Kura Tēina is all about connecting with your child! We strive on working on transitioning your child from early childhood learning into ‘big school’ where the learning becomes more formal. This can be a big change for not only the child, but the whānau too. 

What will you see in our classes? A print rich room that values the children’s mahi; Lots of activities and equipment that help your child express themselves and support hands-on learning; A strong focus on Structured Literacy and Maths; Passionate kaiāko and kaiāwhina that show up each day to facilitate your child in their social, emotional and academic learning. 

What will you hear in our classes? Laughter, learning conversations, singing, music and waiata, questioning and wonderings, connections being made; child to adult, and child to child.

What will you feel in our classes? Supported, connected, valued, heard, liked, loved, special and most of all… a sense of belonging.

There is a special sense of belonging in our Middle Syndicate.  Kura Waenga consists of three classrooms, where our tamariki are supported to help develop them into independent confident learners.  Our Year 3 and 4 akongā are encouraged to work alongside others, show intergrity and treat others with kindness and respect through a strong focus on our Waiū values,

We welcome whānau involvement and there are many opportunities for whānau to get involved in different ways including sports events, education outside the classroom and supporting learning in the classroom.  

Our main focus and theme for this year is: HONONGA - CONNECTIONS. We will explore how we are connected to our wider community and local area. Throughout the year, we will have a focus on integrating our inquiry focus to our classroom learning. By doing this, we are able to grow a better understanding and make more connections with our students. 

We have three Kaiako in our syndicate, who are all enthusiastic, supportive and provide knowledge, empathy and learning for your tamaiti. Additional supporting programmes are completed alongside the classroom learning to promote success in all learning areas. 

We are looking forward to building strong partnerships with our tamariki and their whānau. We have an open door policy and we welcome any questions, concerns or just a catch-up. 

Feel free to pop in anytime. 

In 2022 the Māori Enrichment Unit was given the name ‘Opunoke’ which is the hill behind our kura, by our kaumatua. Many pūrākau have derived from Te taumata o Opunoke of which all tamariki at KSS are immersed as an integral part of our teaching and learning through our Localised Curriculum.  Opunoke is a Years 1-6, where 51-80% of Te Reo Māori is taught in our Year 5-6 spaces and Total Immersion in our Year 1-4 spaces.  

Our aspirations and visions for the future of Te Roopu Opunoke is to be total immersion by 2027.  Together guided by our Opunoke whānau, tauira, ngā kaiako kātoa, our localised curriculum, hāpori and Tuwharetoatanga.  Opunoke is an open space for whānau to visit, kōrero, waiata, karakia, observe and share.  Nau mai!

We envisage a prosperous future for our tamarirki to excel and successfully realise their cultural distinctiveness and potential and to participate and contribute to Te Ao Māori, Aotearoa and the World.

Tū toa ki te Ao!

‘Takiwātanga’ is a derivation of the phrase for autism coined by Keri Opa: “tōku/tōna anō takiwā” – “my/his/her own time and space”. Within our ‘Takiwātanga’ unit we refer to this phrase often to create a positive hive of learning for our tamariki. We have been complimented often by Whānau members who have said that they ‘love’ the way their tamaiti are more confident and comfortable in their learning space and kōrero often about the growth they have made.

What makes our unit ‘Unique’? We focus on what our tamariki ‘can’ do, we know and understand that they are naturally creative and it is our job as Kaiako and Kaiāwhina to give them the materials and space to let them blossom to their full potential. We will continue to work closely with parents, caregivers, whānau and education staff to manage Takiwātanga in a way that is best suited to their tamaiti and their individual needs.