Have something to share? Get in contact with one of our Across School Leaders – we would love to hear from you!
[email protected] Te Ao Māori
[email protected] Hauora
[email protected] Future Ready
[email protected] 21st Century Learning
[email protected] Structured Literacy
2025 Kāhui Ako Mini-Conference is just around the corner — and you won’t want to miss this one!
📍 Where: Ahutoetoe School, 89 Maryvale Road, Wainui
📅 When: Friday, May 30th
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
🎤 Speaker: The incredible John Peachey
Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of inspiration, insight, and connection. John Peachey — a dynamic speaker, author, former talkback host, jazz vocalist (yes, really!), and all-around leadership guru — will be lighting up the stage with his quirky, thought-provoking, and powerful message. If you’re ready to challenge your thinking, recharge your leadership, and laugh while you learn, this is your event.
☕️ Stick around afterwards for refreshments and time to connect with awesome people from across our Kāhui Ako community.
Let’s grow, connect, and lead better — together! 💡
#KahuiAko2025 #JohnPeachey #LeadershipMatters #AhutoetoeSchool
Facebook Group
Exciting news! Kāhui Ako ki Orewa has launched a vibrant new Facebook community designed to ignite connection and collaboration among us all. This is your opportunity to dive into a dynamic space where we can share our incredible teaching and learning journeys, and celebrate the innovation happening across our schools. Ready to be inspired and connect with fellow educators? Click here to explore and join our fantastic community and let’s amplify the amazing work we do!
Plickers is a real-time formative assessment tool that allows teachers to quickly check students’ understanding without needing individual devices. Teachers use a mobile device to scan student response cards, instantly collecting data to inform instruction. This makes assessments efficient and paperless, saving time on marking while providing immediate insights into student learning. For students, Plickers offers a low-pressure way to participate, promoting engagement and inclusivity, especially for those who may be hesitant to answer aloud or lack access to technology. Here’s how it works:
The teacher creates multiple-choice questions in the Plickers app, such as:
“Which fraction is equivalent to ½?”
- a) 2/3
- b) 3/6
- c) 4/5
- d) 1/3
Students Respond with Plicker Cards – Each student holds up their Plickers card, rotating it to show their chosen answer (A, B, C, or D).
Teacher Scans Responses – Using a phone or tablet, the teacher quickly scans the class. The app instantly records student answers and displays results.
Instant Feedback & Discussion – The teacher reviews the live data, identifying misconceptions. If many students picked the wrong answer, the teacher reviews the concept before moving on.
Here are some more ideas of how Plickers can be used in class:
- Maths problem solving
- Reading Comprehension – Identifying the main idea
- Spelling & Grammar – Identifying the correct sentence
Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water…. While many of our schools are now using the Ministry-provided maths resources, let’s not forget all the other wonderful resources we used in the past, such as NZ Maths, figure it out and even the Numeracy project books. With TKi being replaced by Tahurangi, some of these resources are harder to find.
Vince Wright, maths consultant, has organised the resources by the progress outcomes from Te Mātaiaho (Refreshed Curriculum) and year level. He has kindly allowed us to publish these links for all to access. Hopefully, this will save everyone a lot of time and make these valuable resources more accessible. Apologies to junior teachers as the resources do not extend below year 3.
Year 8 NZ Maths, FIO, Numeracy Project Links
Year 7 NZ Maths, FIO, Numeracy Project Links
Year 6 NZ Maths, FIO, Numeracy Project Links
Year 5 NZ Maths, FIO, Numeracy Project Links
Year 4 NZ Maths, FIO, Numeracy Project Links
Year 3 NZ Maths, FIO, Numeracy Project Links
PINK SHIRT DAY IS COMING!
Learn more
How can you bring Pink Shirt Day to life at your school or kura?
Some ideas to help you take part in Pink Shirt Day (directly from the official website)
- Download our free resources, including posters, compliment cards, bunting, cupcake toppers, photo props and more!
