Tuhuatahi, 2025 Term Three

Classroom Learning

Throughout Term 3, the inquiry for Tuhuatahi will be focused on the concept of Making a Mark. In line with the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories Curriculum, the focus begins on the settlement of Aotearoa New Zealand and how our increasingly diverse population has made its mark. Initially students will undertake a comparative study to gain a deeper understanding of how people migrated to Aotearoa New Zealand. Students will explore how early settlers first arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand and will seek to compare this to their family’s journey. A second comparative study will result in students exploring how their ancestors travelled within Aotearoa New Zealand and seek to make links to their journeys, whether this be on an international, national, regional or local scale. 

Making a Mark will be incorporated into our literacy as we seek to develop skills and strategies within ‘writing to entertain’. This will culminate in your child producing a narrative of a historical or contemporary migration story to Aotearoa New Zealand. The Mathematics lessons will be developing your child’s knowledge and understanding of fractions and financial maths. 

Tuhuatahi is also introducing BSLA (Better Start Literacy Approach). This is a structured literacy programme that seeks to support children’s reading and oral language success. BSLA teaches students the literacy concepts that help them learn to read, write, and spell effectively. It also provides explicit listening and reading comprehension skills through high quality and engaging texts.

The students will be sharing their learning with you in Term 4 during our final Celebration of Learning. However, families are welcome to see their child’s learning progress at any time before 8.30a.m. and after 3p.m.

Keeping Ourselves Safe

During the first three weeks of Term 3, students will be taking part in the Keeping Ourselves Safe programme. This will explicitly teach students a range of safe practices to be used when interacting with other people, both online and face to face. It will also demonstrate to students how to recognise the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. 

More information on the programme can be found on the New Zealand Police website.

Kapa Haka

Kapa Haka will continue to be optional for those students who want to perform at the Tūwharetoa Taiopenga. We are awaiting confirmation of the final date for the Tūwharetoa Taiopenga and will communicate this to whānau as soon as we are able. Those students who choose to not participate in the school’s Kapa Haka performance group are instead engaging in te reo Māori and tikanga lessons.