Ngāhere Year 5-6 The Forest

Life in Year 5-6, Ngāhere team are the first in the senior part of the school. With this step up we still maintain a firm focus on developing the foundational literacy and numeracy skills that they have gained, and students shift to a higher focus on using their skills to support wider learning in other curriculum areas. As well as the classroom programme there are widening opportunities for students to participate in activities such as Mathex, EPro8, Writing competitions and other Kiwi competitions. We continue to focus on our school values and students expected to demonstrate these values as role models for junior students and to be the best that they can be. Opportunities also arise for them to demonstrate emerging leadership skills as they are given the chance to be PE shed monitors, Librarians, Walking School Bus monitors and to put themselves forward as School council reps for their class.

In Year 5-6 our students use devices more frequently for school work, moving to mainly computer usage. They are given a school email address and are encouraged to bring a computer to school to support their learning. The BYOD (Bring your own device) programme gives wider access to technology and allows students to start to become confident and capable digital citizens. The Seesaw app continues to be the method for  sharing learning, successes and communication with whanau and is the place where they track their goals. During their time in year 5-6 they further develop their understanding of responsible elearning attributes and they become fluent typists who are able to navigate  a wide range of digital programmes to enhance and support learning, including the Office365 Suite, Canva and Writers toolbox and toolbox.

Every second year the team have a 4 day, 3 night camp at Marsden Bay camp, south of Whangarei (Term 1 of odd years). This opportunity to live our school values and to stay away from home is a highlight for staff, parents and students alike. The aim is for students to participate in challenge by choice and to stretch themselves to try something new. This could be staying away from home, trying new foods or participating in an activity such as the flying fox, kayaking or archery.

In even years there is a focus on wider opportunities for learning. During this year the students participate in a number of activities that broaden the classroom perspective. In 2024 Term 1 this included bike safety practical sessions, working with the West Auckland pest trapping network and the Catch IT programme,  and a visit to Matuku link.  For the rest of 2024 some of the opportunities available are Positive puberty sessions, nutrionist visits and first aid, alongside physical challenges such as skate boarding, dance and Surfing lessons. We thank all of the family members who give their time to support us by attending as a supervisor on one of our trips.   As well as these activities Year 5-6 also sends students to these events: Zones Tee-ball, Swimming, Football, Cross country, Netball and Cricket. There is also the opportunity to participate in optional physical challenges such as the Tough kid challenge in Term 1 and the School's sustainability challenge in Term 3.