Pānui ā Kura Paerangi – 17 June 2015

June 17, 2015
Newsletters, Paerangi

Kohiti-te-marama! Tirama-nuku, Tirama-rangi! Tiramararama te tini a Uru! He whetu ururangi!
He whetu uruao, he whetu matarau!
Te whetu o te tau, E Mata e!
Tihewa mauriora!
Mōkori anō kia mihia ngā mate tuatini o te wā e takoto ana i ngā marae huri noa i te motu. Hoki atu koutou ki te huinga o te kahurangi, te mūnga o te tini, o te mano, ā, kāti e moe. Tātou ngā mahuetanga iho ki a tātou.
Tēnā rā tātou katoa.

Matariki occured at the end of the harvest season, it was a time when pātaka kai were filled with food, and the land was at its most unproductive. It was a time of bountiful catches, with the migration of fish like the moki and korokoro. Kukupa, having feasted on native berries, were snared and preserved in fat. People gathered during Matariki to survive the winter months, to remember the past and plan for the New Year.

This is a good time of year for us to reset our goals and put in the preparation that will result in success later in the year, this holds true for our ākonga and their academic work. Our senior ākonga are working hard in NCEA with a number of assessments due over the next 2 ½ weeks. They have plenty of mahi and need to be using as much of their time, in and out of Kura, to ensure they put themselves in the best position to succeed at the highest possible levels. Our junior ākonga are continuing with their work programmes and will be retested in reading and writing to allow a comparison with the beginning of the year so that we can track their progress or where they might need further support.

View/DownloadJune 17 newsletter PDF / 530 KB

Teachers Only Day

This will be on Monday 22nd June, no ākonga are to attend Kura this day as all pouako will be involved with planning and marking.

Matariki – Relaunch of Whakaruru Te Hau

hek-busbyWe are involved in the opening of the Whangarei District Council Matariki Celebrations on Saturday 27th June. The major point for us is that we will be officially relaunching our waka “Whakaruru Te Hau” here in Whangarei Te Terenga Paraoa. Matua Hekenukumai Busby and Matua Te Wārihi Hekaraka will be conducting the karakia for us. We will begin preparing our crew for the day and a group to provide haka pōwhiri, further details will follow.

 

Uniform

winter-uniformWe are now into the winter months as Matariki approaches. Ākonga are able to purchase the warm tops (see photos) to wear at Kura as part of their uniform. Both of these tops are available from the Warehouse and are under $20 each, tane and kotiro must wear their respective tops as depicted in the photos. How our ākonga wear their uniform is a good indication of the respect they have for themselves and the Kura so we expect that they have the correct uniform and that it is clean and tidy. This includes footwear which are solid black shoes and socks (no other colours, stripes or logos). Ballet flat shoes are a good option for kotiro.

 

Senior Reports

Senior reports will be sent home during the last week of this term. They will detail the progress each ākonga has made in their individual NCEA subjects, including a credit count and comments on attitude, application and any improvements that need to be made. We will have Hui Whakapiki in Week 2 of Term 3 for all senior ākonga.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact the Kura office directly on 094388422

 

Ngā manaakitanga,
Dr Nathan Matthews Pouhere

 

Oak Park and River Forest High School

Pānui ā Kura Paerangi – 11 June 2015

June 13, 2015
Newsletters, Paerangi

Tēnei ka hikitia, tēnei ka hapainga. Ki te tihi o te rangi i kakea ai e Tāne kia riro mai ai ko te whakaaronui, ko te wānanga, tēnei ka hikitia, ka hapainga.
Ko te koha nui mōu, mō te tangata. He mātauranga ka eke
Tihewa mauriora!
Mōkori anō kia mihia ngā mate tuatini o te wā e takoto ana i ngā marae huri noa i te motu. Hoki atu koutou ki te huinga o te kahurangi, te mūnga o te tini, o te mano, ā, kāti e moe. Tātou ngā mahuetanga iho ki a tātou.

Tēnā rā tātou katoa.

Just a short pānui to highlight two important events we have coming up. The first is a meeting for the whānau of senior ākonga that are considering going on the Kura Chicago Exchange, these ākonga know who they are or need to check with Whaea Robyn if they are unsure. The second is our first Teachers Only Day.

