Te Huarahi A community approach to raising Maori engagement and achievement in Franklin

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

2. How we started…. 2009 2010 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 2011 2012

3. The PATH “It takes a village to raise a child” ECE Whanau Education 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 Celebrating Success Raising Achievement Building Authentic Relationships

4. The Goals Te Huarahi Strategic goals…. 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

5. The 2012 benchmarks Te Huarahi progress on the goals

6. Our challenges… • 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

7. Our successes…. Ways we continue to engage with whanau and schools • 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 • 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 • Email trees • Whole school hangi • Maori art exhibitions

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