Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou katoa. Kia ora, Hello, Talofa, Mālō e lelei, Bula, Hola, Fakaalofa atu, As Salam Alaykom, こんにちは, Hallo, Hoy, હ લ ો, Hē leu, Mauri, न म त, Ola , Chum reap suor, Kumusta, Nihao, Xin chào.
Kia ora koutou
Our gifted name
I am pleased to announce that as a part of acknowledging our new name – Te Kāpehu Riccarton School - we have rebranded our school logo. To launch this new logo I thought I would go back through the process to date!
Te Kāpehu – The Compass
Why have we changed our name?
This exciting change is part of a Christchurch-wide initiative to treasure and celebrate our Māori heritage within the city's rebuild process.
The new name is the result of extensive conversations and explorations between our Board of Trustees and our Mātauraki Mahaanui facilitator, to build a Māori cultural narrative for our school. It's an important step in integrating Māori tikanga, stories and history into our teaching programmes.
Why Te Kāpehu?
For reasons of relevance and historic meaning, Te Kāpehu was selected as the perfect name for the school. Although the closest translation of Te Kāpehu is 'the compass', its fuller meaning is a story of navigation, of place, and our connection to it – an intersection, junction or crossroads in one's journey, where one chooses which direction or pathway to follow next.
Before the introduction of the compass to Aotearoa, Māori relied upon the stars, landmarks and the natural world for direction. Te Kāpehu Riccarton School is situated at the crossing of historic travel routes, and as a point of navigation and place-finding, our location held great significance as a 'compass'.
Te Kāpehu in real life
There will be exciting new opportunities for learning, as this eco-literacy is integrated into both our curriculum and even into our school environment.
'Learning that focuses on local places of significance' will take the form of new school buildings located and named appropriately, enabling students to understand their relevance to their geographical area in real-life terms.
Our thanks
The honour of this gift was bestowed upon us by Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tūāhuriri Education Committee, through its Chair, Lynne Harata Te Aika. Our school community will be eternally grateful.
The rebrand
As well as receiving the gift of a new name, Te Kāpehu Riccarton School has had an exciting rebrand.
Why the rebrand?
The renaming of the school and the introduction of a Māori cultural narrative, created the need for a meaningful new logomark and design 'look and feel' - one that would reflect our identity, values and new cultural direction.
What was involved?
Our branding partners 'Friday Creative' developed the brand platform and strategic design 'positioning', following extensive research and consultation with our Mātauraki Mahaanui facilitator.
Taking inspiration from the patterns and forms of Tāniko weaving (particularly Waharua Kopito and Aronui), Friday Creative's approach was to combine two core ideas, using them to underpin the thinking for the development of the logomark and the wider brand:
· Te Kāpehu (meaning an intersection in one's journey, where one chooses a direction)
· Primary school (using characteristics related to childhood and learning)
The results
The brand platform includes a bold new logomark and an overall aesthetic of colours, typefaces, images, treatments, patterns, shapes and forms, plus a tone of voice.
Over time, elements of the brand platform will be integrated into the fabric of the school. This will include communication touchpoints; signage and wayfinding; stationery; website; uniform design; and door, floor, wall and window adornments.
We are delighted with the results. We feel confident that this fresh, meaningful new look and feel will help build a clear picture of the school's personality, support learning and cultural understanding, drive positive communications and conversations, and bring our stories to life.
Staff Only Day
A final reminder that next Monday 24th May is a staff only day and school will be closed.
Have a fantastic week and please encourage your children to be respectful, responsible, real learners.
Ngā mihi nui
Paul Irving
Tumuaki - Principal