Dual Medium Association

Programme Karakia and Mihi Power Point – Brief introduction. Summary responses from our survey Group mahi – reviewing, analysing and critiquing the draft * Vision * Mission * Goals… Where to? How? When?

Purpose To grow a runanga from within our collective strengths and from a collaborative and genuine desire for success of all our tamariki learning in our English and Māori Medium settings. There is particular emphasis on enhancing Te Reo and Tikanga as a pathway to achieve education success as Māori. (1)

Vision Ma te kotahitanga e whai kaha ai tātau. In unity, we have strength

Mission Create an association where we value Māori identity, language and culture and grow effective leadership, high quality teaching and effective governance to improve student achievement outcomes for tamariki across both language mediums. (2)

The Waka on which our Vison and Mission sit: Mentoring for trustees, leaders, kaiako Tikanga leadership Educational Leadership Development of relevant PD, Research for raising Māori student achievement A concept of ako which fits our kura Expertise sharing

Visual Representation of the Roopu/Group A symbol or visual depiction of our association will assist in defining who we are and acknowledging what we represent.

Visual Representation of the Roopu/Group These depictions the artist has created present some recurring themes: The koru represent the two groups learning alongside each other. The English and Māori Mediums of the kura. The diamonds, made up of two triangles are reflective of the MoE which embodies knowledge about Education The threads are the combined learning threads of all areas/subjects/fields of learning. One lot of strands is Māori knowledge, the other Pākehā knowledge. The threads do not align exactly but link back to the people at the centre. In one of the designs there is a star which depicts the learning, or “ding” moment in any learning. The light bulb moment. In the diamond shapes, Rangi, Papa and te Ao Marama are depicted.

Why? Why do we require a Dual Medium Association? Each one of us may have some different reasons for this. Some thoughts: Managing Curriculum/Marau Mentoring Support/Appraisal Simplifying tasks. Making sense of dual “many things”. Recognition Appropriate support PD which is relevant Relievers/Kairiwhi/Accessing staff/sustaining growth Finance/Property

What does the survey tell us? First and foremost that there is considerable desire to look at developing a forum, support network, association. As of 6th May – 46 responses. Principals, Boards, Staff all feel like there is a lack of understanding of the reality of working in Dual Medium schools. There is frustration at managing the tasks in our special schools. There is limited understanding about how our schools support the principles of many publications, philosophies and direction from the MoE. Engaging whānau, curriculum development and Educational Leadership stand out as key areas requiring support Survey Link: http://tinyurl.com/hdmss 

Goals To capture a name and logo from an appropriate “tikanga base”, which identifies our group. Establish a cutting edge culture of learning in our Dual Medium environment, which caters for the differing needs of students within the distinct areas of our schools. This is manifested in the “unique manner” in which we do things to enhance Māori learning as Māori. (3) (The desire being that this transfers across to other groups, no matter who the government identifies as priority learners). To assist in the development of curriculum based on NZC and TMoA which are a best fit for our kura based on collaborative action and input by sector members. The aim being to enable each kura to develop a rich curriculum which fits their school community and incorporates identified important events in Te Ao Māori, and provides a strong base from which all learning develops. (3)

Goals Continue to develop and share innovative approaches to staffing, use of kaiako, kaimahi, akōnga and whānau that many of our schools are currently implementing to provide a rich curriculum to best meet the needs of Māori students and raise student achievement. To identify leaders within the network/runanga who can provide support to enable the development and success of dual medium learning settings, quality teaching and raise student achievement. (2) Share, develop, research and engage in best teaching practice, tools and resources that engage and accelerate student achievement in particular in literacy/Re- a-waha/panui, tuhituhi/ and numeracy/panagarau. (3) To create a network/runanga, which furthers the aspirations of developing Te Reo Māori me ōna Tikanga in our unique and rich learning settings for tamariki, staff and whanau.

Goals To develop a leadership group of Tumuaki, Māori Medium Leaders, Trustees and Kaumatua, Iwi representatives who oversee and guide the vision, mission and goals for the association. To strategically fund support in line with the identified vision, mission and goals to generate growth and development across Dual Medium Schools. Work collaboratively with Professional networks, Ministry of Education and Iwi to provide professional development opportunities that cater to our needs in the Dual Medium Sector.

Focus support areas To have the ability to support schools who are working to establish and or implement Māori medium units in their school based on whānau/community desire for their tamariki to have the opportunity to learn in this environment. This can be daunting for Boards, Tumuaki and staff to even consider. To establish the means by which “experts” can be utilised across the cluster with as little disruption to their base kura as possible. (3) Sharing the load so it does not impact on just one or two schools and undermine what they are aspiring to achieve. To create incentives, which will retain key people in the network – particularly mentoring kaiako, pouako, tumuaki, … whoever these people are.

Focus support areas A possible captured group of release teachers who can be utilised in areas to provide staff release to enable PD, leadership support, mentoring and advice programmes. To develop strong links with hapu and iwi to strengthen the Kaupapa, curriculum of our schools. Identify Iwi, Hapu, Kaumatua or visionaries and people that could be utilised to support this network/runanga to achieve its goals.

References Tau Mai Te Reo/The Māori Language Education Strategy 2013 – 2017, p9. Ka Hikitia Accelerating Success 2013-2017 Evaluation at a Glance: Priority Learners in New Zealand School August 2012

POSSIBLE FUTURE ACTIONS Establish a runanga rather than an association – no formal positions, regional representation. Use of Skype to link. Draft strategy plan completed by the end of 2014. Sharing kaupapa across the whole motu – time to be decided. Wananga/Conference in 2015. Link to encouraging post grad study for teachers and principals in areas we need to know about as a dual medium sector. We have no finance currently? Determining whether or not there is an amount from the MOE/Government to progress the concept.