The Māori holistic model of health, Te Whare Tapa Whā, reminds you to take care of all the different aspects of your life to support your wellbeing.

At Shirley Primary School, we are focused on improving the wellbeing of our students, their parents/caregivers, and our staff. 

During Term 2 we have obviously been forced to focus on Te taha whānau due to Alert Level 4 lockdown. 

Taha whānau (family wellbeing)

Taha whānau is about who makes you feel like you belong, who you care about and who you share your life with.

Whānau is about extended relationships – it’s not just your immediate relatives, it’s your friends, hoamahi (colleagues), community and the people you care about. Everyone has a place and a role to fulfil within their whānau, and whānau contributes to your individual wellbeing and identity.

Spending time with whānau, doing things for them and getting involved gives you a feeling of purpose, connection and wellbeing. It benefits you and strengthens your whānau. As a core source of strength, support, security and identity, whānau plays a central role in your wellbeing. 

On return to school, our students have shared with our staff who they were with in their bubble and what they did. Below are some of the examples of displays throughout the learning spaces. The connection with whanau and understanding the experiences students have at home is hugely important for our teachers. This knowledge supports planning for our teaching and learning programmes.