Principal's Welcome
Welcome to Ngākuru School!
Welcome to Ngākuru School!
A major strength of our country school is that we have been able to maintain a close, collaborative sense of community where we have strong connections that enable our children to interact with one another from Year 1-8. Our children have the best of both worlds in that they take part in all of what the larger Rotorua schools do, but are still able to be country kids who enjoy the great outdoors and all that rural life has to offer.
A major strength of our country school is that we have been able to maintain a close, collaborative sense of community where we have strong connections that enable our children to interact with one another from Year 1-8. Our children have the best of both worlds in that they take part in all of what the larger Rotorua schools do, but are still able to be country kids who enjoy the great outdoors and all that rural life has to offer.
Our students achieve academically with progress showing improvement yearly, at the highest levels. Even over the last few years where learning has been disrupted, our students have progressed and achieved at levels above what we expected.
Our students achieve academically with progress showing improvement yearly, at the highest levels. Even over the last few years where learning has been disrupted, our students have progressed and achieved at levels above what we expected.
We are passionate about our sport and field several winter hockey teams as well as one summer hockey team. Many of our children also join club-based teams for rugby, soccer, netball and cricket. We work closely with our local Healthy Active Learning Advisor and Sport BOP to promote physical activity and healthy habits. We have a school pool in which our students swim daily in Terms 1 and 4. The community also has the opportunity to make use of the pool outside of school hours.
We are passionate about our sport and field several winter hockey teams as well as one summer hockey team. Many of our children also join club-based teams for rugby, soccer, netball and cricket. We work closely with our local Healthy Active Learning Advisor and Sport BOP to promote physical activity and healthy habits. We have a school pool in which our students swim daily in Terms 1 and 4. The community also has the opportunity to make use of the pool outside of school hours.
We take part in Rotomaths, Top Schools, EPro8, AIMS Games and anything else that we can enjoy! We have close links with the town schools so that our children don't miss out on the many opportunities on offer. We belong to the Rotorua Central Community of Learning where we work and collaborate with teachers from 9 different schools.
We take part in Rotomaths, Top Schools, EPro8, AIMS Games and anything else that we can enjoy! We have close links with the town schools so that our children don't miss out on the many opportunities on offer. We belong to the Rotorua Central Community of Learning where we work and collaborate with teachers from 9 different schools.
All students are well known by our caring, dedicated staff and programmes are tailored towards the individual interests and needs. We are all unique and have something to offer so we ensure children's differences are celebrated at Ngakuru.
All students are well known by our caring, dedicated staff and programmes are tailored towards the individual interests and needs. We are all unique and have something to offer so we ensure children's differences are celebrated at Ngakuru.
Children feel like they are part of a team and close community in a school of our size, nature and location, where mixed age group interaction is a regular feature of our programmes and break times. Small class sizes are also a huge advantage of Ngakuru School.
Children feel like they are part of a team and close community in a school of our size, nature and location, where mixed age group interaction is a regular feature of our programmes and break times. Small class sizes are also a huge advantage of Ngakuru School.
Our exciting building projects and maintenance program are ongoing. We have an astro turf which is well used by our students for hockey, tennis and other ball sports. We have recently refurbished our library and one of our classrooms. Our playgrounds have also been upgraded and we have a new pool fence and boundary fence. Our school was repainted fully in 2022 and 2023.
Our exciting building projects and maintenance program are ongoing. We have an astro turf which is well used by our students for hockey, tennis and other ball sports. We have recently refurbished our library and one of our classrooms. Our playgrounds have also been upgraded and we have a new pool fence and boundary fence. Our school was repainted fully in 2022 and 2023.
We continue to develop our future-focused, local curriculum to serve the needs of our children, making use of teaching and learning contexts relevant to our students and community. Our teachers and students are well versed in Visible Learning based on the research of Prof. John Hattie. They demonstrate and can talk about the learning dispositions of being persistant, curious, collaborators, communicators and self-managers.
We continue to develop our future-focused, local curriculum to serve the needs of our children, making use of teaching and learning contexts relevant to our students and community. Our teachers and students are well versed in Visible Learning based on the research of Prof. John Hattie. They demonstrate and can talk about the learning dispositions of being persistant, curious, collaborators, communicators and self-managers.
We provide sustainability and environmental education journey to make use of our wide open spaces. We work closely with an Enviroschools teacher and Garden to Table advisor and have created a fruit orchard, vege gardens, worm farm and lots more.
We provide sustainability and environmental education journey to make use of our wide open spaces. We work closely with an Enviroschools teacher and Garden to Table advisor and have created a fruit orchard, vege gardens, worm farm and lots more.
We are a PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning) school and pride ourselves on building relationships with each other and showing our core values of Respect, Responsibility, Excellence and Leadership. We have high standards and expectations of our staff and students, in how they relate to and treat others.
We are a PB4L (Positive Behaviour for Learning) school and pride ourselves on building relationships with each other and showing our core values of Respect, Responsibility, Excellence and Leadership. We have high standards and expectations of our staff and students, in how they relate to and treat others.
All children from Year 0-8 learn te reo Māori, waiata and tikanga. We have weekly Kapa Haka learning sessions.
All children from Year 0-8 learn te reo Māori, waiata and tikanga. We have weekly Kapa Haka learning sessions.
Please come to our school for a visit to experience a great country school. We would love to show you around.
Please come to our school for a visit to experience a great country school. We would love to show you around.
I hope to meet you soon.
Rachel Weinberg
Rachel Weinberg
Principal
Principal