Foundation Literacy
Foundation Literacy is a tactile and kinesthetic programme for Year 1 and 2 students. It includes letter identification, learning sounds and high frequency sight words and making and breaking words.

Sonday
Sonday is a structured, multi-sensory language instruction programme based around phonological skills to support reading, writing and spelling.

Rainbow Reading
Rainbow Reading is an individualised, structured reading programme focusing on listening skills, retelling, comprehension, build reading vocabulary and fluency.

Brick by Brick Programme.
The Brick by Brick programme supports the development of social skills where members collaborate, communicate and problem-solve through collaborative LEGO play.

Reading Plus
Reading Plus is a web based computer programme that develops fluency, comprehension and vocabulary expansion. It provides targeted practice and instruction.

Maths Groups
Students review and practise class work in a small group at different times throughout the year with a teacher or trained teacher aide. Sometimes it will be in their classroom, or withdrawn from the class for more interactive/tactile activities.

In-class teacher aide support
Students complete class work with the support of a teacher-aide in the classroom for a period of time. This can be working on a 1:1 basis or in small groups.

Learning Support Services
If your child has moderate to high needs they might receive additional support through a range of schemes and services available from the Ministry of Education utilised within the school

• Resource Teacher of Literacy (RTLit)
• Resource Teacher of Learning and Behaviour (RTLB)
• Ongoing Resourcing Scheme (ORS)
• School High Health Needs Fund
• Communication Service
• Hearing and Vision

Teachers provide teaching and learning programmes within the classroom and the PYP programme which recognises and caters for our special abilities children. Learning programs include:

Learning within the classroom programmes.

• The PYP Inquiry process allows for explore their own questions and points of inquiry There are opportunities for brainstorming, research, discussion, presentation and evaluation of new ideas and understandings. The programmes use big ideas and concepts in global issues that are relevant and challenging on abstract ideas. Lots of small group discussion where like-minded students are able to bounce ideas off each other on open-ended tasks and develop deeper thinking. Assessment tools such as benchmarks, rubrics, continuums and checklists give students ownership of their own learning define future learning levels.
• Differentiation is an expectation at school with a special focus on literacy and numeracy. There are opportunities for mixed ability groups as well as ability groups and also working independently.
• Gifted students with learning challenges are also identified and have access to support programmes eg spelling on Core5 programme, social skills work with RTLB.

Opportunities that include enrichment and extension in academic areas, cultural, sporting and in the Arts.

Kapahaka Maori Group

• Y1-8 Maori students have opportunity to participate in cultural activities.

Academic Areas

• Y8 exhibition: Students investigate and present their own personal inquiry and work collaboratively within all the Y8 classes.
• Y7-8 Mathex competition – teams of four are selected to participate each year.
• Y6-8 Otago Maths Problem Solving Competition.
• Y7-8 Chess Club.
• Y5-8 ePro 8.
• Y6-8 ICAS (International Competitions and Assessments for Schools) Assessments Maths and Reading. This helps to further identify high achieving students.

Leadership Opportunities

• Y5-8 Student Librarians.
• Y6 Road Patrol.
• Y8 Student Councillors: These student leaders represent our school on various formal occasions and encourage Taking Action throughout the school.
• Y7-8 Students apply for a variety of leadership roles including: media team, sports captain, sport leaders, Travel Wise leaders, Enviro leaders, property leaders, resource leaders, Art leaders, IT Leaders.

Music

• Year 4-8 Orchestra: Specialist music teacher auditions student each year. Weekly practise is Tuesday 8:30 to 9:30.
• Y7-8 students are offered opportunity to have music lessons at school during school hours from an external provider Lewis Eady:

Sport

• Opportunities for students to participate in lunchtime coaching in preparation for tournaments. A variety of different sporting tournaments are attended by Y5-8 students each term.

• Sport leaders also have opportunity to organise sports for younger students and their peers.