Ka ako tonu, mō ake tonu – always learning
Mā te pātai ka kōrero, mā te kōrero ka mohio, mā te mohio ka mārama, mā te mārama ka matau, mā te matau ka ora ai te iwi. iwiMā te pātai ka kōrero, mā te kōrero ka mohio, mā te mohio ka mārama, mā te mārama ka matau, mā te matau ka ora ai te iwi.
From an inquiring mind comes discussion, from discussion comes knowledge, from knowledge comes understanding, from understanding comes wellness and prosperity for all.
From an early age, we are inquiring of the world around us, seeking to understand why things are. This starts in the home and transcends to deeper, more critical learning as our world expands beyond those four walls. We never stop learning and trying to make sense of the world around us. I find this inquiry process fascinating!
Mai rāno, kia āta tirohia ki ngā ao hurihuri kia whai i ngā māramatanga o ngā mea katoa. Ka tīmata ēnei akoranga kei te kainga, ā, nā wai rā, nā te whānuitia o tō tātou nei ao, ka wharikihia, ka hohonutia o mātou whakaaro. Kāhore mātou i mīmiti te whakaaro pērā, i kāti rawa i te kohikohinga o ngā māramatanga, i ngā akoranga. Te mīharo hoki tēnei tukanga pakirehua!
Kaiako Simone Marsters
Simone Marsters, Kaihautū Māori for the Science Learning Hub – Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao.
Ko Maungataniwha me Pāngaru ngā maunga
Ko Ngātokimatawhaorua me Mataatua ngā waka
Ko Tapapa me Hokianga ngā wai tapū
Ko Te Uri o Māhoe me Ngāti Kura ngā hapū
Ko Ngā Puhi te iwi
Ko Simone Marsters tōku ingoa.
I was fortunate that some fantastic teachers greatly influenced my learning journey. They nurtured understanding and encouraged deeper thinking while filling gaps along the way. These kaiako and my love for learning inspired a midlife career change, and I went on to become a teacher myself.
Taku tino waimarie he kaiako mīharo kua arahina e rātou āku huarahi tirohanga. Kua whangaia e rātou te māramatanga, te akiakingā hoki o ngā whakaaro hononu, ā, kua kī ngā kōhao. Nā ēnei kaiako me te koakoa o ngā akoranga kua puāwai, ka aro atu ki te tūranga kaiako.
Educators are superhuman!
Teaching is not for the faint hearted, but as educators, our tamariki are at the centre of everything we do. Supporting lifelong learners and being part of their learning journey is a privilege.
I left my corporate career and went back to study te reo Māori (over 4 years full-time) in a total immersion environment whilst completing my Bachelor in Applied Social Science in te reo Māori and Māori development. This journey was intrinsic to reconnecting with my culture and redefining who I was as a wahine Māori. I then completed a 1-year Graduate Diploma of Teaching – Primary. These experiences in te ao Māori and many other cultures mean we understand, acknowledge and accept there is a connection between all things. This knowledge brings a sense of belonging, a sense of guardianship and respect for all of the spaces we occupy.
Whai muri i taku wehengā i taku tūranga rangatōpū i ruku tōtika ki ngā akoranga reo Māori me tona tikanga. Ka rere te reo Māori i ngā wā katoa. I tutuki pai hoki te tohu paetahi, nā wai rā te pōkairua paetahi. Ko ēnei wheako i te ao Māori me ērā atu ki ngā iwi taketake kia āta mārama ana, whai koha me te pūmau tonu he hononga, he whakapapa, he mana, he mauri kei waenga i ngā mea katoa e ora ai. Kua tau ai te māramatanga, te whanaungatanga me te kaitiakitanga o ngā mea katoa e ora ai.
I have been in a classroom for the past 12 years thoroughly enjoying seeing our tamariki thrive and being excited about their learning – most days anyway! I have had various leadership opportunities to work alongside other colleagues in and across schools. I am now ready for another phase and looking forward to working alongside a dedicated team of experts to continue to encourage, interest and motivate lifelong learners.
Mō ngā tau ngahuru mā rua kei te akomanga ahau kia kaingia i te pārekareka o ngā tamariki i tipu, i ako, i puta mai ngā hua o ngā akoranga. Ka tū hoki ahau hei kaiarahi kei tōku kura, kei kura tū atu kia mahi ngātahi tātou kia whangai, kia whakaako ki ngā tamariki. Kua tae te wā anō kia akiaki tonu tātou katoa kia āhei i ngā tamariki ka tū hei akona mō nga tau kei te heke mai.
He waka eke noa!
Mā te tuakana te teina e tōtika, mā te teina te tuakana e tōtika – from the older sibling the younger will be guided, from the younger sibling the older will be guided. The classroom environment is one where we are able to share and contribute to each other’s learning. We have as much to learn from our ākonga as they do from us.
Mēnā he pātai, he whakaaro, he kōrero e pā ana tētehi pito kōrero, mahi rānei, tēnā pātuhi mai! Ko tō mātou tino hiahia kia rongo mai i a koutou. Me pehea tātou te akiaki, te whai mana mō o tātou tamariki, mokopuna kia mārama ana tō tātou nei ao.
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