Te Whakangārahu Ngātahi | Planning Together for Ākonga Success

bicultural Lens 

Bicultural Focus

We recognise and support the bicultural composition of the School, honouring the Principles of The Treaty of Waitangi.

Recognising New Zealand’s Cultural Diversity: 

Ashhurst  School recognises the importance of New Zealand’s bicultural diversity and the unique position of Maori culture. In doing so, we acknowledge the unique position of Māori as tangata whenua. Ashhurst School will provide opportunities that support its students in te reo and tikanga Māori. 

At Ashhurst School, we have high expectations for all our students in their educational progression and achievement. We will continue to ensure that Māori can effectively achieve ‘educational success as Māori’, “students who are expected to succeed are more likely to succeed. Ka Hikitia Accelerating Success 2013-2017 requires the development of approaches to support all stakeholders to hold high expectations for all Maori students.” Ka Hikitia, Pg 38. 

Achievement of Maori students is regularly reported to the Board and we will continue to have a relentless focus on raising Maori achievement. We will continue to have the acceleration of Māori achievement as a key priority area. 

The board demonstrates its recognition of New Zealand’s cultural diversity through:

• The employment of a Kapa Haka specialist teacher

• The integration of te reo o nga tikanga Maori in class as and when appropriate

• To grow the use of and correct pronunciation of Te Reo throughout our school

• To consult with whānau was part of our regular self-review

• To continue to grow and celebrate our Kapa Haka group

• Reflecting the unique place of Maori within our policy documentation and curriculum statements through Ka Hikitia, TeTataiako & Kotahitanga

• The continuing development of policies and practices that reflect New Zealand’s bicultural uniqueness.  

• Providing all students with experiences and understandings in cultural traditions, language 

How the board will respond to a request for instruction in Te Reo Māori: 

The board will respond to any request for instruction in Te Reo Maori by:

• Advising the parent of the current level of Te Reo and Tikanga Maori available at the school

• Offering to explore possibilities for extending the current provision, including:

• Dual enrolment with The Correspondence School

• Advising parents where the nearest school is that provides a higher level of instruction in Te Reo and Tikanga Maori

Learners with Special Learning Needs / Inclusion:

The Ashhurst  Board will ensure that learners with special learning needs are supported in their learning so they can participate fully in the school and community life while making progress in relation to the NZC and curriculum expectations. 

It is the focus of Ashhurst through the Kahui Ako and its own channels to develop stronger relationships with Rangitane.  This will develop the school's capability to deliver a rich localised curriculum  

Ashhurst School tikanga

Welcoming new students/whanau/Staff

Waharoa

Waharoa sessions are weekly transition classes for enroled children and their whānau. Children will attend sessions in the term closest to their 5th birthday. These sessions give children the opportunity to experience time with their teacher and peers and allow them to adjust to classroom learning and routines. Once children have completed their Waharoa sessions, they will then be able to attend two class visits in the two weeks prior to them starting school. 

Mihi Whakatau

At the beginning of each term, we celebrate and welcome the arrival of all kaiako hou (new staff), whānau (families) and tauira (students) to our Kura. 

Manuhiri (guests), the group you will be a part of, will be seated on chairs on the blue court.

A School representative will be there to ensure you know the process.

Our school's Kaikōrero (speaker) will speak in te reo māori only, and the school will waiata tautoko (sing to support) the Kaikōrero.

All new staff will speak to the school and introduce themselves when this has finished. This can be done in English or te reo māori or any other language they are fluent in. This is an opportunity for any parents to also speak on behalf of their children.

Once all the adults have spoken, the manuhiri group can sing a waiata to tautoko (support) their speakers. This is not compulsory. 

Once the waiata has concluded, the Rangatira o te Kura (the school leaders) will approach and greet the children, staff, and parents with a hug, hongi, or handshake. 

The Manuhiri (guests) are now part of the school and will join the rōpū (group), and Heath Chittenden (Principal) will speak to finish the proceedings.

We will all then go back to class and share a snack and drink of water, as sharing kai is the final step in bringing people together. Parents will be invited to the staffroom for this part of the process.

Pōwhiri

Pōwhiri is a traditional māori welcoming ceremony. Pōwhiri at Ashhurst School will be structured in partnership with Rangitāne and guided by their tikanga practices.

In class practices

Karakia Whakatimatanga

This karakia was gifted to our kura through the connection between our Palmerston North East Kāhui Ako and Rangitāne. The karakia was composed by Hohepa Sharland and was originally written as a mōteatea (waiata without actions); however, it can be said verbally without singing. Hohepa and Whare Sharland presented this karakia to us through our Kāhui Ako during our Rangitāne Symposium teacher-only day on Friday, June 2nd 2023.  As this karakia has been gifted to us as a taonga by Rangitāne, it is a school expectation that we protect and care for this karakia by using it from now on. The purpose of karakia is to set the mauri (aura) for the day and to begin the school day by setting the room up for a sense of noa (peace). Finishing the day with Karakia resets the mauri (aura) and seeks to ensure everyone gets home safe and the mauri in the room is reset. This karakia can be used to start and finish a hui or a school day.

Karakia Kai

This is a simple but effective karakia we can perform to give thanks for the food we are about to eat. Someone or everyone can recite this before eating. The addition of 'mō tēnei rā', which means for this day, covers our kai for the day. 

Kapa Haka

Ashhurst School has a kapa haka rōpū, which meets weekly on a Tuesday morning with an instructor. In these sessions, students learn waiata and haka to perform at various events throughout the year, with the main performance being the Te Pae Tamariki Kapa Haka Festival. Kapa Haka is available for students from Years 3 - 8. 

Morning Mahi

After our morning karakia, students engage in 'morning mahi'. This program focuses on putting our school values at the forefront of students' minds as they start their learning day. Students are given a range of scenarios and then apply our school values to find suitable solutions. There is also a te reo māori focus within the 'morning mahi programme' and time to practice waiata. 

In-class language programme

Students engage in two explicit te reo māori sessions each week. These sessions are designed to increase student's knowledge of the structure of words, phrases and sentences in Māori. Time is also dedicated to ensuring correct pronunciation is modelled. These sessions are progressive and scaffolded to meet students' needs so that they can experience success when learning te reo māori. Teachers also use te reo māori phrases in their daily practice.   

Ki-o-Rahi

Ki-o-Rahi is a traditional māori game and stems from the legend of Rahitutakahina and Tiarakurapakewai. Students from Ashhurst School are very fortunate to have been supported in learning this game by Chris Swannell of Rangitāne. The game is often played during lunch as part of our structured games. We also have two competitive Ki-o-Rahi teams, a year 5&6 team and a year 7&8 team, who compete in local competitions. Our year 7&8 teams are the reigning champions. Ki-o-Rahi has been included in the Elite Sports Competition this year, and we are fortunate to host it.   

Ashhurst School tohu