Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa Pānui August 2023

Nau mai, haere mai ki te Kōtui Ako | Virtual Learning Network Aotearoa

Kia ora koutou katoa, Kia orāna, Talofa lava, Malo e lelei, Nĭ hăo 你好, Annyoung haseyo 안녕하세요, Namaste, Assalām alaikum, Hola, Bonjour, Hallo!

16 days and counting till Te Wā Tuku Reo and Te Wiki o te reo Māori. Kōtui Ako make it easy to connect and celebrate te reo Māori across our schools. This year for the first time we are also celebrating Mahuru Māori. These opportunities are open to all schools and kura, primary and secondary - sign up and get involved! 

A special mention for Tewaiehu Savage our Kaiārahi Mātauranga Māori who enables Kōtui Ako to grow in its support of te reo Māori in schools. We celebrated together with the Ministry of Education at the recent Te Matahiko Awards. Our partnership with the Ministry of Education and our growth in Matauranga Māori capability has enabled us to extend funding support to a dozen schools new to Kōtui Ako VLN to join Te reo Māori and Kapa Haka classes this term. Ka rawe!

Check out the incredible creativity and design skills of Year 12 students at Ellesmere College and Mercury Bay Area School, who share concept designs from their portfolio completed for their NCEA Level 2 DVC (Design and Visual Communication) class. 

Kōtui Ako Primary ākonga give some great positive feedback on their classes although many are requesting more time at school to complete their mahi. It is worth reading their comments to highlight the benefits they gain from being connected online learners.

Finally we advise you of two funding opportunities for your ākonga. Gifted Learner Awards opening in September, can support and challenge ākonga to try something new, or extend them in areas they’re already involved in, this includes Kōtui Ako VLN (Primary) learning opportunities. Rural Women New Zealand offer several boarding allowances each year these are open now and close at the end of September. Please share these opportunities with your school whānau.

Ngā mihinui 

Rachel, Amanda and the Kōtui Ako VLN team