Teaching/Ako & Learning
Hikuawa & Kaunuku
(Year 1-8)
Hikuawa, the source of the river, spring is where the learning journey begins for ākonga at Haeata. Foundation skills for learning are developed, getting to know what school is about and becoming part of the whānau at Haeata.
Enrichment Opportunities
Enrichment opportunities are provided for ākonga through whole hapori Mauri Tau, HikoHiko (Clubs) which includes code club and other activities such as science experiments and art, Children’s University, Kapa Haka, Pasifika, Champions4Life, buddy reading and independent learner licences.
Daily Puna Ako time supports ākonga to develop social and emotional skills as well as key relationships with peers and Kaiako to support them along the way.
In Hikuawa all ākonga are part of puna ako classes, based on their school year level. We have seven puna ako groups currently and there is some collaboration across year levels. NE-Yr 2; Yr 3-4; and Yr 4-6. The school values and dispositions underpin learning in Puna Ako and these are taught through Mauri Tau and celebrated weekly at our junior assembly.
Kaupapa Ako is about literacy and numeracy where ākonga are taught in small instructional groups and have the opportunity to reinforce learning in independent station-based activities alongside their peers.
Rakaihautūtanga is about the integrated curriculum where ākonga inquire into one big idea that is shared across the hapori for a 6-8 week learning cycle.
This covers English, Mathematics, Science, The Arts, Technology, Health and Physical Education and Social Sciences and is underpinned by a te ao Māori perspective. The cultural narrative, local curriculum and place-based learning are also interwoven into Rakaihaututanga.
Hauora and well-being are promoted and supported through daily fitness, PE and sports opportunities as well as EOTC.
We have brain food (a wholemeal sandwich and fruit snack) at 9:30 to support ākonga to be ready for learning.
Manu Tukutuku for Matariki
He manu aute e taea te whakahoro!
A flying-kite made of paper mulberry bark can be made to fly fast!
In Term 2, ākonga across Years 1-8 in Hikuawa and Kaunuku hapori learned about the important role that kites have always played for Māori throughout history and in particular during the winter season when they were flown to signify the start of Matariki, the Māori New Year. The Māori kite is called manu tukutuku or manu aute – manu translates as either kite or bird. Kites were also known as pākau, a name for the wing of a bird. Towards the end of term 2 we celebrated the start of our Matariki Public Holiday, the first ever in Aotearoa on June 24 June and we made some manu tukutuku to signify this important event. We had to test which materials were the best for flying and how we could gather and use traditional materials and follow tikanga. Some ākonga focused their manu tukutuku to represent one of the atua and what is associated with that atua – so they designed the atua and then drew pictures around them – e.g. Tane Mahuta trees/birds etc.
Hikuawa celebrates being a Designer:
During Week 4 & 5 of Term 2, our dispositional focus has been on Designer. Our ākonga participated in a challenge to design a scooter track for the junior playground. We were blown away by the designs our ākonga submitted and ultimately awarded prizes to 5 runners up and a winner. The final design will have a combination of all the elements from these designs.
