Our Vision: Tupu Tahi 

Growing Together, Standing Strong, Reaching High

At Totara Grove School, we aspire for all students leaving our school to be confident, capable, well-rounded, positive and resilient citizens and contributors to society who are achieving their potential academically, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually.  At our kura the New Zealand Curriculum provides the framework for teaching and learning. The New Zealand Curriculum vision for students to be “confident, connected, actively involved lifelong learners” and the principles of “ High Expectations: Treaty of Waitangi; Cultural Diversity; Inclusion; Learning to Learn; Community Engagement; Coherence and Future Focus” underpin and complement our school vision and Ngᾱ Mᾱtᾱpono Ako values.  These help set the direction to design and implement teaching and learning programmes that are relevant and authentic, meeting the needs and interests of students at our school.  

Te Tiriti o Waitangi, with its concepts of protection, participation and partnership, is respected and honoured at Totara Grove School.  The concept of partnership (mahi-tahi) requires that we work together with iwi, hapu, whānau and Māori communities to ensure our Māori students’ rights are respected and protected. We value our Māori whānau and their input into our programmes and decision making to ensure the achievement of their tamariki.   The concept of participation (whakauru) requires that we give our students as many opportunities as possible to develop an awareness and understanding of Te Mana o Aotearoa (the uniqueness of New Zealand’s heritage).  We are committed to te reo Māori me ōna tikanga in our classrooms. Staff and students are supported and encouraged to develop and use this knowledge throughout the school. We have an established kawa in all classrooms and te reo is taught schoolwide and there is a tikanga thread through all curriculum areas. All students participate in kapa haka, and we have an experienced kaiako guide us with this. The concept of protection (whakangungu) requires us to focus on raising Māori achievement. We endeavour to  ensure that all Māori students at our kura are developing their identity as Māori, and have a strong sense of belonging and engagement. We include the Hikairo Schema framework to support best practice at our kura. We are also committed to kaitiakitanga and developing environmentally sustainable practices. 

At Totara Grove our students are at the heart of everything we do.  We aspire to provide an inclusive, nurturing and supportive learning environment that empowers and encourages our students to develop self-management skills and to also take responsibility for their own learning.  Research shows us that teacher practice has a big effect on student outcomes and so our teachers are  provided with high quality professional development to support their learning and teaching.  We have high expectations and high aspirations for all students.  It is our aim for all students at our kura to make at least one year’s progress each year in reading, writing and maths.  Teachers are responsive to the needs of each individual student and design learning experiences that are both meaningful and motivating.