Stratford Primary School has been working on a variety of projects to promote more Te Reo Māori and Tikanga in the school community:
These projects have come about due to the work on the SPS Charter by the Board, along with feedback from whānau. Other factors were also implemented as per legislative Education requirements and the three principles of the Treaty of Waitangi.
Ongoing Project: Kapa Haka
The Stratford Primary School Board are committed towards providing ongoing Kapa Haka for our tamariki. The programme has been designed in consultation with whānau, teachers, tamariki and our Kapa Haka Facilitator.
School Carving reinvigoration:
The School Carvings were rotting so the Board, in consultation with whānau, restored the carvings to their original state and then moved the carvings into the school hall. The next phase in the project involves creating a mural that tells the story of the school carvings and how they relate to AIM High: To be the best I can be. See below for the concept designs. The project is funded by the Board with the support of the TET Community Trust.
The creation of a permanent hangi pit:
Stratford Primary School replaced Grandparents Day with a Whānau Day. This concept was redeveloped to recognise and welcome all extended whānau members to the school. As part of the day, a hangi was prepared onsite. SPS is now looking to create a permanent site at the back of the school classrooms to educate tamariki around the hangi process and to have a permanent place to prepare the school hangi. The project is funded by the Board with the support of the TET Community Trust.
Te Reo Māori Phrases:
Teachers have been support by the Principal, Jason Elder, and Damon Ritai (Māori Achievement Cluster Facilitator) to develop their use of Te Reo Māori with tamariki in the classroom. The initial goal is to replace 10+ English Words/Phrases with Te Reo. Overtime, staff aim to increase the use of Te Reo. Teachers are also using more waiata around the school to promote the reinvigoration of Te Reo Māori. This includes using a Te Reo Spotify playlist and waiata on a school Youtube channel. The Board funds the release of teachers to receive termly professional learning of Te Reo Māori.