Kia ora, whānau!

At Reporoa Primary School, we are embracing the latest curriculum changes with enthusiasm and a commitment to nurturing well-rounded tamariki. As you may be aware, new legislation now requires New Zealand schools to dedicate an hour each day to reading, writing, and maths. While this change helps ensure a strong foundation in core literacy and numeracy skills, it also challenges us to think creatively about how we integrate other vital areas of the curriculum into our teaching.

At Reporoa, we believe every subject contributes to the development of our tamariki. Health, physical education, science, social sciences, technology, te reo Māori, and the arts are woven into our day-to-day learning to provide a rich and balanced education. Sometimes, this means combining subjects in innovative ways—for example, teaching writing through science or incorporating maths into PE activities.

A recent interview with Mr. Seymore on Sunday raised questions about how we approach te reo Māori in our curriculum. To clarify, we do not remove tamariki from their maths lessons to teach te reo Māori. I’m not sure I have ever heard of a school that does this. We seamlessly integrate te reo throughout the day across all subjects. This approach reflects the principles of the New Zealand Curriculum, which emphasises the importance of biculturalism and supports our tamariki in developing a deep understanding of Aotearoa’s unique cultural heritage. We also have our Te Puna Ahu Reo programme which attends to the New Zealand histories curriculum. Our tamariki are learning all about the history of Reporoa and how Ngati Tahu Ngati Whaoa lived pre colonisation. Our current visits to Ohaki marae and Orakei Korako are an exciting way to finish off this learning for the year.

Looking ahead, 2024 will bring exciting professional learning opportunities for our teaching team. Our staff will participate in refresher training in the science of literacy (building on the past three years of focus in this area) as well as professional development in maths. These sessions will ensure we are up to date with the best teaching practices, allowing us to continue providing high-quality education in these foundational areas.

Additionally, we are thrilled to announce the inclusion of Mana Potential alongside our existing PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning) programme. Mana Potential is designed to support tamariki in recognising and building their inner strengths, fostering self-esteem, resilience, and personal growth. Together, these programmes will help us create a positive and inclusive learning environment where every child can thrive.

We are committed to maintaining a balanced curriculum that ensures our tamariki succeed academically while also fostering their cultural, physical, and creative development. As always, your feedback and support are vital as we navigate these changes together.

Ngā mihi nui,
Richelle McDonald
Principal, Reporoa Primary School