From our Tumuaki / Principal

Kia ora e te whānau,

We are continuing to have a positive and settled start to the year. It has been inspiring to see the enthusiasm and engagement of our ākonga (students) as they settle into their learning. Our kaiako (teachers) have been working hard to provide rich learning experiences, and it is fabulous to see the very varied grouping systems being used, ensuring that ākonga are working with a wide range of their peers, including working across the two hubs for some things.

I was part of a team of our release teachers and leaders who taught in Pōhutukawa for two days this week, while the Pōhutukawa team completed professional development days around a structured literacy approach. We thoroughly enjoyed our time in the hub, and it was so good to see how engaged and independent ākonga were.

Focus on Literacy Development & New Curriculum Implementation

In the first half of this year, our school is focusing on implementing the new English curriculum. A key aspect of this work is embedding a structured literacy approach, which has been a strong part of our literacy programme in Koru Hub. Last year, our Koru kaiako completed professional development in structured literacy, and now the Pōhutukawa team is also undertaking this important work.

The Pōhutukawa team has gained valuable insights from these sessions and will now begin incorporating structured literacy into their teaching practice.

A major milestone ahead is transitioning our Hero assessment pages to align with the new English curriculum. While the updated reporting system is not yet fully available on Hero, we have been assured it will be ready for schools in the next few weeks. Once it is available, our kaiako will set up each child's goals and achievement levels behind the scenes, whilst still updating the current learning goals they have. We aim for parents to have access to these updates at the start of Term 2. Please note that during this transition, reporting in reading and writing on Hero may look a little messy, and we appreciate your patience as we work through this process.

For the first half of the year, our key literacy goals include:

• Implementing structured literacy across Koru and Pōhutukawa teams.

• Transitioning Hero reporting to reflect the new English curriculum.

In the second half of the year, we will then shift our focus to the new maths curriculum, following a similar transition process.

New Testing Requirements & Preparation

With the introduction of the new curricula, new testing requirements will also be phased in. While the Ministry has not yet finalized the requirements, we are proactively preparing to meet these changes.

Key updates:

• Phonics checks for each child after 20 and 40 weeks at school will be happening from next week. These assessments track progress in letter and sound recognition based on the new curriculum’s structured literacy approach.

• Twice-yearly testing for Years 3-6 in literacy and maths will be introduced. We will be using PAT (Progress and Achievement Tests) for literacy and maths, which provide valuable insights into each child’s strengths and next learning steps.

• To ensure a smooth transition, we will conduct a practice run of PAT testing later in Term 1. This will help our kaiako and ākonga familiarize themselves with the process before full implementation in Term 4.

• Whānau will be informed ahead of all assessments, ensuring ākonga are well prepared.

Building Connections – Staff & Board Social Event

Today, we are hosting a social event for staff and board members to strengthen our connections and continue fostering a positive school culture. We value these opportunities to come together and celebrate the collective work we do for our tamariki.

Looking Ahead

As we continue through Term 1, we are excited about the learning opportunities ahead. We appreciate the support of our whānau and the hard work and dedication of our kaiako in making these important curriculum changes successful. Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

Have a fabulous weekend. Hei tērā wiki, see you all next week.

Ngā mihi nui,
Urs Cunningham