Come and take a look at how we develop critical thinkers who persevere and drive their own learning.
The voice of our students
When asked to inspire our teachers, our students shared these thoughts:
Our Koru Learning Environment
Our spaces challenge the way we teach and have reshaped our pedagogy to respond to the demands of the curriculum in ways that are ambitious, culturally sustaining and nurture student agency. An extensive rebuild, completed in 2018, has given our community learning spaces that foster collaboration, communication and critical thinking. Our students develop agency over their learning and dispositions that help them to understand what they can do and what their next steps might be.
Developing Mathematical Inquiry Communities
Our partnership with Professor Roberta Hunter, Dr Jodie Hunter and Massey University has changed the way we teach and learn mathematics. Rather than following a prescribed programme, DMIC supports communities of teachers to strengthen their mathematical understanding and teacher practices. Students are able to build mathematical reasoning, participation and communication skills while teachers grow capabilities in culturally responsive, ambitious teaching.
Digital Technologies
Digital Technologies and Digital Fluency is becoming a focal point for our school, steering our teachers and students into innovative ways to display their learning and teaching. In today’s fast changing world it is important for us as a school to equip our students with the necessary skills to thrive in a transforming digital world, and create solutions that address problems in their community.
Our Local Curriculum
Our local curriculum for Koru School is uniquely designed to reflect who we are as a school and in our community. Our local curriculum brings to life what we deem as unique to how we learn and teach in Koru School. It also prompts us to continue to develop culturally connected practices with our students, whanau, and community that foster a rich learning environment and strong sense of belonging.
Sports Academy
Koru School Sports Academy is about providing students in Nga Rangatira with something fun and engaging that focuses on strengthening our student’s confidence, leadership, and relationship skills through sport and teamwork. Our hope is that through the sports academy, our students find a new love and passion to continue with a particular sport in the future.
Koru Ambassadors
Our Koru Ambassadors are senior students enhancing their leadership skills through key roles and responsibilities. They represent their peers, plan and organise events, and work to engage the school community. This experience helps them develop essential skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, while fostering a strong sense of responsibility and active participation within the school.
Healthy Active Learning
The Healthy Active Learning (HAL) program that is run by Nikki Johnson from CLM has equipped our teachers in delivering the best education and health outcomes for our tamariki. We have a strong focus on inclusiveness in planning and delivering physical activity and wellbeing. We integrate our school vision throughout our activities where our tamariki collaborate, show respect, are ambitious, have a sense of belonging, and are inclusive.
Kiwi Can
Kiwi Can is the first step of a journey that sets values such as integrity and respect, helps build resilience, and delivers fun-filled learning and life skills that the students take with them during their schooling and later in life. Each student visits a Kiwi Can class once a week to enjoy a positive, uplifting environment that encourages self-belief and confidence.
This link showcases one of our teachers Mr David Ahlquist as he demonstrates this teaching practice using Ta’ovala weaving as a context for ambitious mathematics teaching and learning with Year 8 students.
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