BILINGUAL LEARNING

Tena koutou katoa

Welcome to a teaching environment that is filled with te reo Māori, and enhanced with tikanga (culture), waiata (song), whakawhanaungatanga (connectedness), whānau (family) and awhi (support). This is where our tamariki (children) learn and grow.

In 1999 whanau from KKPS proposed a dedicated Māori Bilingual programme. The following year, this incentive became Te Whakatupuranga, which means with guidance, the child blossoms. This is an incredible programme, grown over time to be absolutely unique in Northland.

Who Belongs in this Programme?
Any child (and whānau) with an interest in learning about the language, culture (tikanga), or songs (waiata) belongs.

What is Taught?
The New Zealand Curriculum is taught. The Ministry of Education recognises this programme as a qualified Te reo Māori level 3 educator.
This means that at least 30% of the day is engaged in Te reo Māori.

Achievement
Te Whakatupuranga gives the bonus of all the learning and gifts of language and culture as well the regular curriculum. Children in this programme perform scholastically as well as children from the wider school. You will find this group well represented as the children grow up. They are regularly receiving leadership and academic acknowledgments at high school prize giving.

Classrooms
We offer four Maori medium classrooms Years 0-1, Year 2, Years 3-4 and Years 5-6 (Te Whakatupuranga) These classrooms celebrate Tikanga and Te Reo Maori in depth. We also have a Kapa haka group who perform throughout the year.
Te reo Maori and Tikanga Maori are integrated into the class programme and through a range of other curriculum areas. Enrolments for Te Whakatupuranga; KKPS Bilingual Unit

Considerations for Te Whakatupuranga Placements
For any child to be considered for Te Whakatupuranga there must be a commitment to the kaupapa of this unit. If the classes are full, your child can go on the waitlist for Te Whakatupuranga.  Your child must be enrolled at our school to be on the waitlist. 

Criteria 1
– Children who are already enrolled in Te Whakatupuranga will remain in the unit until they wish to leave
– Children who are currently on rolls of Kōtuku, Tauhou or Kākāpō will remain on the Te Whakatupuranga roll until children either leave the school or the unit, or move into English medium. Following year’s class numbers are based on the existing EOY roll.
Criteria 2
– Children who have whanau currently in Te Whakatupuranga will have consideration when establishing Te Whakatupuranga class placements. SLT will need to know about any whanau who will be starting throughout the year and prioritise space for these children. The whanau starting earlier in the year take precedence. Spaces cannot be left open for terms if there are children ready to start from Criteria 3. A register will be created to show those siblings who may be arriving throughout the year. The numbers in Te Whakatupuranga may alter depending on the number of students coming throughout the year.
Criteria 3
– Children placed on waiting lists/ new enrolments to KKPS
– This will be by a ‘first come first served’ basis, although the above criteria takes precedence
Criteria 4
– Recommendation by teacher based on individual’s needs