Pouhere
Pou hīhiri
Pou rārama
Tenei te pou o te whare mātauranga, te kaupapa e tū nei
Ū te pou, kia hui te ora ki runga i a tātou
Kia puta ki te whai ao
Ki te ao mārama
Tihei Mauriora……
At Te Kāpehu Whetū our kaupapa is embedded through the daily practice of our three Pou:
Kia Māori Be Māori BE
Kia Mātau Be Knowledgeable KNOW
Kia Tū Rangatira Ai Be Rangatira DO
Every day, the mahi we do here with ākonga is deliberate, so that over time we nurture, grow and cultivate their capabilities and internal awareness, so that when they graduate:
– They know who they are, where they come from, their history, and have developed the necessary competencies to live confidently as Māori
– They have fundamental knowledge, understanding and accreditation to equip them for the next stage in their development be that further education, work or training
– They have the capability, skills, know-how and internal aptitude to support their whanau, act with good intent, live well, live with integrity, explore, experience, grow, support others……‘Live with mana”
I am proud of what we do, reflected in our weekly panui and underwritten by our values:
Ngā Uaratanga
He whakaaro rangatira
He wairua mauritau
He Ngākau aroha ki te tangata
And lastly, to our many whanau and ngā kaihaka o Hatea, Te Puu Ao, Muriwhenua me Ngā Uri O Manumanu, who are heading mō te wiki o Te Matatini O Te Kāhui Maunga, travel safe, enjoy…..we will watch each day and cheer from afar, go hard Tai Tokerau!!
Whaea Rae
POUHERE
Paenuku/Nga karere manatu – See the Panui PDF for this section
Paetata
Ngā Kōrero
Tēnā koutou e te whanau o Paetata. this week in our whare we have started on our kaupapa waka with Whaea Joelene Busby, our paetata kōtiro took part in a kiwi tag workshop. and we had our first inter platoon challenge, acreoss all 3 whare.
Kiwi Tag
Paetata kotiro had an opportunity to take part in a kiwi tag skills program alongside ex Warriors and kiwi player, Louis Anderson, For some of our tauira it was their first time playing, however they learnt the rules of the game fairly quickly and played well.
Reminders
basketball will be played every friday afternoon, after school. you will get a pānui sent home with further details next week.
please ensure your child has a drink bottle, we have a water filter in class they can fill up their bottles with.
Kaupapa o te wā
This week Paetata started their rangahau into kaupapa waka, alongside Whaea Joelene Busby, sea voyager, and navigator, just to name a few. We are very privileged to have Whaea Joelene working with us in term 1 and term 2.
Kaupapa waka
Tauira will learn the fundamentals of waka, from tying knots, to creating their own hoe, (paddle) to monitoring the wind, connecting with the Taiao through the Maramataka, and understanding the important relationships we have within our wider polynesian whānau across the pacific. Paetata will have two, 2 hour sessions a week
Term kaupapa
– Waka Navigation
– Aoteaora Land Wars
– Sites of significance
– Hikoi Maunga, (walking our maunga)
– Hākinakina/Hauora
– Whānau will be sent out a paetata term over, which will have all our main topics for each term this year
Paetawhiti
After returning from Whangaruru, where the moana, Huruiki maunga, and Mokau Marae served as our science laboratory, ākonga were eager and prepared to apply their knowledge and experiences. They were ready to present their learnings in the classroom, share insights with their peers, and translate their mātauranga into academic literature. Some did find it challenging though to express themselves in a classroom environment as opposed to sharing learning and doing the mahi ki te taiao ki Whangaruru.
Whanau please discuss with akonga their learning ki te Taiao Māori – Environmental practices!!
Each week, ākonga will be given an assignment to complete, covering topics such as tapu and noa, mana Atua, mana whenua, and mana tupuna in relation to how Māori interact with te taiao. They will also explore whakataukī that reflect a Māori perspective ki te taiao. Please make contact if your akonga requires any support with this learning.
Creating a safe, literacy-rich environment where all akonga can thrive, grow, and achieve, inspiring them to reach their fullest potential is what Paetawhiti is all about.
Our classroom extends far beyond desks and screens – our rich learning environment includes the awa, where we engage with our surroundings every day. Ākonga are often praised by whanau, whether they’re walking the loop or visiting the new cafe. The public enjoy watching our akonga sporting and artistic talents, making our learning space a vibrant part of the community.
