At Kawaha Point School we believe the curriculum should have a strong foundation of reading, writing and maths.
We believe in a rich, diverse curriculum based on local stories and the environment for our school inquiry.
We believe that art, PE, music, mindfulness and other subject areas are vital for the development of great citizens of tomorrow.
We believe that students should experience learning collaboratively, that challenge is a good thing and that celebrating progress not achievement makes for students with a healthier learning disposition.
We believe that Learning through Play is vital for the development of social skills in our younger learners and is the step in supporting them to learn.
We believe in teaching reading, writing, spelling, maths, handwriting, values teaching, phonics and structured literacy (years 1-3) in the morning block. Along with huff and puff activities.Our whole school inquiry is weaved through our learning. The afternoons are for PMP (motor skills for our 5 year olds) waiata, kapa haka, PE games and reflection.
We are a PC4L school (Positive Culture for Learning) this shows up in our values teaching, our reflections at the end of the day, circle time activities, our mindfulness programme and loads of positives in the classroom.
Visible Learning
We pride ourselves on making learning visible.
Learning progressions are displayed in ‘learner friendly’ language to help our learners know where they are and what their next learning steps are going to be.
Where am I now? How do I know?
How am I going? What do I need to learn?
Where to next? Where am I heading? What is my goal?
By making learning and progress visible we empower both our learners and their parents. We aim to be consistent across the school. We are developing students who understand what they are learning, why they are learning and who have high expectations of themselves.
The Learning Pit
We are developing a shared language of learning within our school.
The KPS vision and learning philosophy have emerged from John Hattie’s research and principles of visible learning and visible teaching.
It draws on internationally acclaimed research in Visible Learning: A synthesis of over 1600 meta-analyses relating to achievement (2009) and his book Visible Learning for Teachers: Maximizing Impact on Learning (2012).
Learning Pit: From time to time students find themselves in the learning pit when they encounter difficulties. The pit provides a process for them to resolve their issues in a timely manner. Teachers encourage and support students to use our learning dispositions as they work their way out of the pit.
Assessment
All students are assessed to identify strengths and areas to further develop. We use a variety of nationally recognised assessments as well as good quality formative assessment. We expect all students to know what they are learning, why they are learning it and how they will know when they have achieved it. Our students should be able to tell you about their reading level and goals, writing goals and maths stage among other things.
Parent Interviews are held in Term 2 and Term 4.
Student reports are given out in Term 2 and Term 4.
Students with additional needs
We have learning assistants attached to each hub to provide support and support programmes in the class. We also provide Reading Recovery Programme. We currently have 2 reading recovery teachers onsite. We have a very qualified and caring SENCO – Jenny Hermansson who is more than happy to work with you and your whanau to get the support your child needs.
Sports
We have a Sports Co Ordinator who co-ordinates a wide range of sports we offer here at KPS.
From Rippa Rugby | Golf | Cross country | Orienteering | Rugby League | Hockey | Basketball | Netball | Biathlons the list is endless. We will advertise when new events/sports come up. Please keep an eye out for the information.
Te Reo Māori
Our Angitu Hub (Bilingual Māori Medium) is available for children from Year 3 to Year 6. The kaupapa (main idea or philosophy) allows children to be taught in English and Māori. If you would like your children to learn Māori as well as English, then one of our 2 classes may be suitable for your child. Our children learn to read and write in English, but they are also taught in Te Reo. We also have waiata afternoon for the school and a kapa haka roopu.
Kiri Nikora is our hub leader in Angitu Hub and will be able to answer any queries. Check out more details on our Hubs and Classes page.
Camp
Each year children in Years 3-6 go to camp. Camps focus on a range of activities (tramping, kayaking, etc) activities that can’t be performed in the classroom setting. Camps teach appreciation of and safety in our environment, alongside community living skills.
Please see your child’s hub booklets for information.
Technology/Computers/Internet
Children are growing up in an increasingly technological word. Many of those technologies are involved with communication, and assist us to see, speak and get information from people all around the world, quickly and cheaply. At Kawaha Point School we believe in using a range of technologies as tools in the learning process and to engage students.
In Years 5-6, students have the option to bring their own Chromebook to school. Students and parents must sign the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Agreement.
Toherangi Holloway (our IT Administrator) will answer any questions you may have in this area.
Check out our recommendations for BYOD devices at PBTech.
