Our Learning

Teaching and Learning at Te Puru

Every child has the right to learn in a loving and safe environment. Our jobs as teachers is to enable and empower that child’s learning, so that they can grow to be who they are with confidence and with a passion for life long learning.Learning happens best in a safe, stress free, creative environment. An environment where children can make mistakes, take risks and learn from their experiences. The Virtues have an important role to play here, in creating our moral and ethical framework. They provide a reference point for behaviour and they enable the children to concentrate on being creative and having fun with their learning.

We all learn differently, and at Te Puru we use the Multiple Intelligences to find out just how your child learns best. Some children need to move to learn, some children learn best if they can sing what they have to learn, finding the best fit for learning is our challenge. We combine the MI’s with Inquiry Learning and Brain Based Learning, teaching our Students to ask questions, research the answers and then evaluate their findings. We have other strategies in our teaching toolkit too, Kiwi Phonics and Reading Recovery to name two.

Te Puru is a Learning Community and it is important that the adults are seen as learners too. Our Staff have high quality Professional Development and are constantly evaluating and updating their practice. We invite experts into our school and have recently welcomed Professor Miles Barker (University of Waikato) who worked with us on a Science Unit.

At Te Puru we want our Students to be creative, life long learners who are equipped with the skills that they need for their futures.

Beliefs and Values

At Te Puru School we believe, through encouraging participation in a wide range of activities and opportunities, children can strive for excellence and achieve pride in their achievements. By developing a life long love for learning and respect for the environment, our children will play a positive role in society and be responsible for their own actions.

To achieve this we believe:-

School should be a happy and safe place for all.
Literacy and Numeracy skills are essential to develop to achieve success.
In developing the ‘Virtues Within’ - with Respect being the core virtue.

- Respect for others
- Respect for property and the environment
- and Self Respect.

Everyone constantly striving to improve ‘to be the best we can.’
In children developing initiative and independence so that they have the confidence to take risks and solve problems.
In a dedicated and enthusiastic team of professionals who, through our shared vision, work to bring out the best in our children.
In valuing our unique environment and integrating Environmental Education into all aspects of learning.
In developing leadership, self-confidence and communication skills.
High expectations and school wide consistency lead to higher standards of achievement.
In fostering cultural diversity and a commitment to raising the pride and achievement of our Maori students.
In an open door policy and encouraging community involvement.