Toi Tū te Tiriti!!!!
Paerangi
We were straight into the NCEA learning and mahi this week with a full schedule of classes. Quickly reestablishing good work habits and focus will be the key to success. Some ākonga are already there, others still need a little reminding. Most importantly showing up on time to class every day with a positive attitude is paramount, the rest will fall into place.
The Year 11 programme consists of Te Reo Māori, English, Maths, Physical Education and Science. Credits will also be gained through out of class kaupapa such as Kapa Haka. The Year 11’s also have the opportunity to attend short courses at Northtec to gain skills and credits in areas of interest to them.
Year 12 and 13 students have a degree of choice in their programme. At Year 12 both Te Reo Māori and English at compulsory, while at Year 13 only Te Reo Māori is. Students choose their other subjects from the following: Maths, Physical Education, Business Studies, Te Ao Haka, Science (Chemistry, Biology and/or Physics) and Social Studies. Year 12 and 13’s also have the opportunity to gain credits from school kaupapa and courses at Northtec. For our Year 12 and 13 students we are also looking at extending our Gateway programme so that more ākonga can get hands on experience working in various industries.
Even though we have a big focus on the academics, we still get the chance for a bit of competitive fun. On Friday, tuakana whare had their second inter platoon challenge, 3 way capture the flag, invented by the one and only Chief Luke last year. It is a game of strategy as well as athleticism. It was great fun watching all ākonga participating, either defending or on attack, everyone had a role to play. Well done to Mako for taking out first place!
Tuakana RFL – See the Panui PDF for this section
Reminders
We have a few reminders for whanau and ākonga
Cellphones and Other Personal Digital Devices
At Te Kāpehu Whetū, we advocate, promote and support ākonga engagement, achievement and hauora.
Cellphones and other personal digital devices are detrimental to this approach. In addition, we know that there is an increasing number of problems associated with social media and addiction to the stimulus
This is why at our Kura we concur with Governments regulation that:
‘Ākonga do not use cellphones during kura hours, including break times’.
Te Kāpehu Whetū advise that ākonga not bring personal digital devices to Kura. These are not necessary to have during the day as we have more than enough digital devices to use.
However, we understand that some parents like their tamariki to have a device to communicate with them after Kura. If this is the case, ākonga must hand the phone in to the tari before 9am and can collect it after 3pm.
If they do not do this and the phone is visible during the day, it will be confiscated.
If an ākonga is seen with a personal digital device in their possession during the school day the ākonga must hand it to a staff member immediately when asked. The device will be kept in the tari and can be collected by whanau at the end of the day.
If an ākonga refuses to hand over the device whanau will be notified to collect them and keep them at home for the rest of the day due to breaching our behaviour management processes and personal digital devices policy.
WE ASK THAT WHANAU SUPPORT US ON THIS!
Kura Uniform and PE Gear Expectations
At Te Kāpehu Whetū, we take great pride in our school uniform and expect it to be cleaned, ideally ironed and worn correctly every day, including for physical education (PE) lessons.
Why? Simply when ākonga present well at Kura, their overall demeanour lifts. When they feel good about themselves it shows across their mahi. We encourage our whanau to insist/encourage that their tamaiti to come every day looking good.
We note, that once substandard or non-uniform or partial uniforms are worn, behaviour tends to drop as well.
Our Kura does not support gang insignia or colours being worn over or under uniform at any time
Uniform Expectations: Ākonga are required to wear the correct Kura uniform. If an ākonga arrives at kura wearing non-uniform items, they will need to remove them before entering the whare. The non-uniform item will either be handed in or stored in their bag for the day.
In cases where an ākonga is unable to remove non-uniform items, such as incorrect shorts or skirt, they will be sent to the office to contact home for the correct item to be brought in.
PE Gear: For PE, students must wear the designated Kura PE top and full black bottoms (such as shorts, leggings, or running pants). Please note that plain black tops are no longer acceptable as part of the PE uniform. We also encourage ākonga to wear appropriate sports shoes (of any colour) for better support during physical activities.
Uniform Support: We understand that it can sometimes be difficult to have uniforms washed and dried in time, especially during the colder winter months. To support our students, we have a washing machine and dryer available. Under special circumstances, we can assist with washing and drying uniforms to ensure ākonga are dressed appropriately for Kura.
