Familiarisation with Setting: 1A

Developing an understanding of my placement school, the team and its climate and culture
Developing a range of professional relationships.

First Impressions

Welcome to your place - Nau mai ki tō kāinga ako.

Such a warm welcome to one of the south-islands largest secondary schools. A co-educational school with the vast advantages of having a large cohort on display, yet still offering the warmth and encouragement of a small school.

Advantages include modern facilities such as two large gymnasiums, pool, covered turf, concert courts, two playing fields, and studios for art, music, hard materials, and food technologies. I was vastly impressed by the expansive opportunities on offer for its ākonga.

Their behaviour management system was amazing. Their school wide initiative of ‘Positive Behaviour For Learning’ PB4L appeared to be in full force and effective. Another notable management system was that of phones. Kaiako across year levels and disciplines appeared to uphold the same standards for phone usage: that they are not to be out in class. If so, they were collected and handed back at the end of the period. It will be interesting to note if this is maintainable across the term.

Overall, they present themselves as an outstanding values-based school with a focus on creating good human beings. They appear to structure the kura around caring: manaakitanga, belonging: whanaungatanga and learning: akoranga.

Final Reflections

Upon reflection the kura-wide values of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and akoranga were upheld. The ākonga were very respectful of my presence in the classroom and were understanding and patient with my teachings. I am looking forward to future teaching roles/lessons and hope that these values continue to be maintained.

My initial observations around the kura-wide policy of phone usage were also upheld. It was a large reflection on individual kaiako and their consistency around the expectations of phone usage. As the only devices (generally) used were personal or kura laptops.

A key strength that developed over the course of the practicum was the within department teamwork, atmosphere, and support. The whanaungatanga shown by the HPE department was outstanding and took away much of the anxiety towards being a new kaiako pitomata.

Let's Work Together

"Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much."

- Helen Keller.