Our School

Our Vision

Involve Me and I Learn

Tamaoho School is a place of learning where there is a voice for all, a culture which strengthens belonging and well being and where showing Aroha, Pono and Tika are all around us to prepare our learners for the journey of life.

Our Whakatauākī

Te ako o te Tui a Tamaoho

The Tui can focus on his korero (talk)
The pouako (expert teacher) can focus on the learners
The learners can focus on kaupapa (curriculum programme)
The chief Tamaoho is astute, strategic, academic, outcome-focused, and a master of the universal teachings of the whare wānanga (place of higher learning).

We are really privileged to be gifted our Tamaoho School WHAKATAUĀKĪ and Waiata by Ngati Tamaoho. We are highly honoured and see this as a real privilege.

Our Values

Our learners will be guided by our three values:

Aroha - Caring is showing kindness, a willingness to help others and to care for themselves, each other and the world that we live in

Pono - Honesty is taking responsibility for your feelings and behaviours by speaking the truth and presenting facts

Tika - Doing the right thing is to think deeply when making choices for the good of everyone

Our School Logo

In traditional Māori Pā (village), Te Pātaka were used for the storage of kai (food). However, the Rangatira (Chief) would have special Te Pātaka made to store taonga (treasures). Stories shared tell of how Tamaoho, used Te Pātaka, to store taonga he wanted his people to value and learn about. Tamaoho School is our Te Pātaka because we believe knowledge and learning are our taonga.

How our spaces got their names

In our learning spaces, we embrace and celebrate our local environment by incorporating native trees, which play a significant role in shaping our school culture. This fosters an understanding of our local history, particularly our connection with tangata whenua Ngaati Tamaoho, but also reflects our commitment to sustainability as an Enviroschool.

Year 1-4(Transition room)

Year 1

Year 1-3

Year 2-3

Year 3-4

Year 5-6

Our flexible learning spaces

Our school is meticulously designed to equip learners with the skills needed for the future workforce, fostering an environment that nurtures essential skills for tomorrow's challenges. In our learning spaces, we prioritise structure and routine, ensuring each learner has a dedicated class whaanau teacher, a designated classroom, and a strong sense of identity within these spaces.

We also have breakout spaces, which are tailored to accommodate diverse learning needs. From quiet areas for individual or small group work to larger closed-off spaces for targeted group learning, these areas offer versatility and flexibility, catering to the unique learning styles of each learner. Our approach acknowledges that education is not one-size-fits-all.

Our primary focus in all learning spaces is building meaningful learner focused relationships with our learners. We strive to create an environment where they feel secure, valued, and truly belong. Through differentiated learning experiences and flexible grouping, we ensure accelerated progress while nurturing each learner's identity.

Furthermore, our purpose-built "Creative areas" on both floors provide hands-on learning opportunities, encouraging creativity and innovation among our learners.

Kōwhai Learning Spaces

In addition to our flexible learning spaces, we also have 4 more “traditional” classrooms tailored for our younger learners' transition into our school community. These spaces prioritise the establishment of strong routines, structure, and a genuine love for learning in a smaller and nurturing environment.

Once learners have gained confidence in their learning and established a solid foundation, they transition into our flexible learning spaces. This transition allows us to provide tailored support for each learner on their unique educational journey, ensuring they thrive and reach their full potential.

Transition Space Kōwhai Whaa

We have created a very special learning space for learners at Tamaoho School know as Kōwhai Whaa. We offer and provide extra support for learners transitioning into school who may find it tricky. Kōwhai Whaa is a small group of learners (around 10 learners), a dedicated teacher and Learning Support Assistants, so that there is a clear focus on individual needs, helping learners adjust to routines and structures of school, develop social-emotional skills, and engage in learning activities at their own pace. Our goal is to set learners up for success as they transition into school with all the support they need. When ready, learners can seamlessly integrate into a learning space to continue their learning journey.

We firmly believe in personalised support and empowering every learner to succeed. We work closely with whaanau to identify learners who would benefit from this learning opportunity and offer it as an option to support their learning journey.

At Tamaoho School, we are committed to providing a positive and enriching experience for every learner. If you have any questions or would like more information about our Transition Learning space (Kōwhai Whaa), please don't hesitate to contact us.

Our Policies and Procedures

Our school has been working with SchoolDocs to create a website for our policies and procedures. SchoolDocs maintain, update, and review our policies with us. SchoolDocs provides us with a comprehensive core set of policies, which have been well researched and follow the Ministry of Education National Administration Guidelines.

If you would like to find out more about SchoolDocs and to view our policies and procedures click here.

Click 'Search for your school' and type in 'Tamaoho'
Username: 'tamaoho' (Email us to request the password)

Our Strategic Direction

Explore our School Strategic Plan 2024-2025 and Implementation Plan 2024. These documents serve as roadmaps, aligning with our vision, values and key skills, and guiding our efforts to prioritise the well-being, progress and achievement of every learner.

View document