Last year, we identified teacher capability in Te Reo Māori as a key area for development.

While a number of schools in our Kāhui Ako were working on ways to learn and use te reo more regularly, we didn’t have a consistent, targeted way to develop. 

For the second time, we have engaged Ara: Institute of Canterbury to deliver their Te Hoe Level One Te Reo course, and again we have great numbers of teachers and parents who have signed up to this. This will run from late Term Two until early Term Three, and we have about thirty people involved.

This year, we have also engaged with the Te Ahu o Te Reo Māori programme that is funded by MOE and facilitated by Ngāi Tahu. We have over 40 teachers in our Kāhui Ako involved in this intensive seven day course, which involves three noho marae at Tuahiwi and Rāpaki. This is an amazing uptake from our kaiako and is something for us to be really proud of! Keep an eye out for future opportunities to learn and celebrate te reo Māori at Shirley Boys!