Whanganui East School Curriculum

Te Waharoa Marau Mātauranga o te Kura o Tōtara Puku Whanganui East School Curriculum Gateway

Whanganui East School Waharoa (Gateway) is held up strongly with our Pou (Pillars) of Ako (Reciprocal Learning) and Hauora (Total Wellbeing) with our Maihi (Cross Brace) of Kotahitanga (Unity and Solidarity in Collective Action). Whanganui East School is situated within the rohe (area) of Tōtara Puku

(Whanganui East) and the Iwi of Te Āti Haunui-a-Pāpārangi. Whanganui East School follows the tikanga (cultural practises) of Whanganuitanga (Te Mana and Tino Rangatiratanga of Whanganui Iwi 

Vision

Our school vision is encapsulated in the whakatauki “He Waka Eke Noa” (We are all in this together, with no exceptions). This reflects our belief in Kotahitanga. That we aim to ensure respectful relationships through collaborative consultation with the whole school community. The Board of Trustees, school leaders and staff work alongside our whānau and Iwi to foster respectful productive partnerships for learning within the school community. We draw on community resources and initiatives to enhance learning opportunities and student wellbeing. We enact our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi Principles of Partnership and Participation. “He Waka Eke Noa’ is our affirmation of a collective belonging; We rise together, fall together, work together, keep going together.

Values

Whanganui East School values; to Respect Others, Respect Oneself and to Respect the Environment, have been identified through consultation with whānau, students and staff. They have been developed through building a Positive Culture for Learning. Our values reinforce our commitment to Hauora and Te Tiriti o Waitangi Principle of Protection.

Whanganui East School believe in Culturally Responsive Teaching:

To have a clear pathway for all students to be secure in their Identity.

To make connections between Identity and Relationships.

To understand and be able to articulate what Māori achieving success AS Māori means.

To have clear principles as a school to follow to ensure that our curriculum is Culturally Responsive

Whanganui East School have seven guiding principles framed by our Cultural Responsiveness Whare:

❖ Students are affirmed in their cultural connections.

We have a notion of who they are. Kids get it that we get them.

❖ Teachers are personally inviting.

The way we talk and interact with students. Kids get it that we like them.

❖ The classroom is culturally and physically inviting.

What is seen visually reflects individuals within the classroom and across the school.  School looks like me.

❖ Reinforcement for academic learning.

Catching kids being learners and having belief in their ability.

❖ Adjusting strategies to meet learning / cultural needs.

Deliberate differentiation of learning. Singing harmony to our kids’ songs.

❖ How we deliver - working in groups, individual, flexible.

Student Centred Learning. Mixing it up in the classroom.

❖ Staff are fair, consistent and caring.

Respect begins with the teacher. We show it and kids give it back.

Whanganui East School Teaching and Learning Model

Working from the New Zealand Curriculum, Whanganui East School, enact the Key Competencies through our Teaching and Learning Model of I Learn, I Create and I Communicate.

I Learn Students acquire knowledge and skills.

➢ By being curious, active learners who are critical thinkers.

I Create Students add value to what they learn.

➢ By making learning connections, being open minded and problem solvers.

I Communicate Students connect with others.

➢ By collaborating with purpose and valuing the voice of others.

Students work towards progression indicators set out in the Whanganui East School Learner Graduate Profile.