View/Downloadthe newsletter PDF / 350 KB

Chicago Exchange

This year we have the opportunity to send a group of senior students on an exchange to a high school in Chicago, USA. Last year we were visited by an African American school teacher, Jessica Stowell, who was in New Zealand as a Fulbright Fellow researching indigenous education. Jessica teaches at Oak Park and Forest High School in Chicago. Her school runs the most successful “Spoken Word” programme in the USA. Spoken Word is a form of slam poetry that teaches ākonga how to articulate themselves and communicate their perspectives through poetry. We have introduced this into Te Kāpehu Whetū this year and are looking to develop an ongoing relationship and student exchange with Jessica and her school.

We are holding an information night to explain the details on Wednesday 17th June, 5.30pm, Tapatoru.

This hui is to provide information to the whānau of selected students about the proposed trip to Chicago in the school holidays at the end of Term 3, 2015. This will include the requirements in terms of academic progress and commitment from the ākonga and the cost for whānau. We will also be able to provide some detail around the proposed itinerary.

Teachers Only Day

This will be on Monday 22nd June, no ākonga are to attend Kura this day as all pouako will be involved with planning and marking.

 

Ngā manaakitanga,
Dr Nathan Matthews Pouhere

 

Annual Performance Summary 2014

Annual Performance Summary 2014

May 29, 2015
Reports

We have had a very successful year and are happy with our overall performance for the first year of operation. We have laid a solid platform from which to continue to develop and strengthen our Kura in the coming years.

The key markers of our performance in 2014 are:

Educational Performance:

  • Meeting our minimum roll requirement of 50 students, finishing the year with 53 enrolled.
  • A successful programme with ERO that resulted in a positive report published publicly in December 2014
  • Excellent NCEA results
  • Senior ākonga took part in the year-long Young Enterprise Scheme winning the regional awards for the Dragons’ Den sales pitch and the Technology Award.

Cultural Capital:

  • High level of whānau engagement
  • Our entire school performed at the Te Tai Tokerau Kapa Haka Festival
  • We had ākonga compete in every category of the Te Tai Tokerau Manu Kōrero Competition, winning Junior Maori
  • Conducted many powhiri for local hapu and the Whangarei District Council including welcoming Toa Samoa and the Kiwi Rugby League team to Whangarei.

Community Engagement Performance:

  • Ensure that ākonga have the opportunity to attend significant cultural events and take up key roles including ANZAC day celebrations, Waitangi Tribunal hui, hui mate
  • During the national elections our ākonga hosted one of the main election debate for the Māori candidates standing in the various Northland electorates.
  • Partnered with Hihiaua Trust and the Whangarei District Council to develop prime land in the CBD for their cultural centre and our Kura Hourua
  • Partnered with NorthTec where a number of our students completed a range of courses and programmes
  • Partnered with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa who provided a year-long junior (Year 9 & 10) and a Level 2 Māori Art programme.
  • Careers NZ who we have been working together with to build career planning into our programme using some of the resources and expertise available through Careers NZ.

2014 Annual Performance ReportView/Download the full report PDF / 485 KB

 

Launch of Whakaruru Te Hau

May 20, 2015
In the News

On April 25 we received the waka tete, named ‘Whakaruru Te Hau’ by its creator Hekenukumai Busby.  The waka was launched immediately, crewed by Te Kāpehu Whetū akonga and pouako, to the glorious singing of our Paenuku babies and our Paerangi rangatahi.

 

Video kindly provided by Te Tai Tokerau Tarai Waka

Student’s training pays off

May 19, 2015
In the News

Dargaville’s Nico Te Whata, has placed first in his division in the Northland Secondary School Sports Association fitness competition.

The Te Kapehu Whetu school student’s mother says his “hard work and full time training schedule” has paid off, by coming first out of eight 15 and 16-year-olds in the junior varsity men’s division. There were about 45 competitors in the whole event.

The 15-year-old came second in the same competition last year and his trainer Ness Lawgun of Far North CrossFit says he is always keen to increase his strength and capabilities.

It was whilst boarding in Whangarei that Nico first attended CrossFit classes.

“He first came to us with the school just over a year ago and then started coming of his own accord. He is very enthusiastic and is a member of the Northland Olympic Weightlifting club as well.”

Nico trains six days a week, with two of those days dedicated to weightlifting. His mother Moana says his trainers see more of him than she does.

