Pirongia School Māori Whānau Group
He mihi mahana ki a koutou katoa - Warm greetings to all.
Who and what is the Whānau Group?
The Whānau group is made up of parents, teachers and kaumatua (senior cultural advisers) who provide consultation and education for Pirongia School to uphold, enhance and support Te Ao Māori (the Māori world).
The Ministry of Education requires every New Zealand School to implement Ka Hikitia - Accelerating Success 2013-2017: The Māori Education Strategy. This Strategy was established "to make a significant difference for Māori students in education ... . We know Māori students do much better when education reflects and values their identity, language and culture".1
It is this focus on identity, language and culture that the Whānau Group aims to enhance, particularly for Māori students. The work of the Whānau Group, however, benefits all students at Pirongia school who wish to engage in Te Ao Māori, regardless of ethnicity.
The Ministry of Education requires every New Zealand School to implement Ka Hikitia - Accelerating Success 2013-2017: The Māori Education Strategy. This Strategy was established "to make a significant difference for Māori students in education ... . We know Māori students do much better when education reflects and values their identity, language and culture".1
It is this focus on identity, language and culture that the Whānau Group aims to enhance, particularly for Māori students. The work of the Whānau Group, however, benefits all students at Pirongia school who wish to engage in Te Ao Māori, regardless of ethnicity.
What does the Whānau Group do?
- Supports the bicultural focus of the school to uphold the Ministry of Education’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Ka Hikitia Strategy
- Ensures effective and fun learning tools that assist in meeting specific learning needs for Māori students, and enriching cultural experiences for all students, in order to raise student achievement as outlined by the Ministry of Education
- Provides consultation to the school to ensure that our tamariki (children) have genuine culturally appropriate experiences, so that they are fostered to learn and grow with a strong cultural identity
Tamariki participate in these cultural experiences through –
o Kapahaka
o Learning Te Reo Māori
o Matariki (Māori New Year) Celebrations
o Powhiri (Welcome ceremonies)
o Manaakitanga (Host responsibility)
o Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori language week)
o Tuakana-Teina based learning (Older learners assisting younger learners)
o Ako (reciprocal learning)
o Māori leadership opportunities
o Tiakitanga (Caring for others) - Provides a support network for whānau within our school community.
Where does the Whānau Group fit in the structure of the School?
Who can join the Whānau Group?
The Whānau group is open to all families within our school community. If you would like to learn more about our kaupapa (purpose) and our role, please feel free to join us. We meet on a monthly basis for Whānau Hui (meetings), but there are many other opportunities to be involved.
Whaea Kathie Rifle is the current Whānau Group Chairperson, and the Te Reo/Tikanga teacher and Kapahaka tutor in the school. Mrs Linda Judge is the Lead Teacher for Te Ao Māori in the school.
See the school newsletter for meeting dates and upcoming events.
________________________________________________________________________
1 Ministry of Education. (2013). Ka Hikitia: Accelerating Success 2013-2017. Wellington: Ministry of Education
Whaea Kathie Rifle is the current Whānau Group Chairperson, and the Te Reo/Tikanga teacher and Kapahaka tutor in the school. Mrs Linda Judge is the Lead Teacher for Te Ao Māori in the school.
See the school newsletter for meeting dates and upcoming events.
________________________________________________________________________
1 Ministry of Education. (2013). Ka Hikitia: Accelerating Success 2013-2017. Wellington: Ministry of Education
| whanau_group_-_information_brochure.pdf |
Gallery
2013 Kapahaka Festival Practise at Purekireki Marae Making Poi at Purekireki
