Western Heights School
  • Home - Kāinga
  • Enrolment - Whakauranga
    • Enrolment Zone - Whaitua
    • Cohort Entry
    • New Entrant Booklet
    • International Students
    • More Info - Pārongo
  • Information - Pārongo
    • Education Review Office Report
    • Policies Log-In Info
    • WHS Policies
    • Connections
  • Learning - Akoranga
    • Learning through Structured Play
    • Learning through Play the WHS Way
    • Creativity through Play
    • Bush Classroom
    • Learning Philosophy >
      • Four Original Languages
      • People and the Land
    • I C T
    • Kickstart with CPR
    • Learning at WHS
    • Learning @ Home
    • Where We Learn
  • News - Dates - Kawepūrongo
  • Parents - Mātua
    • Parent Info
    • Helping Your Child
    • Seesaw Digital Portfolio
    • Lunch Menu
  • Our People - Tō Tātou Iwi
    • 360º Images
    • Board of Trustees
    • Principal's Page >
      • Mr M's Bio
      • Principal's Appraisals
      • Ash's Blog
    • Deputy Principals
    • Support Staff
    • Teaching Team
    • Job Vacancies
  • Media - Hunga Pāpāho
    • NZ Champions - Rippa
    • You Tube Channel
    • Photos - Ngā Pikitia
    • Book Characters
  • Contacts - Whakapā
  • Strategic Plan - Mahere Rautaki
    • KCs and KTs >
      • Foundation Stones
      • Whakatauki
    • Financial Reports - Mahere Pūtea
  • Porotaka Pounamu
    • WHO
    • WHY
    • HOW
    • WHAT

26/7/2017

Believing in Kids

7 Comments

Read Now
 
I hope you won’t mind me sharing a story with you from my last school - Kaiapoi Borough.

Believing In Kids - Giving Them Someone They Can Believe In - Living Proof It Works:
At Kaiapoi Borough School we received a lot of visits from ex pupils eager to stay in touch with us, keen to share how successful they have been at High School, and wanting to thank us for the ways we have supported them. Recently I had a visit from an ex pupil who called in to share where he is at in his learning journey, his sporting progress and his personal growth as a young man and a leader.
As I listened to him speak of the impact our school and our people had had on his life, I was almost moved to tears.
Kurt spoke of how he had been a tearaway, a thief, quick to turn an argument into a fist fight and with a “I don’t want to know” attitude.
Our staff persevered with Kurt and worked hard to build a relationship with him. I spoke often with Kurt about our values and our belief in him.               
Kurt shared how those things stuck with him - how he came to realise the importance of goals and the huge importance of honest and regular reflection.
Kurt uses reflection in all aspects of his life. If he misses a crucial drop-kick in a league game, he doesn’t beat himself up over it, he reflects on what he did and what he could do differently to be successful next time.
Kurt reflected on the pathway he was taking at High School. He realised it was leading him down a one-way path to a wasted life.
Kurt joined a group called “Tama ki Tane” (Boys to Men) at Kaiapoi High School after the Counsellor there and a senior Maori student both took him aside and asked him to reflect on where he was going, what he was trying to achieve and who he was trying to impress.   Now, as a year 12 Kurt can look back on a complete change in his life. He achieved a Merit in English last year. He has passed Level One NCEA. He is trialling for the Melbourne Storm Rugby League club and he is the first Year 12 Chief of the Tama ki Tane ropu at Kaiapoi High School.
I invited Kurt to come and speak to our staff on a Monday morning - a number of them were all but moved to tears also.
Kurt thanked them for putting up with him, for persevering, for caring and for giving him a foundation of skills and practices that set him up for success in the end. Kurt did this as a way of giving something back. He took a lot of satisfaction in being able to do this and he will be coming back in his own time to speak to our year five to eight students.
We don’t always work miracles overnight, but what we do does pay off sooner or later.

Here Is A Response from My Ex Board Chairperson:
Dear Ash,                         
 Awesome story about Kurt. I am sitting here with tears in my eyes knowing that every word is true and well spoken. I watched Kurt perform in Kapa Haka at recent high school events and I could see the pride and passion he had in doing a good job. You are so right that encouragement and belief that children’s innate goodness will shine through is very important for all adults working with children, especially those who need extra guidance.                                   
Another student who is doing remarkably well is Ammaron. I remember he also needed some special guidance from the KBS Board when I was there. My heart swells with pride when I see what a talented and hardworking young man Ammaron is turning into.  
 Both these boys/men needed the KBS and wider village to believe in them – well done for championing this positive and supportive approach to our children.

Share

7 Comments
Suraya Dewing link
10/11/2017 10:26:51 am

What a wonderful blog. I was moved to tears because it brought up memories of teachers who cared enough to take me to one side and suggest I try doing things just a bit differently (: Those moments remain with me through my life. I wanted to prove to them that I was worth the time they took and their belief in me.
Suraya (The Story Mint)

Reply
Stucco Contractors Pueblo link
6/8/2022 04:49:04 pm

Thank you for writting this

Reply
Nathan Davis link
9/10/2022 08:16:30 pm

Catch draw job street join property. Could be run mouth sport. Decide current hand only billion race hope.

Reply
Rodney Harvey link
16/10/2022 06:45:09 pm

Anyone open seek product ready song order. Season drive tell. Relationship true add laugh process want bar.

Reply
Nicholas Hicks link
19/10/2022 06:36:40 am

About range understand our learn lawyer. Success history interesting him include according information. Space course doctor beat.

