Treaty of Waitangi
We aim to keep our bilcultural commitment to the centre and front of our teaching and learning at St Joseph's.
In 2022-3 we have contracted Nola Tipa from Moeraki to work with us on cultural responsiveness.
In 2019 we had two visits to our local marae at Moeraki where our students began to learn about our local Maori heritage. They learnt that no matter where they come from Moeraki marae is their place of belonging here in North Otago.
We returned in 2021 as part of our inquiry learning into how people in our area have curated the past and we were given very informative information about how the tangata o te rohe have maintained their taongas. This was part of our half year history inquiry "By examining the past we can determine the future." We are reassured that our local marae is willing and able to help us in the journey towards our school rebuild and to ensure our bicultural nature is embedded in this development.
Here are some of the ways we naturally incorporate te ao Maori into our every day school life:
Manaakitanga
Supportive interactions with parents
Sports teams
School liaison
Layers of leadership
Community of learning
Singing cup
Students promoted to speak first language
Tongan club and Filipino class promote first languages and wider culture
Parish freezer
Special needs provision
Extension groups
Holistic - physical, emotional ,spiritual and mental wellbeing.
Parish/school liaison, parish links - supportive of one another
Special character, religious education
Wellbeing team
Open door
Visible learning wall displays, learning progressions, website, emails, newsblog, class and student blogs.
Student council
Mindfulness practice
Cultural groups
Reading recovery
Activator sports, sporting initiatives for all children
Safe and nurturing environment
Keeping ourselves safe and DARE programmes.
Ako
Children making decisions about their learning e.g. inquiry
Student voice
Parent voice - including ELL parents
Goal setting meetings with parent input
Listening, reflective responses
Children encouraged to use first language where appropriate in discussion
Peer writing
Collaborative learning happens naturally and is also planned for
Student led cultural groups
Passion projects
Whanau groups
Student council
Board of trustees - self review focused on learning
21st century skills
Maori club
Cultural language week celebrations
SOLO
Key competencies
Mindfulness
Science vision
Respectful relationships
Interdependent at all levels with all parties
Involvement of parents in school activities.
Mahi Tahi
CHinese, Tonga, Filipino parent meetings and representation through board cultural committeet
Student council
Close liaison between teachers especially in hubs
Support staff day
Multicultural day
Maori club
Children work together collaboratively within and between classes
Collaborative staff
Focus on staff TEAMS not individuals - we are all responsible for all of the students
Tongang club
Close liaison between staff
Church/parish/school
Goal setting meetings
Mandarin lessons
Year 8 leaders
Filipino class
Learning huis
Collaborative meetings - staff meetings, wellbeing meetings, senior leadership, syndicate meetings.
Board of Trustees support.
Diocese RE and pd support
Sports teams
Home and School
Induction meetings
Sacramental program
Educational pathways - community of learning
Whanaungatanga
Hub relationships are like family
Teams for all aspects of school life
Multicultural day and food fair
Parent help
Tongan and Filipino classes and parent involvement
Multicultural meetings
Strong relationship with parish - prayer partners, sacramental celebrations, ministeries - greeters, altar servers, readings etc on the weekend,
Multicultural meetings
Community of Learning
Dominican Choir
Kapahaka - Hui Ako celebrations
Pasifika performance group.
Teacher/child - good relationships are key to learning
Early Childhood Buddies
Interschools
Visual presence of other cultures in the school.
Community Service e.g. Young Vinnies
Mihis
Inclusiveness and cross cultural relationships and interdependence in the various school groups.