Lizard News NOVEMBER 2021
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Bright future for Matahui School
Matahui music students playing a tune, written by an older student Isla Todd. PHOTO Supplied.
tudents, staff and whānau of Matahui School are now looking to a brighter future as the school announced it has secured funding to continue to operate going forward. The Principal, Mary Woods, and the Board of Trustees are pleased to confirm that thanks to a little bit of “Matahui magic” they now have a long-term solution to ensure the sustainability of the school. “What happened here is that we have an amazing and supportive wider community who believe in our ethos and
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what Matahui School provides for their children, and so they came to our rescue. We owe this group a huge debt of gratitude and want them to know that they will be part of the Matahui story for future generations to come,” says Woods. Earlier this year, the school revealed that it was struggling financially and would be forced to close unless assistance was found urgently. This prompted a dedicated group of parents and alumni to raise funds to allow the school to remain open till the end of the year, while
a more permanent plan was put in place. Woods says it’s the students, community and staff that make Matahui magic. “Our teaching style helps build self-esteem in our students and creates robust, emotionally intelligent children who can take the knocks in life. This was evident in the way our students handled themselves during this uncertain and challenging time. “We are all looking forward to working closely with all the stakeholders ensuring the future survival of Matahui School. These are exciting times,” she says.
Matahui School is an independent primary school located in the Western Bay of Plenty, just outside of Katikati. It was started 32 years ago in response to one parent’s concern about her child’s wellbeing and education. The school says it is not typical because it aims to provide children with an education that teaches in the way each child learns best; with a curriculum that focuses on the students’ needs and interests as well as education outside the classroom. Article supplied.