At Titirangi School, we firmly believe that our greatest asset is our community. Your input, ideas and aspirations for our tamariki are vital in shaping the direction of our school.

This process is what we call whānau consultation, and it's essential for ensuring our school reflects the values and needs of our unique community.

We want to share how your feedback is already being put into action and is influencing our new 2026-2028 Strategic Plan.

🗣️ He Wero, He Huarahi (Challenges and Pathways)

Last term, through various consultation opportunities, including our Whānau Hui, Fono, and a Whole School Digital Survey, we received some powerful and clear messages:

💡 Focus Areas from Consultation

📊 Deep Dive: Whole School Digital Survey Results

The digital survey provided specific insights into curriculum and wellbeing priorities:

• Curriculum Focus: A massive 69.4% of respondents indicated that the school should now focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) after the current literacy/numeracy refresh.

• Arts & Culture: There is a strong combined appetite for Visual Arts, Dance, Drama, & Music, and Te Ao Māori.

• Innovation Importance: The importance of Digital Safety and understanding AI was selected by almost a quarter of respondents, suggesting our community sees both the risk and the necessity of digital tools.

💖 Wellbeing and Relationships (Manaakitanga / Whanaungatanga)

• Bullying: Multiple comments addressed the need for the school to be more explicit about teaching anti-bullying strategies and the need for better teaching of kindness and positive relationships (also seen in the Fono feedback).

📢 Communication (Ako Tahi)

• Informal Updates: One comment requested fewer Hero Updates, while another asked for "more information about the learning happening in the classroom." We understand that we probably won't be able to get the level of communication right for all families - for some it's too much, for some too little. 77% of respondents said communication was "just right" but we are always having conversations about how to refine and improve this area.

🌟 Our Response and Action Plan

We've listened carefully and have incorporated your feedback into our future planning, with new goals focusing on communication, relationships and learning priorities:

🤝 Strengthen Whanaungatanga (Culture and Belonging) - Relational Practice

In response to concerns about relationships, we recognise the need to review how our principles of Relationship-Based Learning (RBL) are applied to behaviour management. This will be a priority focus for our teaching teams moving forward.

📣 Enhanced Communication (Manaakitanga / Ako Tahi) - Reporting Quality

Addressing the mixed feedback on communication (fewer updates vs. more detail), we are reviewing the quality and frequency of our reporting to ensure it is meaningful and informative.

Action: We are looking at ways to have more face-to-face conversations and increasing the regularity of how we report student progress. This is currently planned as:

• Term 1: In-person conversation/goal setting.

• Term 2: Written report.

• Term 3: In-person conversation/check-in.

• End of Year: Summative written report.

🧠 Refine Ako Tahi (Learning Together) - Curriculum Focus

Based on the strong direction provided, particularly the desire for STEM, Arts and cultural learning:

• New Curriculum Focus: Our curriculum development will now pivot towards integrating STEM and Performing/Cultural Arts across all year levels, ensuring we meet the needs identified after our literacy/numeracy refresh.

🗺️ Te Ao Māori and Marae Visits

We are committed to providing the rich, authentic cultural experiences you asked for. We have completed initial research into arranging a Marae visit. We know that our local iwi, Te Kawerau ā Maki, does not currently have a 'home' Marae, but one is in the process of being built at Te Henga. We are keeping a close watch on this exciting development!

Action: We have included a Marae Trip Organisation Goal as a specific step in our new Strategic Plan.

🖼️ Visible Culture and Environment

To make our school environment a true reflection of our community, we are taking several steps:

• Our school pepeha will soon be highly visible.

• The new school mural, which captures the spirit of our place, is planned for installation this week!

• Action: Our 2026 Art Exhibition will be focused on outdoor art, aiming to achieve a permanent, vibrant and reflective display of our cultures around the school grounds.

Thank you once again for taking the time to share your views. Your involvement makes Titirangi School a stronger, more culturally rich and more effective learning environment for every child. We look forward to working with you as we implement these exciting plans.

Nāku noa, nā,

Andrea