FAQ

The school is specifically designed to ensure Māori achieve success as Māori. Our programme caters for those wanting to carry out their learning in a Māori environment which includes learning te reo and learning in te reo.

We provide school buses free of charge. These service most areas of Hamilton and some areas outside the Hamilton boundary. Please contact the school for further information. We are happy to talk through options with you.

We are fortunate to have a bus stop right outside the school where tamariki can catch the Nawton Number 9, Clockwise and Anticlockwise public buses. A student id. supplied by the school, will ensure a child fare applies.

As a strengths-based programme, we prefer to focus on ability (not disability). Knowing the types of challenges mokopuna face, whether temporary or long term, does help us cater specifically for them. Whānau are usually in the best position to provide that information. We avoid defining mokopuna by what they can't do. Our wellness team oversees the support each learner needs in order to be the best version of themselves.

Staff deal with minor incidents and have the support of the wellness team when these behaviours recur and/or accelerate.

We take a restorative justice approach to discipline which aims to ensure that mokopuna understand the cause of their decisions, the impact their actions have on others and how to restore the mana of those affected including themselves. Whānau are informed and sometimes brought into this process depending on the nature and seriousness of the incident. We find agreeing on solutions and ways forward together results in a better, more enduring outcome.

Every incidence of bullying that is brought to our attention or that we witness is followed up. A thorough investigation is conducted and restorative solutions are sought. The emotional and physical safety of mokopuna is paramount and our wellness team is there to ensure this happens.

We do not charge school fees. We do however request a financial contribution to offset the cost of some experiences. These are always subsidised by the school to keep costs to a minimum.

All schools are required to provide two reports each year. We prefer to do this digitally. Each mokopuna creates an online Ara Ako (Individualised learning plan) which is updated with examples of mokopuna progress. Whānau can access this at any time and are encouraged to add stories about the mokopuna and provide evidence of their greatness. You can come and talk about the progress of your tamaiti at any time. We also schedule dates for more formal meet-ups with parents.

We believe that greatness is both inherited and created. As part of our enrollment process, mokopuna complete a questionnaire that helps us understand their strengths, dispositions and passions. From this a strengths-based profile emerges that enables us to plan for their success while they are at Te Kōpuku high and beyond.

This is decided by ballot - names are pulled out of a hat once we establish where a vacancy exists. This is determined by year level and whether previous schooling has been via an English only, bilingual or immersion pathway.

The waiting list starts fresh again each year which means whānau wanting to secure a place, need to apply each year. Enrolment typically opens at the beginning of term 3.

None! We provide stationery at no cost to whānau and have enough stocks of devices (IPads, IMacs and Chromebooks) to enable online learning for each tamaiti. These are also provided free of charge.

We provide breakfast daily free of charge through Kickstart and lunches daily free of charge through Ka Ora Ka Kai programme. These are prepared in our commercial standard kitchen. The nutritional value of the meals is monitored by the Ministry of Education

We currently do not participate in kapa haka competitions preferring instead to support events in Te Pūtake o Te Riri event calendar which involves training mokopuna in the art of mau rākau.

All mokopuna learn the various forms of waiata and haka at school which prepares them to participate in a range of cultural activities inside and outside of school.

Usage is determined by staff in each whare (teina; years 7 - 8; waenga; years 9 - 10; tuakana; years 11-13) and may change from time to time depending on what trends and behaviours (positive and negative) we observe. Mokopuna generally do not require their devices for learning at school as these (IPADS, chromebooks and IMacs) are provided by the school. Communication with your tamaiti is best managed through the school office to avoid their device being confiscated where it has been determined they are not to be used for personal reasons.

This depends on who is prepared to coach and manage teams (staff or whānau). In the past we have fielded volleyball, basketball, netball, women's rugby, waka ama and touch teams and enjoyed high success.

As much as you’re able to give. What we don’t expect from parents is supervision of learning activities, including homework. That’s what we’re trained to do and are responsible for. Some parents will be busy with work and others may wish to contribute some of their time to activities in the school. For example, you may wish to come in and coach a netball team, help students with an art project, participate in a te reo class or demonstrate some other skill that you have. We see learning as a community activity and encourage whānau to participate as much as they are able and to the degree that they are comfortable.