Pegasus Post: September 03, 2019

4 Tuesday September 3 2019
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
PEGASUS POST
september
16th - 20th
PeRFoRming ARTs • visuAl ARTs • CRAFT
Kia ora
We are pleased to announce that Justin Fields,
Chisnallwood Principal, and Andrew Barker Waitākiri
Primary School Principal, are the new co-leads of the
Kahui Ako Ōtākaro. We would like to acknowledge the
strong leadership of John Laurenson, Shirley Boys’
High School, in the setting up of the first two years
of the Kāhui Ako. We have had a strong focus on
mathematics, writing, pedagogy, culturally responsive
practice and wellbeing over the past two years. Much
of this will guide us moving forward.
We are an innovative cluster of schools working
together to get the best social and academic outcomes
for all students from early childhood education (ECE)
to Secondary. Our next exciting initiative is the
Ōtākoro Arts Festival that will see ECE and schools
celebrating all that is good about our Kura and a sense
of belonging.
Justin Fields and Andrew Barker - Co lead Principals
Culturally Responsive Practice
With our communities becoming increasingly diverse,
it is crucial for our schools to be places where people
from all cultural backgrounds feel welcome and are
able to receive a quality education. With a specific
focus on developing capability in Māori and Pasifika
cultural competencies, our Kāhui Ako wants to be
an environment where our students can experience
success while retaining a strong connection to their
culture, language and identity.
Joseph Houghton - CPR Lead
The Ōtākaro Arts Festival
The Ōtākaro Arts Festival will take place between 16th
and 20th September this year. This inaugural event
will include a wide range of exciting and inspiring
workshops that students from across the Kahui Ako
can participate in, as well as multiple opportunities
for learners from across the Kāhui Ako to collaborate
and showcase their skills and strengths. The theme
of 'Belonging' underpins all aspects of the festival and
the overall aim is to support relationships through
building connections, to foster a sense of identity and
belonging, and to provide unique opportunities to
motivate and celebrate student success from all kura
across the Kāhui Ako.
Whānau and community members are welcome
to attend evening events. There is NO COST but
bookings need to be made through: eventbrite.co.nz
and search for Ōtākaro Arts Festival.
Victoria Shaw - Community Engagement Lead
Wellbeing/Hauora
The wellbeing of all our students (over 3500 children
across our Kāhui Ako) has been a priority over the
last two years. During this time the Kahui Ako has
allowed for greater collaboration between schools.
Work has included growing personal knowledge for
staff self-care practices, promoting shared messaging
and strengthening relationships between our schools
for staff and students to thrive and our whanau and
communities to be part of the journey towards being
happy, connected, engaged and healthy citizens.
Emma Smith - Wellbeing Lead
maths and Writing Achievement
Challenges
Our Kāhui Ako has been working towards improving
the achievement of all of our tamariki. We have
specifically targeted Maori and Pasifika Students in
writing and mathematics. Teachers have been meeting
in small and large groups across all schools, to plan,
prepare, and being trained on improving teaching and
learning in those subjects.
In addition to our Across
School Leads, we have
specialist teachers
in every school. We
have also had external
agencies such as UC
and Massey University
working with us,
providing training and in
class support. We are
seeing improvements in
skills, confidence and
achievement across the
Kāhui Ako.
The
Ōtākaro
Arts
Festival is
organised
and run
by...