Our Kahui Ako (Community of Learning) includes three schools: Jireh Christian School, Westminster Christian School, as well as ourselves. Since we began our journey in 2020, our main focus has been on improving outcomes for Second Language Learners. We aim to embed the ESOL principles into our teaching and learning this year as we move on to another focus, which is Student Wellbeing.

Few will deny that this topic is a very pressing one; therefore, it is important that we initiate this focus, which was unfortunately delayed due to COVID-19. The Western World has been experiencing a pandemic of anxiety which is especially prevalent amongst our young people. Sadly, Christian families are not immune to this issue; therefore, we are looking at proven ways which will support students, family and whanau. We want to be able to equip our young people to be resilient individuals, full of the hope that is within them.

Last year, the Wellbeing team, which was headed by Chris Martin and included Cherie Wallace, one of our wonderful school counsellors, worked on producing a biblically-based Wellbeing Framework that could be used across the whole school. Our intention has been to condense the framework around a universal idea that was relevant to any student, no matter their age. The graphics below, designed by one of the alumni, represent this well. These images will be used increasingly around the school as we begin the process of introducing them to staff and students.

Our next steps are to ascertain where our students are at in terms of their wellbeing. In order to do this, early next term, we will be collecting data to introduce ways in which our staff and families can help support their child in these unprecedented times.

Our Kahui Ako team acknowledge that this is a mammoth task and one in which we undoubtedly need the Lord’s wisdom. For this to be done well, we value the prayers of our school community.

Ki Atua hei te Kororia - To God be the Glory

Ann Bailey and Nikki Clarke