Vision Survey Results 2025 - 3 of 3 Results

What Would Make Our School Even Better?

We’re incredibly proud of all that our school offers and the strong foundations we’ve built together.

Parent Response

Click here to see Key Themes

Our whānau shared thoughtful and inspiring ideas focused on enriching learning, supporting wellbeing, and strengthening community connections. Many suggested more classroom space and smaller class sizes, alongside calm, sensory-friendly areas to support inclusive and focused learning.

There was strong interest in deepening core learning in literacy, numeracy, and science, with more hands-on opportunities through STEM, environmental education, and practical skills like forest school and edible gardening. Families also valued integrating kaupapa Māori throughout the curriculum and providing greater support for neurodiverse learners.

Suggestions for senior students included structured homework and whānau evenings focused on literacy and numeracy. Creativity and student voice were also key themes, with requests for more performing arts, talent shows, and initiatives like student-led news or school radio.

Outdoor learning and physical activity featured strongly, with ideas such as barefoot learning, local field trips, sailing, and broader sports options. Many would like to see better use of the school pool, more shaded areas, and spaces for rest and connection.

To promote wellbeing, whānau suggested mindfulness, kindness, and integrity as classroom values, supported by programmes like Relax Kids and a dedicated wellbeing coordinator or school nurse.

In terms of technology, families supported screen time limits, BYOD from Year 5, and consistent internet safety measures—balanced by a focus on core learning before tech use.

Community connection is also important, with ideas such as class picnics, simpler communication, and recorded parent evenings. Celebrations centred on connection rather than fundraising—like a community picnic—were warmly received, along with closer links to local ECEs and the college.

Logistical improvements suggested include reviewing zoning, safer drop-off zones, and better public transport. Families also encouraged fundraising to prioritise classroom needs and teacher resources.

Sustainability and life skills were common themes too, with ideas like recycling initiatives, chickens, and garden-to-table learning. Many supported practical learning through woodwork, financial literacy, and a “Community Action Lab” for tamariki to lead meaningful local projects.

Thank you to everyone who contributed—your ideas reflect a shared commitment to making our school the best it can be for every child and every whānau.

Student Response

What Initiatives Would Make Our School Even Better?

Click here to see Key Themes
Our tamariki shared a wide range of creative and thoughtful ideas for how we could make our school even more fun, engaging, and inspiring.

Animals were a popular theme, with requests for class pets, a pet care club, and a “Bring Your Pet to School” day. The arts were also high on the wish list, with interest in more art supplies, seasonal projects, regular performances, and clubs for animation, music, dance, and puppetry.

When it comes to physical activity, students dreamed big—hoping for adventurous playgrounds, trampolines, flying foxes, zip lines, and team sports like netball, rugby league, and water polo. Ideas for camps, BMX pump tracks, and longer PE sessions also featured strongly.

There was great enthusiasm for water play, including a deeper school pool, a kiddie pool, slides, and even a waterpark-style experience.

Students would love to see updated facilities like clean bathrooms, more classrooms and breakout spaces, lockers, changing rooms, and creative enhancements like treehouses, a school café, and more garden areas.

Indoor clubs were also popular, ranging from gaming, cooking, and gardening to gymnastics and chess. A “junk food celebration day” (tied to learning) was suggested too!

Tamariki loved special events and spirit days, asking for more Colour Fun Runs, themed dress-up days, and school-wide celebrations like galas, productions, and skill showcases.

Improving the bike track with safety features, adding movement sessions at breaks, and offering mindfulness, leadership roles, and more choice in learning also stood out as meaningful suggestions.

There were also great ideas for food, such as a tuck shop or cafeteria, hot food days, and healthier, more accessible snack options.

To make rainy days more enjoyable, tamariki hoped for a movie room and more indoor games. And across the board, there was a strong desire for cleaner, more modern spaces, better storage, and fun new additions each year.

These suggestions reflect our students’ creativity, curiosity, and love for their school—and we look forward to exploring ways to bring some of these ideas to life!

Staff Vision:

Click here to see the Key themes
Our dedicated staff have shared a thoughtful vision for how we can continue to grow and improve as a school community over the coming years. Their ideas focus on upgrading our facilities, enriching learning, strengthening wellbeing, and deepening connections with whānau and the wider community.

Staff would like to see more modern and engaging teaching spaces, upgrades to indoor areas such as bathrooms and air quality, and the addition of a heated pool to extend swimming opportunities. Outdoor areas, including playgrounds, gardens, and sports facilities, would also continue to be enhanced and maintained.

In terms of teaching and learning, staff emphasised the importance of clarity and consistency across programmes, strengthening Learning Through Play, and refining a structured approach to Inquiry Learning. A school-wide curriculum overview would support planning, alongside a strong focus on the Arts and termly ORCA value themes. There was also a shared desire to ensure learning is meaningful and deep, rather than rushed.

Strengthening community engagement was another key theme. Staff suggested increasing curriculum information evenings for families, broadening our Garden to Table programme with community involvement, and developing a volunteer group to support student learning. Building Tuakana-Teina relationships through house groups, buddy systems, and student leadership roles also featured strongly.

Staff also highlighted the importance of professional development that reflects teacher strengths and passions. A strong induction programme, more time to embed new learning, and opportunities for external learning were seen as essential for ongoing growth.

Lastly, staff expressed a strong desire to further support the wellbeing of students and staff through clear communication, structured hauora initiatives, and a continued focus on our core priorities—ensuring we maintain high standards of learning, connection, and care across our school.