Our year 9 introductory module sets students up for college success.

Moving from intermediate school to college is a big deal. Students go from spending most of their day with one lead teacher to moving every 75 minutes, working with eight teachers a week, finding their way around a big new site and having to get used to new ways of learning. "Ko Wai Tātou" is our approach to welcoming year 9 students and helping them to settle in and adapt to college life. We take an intentional approach to getting to know our new young people, their interests and strengths and to helping them feel that they belong as a member of our Nayland College whānau. 

The Ko Wai Tātou unit has been developed through principles of whanaungatanga (connection and belonging), mahitahi (collaboration and working together), manaakitanga (welcoming and developing positive relationships) and ako (learning together). We also take a deliberate approach to teaching students our SOAR values of success, opportunity, ako and respect. 

What this looks like is different across the learning areas. In English there is a focus on individual identity and then our collective identity as a class and a school.  In science students start with learning how to behave safely in the lab, the different strands of science and how our brains can help us be more effective learners. In PE and Health there is a focus on team work and collaborating as a group. In all subjects time is spent on developing the skills and attributes needed for successful college learning. Our year 13 peer mentors have supported the programme through Puna Ako sessions where they have run fun activity sessions getting students working together. Building house identity has also been a focus with each class creating a piece of collaborative house art. 

Usually the end of Ko Wai Tātou would be marked with a pōwhiri at Whakatu Marae and a place responsive wero (challenge) at Founders Park. Unfortunately this has been a victim of covid restrictions but I would like to acknowledge all of our year 9 students for the way they have settled in well and become fully fledged members of our school community despite the numerous challenges of their first term. The atmosphere among our year 9 students is positive and we are really proud of them. Ka pai koutou! Ko wai tātou!