This term, students and staff embarked on a meaningful journey of self-discovery and cultural exploration through the theme of Ko Ai Au. This Māori phrase translates to “Who Am I” and reflects the deep connection to one’s identity, culture, and heritage. Through various creative activities, we delved into what makes us who we are, celebrating the richness of our backgrounds and the diverse cultures that shape our community.

One of the highlights of our exploration was the crafting of Alliteration Poems. Students reflected on their personal experiences, values, and identities, using alliteration as a tool to express themselves creatively. These poems became an empowering activity for many students, giving voice to the unique qualities that define us as individuals while connecting us to the collective identity of our community.

As the term progressed, the engagement only intensified. The learning environment became a space of rich dialogue, where staff and students alike shared experiences and insights, further connecting to the broader theme of Ko Ai Au. We reflected on how our cultural backgrounds influence our perceptions, values, and actions, creating a deeper appreciation for the diversity that exists within our community.

Overall, this has been a highly busy and engaging term—one that not only celebrated who we are as individuals but also highlighted the importance of understanding and embracing our shared heritage. Through our poems, artifact stories, and cultural reflections, we’ve come away with a deeper appreciation for the complexities of identity and the rich cultural tapestries that make up our lives.

What I Did Today

Hi today in maths we were practicing our takeaway and our plus and I was really good at helping out others and I found out that I’m  pretty good at maths as well and that I’m the smartest at my table what is your favourite thing to do in maths?

Welcome back to a jam-packed Term 2 where our selected Years 7&8 attend the Ngā Kaihangarau mō āpōpō: (Engineers of Tomorrow) programme at Papakura High School every Wednesday.  The Kahui Ako ki Papakura students have had the privilege of meeting and working with various engineers from different fields thus far. Our EHS students are making the most of this wonderful opportunity by engaging fully in the first two sessions.

Session I was facilitated by MOTAT personnel. The students were challenged to re-create or modify the display Wheelcart model. The Wheelcart is key in problem-solving for rescue missions.

Session II was facilitated by a University of Auckland team consisting of a lecturer, PhD student, and representatives from Women in Engineering. Also in attendance were STEM Liaisons from MoE and an AUT engineering student. Thanks to a STEM provider – Little Engineering, for such an engaging & lively practical session about Electrical Engineering this week. I encourage you to ask our students about their STEM experience by checking their blogs.

At Room 11, we aim to spend about 20 minutes each evening on the Curriculum Areas we cover in the school day.  So an hour of homework is expected for each student this term.

Should we stay away due to being unwell or for other significant family reasons, we shall endeavour to navigate our electronically allocated learning tasks.  These are found on our class site.  We are encouraged to be accountable for our learning, so self-directed learning tasks are also available via a range of platforms under different tabs.

Some of our Student Blogs are up and running so remember to check out our learning journey.

We welcome your comments that will uplift our mana and encourage us to persevere in all that we attempt.

Last Wednesday, we were treated to a large cohort of KMPG employees who accompanied their Executive Chair Mathew Pritchard at our Scholarships Assembly in the morning, and the KPMG Giftgiving in the afternoon.  We value your presence and your service – a gift in itself.  Thank you again, Mathew, Christine, and the team at KPMG for your leadership in this space.

Blessings for a prosperous New Year