The purpose of Ako at Villa continues to be multifaceted but at its core is pastoral care and the relationship between ākonga and the ako kaiako.

This relationship is key for ākonga to feel connected and supported regarding their personal development, spiritual development, and their learning. 

For our junior students in our Ako groups we provide an opportunity for our ākonga to lead a goal setting and learning conference with their ako kaiako and their whānau. This is a wonderful opportunity for individual time with each ākonga and their whānau. 

In Term 3 students did a series of reflective activities to help them evaluate their learning habit, identify strengths and weaknesses, check in with their learning goals, reflect on learning strategies, identity where they show our school learning behaviours and evaluate their next steps in developing their key competencies skills. They were also able to select some work they were proud of and share with it with their kaiako and whānau. Some of these reflections they did were then discussed by the students in their learning conference. The students I conferenced with were very reflective, self-aware, and proud of the progress they were making.