if you have any additional resources or suggestions to add, please contact ASL.
Collaboratively Planning for Camp
Kaiako and ākonga at Seddon School
Kaiako and ākonga at Seddon School

INCLUSION IN OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Sport New Zealand, Education Outdoors New Zealand and Recreation Aotearoa - Te Whai Oranga have released new guidance on making outdoor experiences more inclusive.
Ngā Manu Kōrero
At the Ngā Manu Kōrero Nationals in Auckland, Manaia Huntley, a Year 9 Te Rei Puta o Te Hau/MBC and ex Pā Wānanga student, won the E Tipu E Rea trophy for earning the most points in both English and Te Reo Māori speeches. Such accomplishments are truly inspiring and reflect a lot of hard work and dedication.
Ka mau te wehi, Manaia! 🌟
Did you know you can watch videos from the 59th Ngā Manu Kōrero Speech Competition on Māori website?
Ngā Manu Kōrero is Aotearoa New Zealand's only bilingual speech competition for secondary schools, and the national finals were held ahead of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori last month.
A huge congratulations to everyone who competed, and a special mihi to those who won their categories.
Check out all the speeches, and prize giving by clicking here.
Kura Kai - A Community of Support and Manaakitanga
The idea behind Kura Kai was born from a simple but powerful concept: how can we support families directly during difficult times? Founded by Makaia Carr, the initiative aims to provide home-cooked meals to whānau in need, delivering more than just food but also aroha, manaakitanga, and support to our community.
This vision has come to life thanks to the incredible collaboration between teachers Sarah Whinham and Susan Silcock and the talented students from Marlborough Technology Centre's Food Technology department, along with the support of Marlborough Girls' College students and Kura Kai Coordinator Sophie Taetuli. Together, they've been cooking up nutritious meals to fill the Kura Kai freezer at MGC, ensuring that families throughout the Marlborough region receive the care and support they deserve.
Kura Kai isn’t just about providing meals; it’s about normalizing the reality that sometimes we all need a little help. Whether it's the financial strain of the cost of living, a time of illness, the loss of a loved one, or simply facing life's tough moments—it's okay to ask for help. This initiative encourages all of us to lean on each other, to show kindness, and to embrace the idea of whānau, where support and giving back are at the heart of the community.
The students involved are proud to be part of this mahi, knowing that their efforts are making a real difference in the lives of local families. If you know of a whānau who could use some support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Sophie Taetuli. Let's continue to grow this beautiful community of support and care.
Inter-college Noho Reo Māori
On 9 August, Te Reo Māori students from Te Rei Puta o Te Hau (MBC), Queen Charlotte College, and Marlborough Girls' College gathered for a one-night noho (stay) at Waikawa Marae. We were warmly welcomed onto the marae by Te Ātiawa, with Matua John Kendal speaking and Kōkā Helen Joseph as our kaikaranga.
Kaiako from Te Ātaarangi led workshops using cuisenaire rods (rākau) to boost students' confidence in speaking te reo Māori, which the students loved and found very effective. Kaiako from MBC and Queen Charlotte College conducted NCEA workshops, where NCEA 1 students practiced their Kōrero (speaking) standard enthusiastically. Senior student Tānenuiarangi Norton taught a mau rākau sequence, and Kōkā Helen provided a kapa haka session.
A special highlight of the noho was the formation of a new musical group named Asher & The Dream Girls, consisting of Asher Gotty, Rangimārie Edmonds, Persia Edmonds, and Chardae Pirere. They began weekly practices and made their debut at the MBC 125th Anniversary Celebrations Concert. The group has since performed at MBC and MGC senior prize-giving ceremonies and will next appear at Pātaka Māori Night Market on 27 November. Ka mau te wehi! See their performance here.
Thanks to all who supported the noho, especially Whaea Diane St Claire and Te Ātaarangi kaiako, Whaea Hine Mcletchie and Whaea Vanessa Anderson, and to the whānau who attended on Friday night. Whaea Tina Looms from Te Ātiawa shared about the pou in the whare nui, exciting many students with connections to their own iwi.
The noho highlighted the benefits of whanaungatanga with other kura, with students keen to attend more noho next year. It was wonderful to see the students' increased confidence in speaking te reo Māori. We plan to hold two noho reo (te reo Māori camps) next year at different Wairau marae.
Nei rā te mihi ki te Marae o Waikawa me ngā kaiako katoa
Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi engari he toa takitini!
Taiopenga
A record number of Kapa haka groups from across Waiharakeke came together this term to perform at the 33 Taiopenga in Marlborough!
Ka kitea i ēnei whakaahua te manahau o ngā ākonga e whakaatu ana i tā rātou mahi kapa haka, te whakahīhī me te aroha hoki ki te reo Māori.
Ngā Taiohi o Wairau - Marlborough Girls College Marlborough Boys College
Springlands School
Rapaura School
Whitney Street School
Fairhall School
Renwick School
Grovetown School
Ngā mihi maioha Nan Kahu, Allyson Court, Rita Powick and all those who have given their time throughout the years and shared their expertise with our ākonga.
