Te Waka Ako

It's been many many months in the making, but finally Te Waka Ako (The Learning Canoe) at Waikowhai Primary School is open. After a slightly extended build, the students of Rooms 7-9 have a brand new, open plan learning environment to call home for the rest of the year.

A special thanks to Michael Wood, MP for Mt Roskill, for opening the building on behalf of the school and community. The students are raring to get into their new open-plan learning space. The 'Te Waka Ako' sign was designed and created by Mrs Shiralee Sands, a teacher within the school.

Reblog from Potahu Class @ Hay Park School - Student led' Ako Hiko Parent Workshops

This post was originally written and posted by Christina Fortes via her Pohatu Class blog (Hay Park School)

Kia orana bloggers

Four of our very own students facilitated one of our Ako Hiko parent meetings today. They were Janine, JD, Nathaniel (all year five students) and Brooklyn (year four).

Their fabulous workshop gave parents the opportunity to upskill themselves in google docs, screencastify and develop their digital footprint.

Here are some photos of from today:

 

Well done to the students at Hay Park school who delivered the workshop. You can follow Potahu Class' Blog here 

Thanks Christina for allowing us to share the wonderful learning being undertaken within your community.

Student Led Toolkits 2016

By James Hopkins

Manaiakalani Outreach Facilitator

What is student agency? It’s not something you can touch or taste, but it is something you can feel and see. I could spend time trying to define the levels of empowerment and interwoven student voice as indicators of success, however to many teachers and whānau, it is a feeling deep inside and one that is more than challenging to explain. On Tuesday 23rd August, the Ako Hiko Cluster offered perhaps the best chance to anyone wanting to see what student agency really is. Over 150 students from eight schools descended on Hay Park School to lead, explore and experience together. I am, of course, talking about Student Led Toolkits.

What Are Toolkits?

The basic premise of a toolkit is for someone with strong skills sharing their practice around a specific tool being used in their classroom. The ‘expert’ teacher is tasked with sharing the ‘why, how and what’ of a specific classroom tool that they have found success in. Sessions are generally around 45mins long and offer input and ‘sandpit’ time in which teachers are invited to play and explore the new learning in the context of their own class. All are offered for free and the chance to connect with other teachers from across the cluster is often a draw in itself. Originally the concept was designed as professional development for teachers by teachers, however Ako Hiko has taken it one step further and developed an annual student led conference for 1:1 learners across the cluster.

Student Led Toolkits

With the inaugural conference in 2015 being a huge success, the Education Programme Leader Team began planning for the 2016 conference in June this year. A simple website was constructed offering students the opportunity to submit sessions to present, sign up to go to others’ and provide general information about the running of the day. Like any conference, students were provided with lanyards and name tags, offered a goody bag and placed into a draw to win a host of prizes offered by conference sponsors. A half-day programme was offered with 18 sessions held across six different areas of the school, each offering a specific skill or an introduction to a new learning concept. Slides were prepared, students were rehearsed and focused and the individual toolkits ran with absolute precision.

An incredible day of learning took place with students leading one another. Teacher input was minimal and predominantly centred around solving tech issues and small pep-talks prior to sessions commencing. This day was for students, by students.

A special thanks must go to all of the presenters and attendees who made the experience a memorable one, but especially to Vicki Archer, Phil Margetts and Rebecca Barton for their leadership and incredible efforts in providing such an incredible experience. Many others helped behind the scenes and the staff at Hay Park were more than generous in not only offering their site for the day, but also for their planning, support and leadership. Roll on Student led toolkits 2017!

Auckland lawyers appeal pupils' homework

By Alastair Lynn 

Via the The Central Leader

Ako Hiko Education Trust patron Phil Goff helps Alipate Vaka, William Pasa and Jairus Hulbert-Matthews with their homework.

Litigation, affidavits and depositions are not what you would typically find in the classroom.

But that hasn't stopped clued-up lawyers trading the courtroom for some impromptu lessons in maths, science or English.

And the pupils of Wesley Primary School are soaking up this new wealth of knowledge. To continue reading this article via stuff.co.nz, click here.

Hay Park School: Reading Recovery

Image courtesy of The New Zealand Herald

'There's huge urgency and no holding back'
When Gabrielle Letele began at her new school this year, her mother was worried. The shy 6-year-old was struggling to learn to read and it was affecting her confidence.

"I used to wonder all the time if she was okay, if she was in classes where teachers didn't pick up on kids that were quiet," Vaimaua Brown-Letele said. "I didn't want her to be behind."

The family decided to move Gabrielle to Hay Park primary, a decile one school in Mt Roskill. Gabrielle was assessed, the school swept into action, and just one term later counts reading as her favourite thing to do with mum and dad.

"We have seen such a dramatic positive change," Mrs Brown-Letele said. "She's much happier to go to school, and she's always got her reading bag out."

The rate of children meeting reading expectations at Hay Park is 30 per cent higher than the decile one average. It also has more than 50 per cent of its students in the highest achievement bracket despite arriving with very low literacy and numeracy levels, and varying experience with early childhood education. For the full article, head to the NZ Herald Website

Wesley Intermediate is 'Breaking The Mould'

A new project is helping students take technology to the next level.

Wesley Intermediate students in Auckland are throwing out the rule book and breaking the mould of what can be achieved in the workshop.

The introduction of devices like Chromebooks and 3D printers has opened up a world of design and production that was unheard of just a few years ago.

Wesley Intermediate deputy principal Lou Reddy says a shift in thinking is helping students push the boundaries of classroom learning.

Read more here

Ako Hiko: Bridges the Technology Gap in Schools

Principal Sheree Campbell insists technology is not ruling the classroom.

It's an interesting concept when year 4 pupils at Hay Park School are tearing open boxes to reveal their new Chromebook devices.

But Campbell says educators are not just jumping on the technology bandwagon. For the full article click on the image above or here.