52
COROMANDEL LIFE
SPRING 2013
Tairua School ...
Developing Global Citizens
“matariki” celebration
Matariki celebrations from the 10th to the 14th of June was an
inspiring and memorable week for Tairua School. Building on
last year’s successes, we created a week that provided new and
exciting learning experiences that fully involved our school and
wider community. From the Waharoa unveiling, classroom cultural
programmes, and sporting fixtures — through to the hangi and Kapa
Haka performance from Whangamata — this was a fantastic week.
Joe Davis of Ngati Hei explained how the carvings on the Waharoa
depicted the three baskets of knowledge as talked about in Maori
legend. The Waharoa bears the school’s original motto – “Kia mau,
Hold Fast” and the current one “Developing Global Citizens”. The
blue koru design up the top of the Waharoa reflects the two tides of
Tairua, with a globe shape surrounding Paku in its centre. Nykesha
Rea, a parent at the school and local artist developed these images
and all Moko on the Waharoa.
Through occasions like this we are able to link our past which is so
important to us to the future direction of our school. What all of us,
both students and teachers, took from our Waharoa unveiling is that
these two things go hand in hand: First, understanding our history
allows us to move forward confidently into the future. And then,
through these experiences, our students can develop a deep sense
of cultural identity, making them a dynamic citizen in a globalised
society.
Our Room 5 students have been working on a marine study action plan
since Term 4, 2012 as part of their EMR programme. This area of study
was supported by their marine camp to Leigh/Goat Island, and as a
result of their camp, the students developed an action plan to improve
our local marine environment. The students created an interactive
experience in Room 5, which they transformed into an underwater
atmosphere with sea creatures, information and sounds, all to raise
awareness of the importance of looking after our oceans to ensure they
tairua’s room 5 immerses for the oceans
Every Monday afternoon our enthusiastic student leaders host their
very own assembly. The assembly agenda is set by the student leaders
and includes things like sports results, workers of the week, notices
from sport trolley and first aid wardens, reports of ways students are
living our citizenship learner profile, house challenges and classroom
representative reports.
Earlier this term, a scooter competition was suggested. Planning
included risk analysis reports, developing challenging track designs,
jumps, and background music. The senior competition included 12
entries from yr 5-8 and after four heats, five students progressed to
the final round. After a couple of spectacular crashes and jumps that
made teachers’ heart rates skyrocket, Room 4’s Cooper Bennett was
crowned overall champion.
student led
assemblies
tairua
classroom
project
leads to
scooter
competition
James Wightman - Gould explains the benefits of having a marine reserve and the sea life we might
expect to see if we develop one.
Harry Evans hits new
heights in Tairua
Schools Scooter
competition.
For more info about school activities see
...from Principal Brendan Finn
The highlight of the week’s event was the unveiling of the relocated Waharoa, the official
opening of the outdoor classroom and the sound of the school Haka that welcomed
everyone to our school on Wednesday morning. The restoration team - Simon Evans
(engineer) , Trevor Ladd (restorer), Nykesha Jupp (artistic design) and Brendan Finn
(Principal) along with Seamus Finn (Future student of Tairua School).
s
