Sacha

Kiwi Connection

Edit your short welcome here.
​Welcome here
In Zone students are welcome to enrolment any time.
Out of zone enrolments are limited and open and close each year around September.
​Email office@richmondroad.school.nz for an enrolment pack.

Barbara Henderson (Hub Rōpū leader), Uala Toamaka (Village Rōpū leader), Rebecca Ashworth, Sacha Connolly, Aria Newton, Trish Ramsay (Nest: Tuesdays-Fridays) and David Pentecost (Nest: Mondays).
Learning Assistants: Guy Davis, Susan Trainor, Sue Winslow and Kanako Sudo

Village

Barbara

Uala

Te Whānau Whāriki participate in a range of te reo Māori events where whānau can nohotahi, kaitahi and whakangāhautahi. These include

• Ngā Manu Kōrero
• Puni Reo Poitarawhiti
• Matariki with Te Whānau Puāwaitanga  (New Windsor) and Te Whānau Pounamu (Kowhai)
• Kapa Haka  – we are one of a few primary schools that enter into competitive competitions
• Biannual noho marae.

In addition to participating in te reo Māori events, our tamariki mix with the Samoa, French and Kiwi Connections rōpū in wider school activities such as jump jam, sports, music, our school production, Ritimana Matariki events and celebrations of other heritage languages.

Whānau Involvement

Our kaiako are strongly supported by whānau and the wider Ritimana community – Richmond Road School has recognised the role of Māori culture, tikanga and acknowledges its own commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi by actively supporting the development and growth of Te Whānau Whāriki and Māori in other units at the school.
You as a parent can get involved by

• Coming along to whānau hui
• Going on school trips
• Speaking te reo Māori with your tamariki
• Attending parent teacher child conferences
• Helping in the classroom as needed
• Contributing to fundraising with ideas, time or resources via the Richmond Road PTA.

In The Classroom

Our kaiako educate our tamariki in te reo Māori with a kaupapa Māori focus through following the Te Marautanga o Aotearoa curriculum. This ensures that tamariki can competently navigate their own culture and language and are equal scholastically to any other child in New Zealand mainstream education.
Our language unit currently has three ruma, three kaiako and one kaiawhina.

​A typical day goes something like this
08.30 Tamariki start arriving
09.00 Opening Lotu and waiata
09.30 Te Reo Matatini – literacy
11.00 Kai iti
11.30 Pāngarau
12.30 Extra curricular
13.00 Kai nui
13.50 Kaupapa
14.55 Closing karakia
15.00 School day ends

Communication Between Kura and Whānau

Our regular whānau hui are the best way to catch up on Te Whānau Whāriki news from the kaiako and Board of Trustee representatives. These hui also offer an opportunity to meet other whānau, discuss kaupapa and understand curriculum initiatives that the kaiako are undertaking.
There are regular Richmond Road School newsletters which have important dates and interesting stories about what our tamariki have been doing

Year 6 Graduation

At the end of the sixth year, our tauira celebrate their time at Ritimana with a graduation party. This is organised by the whānau of the graduates and all whānau are welcome to attend. This is one event not to be missed.

What Parents Say About Te Whānau Whāriki

Why Our Tamariki Like Te Whānau Whāriki

“Ritimana has allowed my child to take huge steps forward in his knowledge of te reo Māori and te ao Māori. The very supportive teachers, welcoming whānau environment and tuakana-teina relationship among the students, helped him transition from kindy to Māori immersion without any stress”.

“The tamariki are very lucky to have three young and energetic teachers who they really like and who do a wonderful job. They also have a Nanny who provides amazing kaumatua input and support to the unit as well as classic nanny TLC”.
​
“E rumakina ana ngā tamariki i te aroha o te whānau, i te puna o Te Reo Māori anō hoki. Koia pū ngā aho e raranga nei i Te Whānau Whāriki kia ita. E whai ana ngā tamariki i te pae tawhiti o te reo, o te mātauranga, o te ahurea hoki kia tata”.

“It’s very diverse.”
“Ka whakaako i ngā mea pai ki a koe.”
“Tino pai te hākinakina me te pāngarau.”
“Ka hanga I ngā mea.”
“Nga kaiako!”

You're Invited

Te Whānau Whāriki warmly invites any prospective tamaiti and their whānau to attend an Open Day at our unique kura.
​
Contact Matua Troy to organise a visit and see what we have to offer!
troy@richmondroad.school.nz