Spotlight on Ōhane!

Kia ora e te whanau,

Ōhane has had a wonderful start to the term. Our learning programme is well underway, with assessments completed and formal learning programmes happening daily. Learning coaches have enjoyed getting to know tamariki and routines are firmly in place to ensure the learning environment supports a learning culture.

 Ōhane is comprised of year 2 and 3 learners who have been spread evenly throughout Ōhane 1, 2 and 3. When selecting where students were placed, careful consideration was given to friendship groups, relationships with learning coaches, and finally, ensuring an equal spread of academic ability across all three learning spaces. Learning across all learning spaces is run the same, ensuring each child in Ōhane receives the same learning experience no matter where they are. 

Our daily timetable allows for an hour of reading, writing, and math, with breaks for fitness and kai. In the afternoon, we take time to explore our conceptual curriculum. This is a rich integrated approach that brings the essence of the learning areas in the New Zealand Curriculum to life (the arts, science, social studies, and physical education). 

This term, we will be exploring the concept ‘Te Toka o Tirikawa', where we will examine closely the whakatauki ‘Ahakoa uhiuhi ngā ngaru, ka whakaea anō te teoka a tirikawa. Which translates as “despite the thrashing of the waves, the rock of Tirikawa remains resolute.” We have begun by introducing the Whare Tapa Whā model, which describes wellbeing as a wharenui or meeting house. The four walls of the wharenui represent the four dimensions of your holistic well-being. When all four walls of your wharenui, or all four dimensions of your wellbeing, are in balance, you thrive! Students have been identifying what is important for them to be resilient as learners. 

We have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know tamariki and are excited about the year ahead.