NAU MAI, HAERE MAI

Tena koutou katoa

Nei ra nga mihi ki a koutou e whakaaro nei kia uru mai tau tamaiti ki roto i tetahi o nga akomanga reo rua ki tenei kura.

Ko te tumanako ka pakari te reo o tena o tena tauira me te mohiotanga ki nga ahuatanga Maori.

Ma te wa ka tutaki taua i a taua.

Naku iti nei

na Stephen Soutar

Principal

TE PUAWAITANGA STAFF

Senior Bilingual (Years 3-6 situated in Room 2)

Raina Te Ture known as Whaea Raina. Raina is of Te Aitanga-a-Mahaki, Ngati Porou and Ngati Tuwharetoa descent.

For further information please see Whaea Raina or email her at: jazzyjet@awapuni-primary.school.nz

HISTORY

The bilingual unit at Awapuni School began in 1990 as an option offered to enrol children into a Māori enrichment class. In 1992 it was given the name Te Puāwaitanga which means ‘The Blossoming’ by Michelle Jacques, who was one of the Māori enrichment teaching staff at that time. The name was blessed with a special ceremony that was undertaken by Rev. Charles Rowlands with the support of Takaro School.

Te Puāwaitanga was a community directed initiative, which was welcomed and supported by teaching staff.

The bilingual classes have been fortunate to have had the support of kaumatua Robbie and Ellen March for many years. They have provided the Whanau with advice and support on tikanga Maori. In 2008 Koro Robbie passed away. Whaea Ellen still supports the school when she is available, especially during pohiri and continues to be a source of knowledge for the Whanau, students and staff.

WHAT IS BILINGUAL EDUCATION AT AWAPUNI SCHOOL?

· Two classes come together at the beginning of the day for karakia

· Karakia for kai will be taught and practised

· Students will have the opportunity to have shared kai for some lunchtimes

· Maori tikanga is taught and practised

· The Whanau also have the opportunity to give input for the planning of units and tikanga to be taught

· Protocols for pohiri, poroporoaki and the marae will be taught and practised in real life experiences when appropriate

· Children will be introduced to texts in Maori

· Units of work taught will be based on Maori context

· Assessment practises will be used for both languages and to prepare children to enter Monrad Intermediate’s bilingual classes

· Te reo Maori will be encouraged as the language of communication

· Second language learning techniques will be utilised.

CLASSROOM ORGANISATION

Te Puāwaitanga currently operates one classroom at Awapuni School:

· Senior bilingual Years 3-6

Students in Te Puāwaitanga are taught at level two, which means at least 51-80% of instruction will be delivered in te reo Maori. The aim is that children are able to cope I this environment and te reo Maori is the language of communication used by the pupils and teacher. Teaching will still be delivered in both languages as appropriate.

We will do our very best to ensure children have many opportunities to speak maori as well as ensuring they are achieving on par with their peers whether they be from mainstream or bilingual classes.

All children in the bilingual classes are automatically included in the school kapa haka group. This groups ultimate performance is at Pae Tamariki, a gathering of Manawatu Schools to celebrate waiata and haka.

ENROLMENT GUIDELINES

Application for enrolment into Te Puāwaitanga will be considered in the following way. Children will receive priority who have:

· attended kohanga reo

· transferred from another school, either rumaki or total immersion classes

· transfer from another school’s bilingual class

· attended some form of pre-school education

· transferred from Awapuni mainstream classrooms. Any child transferring from a mainstream class will have to have displayed exemplary behaviour

· no formal pre-school education

· transferred from another school.

Students wishing to ender the senior class will need a successful result in the school’s Maori oral language assessment. The student must be able to respond appropriately to at least level 2 of the bilingual Maori exemplar.

A place for siblings, of current pupils in Te Puāwaitanga, will be held for a child for six months if the school receives a formal request.

Currently the Ministry of Education guidelines stipulate that bilingual classes maximum role be 18 pupils.

CONSULTATION

Te Puāwaitanga have a whanau hui at least once every term to discuss matters at hand such as:

· upcoming events

· fundraising

· board decisions and how it effects the Whanau

· to be part of the planning process.