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Kākāpō Syndicate (Years 1,2&3)

Kākāpō Year 1 classes are located in Rooms 1 and 3.

Kākāpō Year 2/3 classes are located in the upper floor of the building adjacent to the office.

The Kākāpō team fosters self management, supporting akōnga to become increasingly more independent and resilient as learners. The curriculum is  integrated, with student voice and personal interest driving learning experiences.

Below you will find some information about the Kākāpō syndicate.

Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher (kaiako) at any point during the year. 

Kaiako are in their classrooms from 8:30am in the mornings so the best time to discuss any issues or concerns with them is between 8:30-8:45am. Kaiako are more than happy to meet with you at other times.

Kākāpō Teachers

Michelle Pontifex

Rūma ono (Room 6) Kākāpō Team Leader

m.pontifex@ngaio.school.nz

Kia ora koutou,
I am Michelle and I’m proud to be part of our kura whānau. With over 20 years of teaching experience, I am deeply passionate about supporting our tamariki to thrive. Ngā ākonga are always at the heart of what I do, and I strive to create a positive, manaakitanga-filled environment where they feel empowered to ako, grow, and succeed. In addition to teaching, I am privileged to serve as the Team Leader of Kākāpō. I love working collaboratively with my team and whānau to ensure our learners have the best opportunities to shine. Teaching and leading are both roles I truly treasure, and I feel incredibly lucky to do what I love every day.

Tessa Gatenby

Rūma whitu (Room 7)

t.gatenby@ngaio.school.nz

Kia ora,

I’m Tessa and I am delighted to be back teaching in the Kākāpō syndicate this year. I’m looking forward to getting to know some new faces and building positive connections with the tamariki as we learn and grow throughout the year. I’m going into my sixth year of teaching at Ngaio School and I’m excited to work within such a fantastic team. I believe creating and maintaining reciprocal and effective relationships with students is a crucial aspect of teaching, and I work hard to make sure every child feels valued in the classroom. I’m a Wellington local and thoroughly enjoy being part of the Ngaio community.

Christina Johnstone

Rūma rima (Room 5)

c.johnstone@ngaio.school.nz

Kia ora koutou,

Ko Christina tōku ingoa.

I feel privileged to have been teaching at Ngaio School since 2015. During this time I have taught from years one to four. I am thrilled to be part of the Kākāpō Syndicate again this year teaching years two and three. I am passionate about creating a positive, engaging and supportive learning environment where ākonga can flourish as individuals and love being part of the Ngaio community.

Thomas Searancke

Rūma waru (Room 8)

t.searancke@ngaio.school.nz

Kia ora,

I am Thomas, and I am excited to be joining the Kākāpō Syndicate at Ngaio School. I began teaching in 2018 and since then I have taught years two through six. I look forward to getting to know your children and helping them thrive in their learning.

Bronwyn O'Halloran

Rūma tahi (Room 1)

b.ohalloran@ngaio.school.nz

Kia ora koutou,
Ko Bronwyn tōku ingoa.
A warm welcome to a new year and an exciting learning journey at Ngaio School. I have had 30 years of teaching experience and have held a variety of roles from teacher, senior teacher to assistant principal. I have been teaching at Ngaio School since 2015. This year I am excited to be teaching our youngest students and building a strong foundation of learning as our newest learners begin their education at Ngaio School. I am also a mum to two young boys/men. I love to spend family time with my husband and 2 boys at Waikanae Beach, walking the beach and having time together making fun memories.
I look forward to knowing and making connections with all of the Kākāpō families.

Elise Chan

Rūma toru (Room 3)

e.chan@ngaio.school.nz

Kia ora,

Ko Elise tōku ingoa.

It’s lovely to return back to Ngaio School after having such a warm welcome in 2024. During my time teaching, I have enjoyed working with all year groups from Year 1 to 6, however, I am particularly passionate about teaching junior students. I look forward to another exciting year working alongside the Year 0/1 tamariki and creating a safe and supportive environment where they can all thrive and have a positive start to school.

Karen Doogan

k.doogan@ngaio.school.nz

Kākāpō Syndicate Information

Teacher Release

At Ngaio School, we are fortunate to have a team of experienced and passionate release teachers supporting our ākonga and kaiako. Classroom Release Time allows our teachers to focus on planning, assessment, and leadership responsibilities while ensuring continuity of learning for tamariki.

  • Donna will cover Michelle’s leadership release every Wednesday and CRT once a fortnight. She will also teach in Christina’s class every Thursday.
  • Amy will cover Tessa’s CRT once a fortnight.
  • Karen will cover Thomas’ CRT once a fortnight.
  • Kathy will support Elise and Bronwyn during their release time.

Our release teachers are dedicated professionals who embody the values of our kura and are committed to maintaining a positive, engaging learning environment for all tamariki.

Please feel free to contact your child’s whānau teacher at any point during the year. Teachers are usually found in their classrooms from 8:30am. The best time to discuss any issues or concerns with them is between 8:30-8:45am. If you would like to make a different time to touch base just flick your child’s whanau teacher an email.  

You can check out our part time teachers in the Our Team section.

Syndicate Dates

Please refer to website calendar

Brain Break

Brain Break – Keeping Our Ākonga Energised!

