Our unique approach to teaching and learning is underpinned by our four vision beliefs which are represented by the four puhoro in our learning model. Our four vision beliefs are, in essence, our learning values. These 4 Cs are what we believe about learning.
Our Values
Matua Ngaru learners will explore their curiosities through immersive and self-directed learning experiences that can extend outside of the school day which enables our young people to connect with and build community. We believe in cultivating curiosity because ultimately, it motivates us to learn.
~We value māhirahira
Matua Ngaru learners will discover, create and direct their learning anywhere, anytime and with anyone, connecting with whanau and experts in their pursuit to explore and celebrate our unique individual and collective identities. We believe in fostering collaboration because it draws upon our skills to amplify learning.
~We value mahi tahi
Matua Ngaru learners will practise and develop skills for successful sharing of learning with all types of audiences and through all types of media. We believe in developing communication because it empowers us to build connections.
~We value whakaro
Matua Ngaru learners will use a variety of pathways (including Digital Technology), models, strategies and materials to make,build, construct and design. We believe in nurturing creativity because it acts as a catalyst for innovation.
~ We value auaha
Aligning Our Vision and Values
Kahui Values Matrices
There are three Kahui Values matrices: Emerging, Developing and Graduate. All learners work at demonstrating the Emerging kahui values when they start at MNS and have many opportunities to demonstrate and evidence these in their Ubiquitous Learning Portfolio (their Hero pages) over the course of a few years, next moving on to the Developing criteria and finally, working towards having evidence of the Graduate level of the matrices. We believe that if our Year 8s can demonstrate and evidence our Graduate Kahui Values then they are more than ready for high school.
Kahui Koha
Kahui Koha to acknowledge learners demonstrating our values, and is part of our PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning) approach. Kahui Koha are placed into collection boxes for each of the kainga, and are collected and counted each week to identify the winning Kahui group for the week. These are then transferred to a set of bigger containers, kept in Whare Hapori. This allows the learners and educators to easily see how their Kahui group is progressing, and everyone gets very excited when they see that their Kahui container is getting full. At the end of the term, the Kahui group who have earned the most Kahui Koha get to select the schoolwide acknowledgement activity for the term. This means that, while the Kahui Koha acknowledges the individual, everyone works together to earn an acknowledgement to be shared by the whole school.
Kahui Groups
Each Friday after lunch, learners and educators meet together in Kahui groups to explore the Kahui Value for the term in more depth through specific lessons on each of the values and corresponding sub-values.
All of our learners and educators are assigned a Kahui group during their time at Matua Ngaru School. Learners will remain in the same Kahui group each year; however, our educators may move around from year to year as the staff numbers grow. Below you will see the four Kahui groups and the names of this year’s learning coaches listed underneath.
Curious Kahui
Asha Bhatia
Rachel Stevenson
Chris Chase
Toni Howard
Meets in
Kāinga Wheke
Collaborative Kahui
Dannielle Bratty
Ellyce Martin
Anoushka Carnie
Hannah Grace
Kenda Lethbridge
Meets in
Kāinga Pōpoto
Creative Kahui
Kelly Gaston
Anna Harris
Kate Davison
Kirstin Anderson-McGhie
Maddie Enright
Natalie O’Connor
Meets in
Kāinga Mangōpare
Communicative Kahui
Amy Robertshaw
Denise Graham
Chris Mason
Yasmin Mohamed
Michael Davidson