Purposeful Spaces for Learning

In the same way that our homes support and often shape the way we live, the way we live can shape our home. So to can our school environment support and shape the way we learn, and the way we learn can shape the way we design our classrooms and wider school environment.

Today's 'photo' of the day shows how the Ropu Mahuri teachers have organised their space into zones for authentic and engaging learning. There is the Meeting Zone, Collaborative Zone, Cave Zone and a new Zone for learning this year, called the Buddy Zone. A lot of thought has gone into the design of these zones to ensure that our students have a place that suits the type of learning they are doing as well as cater for the type of learner they are. 

These spaces allow  for a range of different learning experiences, such as reading, group work, project space, wet areas, reflection, and presenting. As well as for the learner who likes to work independently, with a buddy or in a collaborative situation.

We encourage you to come and see for yourself how learning happens in these spaces. 

Hiding Behind The Rose Garden

Do you recognise the classroom behind our gorgeous rose garden? The building of our new Ropu Kakano space is well under way. It will be exciting to watch it take shape over the first few weeks back at school. See you Wednesday. 

You are Devine Mr Devine!

As you know we have the coolest caretaker in the whole world. Our caretaker does just as his name suggests, he cares! He cares so much about our school he makes sure that it is immaculate at all times. He comes every morning to make sure our Puketaha School is ready for us and then at the end of the day to make sure it is left tidy. In the holidays he has been water blasting our grounds, shampooing the carpets, mowing the lawns, trimming the edges, getting rid of spiderwebs.... You may have noticed his handy work from last year, the train hedge outside the staffroom, purpose built furniture, lost property pick up and the tidy up and maintenance of the pool just to name a few things. A big thank you Mr Devine, we really do think you are devine!

Puketaha School feels empty without you!

What is wrong with this picture? Puketaha School feels very empty without the happy sounds of children playing with each other. We are looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesday. We have lots of exciting things planned for Term One and we can't wait to share these with you. Enjoy your last couple of days with your families, get lots of sleep and get your bag and school gear ready.

Big Picture Planning

Here we are again! 'Big picture' planning day today in Ropu Puawai. We collaborate on our planning so we get a shared understanding of what our students need to learn. First we start with a big brainstorm of all our ideas. After this we use some key questions to help focus our direction. We get the benefit of five professional's ideas and experiences to design our curriculum for the term. 

It was a big day but we are now ready to go away and plan more personalised learning experiences for groups based on their varying needs. 

From Tiny Acorns The Mighty Oak Grow

A carpet of oak mahuri.

Wandering around our Puketaha Paradise today I spotted tiny oak saplings carpeting the bark outside Ropu Puawai 5 & 6. I didn't think too much of it when I took the photo but as I have reflected more about why this scene took my eye I feel that this photo celebrates everything that we aspire to achieve at Puketaha School. Everything we do on a daily basis as leaders of learning is about growing and refining our practice in order to design learning that will take our tiny acorns in Ropu Kakano and grow them to be mighty Puawai.

Friday Funday

The teachers from Ropu Mahuri are engaged in conversations about their timetable and programme for 2016. 

Mr Swan is up to his usual antics while Miss Casey stays on task and sorts through resources.

Miss Stantiall and Mrs Hill collaborating on ideas for how they might set up the space. Mrs Hill talks with her hands. Check out Miss Stantiall's new shoes!!

Planning in our teams and starting to organise spaces for learning was the goal for today. It was a busy but productive day.