Kōkopu School Local Curriculum
The Local Curriculum
The local curriculum is the school’s interpretation of the New Zealand curriculum. Every state school in New Zealand is required to teach the New Zealand curriculum but how this looks will depend on the value certain aspects carry. At Kōkopu School we have many key features and strengths that are unique to our school and are reflected below.
Vision & Values
Kōkopu School’s vision is for all our children to be: INSPIRED (Inquiring, Nurtured, Self-Motivated, Positive, Involved, Respectful, Enthusiastic, Dynamic) and to live our school motto of “To Learn and Serve.”
In our school, you will see we continuously refer to our values. Respect for Others, Respect for Ourselves and Respect for our Environment. Our values are part of who we are as a school. It is what we expect from ourselves, the children and the community. The values are closely linked to our PB4L, Tuakana Teina and Enviro Schools philosophies. As a school, we look to celebrate students who are showing our values.
Proudly Country Kids
We are a rural school and students have the opportunity to embrace being proudly ‘country kids’. Students show this through practical activities, where students are challenged and encouraged to be risk-takers, inventors, practical problem solvers, and entrepreneurs. They have a strong connection to the land and are kaitiakitanga or guardians of their environment and rural community.
Agricultural day is an important event that brings our community together and provides unique learning opportunities for our students.
At Kōkopu School we have high expectations for student learning. We have a balanced approach which includes academic, sporting, artistic, cultural and social learning opportunities. Creative learning through an integrated approach with a local focus is important to us. We focus on students achieving their best and reward effort and progress, not just achievement. We have a growing focus on using the phonetical approach in reading (Literacy), utilize the Write that Essay program in writing and a strong numeracy approach in mathematics. We support and extend all learns to be the best they can be.
At Kōkopu School we have high expectations of student behaviour and demonstrating our school values. Learning and serving through our tuakana teina approach is important to us. We are a PB4L school (Positive Behaviour for Learning). This means we work hard to create a positive school environment that enables academic and social success for all students. This is based on the expectation that opportunities for learning and achievement increase if:
Our school environment is positive
Expectations are clear and consistent
Children are consistently taught desired behaviours
Children are consistently acknowledged for desired behaviours
Children are consistently responded to in a fair and equitable way
Students at Kōkopu School become kaitiakitanga or guardians of their environment and rural community. They do this through learning and looking for ways to make the school and local community greener, sustainable and more beautiful. This is evident in our local planting days and caring for our streams and waterways.
Culturally Responsive Practice
Cultural awareness is embedded in our daily routines and practices. We value the importance of cultural diversity being celebrated and acknowledged the unique position of the Māori culture and Te Tiriti o Waitangi in the NZC and our school curriculum.
At Kokopu we strive to make learning relevant and effective for learners by drawing on students’ cultural knowledge, life experiences, languages, and connections.
At Kokopu School we do this in a variety of ways.
Our Tuakana Teina approach enables genuine and across school relationships that create a whanau culture and connections.
We are committed to the revitalization of te reo in our school through staff PLD, student learning, involving our community and celebrating the use to te reo on a daily basis.
Our whole school Kapa Haka/Tikanga program continues to provide great joy and pride as children learn together. Students love participating in the Kapa Haka festival each year at one of our neighbouring schools.
We have a yearly whole school country study where we celebrate cultures, their histories, food and traditions.
We look for ways to connect more with our community and use these to link for learning.
The school has an ongoing commitment to develop relationships with the Korokota and Maungarongo Marae.
We believe that all children have the qualities and attribute to be leaders. At Kokopu there are many opportunities for our students to experience leadership roles. House captains, student council, monitors, peer mediators, enviro groups, animal care, and cultural leaders, to name a few.
Education outside the classroom
Each year all our students go on camp and participate in EOTC activities. We believe the key to good EOTC experiences include;
Promotion of leadership and self-management skills.
Encouraging independence, interdependence and cooperation.
Physical, mental and social challenges that strengthen student wellbeing.
Parental and whanau being involved.
At Kōkopu School our local community is the heart of our school. Having been established in 1884, we have a long history with many of our families who have been here for multiple generations. This connection to people, the land, and history is important to us and adds to our learning.
We have events that allow our community to be part of school and our school to be part of the community. These include agriculture day, planting days, sports days, cultural events, productions, open days, parent interviews, and more.
We have strong relationships with the wider school community especially other local country schools through shared events and Community of Learning (Kāhui Ako).