“I’m definitely proud. He has worked very hard and is very motivated.  It is a bit of an addiction. Nico has always been interested in sports and fitness and wants to try everything. He even busses into Whangarei during the school holidays to train.”

 

Originally published in the Kaipara Lifestyler, Tuesday May 19, 2015.  Written by Ayla Miller
Photo: Nico Te Whata with the medal he won during the Northland Secondary School Sports Association fitness competition

 

2015 academy badging

2015 Cadet badging ceremony

April 28, 2015
In the News

A special ceremony for youth known as the badging of new cadets into its Leadership Academy of A Company was held today in Whangarei.

Te Kāpehu Whetū Principal Dr Nathan Mathews says it’s a ceremony very similar to a military parade where cadets are presented to their whānau and are officially given the academy-pin to wear.

A haka was performed for those who passed away on the battlefield, and those who fought for the Māori Battalion.

Dr Nathan Mathews says, “That’s the best thing about having an academy, you get to acknowledge and commemorate those soldiers who fought in the world wars, for what, as an example for our young men today.”

It’s a celebration of these young men’s efforts, with the hope they will hold leadership roles in days to come.

“The ceremony is an introduction for new members into the Company A Academy, so the academy has been around for six years now but this year is the first time it will be in conjunction with Te Kāpehu Whetū,” says Mathew.

There are 110 students in this charter school and some hope they’ll be in the same shoes as their seniors soon.

Te Hurinui Retimana says, “I spoke to Staff Luke and he said it would be fine for me to join the academy next year.”

Te Ohomauri Henare has entered the academy for the first time, and today wears the medals of his great grandfather Sir James Henare.  It’s a very proud moment for the family.

Waimahana Henare says, “I’m so happy my brother has entered the academy because he’s a direct descendant of Sir James Henare.”

Tomorrow Te Kāpehu Whetū will be spending their Anzac Day launching their new waka tētē, a traditional waka Dr Mathews says will help towards understanding Māori traditions and celestial navigation.

 

See video here. Originally presented on Te Kaea by Heeni Brown 

 

waka

Charter school lands their waka

April 24, 2015
In the News

Te Taitokerau Tārai Waka have sold their traditional-waka at the price of $100,000.

The traditional waka known as a waka-tēte built by tohunga-tārai waka Hekenukumai Busby was auctioned to raise funds for the school of traditional navigation at Aurere in Doubtless Bay.

Hekenukumai Busby says, “It’s gonna help us get our Whare Wānanga completed which will help continue teaching our students to learn more about celestial navigation.”

Whangarei charter school Te Kāpehu Whetū Principal Dr Nathan Mathews says the waka was bought by its sponsor He Puna Mārama Trust and will be used as part of the school’s hauora programme.

“It’ll help towards traditional navigation and mātauranga Māori” says Dr Mathews.

The official hand-over of the waka-tēte will take place tomorrow on Anzac day, but before that happens the school which houses more than 110 students will be having its badging of new cadets into its Leadership Academy of A Company.

Dr Mathews says it’s a ceremony very similar to a military parade where cadets are presented to their whānau and are officially given the academy-tohu to wear. “As part of the badging parade, current cadets are eligible for promotion within military type ranks,” says Dr Mathews.

The badging ceremony will take place this afternoon at the Te Kāpehu Whetū campus in Whangarei and the official launch of their new waka-tēte will take place tomorrow in Aurere, Doubtless Bay. Senior Reporter Heeni Brown will have more on Te Kāea 5:30pm.

 

See video here.

Originally presented by Te Kaea reporter Heeni Brown 

 

Whānau Pānui – 17 April 2015

April 17, 2015
Newsletters, Paenuku, Paerangi

To say that Term 1 has been busy would be an extreme understatement! We have been involved in a wide range of mahi across all three pou Kia Māori, Kia Mātau, Kia Tū Rangatira ai. This mahi is important to establish a strong culture and build whanaungatanga in the Kura. Our ākonga, both at Paenuku and Paerangi, have excelled in everything that has been asked of them and have been a credit to themselves, our Kura and their whānau. In this issue, I have attempted to capture the events and activity we have been involved in so far this year.