- Download the kaiako/teacher and rangatahi guides – full of inspiration and activities to help your school or kura celebrate the Pink Shirt Day kaupapa and keep the movement going all year round.
- Use the Pink Shirt Day Sparklers activities for tamariki in the classroom, or get the whole whānau into the Pink Shirt Day spirit with a range of at home activities.
- Encourage tamariki to get creative with our colouring template.
- Stream the Pink Shirt Day waiata by PERE and dance and sing along with your school or kura! The entirely Te Reo track is all about finding your own strength, resilience and community in the face of bullying.
- Share information about Pink Shirt Day and how your kura or school plans to celebrate it with your school community. We’ve put together a draft blurb that you may like to use in your school newsletter or social pages. Don’t forget to add your link if you are fundraising online too!
Some ideas from the website:
Joint Kāhui Ako Karanga Workshops Continue in Term 2
On Tuesday, wāhine from across the Kāhui Ako Orewa and Whanagaparāoa attended a second wānanga karanga session with Whaea Marara.
Collaboratively, we are building the capacity of our wāhine to be able to karanga for kura in our hapori and to live the mātauranga of their tīpuna. It’s beautiful to be a part of.
If you would like to be a part of this exciting kaupapa moving forward, please email [email protected]
Ka mau te wehi!
New Staff Pōhiri at Te Herenga Waka o Orewa
Another exciting kaupapa occurred last night as we welcomed our collective new staff to tō tātou marae, Te Herenga Waka o Orewa. Both of our local Kāhui Ako joined together to build whakawhanaunga tanga, not only with the marae but across our whole area.
Although the winter cold is setting in, the warmth of the aroha in the wharenui was felt by all. We showed that collectively, the ability of our kura to uphold tikanga through karanga, karakia, mihi, manaakitanga etc… is to a point where we can draw from a pool of many to take on these roles in our kura and hapori.
Waiata tautokio flowed as did the kōrero in the wharekai. The words, “Ahakoa nō hea koe, ko wai koe, nau mai whakatau mai ki tō tātou marae” No matter where you’re from or who you are, we are all welcome to our collective marae.
Kāhui Ako ki Orewa Structured Literacy Leaders’ Hui at Ahutoetoe School
Last term, we had a great get-together at Ahutoetoe School with the literacy leaders from Kāhui Ako ki Orewa kura.
It was uplifting to come together and share how far we have all come in our structured literacy journeys as we discussed successes and challenges so far. Even though each kura is unique in its pathway, we found commonalities in what we are experiencing. I know I came away with plenty of things to think about after listening to my colleagues.
Lots of PD has taken place through a variety of providers, and many shifts in practice have occurred consequently. We are grateful to the hard mahi of the wonderful kaiako working across the Kāhui who are striving to achieve the best outcomes for our akonga.
We have some similar focuses as we turn to refining our writing programmes, and have heard about some interesting options as schools begin to explore some different programmes on offer.
Assessment is also a common theme as an area that we are all watching closely to see what direction the MoE is going to take with this.
These meetings occur each term as we use Kāhui Ako as a vehicle for support and collaboration to make all of our schools stronger, therefore delivering the very best for our students. Our next hui is on Thursday, the 12th of June, from 1:30 – 3:30 at Silverdale School.
A fantastic opportunity!
The Ministry of Education is now funding the Learning MATTERS Intervention Teaching (LMIT) Certification as a training option for specialist teachers in schools receiving the Y0-2 specialist staffing allocation.
This is a comprehensive course that specialises in evidence-based Structured Literacy intervention.
Click the link for more information: LMIT Course
Hui Dates
Thursday 22nd May – ASL @ Ahutoetoe School – WSL @ Orewa College
Friday 30th May – Kāhui Ako ki Orewa Mini-Conference @ Ahutoetoe School
Thursday 5th June – ASL @ Orewa College – WSL @ Orewa College
Thursday 19th June – ASL @ Orewa Primary – WSL @ Orewa College
