It has been a very productive year for the Stoke Tāhunanui Kāhui Ako, bringing together schools and ECE centres in our community around common achievement challenges and goals.

When I reflect on the annual goals we set for the Kāhui at the start of 2023, it has been an incredibly productive year for our community of learning:

1. Collaboration is effectively used within and across schools to promote and support best practice
2. There is significant progress in shifting teaching to the ‘North East’ corner through quality coaching
3. The following RBL pillars are sustained in the practices of all schools: impact coaching, co-construction, monitoring meetings (guiding coalition) and voice collection
4. A system to successfully engage with whānau and community regarding local curriculum has been initiated
5. Significant parts of the local curriculum reflects whānau and community aspirations
6. A coherent pathway towards the new NCEA literacy and numeracy assessments and the Aotearoa NZ Histories curriculum is being developed

I can confidently say that we have achieved all of these goals, and more across the past 12 months.  Highlights for me include the development of three coherent learning pathways in literacy, numeracy and Aotearoa NZ Histories, two days of incredible 'GROWTH Coaching' workshops, a stunning staff only day focused on the brilliant Niho Taniwha resource, a wonderful Matariki Celebration and ongoing work to support Relationships-based Learning across all our schools and ECE centres. The diverse actions and initiatives undertaken have not only helped shape education in our region, but I truly believe they have also paved the way for a more inclusive and focused Kāhui Ako network into the future. 

I would like to take a moment to thank our wonderful Across School Team of Belinda Mackean, Corrin Vedder, Kirsten Goomes and Kirsten Mannix for all of their mahi and support over the past year.  I would also like to thank all of our principals and ECE Leaders for your dedication and support, not only to the Kāhui Ako, but to your own communities as well.  Finally, I would like to acknowledge the support that Arnika and the ImpactED team have provided our Kāhui Ako over the past year, support that will continue into the first half of 2024 as we implement our pathways.

I wish Barbara Bowen all the very best as she takes over leadership of the Kāhui Ako in 2024. 

I wish you all a very safe and enjoyable holiday break.

Ngā mihi,

Daniel Wilson
Lead Principal