Tākaka Primary off to a busy start

RONNIE SHORT

Tākaka Primary School (TPS) has had a busy start to the 2023 year. Principal Corinne Rowe spoke first about their major fundraiser, the Trail Ride, which is scheduled to take place on 26 March at Upper Tākaka.

It is a family event for trailbike riders, which involves a 20km loop on Harwood’s property at Waitui Road. Money raised from the Trail Ride will combine with funds from last year’s Sports Awards event. Corinne is hopeful the total will make enough to pay for the resealing of the basketball/netball courts with flexi-pave.

Currently, school camps are underway at Bridge Valley, where Years 4-5 children are spending two nights, and the Year 6 group three nights.

Breakfast Club will restart in two weeks. Corinne acknowledges the support of Fonterra for the milk, Sanitarium for Weetbix, Pic’s Peanut Butter, and FreshChoice Tākaka for donating all the bread.

As a result of a survey sent out to parents in 2022, some new clubs are starting up to provide children with a variety of opportunities. Corinne considers sports to be well catered for in and outside of TPS, so this term there are a range of clubs to choose from. From gardening to swim club (with free lunchtime swims), Lego challenges and loom-band creations, there is something for everyone. A coding club is set for term two.

“We’re just looking at how we can offer different types of events happening in our lunchbreaks to extend their interests,” said Corinne.

Major focus in terms of direction is Structured Literacy, which started at the end of last year with positive results in Years 0-3. This term Literacy Connections are working intensively with staff to undertake the professional development. Corinne explained the new approach.

“Structured Literacy is a systematic, phonics-based approach to reading that is based on science. Through the advancement of MRI technology, we know a great deal about how the brain develops as we learn to read...

Tākaka Primary School has fully committed to changing everything we have been taught as educators about how children learn to read. This change in approach is a complete pedagogy shift for our teachers, and one we are all committed to making, in the name of collectively lifting the achievement data of our learners.”

Furthermore, the school has an art project underway in response to the devastation from Cyclone Gabrielle in Hawkes Bay. A parent donated a large canvas to create an artwork, with her guidance. It will be auctioned and the money from the sale will go to a specific school in the Hawkes Bay area.

“Then we will have a dress-up day at the end of the week to call for donations as well,” said Corinne. board by entering numbers 1 to 9 such that each row, column and 3x3 box contains every number uniquely.

Previous Hawkes Bay teachers, Anita Chow and Cameron Print, have joined the staff at TPS. They recently returned to New Zealand after teaching in Peru for five years. Also joining the team is Chenille Simpson, a first-year teacher who undertook her practicum in the TPS dual speaking class.

Returning as learning support assistant this year is Anju Ejima, who works one-to-one with a student on a part-time basis.

In the last two weeks of term one, TPS tamariki will receive 10 lessons each from professional dance company, Dance Curriculum. It is an annual event, providing a highlight for children and parents, with a showcase at the end of term.