Reply
Jesus Hardy link
25/10/2022 06:36:05 pm

In trouble pressure strategy. Ready about discuss over bar. What history understand herself dream off before.
For attorney young hold total lot street. Both idea executive he model.

Reply
Novato Packing Service link
6/5/2024 08:42:11 pm

Interesting thoughts I really enjoyed your blog

Reply



Leave a Reply.

Details
    Picture

    Author

    Greetings to all the families and friends of Western Heights school.
    I am truly excited at the prospect of coming to work at this wonderful school each day.
    Family:
    My wife Jacqualene is the Principal of Mangere Central. She has outstanding skills and talents in administration, curriculum design and integration of ICT into the teaching and learning programme.
    My son Tiaki is a bright boy, very keen on technology, a bit of a musician, and a very talented footballer and softballer. Tiaki was the youngest footballer to make it into the National Talent Centre, and was MVP at the South Island Softball Champs.
    I also have two adult children and two grandchildren - all in Australia.

    Western Heights school is a wonderful school, staffed with exceptional teachers and support staff; led by an outstanding Board; and supported by an enthusiastic and committed parent community.

    Career:
    I began teaching aged 19, some 41 years ago, and began my 20th year as a principal at this wonderful school in 2014.

    Principal of Tareha School                              - Napier 2 years
    Deputy Principal Prospect School                  - west Auckland 7 years
    Principal Pomaria School                               - west Auckland 7 years
    Principal Te Akau ki Papamoa School           - Bay of Plenty 3 years
    Principal Kaiapoi Borough School                 - Canterbury 8 years

    President of Waitakere Area Principals Association 2003 - 92 schools 
    Apple Distinguished Educator Award - 2009. Sponsored to Apple Headquarters in Cupertino, USA.
    Secretary Auckland Computers in Education Society
    Primary Principals’ Representative - Primary Sector Education Advisory Committee
    Waitakere City Council - Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education, 2003.
    Presenter at UNESCO Conference on Values in Education, 2002.
    Guest speaker - International Principal's Federation Conference, Auckland 2002.
    Ministry contracted trainer - Implementation of New National Administration Guidelines
    First Time Principals’ Mentor for Ministry of Education in Auckland and Christchurch.
    Mentored new principals of four Canterbury schools.
    University of Canterbury School Curriculum Development Facilitator - e- Learning, ICT in 2011 and 2012. Worked with 70 schools.
    Post Grad Studies at Mindlab 2016

    Personal Achievements
    Sportsman of Year - Christchurch College of Education 1978 
    Canterbury Colts Softball representative
    National League football with Woolston FC
    Waimakariri Football Club Junior Coach of the Year - 2011, 2012, 2013

    Philosophy
    I believe passionately in all learners becoming independent.
    My Vision has always been of “Growing Great Kids” who are self managing, self motivating, self moderating, independent leaders of their own learning.
    This has been achieved through “Dream. Grow. Shine. Reflect.” 
         Children choose appropriate goals. 
         They develop an effective action plan to achieve those goals. 
         They identify success criteria - what we can expect to see when success is achieved. 
         They reflect on their goals, their plan and their outcomes and make decisions in light of this.

    We know that positive relationships are the key to success, not just in learning but in all aspects of life. Positive relationships are built on trust, honesty, respect, and genuine concern, and nurtured through active listening and time spent together.
    Whanau (Family) Relationships are the basis for all I do and the way I teach, coach and lead. For this reason, I set great store in being open to and available to children, staff and community.
    As examples of this, we now have a presence on Facebook, a Twitter account, a revamped web site, an Open Door policy for access to me, and my personal email and cell phone number available to you all.

    My door is open, my cell phone switched on and email launched - feel free to contact me any time.

    Archives

    May 2018
    July 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Location

126 STURGES ROAD  
HENDERSON
​AUCKLAND 0612

Contact Us - Whakapā Mai

Principal's Cell             Principal's eMail
 021779 009                                               [email protected]​         

                                                                                                       
Absences - use our HERO app
search the App Store or Google Play by typing in Linc-Ed       

​                                      
School Landline                   
​ 09 836 1213                                

  • Home - Kāinga
  • Enrolment - Whakauranga
    • Enrolment Zone - Whaitua
    • Cohort Entry
    • New Entrant Booklet
    • International Students
    • More Info - Pārongo
  • Information - Pārongo
    • Education Review Office Report
    • Policies Log-In Info
    • WHS Policies
    • Connections
  • Learning - Akoranga
    • Learning through Structured Play
    • Learning through Play the WHS Way
    • Creativity through Play
    • Bush Classroom
    • Learning Philosophy >
      • Four Original Languages
      • People and the Land
    • I C T
    • Kickstart with CPR
    • Learning at WHS
    • Learning @ Home
    • Where We Learn
  • News - Dates - Kawepūrongo
  • Parents - Mātua
    • Parent Info
    • Helping Your Child
    • Seesaw Digital Portfolio
    • Lunch Menu
  • Our People - Tō Tātou Iwi
    • 360º Images
    • Board of Trustees
    • Principal's Page >
      • Mr M's Bio
      • Principal's Appraisals
      • Ash's Blog
    • Deputy Principals
    • Support Staff
    • Teaching Team
    • Job Vacancies
  • Media - Hunga Pāpāho
    • NZ Champions - Rippa
    • You Tube Channel
    • Photos - Ngā Pikitia
    • Book Characters
  • Contacts - Whakapā
  • Strategic Plan - Mahere Rautaki
    • KCs and KTs >
      • Foundation Stones
      • Whakatauki
    • Financial Reports - Mahere Pūtea
  • Porotaka Pounamu
    • WHO
    • WHY
    • HOW
    • WHAT