Read on to find out what the OJC Deaf ākonga have been up to in 2021…

We’ll start with MAC (Mentor, Advisor, Coach) time that involves KĀINGA. Learners belong to a MAC group within a KĀINGA. See photo’s where pārekareka and many laughs were had in KĀINGA group challenges throughout 2021.
MAC Day Out was GREAT FUN! Learners got to connect with others. Term 1 a whole school trip was spent walking along the coast of Maraetai…lovely weather!!!

In Term 2, Whānau-Ora (WO) - otherwise known as ‘PE’ - saw the whole school enjoy a ‘Whānau-Ora Day Out’ at Pullman’s Park. Netball, Turbo Tag, Volleyball, and Gymnastics were great opportunities for our Learners to be active, develop skills and build relationships with their Mainstream Mates.

NZSL Week – ka mau te wehi!!! to our OJC Learners! They created videos for each day of the week where Mainstream MAC’s watched and learned basic Signs. Ka pai Mainstream ākonga for using the Signs they learnt in the morning to communicate with Deaf ākonga.

Who wants a Badge?

OJC Learners have the opportunity every Term to collect evidence of their work and make a bid for a digital OJC Badge. Their evidence is compiled into a digital Learning Journey. As our Turi Learners Present their Learning Journey and bid for Badges, Staff are blown away by the māia we see develop in each Deaf ākonga. KA PAI!!!
Distance Learning Term 3 to Term 4 WOW!!! Learners showed AMAZING RESILIENCE!!! Great attendance to Zoom workshops and focused minds was a cause for much celebration at the end of these Terms.
We end now with giving hōnore to our Year 10 Turi Learners moving on to Senior College. Angelena, Lui, Jona, and Hayden – like a flower that blooms in the Spring – Poipoia te kākano kia puawai, you each have brightened up OJC. From OJC to you “Haere tu atu, hoki tu mai”.