Te Huarahi A community approach to raising Maori engagement and achievement in Franklin Sarah Copeland & Nikki Tarapa Te Huarahi Trust, Pukekohe October 2012

How we started…. Our timeline of development ERO reports on local schools highlighted issues in achievement and whanau engagement. Invitation to local schools to meet together and discuss ideas to enhance relationships School based hui continued to develop relationships and share ideas about increasing engagement. Included BOT, schools, parents, kaumatua and led to PATH being created. PATH launched to community and MOE to share dreams and aspirations of Te Huarahi More schools and ECE joined the initiative. Sub-committees created to help action the goals. Organisational changes (in each setting) occurred to support the collective strategic plan. Funding from JRMT Employment of Dobbie Martin as Community Liaison Officer. Te Huarahi Trust Board elected. Sub-committees more focussed and main meetings once a term continues to grow and build relationships. School commitments to goals evident 2012

Te Huarahi mo te puawaitanga o ngā kura whanui ngatahi o te Puaha o Waikato A pathway for schools and families to blossom in Franklin The PATH “It takes a village to raise a child” ECE Whanau Education Celebrating Success Raising Achievement Building Authentic Relationships

The philosophy behind Te Huarahi is that all families should be a part of their child’s educational journey from preschool through to leaving high school. It is about schools and whanau working closely together to create positive experiences and opportunities for participation The Goals Te Huarahi Strategic goals…. Early Childhood Education By 2015 every 5 year old Maori child will have accessed some form of regular ECE Whanau Education By 2015 Te Huarahi will offer 8 educational opportunities to whanau in our area per year Celebrating Success By 2015 All schools participate in a celebration of culture in our area Contribute 8 stories of success per year to media and marae PATH is displayed in local area Building Authentic Relationships By 2015 Schools will make kanohi ki te kanohi contact with every Maori whanau on their roll All TH staff attend Te Tiriti training All TH staff encouraged to complete the Mauriora course with TWOA Raising Achievement By % Maori children achieving at appropriate benchmarks or personal potential Other measurable data will be comparable to non- Maori

Strategic Areas of Development The goalProgress Early Childhood Education 25% of % year old Maori children have accessed some form of regular ECE Whanau Education Every year TH will offer 2 educational opportunities to the whanau in our area Celebrating Success25% of TH schools will be participating in a celebration of culture TH contribute 2 stories of success per year The PATH displayed Building Authentic RelationshipsOpportunity to offer Te Tiriti training Continue to engage in Kanohi ki te Kanohi with whanau 25% of TH schools will offer the Mauriora programme and continue to offer the opportunity to new staff Maori Achievement 50% of Maori children achieving age appropriate benchmarks and/or personal potential We have improved other measurable data by 25% Te Huarahi progress on the goals The 2012 benchmarks

Keeping the momentum going so everyone stays on board Time- meetings, responsibilities, achieving the goals Different interpretation of the goals Finding the right people for the job The employment of Community Liaison Officer Some schools and ECE centres are still not actively involved Making connections with Marae Administration difficulties and management Our challenges…

Matariki celebrations Maori Language week activities Whanau hui Tuakau prize giving with marae sponsored trophies Maori achievement awards Cultural festival- increase in number of schools attending Paid Kapa Haka tutors for the area Kapa Haka uniforms Shared hui at different sites trees Whole school hangi Maori art exhibitions Ways we continue to engage with whanau and schools Our successes…. School budgets allocated to Maori events Push and success in employing more Maori staff Kanohi ki te Kanohi accepted model of interactions Mauriora programme upskilling large numbers of staff Maori mass Whanau evenings with different focus Computers in homes promotion Increase in leadership roles for Maori in schools Linking whanau to agencies with collabrative support Transition programmes- from ECE to High school Promotional pamphlets for whanau PATH updated regularily

Where to next?…… Bring on more groups Build on Marae relationships More community events Resource database Pursuit of goals More whanau at meetings TH Logo and Website TH Waiata and Haka Overcome challenges Collective PD