Welcome to Tomarata School – we are going to notice you, notice your strengths and value your mistakes, effort, and progress. We cannot wait to get to know you, everyone is welcomed and cared for here. No kiwi school would excel without embracing biculturalism and the glorious environment we have on our doorstep. Here at Tomarata we may not be wearing shoes, but we will be learning in our beautiful back garden, learning about our native trees and birds and how to nurture our environment. Around our school you’ll hear waiata being enjoyed by all and you’ll experience our kapa haka roopu as we cherish Maori customs and traditions. We learn and use Te Reo across work and play – Maori culture is embedded throughout our school and we celebrate Kiwi life with our own unique activities.
Our outdoor kiwi kids spend time out in our spacious grounds and rural environment with a range of creative activities which encourage sustainable innovation. Whether it be in the school garden, hunting for bugs, local planting days or learning about the trees and native birds at our special bush block, the responsibility of being Kaitiaki develops naturally, starting with a love and enjoyment of playing in the outdoors.
Our enthusiastic team of teachers put the learners and their whanau at the core of everything we do, getting to know them and building relationships is key to our happy, eager students. There is unity, respect and transparency among all staff. Knowing what makes each child tick enables us to cater for each of their unique gifts even if that sits outside of traditional approaches of the National Curriculum. We go above and beyond to plan a programme that offers a range of options and opportunities for each child. We realise that first we must understand the child, then we must teach them in a way they understand.
Learning at Tomarata School is in a safe environment where we understand that failure is a part of learning offering support to encourage and facilitate growth. Our children learn how to learn and are taught the way that works best for them. Each child has the opportunity to find their passion. Keeping class sizes manageable and adding extra support where it is needed helps everyone work on their goals in the best possible environment. Our spaces are organised, our resources relevant, our systems are clear and our communication is open. Staff, students and families are informed, welcomed and included in this supportive environment.
We collect and share purposeful information reporting about the whole child. Learners are able to describe where they are in their learning; where they need to go and how to get there. They are given the opportunity to self assess, developing and reflecting on their own learning through a culture of voice, ownership and self-efficacy.
Tomarata is a little country school with a big heart. Our community embraces the school. We live by our word – Poipoia te kakano kia puawai – Nurture the seed and it will blossom.
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