|
Taipa Area School
and Community
Context
Taipa Area School is
located in Mangonui in Northern New Zealand, directly
overlooking Taipa beach, (35° South, 173°28' East) north-east of
Kaitaia. The school became an Area School in 1976, having
existed as a District high school since 1956. We are the
northern-most of the 39 Area Schools in New Zealand.
The diverse nature of
our decile 3 community, combined with a geographically broad
school area, (from Kaeo to the Karikari Peninsula, and inland
toward Kaitaia), presents a unique school climate and culture.
The community comprises predominantly of Maori and Pakeha
families, whose socio-economic circumstances vary greatly. The
school has a total roll of 400 students, 67% of whom identify as
Maori. The primary school roll is just over 100 and 90% of these
students identify as Maori. Contributing schools include
Kaingaroa, Mangonui, Oruaiti, Peria, and Te Kura Kaupapa Maori
Rangiawhia.
The best property feature of the school is the Whare, which was
designed and built collaboratively with the community. Its
initial kaupapa is to serve as an interface between the school
and the community and its various groups. Its specially chosen
name - ‘Nga Tai Tokorua’, the meeting of two tides – is
reflective of that kaupapa.
We have developed a bilingual unit with a
roll of 60 students from Year 7–13. As well as developing Te Reo
Maori, its purpose is to provide a context for increased
academic performance for Maori students. A total immersion Maori
class was established last year. We have a dedicated
professional staff of 53 who provide a full range of academic,
sporting, and cultural programs for our students.
Connectedness:
Culture and Community
The community is connected physically to
the school by bus routes throughout the region upon which
numerous buses transport 95% of our students. Parent faces are
not generally seen at school on a day-to-day basis, so
developing a sense of family and togetherness is an aspect we
hold as important. The physical distance that separates the
school from its contributing families is an obstacle that is
overcome by regular newsletters, a school website and annual
school events. We are constantly reviewing ways in which to
encourage meaningful community interaction with the school.
This strong drive to foster connectedness
is maintained through our goals. We actively foster respectful
relationships among staff, students and community so that
the school provides all with a sense of place, purpose and
identity. Teachers must implement effective teaching strategies
to increase the engagement and achievement of all students.
Coherence: Changes
and Challenges
High expectations of
teaching and learning, of students and colleagues, drive us to
achieve these goals. Through effective teaching strategies
including restorative practices, we demand improved academic
achievement and engagement from all students with a particular
focus on Maori students. This requires teachers to commit to
professional development in all these areas, key foci in our
strategic development.
We are interested in
creating different learning structures, teaching strategies and
environments that research tells us will better cater for the
varying needs of a diverse student population. A major emphasis
in recent years has been the implementation of Cooperative
Learning strategies across the school. The development of the
new curriculum including the implementation of consistent
assessment practices remains a work in progress. |