In this issue

  • Paenuku Opening
  • Kia Māori – start of year activities including the annual hikoi and Leader’s Retreat, and a number of kapa haka performances
  • Kia Mātau – 2014 NCEA results and the Paenuku art exhibition
  • Kia Tū Rangatira ai – integration of the Leadership Academy of A Company, Anzac Day commemorations, the launch of the Esther Muriwai Foundation, and lots of sporting success.
  • Upcoming Events – also see the online calendar
  • Permission slip for the April 25 field trip to the Waka launch in Taipa.  This permission slip is also online here.

View/DownloadOct. 2016 newsletter PDF / 3.62 MB

 

waka ama practice

Waka ama: North well represented on Blue Lake

April 7, 2015
, In the News

Rotorua’s Blue Lake transformed into a sea of colour and noise last week as New Zealand’s top secondary school waka ama paddlers battled it out for national honours.

More than 1450 paddlers took to the water, including Northland’s Kerikeri High School, Taipa Area School, Te Kura Hourua o Whangarei Terenga Paraoa, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o te Tonga O Hokianga, Whangarei Girls’ High School and Whangarei Boys’ High School.

St Patricks College Silverstream smashed the under-19 250m Boys W6 Championship final, winning with a record time of 53.09, and securing their first medal at the event with a flawless performance on the water.

Gisborne schools also proved they were a force to be reckoned with.

Lytton High School took gold in the 250m and 500m of the U16 girl’s W6 competition and Gisborne Girls’ High School achieved the same in the U19 division.

Gisborne Boys’ High School also took home the U16 500m W6 title.

Lara Collins, chief executive of Waka Ama New Zealand, described this year’s racing as some of the most thrilling she’d seen in the regatta’s 14-year history.

“We had some incredibly tight racing – a true display of grit and determination. The weather was fabulous and provided perfect racing conditions.

“The noise from the crowd watching the finals was simply electric and made for an extremely exciting end to the week’s racing.

“Waka ama racing continues to break into new territory as more kids sign up to paddle for their schools or local clubs. We saw last week how passionate they are about representing their schools.”

A full list of results can be found at http://wakaama.co.nz/stories/read/1003927.

This weekend will mark the return of the waka ama long-distance nationals to Northland.

The event will be based out of Marsden Cove Marina and is set to run on April 4-5.

 

Originally published in the Northern Advocate, Tuesday March 31, 2015
Photo: Te Kapehu Whetu of Te Kura Hourua o Whangarei Terenga Paraoa compete in their under-19 Boys’ W6 250m heat. 

 

Students adjusting to charter school

February 20, 2015
In the News

Whangarei’s first charter school has chosen the name of the star compass that Maori sailors used to navigate the seas to represent their school.

The kura hourua has been named Te Kapehu Whetu. Pouwhakahaere, or principal, Nathan Matthews said the students are settling in to their new school.

“They all seem to be enjoying it. It is challenging for some who have been in mainstream school for three years and this is a bit different,” Mr Matthews said.

The large open-plan learning area can at times have four different lessons going on at once. Yesterday, senior students were in the “lounge” area in the classroom on beanbags and couches for their English class. The teacher stands in front of them with a white board and a smart board while the students brainstorm elements of a story.

Junior students sit in small clusters going over different maths problems while maths teacher Chris McKay, who has 36 years’ experience teaching students in Northland, keeps them focused on the task at hand.

Meanwhile, one student is having some one-on-one tutoring with a teacher going over a lesson at a slower pace in a breakout room off the main learning centre.

“It’s been a good start. There has been a big build up to this and a lot of pressures on us. But it’s paying off when you see the kids,” Mr Matthews said.

He said the parents of students were courageous to trust the new type of school to provide the best education for their kids.

“But they’re also very excited. They see a whole lot of potential.”

Contracts with NorthTec and Te Wananga o Aotearoa will allow students to leave the kura to attend the tertiary providers for specialist subjects after no Whangarei schools would do so.

Eight senior students will take lessons in carpentry, pre-trade engineering, and sport and recreational studies at NorthTec for two days each week. All the junior students will go to Te Wananga o Aotearoa for half a day each week for art lessons and four senior students will do the same for one day each week.

 

Originally published in the Northern Advocate, Thursday February 20, 2014
Photo: Maths teacher Chris McKay, gives a lesson to junior students from left, Caleb Rawson, Caleb Matthews, Kane Rapana and Tahu Keretene. Photo/John Stone

 

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