Ngā Wheako Tāpiri | Additional Experiences  

Uri participate in interschool sporting events across Te Hiku o Te Ika, both as representatives of Te Kura o Waihārara and as members of combined teams.

These experiences build confidence, perseverance, teamwork and whanaungatanga. They also provide opportunities for uri to challenge themselves, support others and represent their kura and whānau with pride.

Kapa haka is an important part of life at Te Kura o Waihārara. All uri are encouraged and supported to participate with confidence, commitment and pride.

Through waiata, haka, mōteatea, poi and other aspects of kapa haka, uri strengthen te reo Māori me ōna tikanga, develop performance skills and deepen their connection to identity, whakapapa, whānau, hapū and iwi.

Kapa haka also strengthens wellbeing, whanaungatanga, leadership and belonging. Uri learn to contribute to the rōpū, support one another and uphold the collective mana of the kura.

Our whare pukapuka supports a love of reading and provides uri with access to books and resources for enjoyment, classroom learning and inquiry.

Uri are encouraged to read regularly at kura and at home, developing confidence as readers while exploring texts that reflect a wide range of interests, identities, cultures and experiences.

Our library resources are reviewed and organised to remain accessible, relevant and responsive to the learning needs of our uri and kaiako.

Learning beyond the classroom is an important part of life at Te Kura o Waihārara.

Through experiences within Waihārara, Te Hiku o Te Ika and wider Muriwhenua, uri have opportunities to learn through our whenua, wai, repo and moana and to deepen their understanding of local places, histories, people and communities.

These experiences make learning practical, meaningful and connected to the lives of our uri. They support learning across the curriculum while strengthening confidence, whanaungatanga, leadership, problem-solving and kaitiakitanga.

Shared experiences beyond the classroom also provide rich contexts for kōrero, inquiry, reflection and further learning when uri and kaiako return to kura.

Te Kura o Waihārara is an Enviroschool, supporting uri to learn about sustainability through meaningful action, participation and care for te taiao.

Kaitiakitanga is strengthened when uri have opportunities to contribute to decisions, work collaboratively and take practical responsibility for the places around them.

At our kura, this learning may include caring for the māra, orchard and kura grounds; composting food scraps; caring for our worm farm and using worm liquid fertiliser in the māra; reducing waste and reusing materials; planting; and learning about local ecosystems, biodiversity and wai.

Through these practical experiences, uri see how resources can be returned to the whenua rather than sent to landfill and develop an understanding of natural cycles and the relationships between people and te taiao.

Mātauranga Māori, local knowledge and the contributions of whānau, hapū and iwi help shape this learning. Uri are encouraged to recognise their responsibilities as kaitiaki and understand that caring for our environment also means caring for the generations who will come after us.