Lyall Bay School

Annual Plan:  September - December 2026

Progress Update

Last term, we shared the five strategic priorities we are focusing on for the remainder of 2026.  Here is a brief update on the progress being made in some of these areas.

Clear and Consistent Communication
We have developed a communication framework to make school communication clearer, more consistent and easier for whānau to access.  This will also help ensure there is a shared understanding of how and when different forms of communication are used.  See the framework below. 

Understanding Learning Through Play
We are ready to share more about the purpose of Learning Through Play and how it supports learning across our kura.  Here is one from Huetepara and one from Onepū.  Kaiako have shared what they have noticed, recognised, and their response. 

Onepū

NOTICE

As we explored forces and motion through hands-on design challenges, tamariki created marble runs and LEGO structures that appeared to float (Tensegrity – tensional integrity).  They experimented with ramps, heights, pathways, string placement, and balance to investigate how forces influence movement and stability.  Through play-based exploration, learners tested ideas, adapted their designs, and collaborated with others to solve problems and improve outcomes.

RECOGNISE

Through these experiences, tamariki developed their understanding of how forces can be used, controlled, and balanced within a technological design.  The marble runs encouraged learners to explore how gravity, friction, and slope affect the movement of objects, while the LEGO tensegrity challenge introduced concepts of tension and compression as learners created structures that appeared to float.  This learning connects to the Technology Curriculum, particularly Technological Practice, as learners generated ideas, tested solutions, and refined their outcomes in response to what they observed.  It also links to Technological Knowledge, where learners developed an understanding of how materials, structures, and physical forces influence the performance of a technological outcome.

RESPOND

We will continue to provide opportunities for tamariki to investigate scientific and technological concepts through purposeful play.  Future challenges will encourage learners to design, test, evaluate, and improve their ideas while exploring engineering principles and real-world applications of technology.  These experiences will strengthen their confidence as creative thinkers and problem-solvers, supporting them to apply their understanding of forces and motion to increasingly complex design challenges.

Huetepara

Exploring Wai:  Exploring Water Through Play 

NOTICE

We noticed tamariki working together at the water trough, pouring, scooping, mixing and moving wai (water) between different containers.  They showed curiosity as they explored the bubbles and experimented with different containers and ways of pouring the water. 

RECOGNISE

This play connects to Science in Te Mātaiaho (The New Zealand Curriculum).  Tamariki are developing scientific understanding through observing, predicting and testing as they explored the world around them.  Tamariki demonstrated our values of Pākiki (Curiosity)  and Manaaki and Respect as they explored together, shared the containers and listened to each other's ideas.  This play also connects to Maths.  Comparing the capacity of objects directly or indirectly (e.g. by comparing each of them with another reference object, used repeatedly). 

RESPOND

We will continue to provide opportunities for tamariki to explore wai, using te reo Māori such as wai (water), riringi (pour), kī (full) and kāore he mea (empty) as they play and describe their discoveries.  Tamariki will be encouraged to make predictions as they investigate what happens when water is poured, mixed, moved and combined with different materials. 

Vision in Action - Waihanga Kaiārahi Mō Āpōpō Creating the Leaders of Tomorrow

Tagata Moana:  On the 21st of October, our brand new Poly Club performed at the Tagata Moana Festival alongside other Wellington preschool, primary and intermediate kura.  How proud you must all be.  Huge thanks to Che, Jo G, all the parents, especially Sara, Christine, Loli, Nadia and Roma.  Our wonderful guitarist, Anthony, kept us all in time alongside our very own drummers.  We were the only school that had our own tamariki on the drums, mālo lava.  Also, Gabby, our instigator, faiaoga, and biggest supporter. 

The tamaiti all put in the galue / mahi during the school day, in the holidays, as well as in their own time.  Sa outou matagofie lava, you were all amazing.