Thank you Marlborough Girls College for making your kura available and supporting the day to run so smoothly.
Writers' Walk
The tamariki from Marlborough Kindergarten are the latest poets to have their work featured on the Taylor River Writers' Walk. Their poem, Te Awa o Omaka, is a collaborative creation that combines the children’s perspectives to inspire environmental awareness. Marlborough’s seven kindergartens asked their tamariki how they felt after walking along the Taylor River, and their thoughts were compiled into a collective poem.
The Writers' Walk began as an initiative by Springlands School students in 2010, sparked by a water conservation project. Through the Council’s Whitebait Connection program, they studied local water health and noticed the scarcity of fish and wildlife in the Taylor River, motivating them to take action. As a Green-Gold Enviro School, the students aimed to shift attitudes and educate the community. After thorough research, they proposed creating a Writers' Walk to raise environmental awareness, which was supported by Geoffrey T. Sowman and the Marlborough District Council. Engraved rocks with poems were placed along the Taylor River Walkway, and each year, new groups of Springlands students join the project, ensuring its legacy continues.
On October 29th, the first ECE-written poem was unveiled on the Taylor River Writers' Walk. Despite the rain, students from both Springlands School and Mayfield Kindergarten opened the celebration with waiata. Several speeches acknowledged the significance of this addition to the river walk.
This year’s poem, a collective effort from the Marlborough Kindergarten Association, joins 21 other poems written by school students across Marlborough. The goal of representing every school in Blenheim on the walk has been achieved. The Taylor River Writers' Walk continues to remind the community of the importance of clean waterways and our shared responsibility in maintaining them.
Please click this link if you would like to read the poems from previous years
e-asTTle
Looking ahead to 2025, many in our Piritahi Kahui Ako with the support of Lynette Hayes (Evaluation Assoiciates), have been busy this term up-skilling in the effective use of e-asTTle to inform teaching and learning. Below are some links you might find useful in your e-asTTle journey.
Professor Russell Bishop
Literacy Research Symposium 2024
On 4th September, the University of Canterbury hosted the Child Well-being Research Institute's 2024 Literacy Research Symposium. This premier event brought together reading researchers, school leaders, speech-language therapists, teachers, and literacy specialists for a one-day event showcasing research on culturally responsive teaching practices, enhancing children's oral language skills, and accelerating literacy learning for all tamariki.
Click the link above to watch Professors Russell Bishop.
This year's symposium featured Professor Russell Bishop, a prominent New Zealand academic known for his significant contributions to education, particularly in indigenous education and culturally responsive pedagogy. If you couldn't make it to Christchurch, we've shared a link to Professor Russell Bishop's inspiring presentation.
Niho Taniwha and Assessment
Doreen Bailey
TOD - 1 November 2024
Learning Intentions the workshop covered:
To focus on the MOE priorities of improving assessment practices and having clarity around data.
To explore how well schools use assessment data and evidence to improve teaching and learning outcomes.
To develop a plan to support school leaders and teachers to set goals for 2025 using current data & evidence.
During this session we used tools from Niho Taniwha to:
Explore what effective assessment practice looks like.
Examine how this links to effective pedagogy using Tātaiko.
Develop a rubric for your setting.
Use the WAMT review tool for middle leaders to dig deep into their evidence of achievement .
Link this to the Professional Growth Cycle for staff to set goals for 2025.
e-asTTle Support Workshop
Lynette Hay
TOD - 1 November 2024
Resources from the TOD - 1 November 2024
During the morning sessions of our Teacher Only Day, Dan Green and Janine Higgins brought clarity to the Current New Zealand English and Mathematics Curriculums with their engaging and informative presentations. Below are links to the resources Dan and Janine have shared with us from the day.
Current Curriculum links
Local Sites of Significance | Helpful resources
☀️ Hauora Corner ☁️
A New Zealand based site focused on building hauora in the classroom and empowering tamariki.
A digital mental health resource aimed at teaching children the skills they need for lifelong mental well-being.
Helpful Resources
Te Whanau Hou - The Grovetown Lagoon connect with our community through a monthly newsletter. Have you visited the website?
Do the whanau in your school subscribe to Kia Manawaroa?
Kia Manawaroa is the Ministry of Education pānui for whānau Māori with children enrolled in the education system.
Science Alive is a charitable trust established in 1991 to inspire the public through interactive experiences and accessible education. Supported by a strong network of expertise, Science Alive operates as a hub for science and technology nationwide.
Have you visited our Piritahi Resource sharing folder? Click the button below to check it out........ and you can always find this button at the top of every Newsletter.
Do you have a resource you would like to add to our Piritahi Resource Folder? Please email your resource to the ASL team: asl@piritahi.school.nz
Did you know the SPCA has a range of resources on their website that you can use in your classroom? From instructional texts to math problem solving challenges, Ready to Read Plus Response activities, science units and poetry lesson the SPCA website has an impressive range of resources for teachers.......and you can even book a live educational webinar!
Click the image above to check it out.
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.
(click bottom right of screen to turn the pages of the book)