In addition, we are setting up a Swap Shop, so whanau can drop off previously used uniforms and swap them out for a larger size. We will keep you updated.
Thank you for your continued support in helping ākonga maintain pride in our Kura and themselves
Healthy Kai
Good nutrition is essential for the healthy growth and development of children and young people…..actually for all of us! Nutrition affects students’ behaviour, learning, concentration and energy, as well as their physical health. When students eat a nutritious diet, they find it easier to learn. We want to embed good eating habits in our ākonga so they can live healthy lives and develop healthy habits.
Please do not send junk food to school with your tamaiti…or allow them to buy such food before Kura
Eg: Items such as sweets, lollies, potato chips, fried food, fast foods, soft drinks, energy drinks McDonalds/KFC/Burger King are not acceptable food at our Kura.
These will be confiscated and either disposed of or returned at the end of the day.
NOTE: We are still receiving Ka Ora Ka Ako Healthy lunches for now.
Wai Maori
Fresh filtered water is provided in every whare, ākonga just need their own drink bottle. In this hot weather it is important we are all drinking enough water throughout the day, so please remind them to bring their water bottle!
We see too many ākonga arriving at Kura in the morning drinking sodas and/or energy drinks. These may taste nice but are detrimental to their health. (More on that in future panui)
Unhealthy drinks will also be confiscated during the school day.
Please help us encourage healthy habits
Whanau remember our kaupapa
“Launching Māori Futures”
“Charting Māori Futures”
“Navigating Māori Futures”
That requires us all to be navigators for better futures
Attendance
PLEASE NOTE:
Along with disallowing cell phones and IT devices from being used in Kura (unless part of a lesson and allowed for learning by Pouako) another Government policy being measured is Student Attendance. See below:
The Government has set a target of 70% regular attendance for every student each term for 2024
Attendance is linked to both student wellbeing and to attainment. Ministry of Education insights studies show that attending Kura regularly is, on average, associated with more positive wellbeing outcomes. Attendance is also linked to student attainment, especially in secondary students.
Although we have a good attendance rate across the Kura, it can be better. Our attendance across both sites is usually around mid-high 70s.
We understand that there are valid and important reasons for ākonga to be out of school at times and this is ok but please let the tari know when and why your child is absent.
Tari Year 7-13 ring Whaea Jackie: (09) 955 9996
Tari Year 1-6 ring Whaea Sam: (09) 438 8033
Automated text notification of absence
We have reinitiated our automated text message system for absences starting next week. If your child is marked with an unknown absence in the morning on an automatic text message will be sent to the primary caregiver(s) to notify them.
Thank you very much to all whanau who have responded to these texts either by replying or contacting the office. This has made a significant difference to the number of unjustified absences we have.
Policies
Te Kāpehu Whetū has worked with SchoolDocs to create a website for our policies and procedures.
The school works on a subscription basis with SchoolDocs to maintain, update, and review our policies. SchoolDocs provides us with a comprehensive core set of policies, which have been well-researched and align with the National Education and Learning Priorities. The policies and procedures are tailored to our school, and the school supplies specific information such as our charter, and procedures for behavior management, reporting to parents, etc.
SchoolDocs updates, modifies, or creates policies in response to changes in legislation or Ministry guidelines, significant events, reviews/requests from schools, and regular reviewing from the SchoolDocs team. Our school board has the opportunity to view changes/additions and comment on them before they are implemented.
We invite you to visit the site at School Docs
Kaupapa
We believe passionately in our culture, our people, our ākonga, and we know that through hard work, commitment, and focused support they will achieve within the Kura and beyond. We do this hereby acknowledging the 28 Māori Battalion and the price paid for citizenship, so that ‘we’ can “Navigate Māori Futures”.
To do this we commit to success in all its forms:
Kia Māori – Be Māori – Be
An education that validates Māori knowledge and ways of learning.
Kia Mātau – Be Knowledgeable – Know
Encouraging innovation, inquiry, the development of specialised knowledge and skills.
Kia Tū Rangatira Ai – Be Rangatira – Do
Development of strong character and personal excellence, living with mana.
Nā
Raewyn Tipene
POUHERE
Important Dates
See Calendar for Key Events