Last weekend I was in Tauranga working on my study and I found a photo of my grandmother - Te Rahuikura Taite (nee Ngatai) in the wharenui we were staying in. On the photo there was a whakatauki that she composed 'He hiriwa te kōrero engari te whakarongo he koura.' E tika ana te kōrero o tōku kuia. It is silver to speak but it is gold to listen.

Much of my mahi at kura is about listening. Active listening involves listening with all senses. As well as giving full attention to the speaker, it is important that the ‘active listener’ is also present in the kōrero. 

Small smiles can be used to show that the listener is paying attention to what is being said or as a way of agreeing or being happy about the messages being received. Combined with nods of the head, smiles can be powerful in affirming that messages are being listened to and understood.

I try to leave hui with a smile and a solid understanding about what the plan is ahead. I also try my best to give people my time so that they feel listened to. I think that this is why the whakatauki from my grandmother really resonates with me and I wish that I had known over the years that my kuia was a woman who held listening in high esteem. 

Sometimes as adults it's easy for us to get busy and not listen or give time. We need to do better at this. Giving tamariki our time and listening to them helps them to feel valued and heard. Karawhuia e hoa mā. Give it a go! 

This morning I took a new whānau around the school to show them where their tamariki will be when they start next term. I was super happy when I saw lots of whānau here to help. Zac was taking dodgeball, Marley was teaching sewing skills, Wendy and Natalie were helping out with the go noodle. If you have some time to give on a Friday morning at 9.30am we would love to have more whānau helping out and joining in. 

I was proud this morning to stand out in the rain watching our Year 5-8 tamariki who wanted to compete in the 3km run. You would have been proud too. I loved listening to the tamariki cheer one another on and get behind the kaupapa. A big thanks to Whaea Kate and our two whānau tautoko, Katie Johnson and Tracey Hunter. 

A further reminder that we have Learning Progression hui next Tuesday and Wednesday and I will be in the office area with coffee n cake ready to talk with whānau about three things:

What do you love about our kura? 

What's not floating your boat so much?

How can we improve things? 

Going into the weekend I am looking forward to netball on Saturday as are many of our ākonga. I am also looking forward to spending some time reenergising for the last week of school before the holidays. 

Mauri ora ki a koutou katoa.

Mel x