Our morning learning block runs from 9:00 to 11:00, so we have a short Brain Break to help keep tamariki focused and energised. During this time, children can enjoy a small snack of fruit to refuel their brains. Please send a small container with cut-up fruit or vegetables for your child to eat during this break. This helps support their concentration and learning throughout the morning. Thank you for your support.

Syndicate Hui

Kākāpō Hui are held in Rūma 6+7 and start at 9:10am. Whānau of the hosting class is invited to attend. 

Week 5 – Friday 7th March: Room 6+7

Week 7 – Friday 21st March : Room 1+3 

Week 9 – Friday 4th April: Room 8+5

Syndicate Programme - Termly overview

This term, our inquiry unit is called I Am a Ngaio Ākonga (Pieces of Me). Through this unit, our tamariki will explore aspects of technology and design in a hands-on, creative way.

  • Technological Practice: The children will create a plan to develop a product or outcome, identifying the steps needed and the resources required.
  • Technological Products: They will learn about the materials used in products and how their properties affect how they work.
  • Characteristics of Technology: The tamariki will explore how technology is a purposeful intervention designed to solve problems or meet needs.

We look forward to seeing their creativity and problem-solving skills shine as they design and create.

Writing & Reading Focus - Term 1

This term in literacy, our focus will be on developing key skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Here’s what your tamariki will be learning:

Oral Language

  • Listening and Speaking: Developing oral language skills to communicate clearly and effectively, and using language purposefully in various contexts, e.g. Pitopito kōrero (news).
  • Te Reo: Strengthening listening and speaking skills in te reo Māori through everyday conversations and classroom activities.

Writing

  • Exploring a range of writing genres, focusing on planning, drafting, and editing to create structured and meaningful texts.
  • Developing spelling and vocabulary through phonics, high-frequency words, spelling patterns, and dictionary skills.

Reading

  • Personal Reading: Encouraging tamariki to select and read texts independently for both enjoyment and learning.
  • Instructional Reading: Using the Better Start Literacy Approach (BSLA) to build structured literacy skills and deepen understanding.
  • Shared Reading: Engaging with oral narratives to develop comprehension, fluency, and an appreciation of stories.
  • Reading Comprehension: Exploring a variety of texts to understand genres, structures, language features, and deeper meanings.

Phonological Awareness and Spelling

  • Focusing on phonics through the BSLA programme.
  • Learning essential spelling lists, high-frequency words, and spelling patterns.
  • Building vocabulary with a “word of the week” and practising dictionary skills.

We are excited to see your tamariki grow as confident readers, writers, and speakers throughout the term.

Mathematics Focus - Term 1

Ākonga participate in a structured mathematics programme Monday through Friday, where they have opportunities to participate in small group sessions with teachers, engage in Maths Talks, practise work and extension activities.

This term, our focus in mathematics will include number, statistics, and measurement. Here’s what your tamariki will be learning:

Mātauranga Tau | Number

  • Number Strategies: Using a range of strategies for counting, grouping, and sharing with whole numbers and fractions.
  • Number Knowledge: Practising forward and backward counting up to 100 and exploring groupings of numbers (e.g., within five, ten, and with ten).
  • Equations and Expressions: Explaining their mathematical thinking using words, numbers, and pictures.
  • Patterns and Relationships: Recognising patterns in counting, understanding how numbers change when one is added, and creating and continuing sequential patterns.

Tauanga | Statistics

  • Conducting investigations using the statistical enquiry cycle:
    • Posing and answering questions.
    • Gathering, sorting, counting, and displaying data.
    • Discussing what the results tell us.

Ine | Measurement

  • Exploring capacity by estimating and measuring using both standard and non-standard metric units.

Te Reo & Kapa Haka Term 1

Te reo Māori

This term, our ākonga will be exploring te reo Māori and tikanga Māori as part of our classroom learning. We will focus on building their confidence with everyday classroom commands, greetings, and farewells to help them use te reo naturally throughout the day.

We will also be sharing the pūrākau of Papatūānuku (Earth Mother) and Ranginui (Sky Father), a foundational Māori creation story. Through this, the children will gain a deeper understanding of Māori perspectives and values, as well as an appreciation for the connection between people and the natural world.

Kapa Haka

Each Monday morning all Kākāpō ākonga have Kapa Haka with Matua Hemi Prime. During this time they learn waiata, karakia, haka and poi.

Digital Technology Focus Term 1

Cybersafety and being responsible digital citizens: Ākonga will complete a cyber safety programme. In these internet safety programmes students explore the amazing possibilities that come with using technology. They’ll also learn from the fun characters, who take a pledge to be safe, responsible, and respectful when travelling through the online world. There is a programme aimed at Year 1 students and a separate programme aimed at Year 2 & 3. These programmes include introductory discussions around media balance & wellbeing, privacy & security, digital footprint & identity, cyberbullying and media literacy. 

Physical Education Focus Term 1

This term, we are thrilled to make the most of our school pool with weekly swimming lessons. Our tamariki will be grouped according to their swimming abilities, ensuring each child receives targeted support to develop their confidence and skills in the water.

Swimming Timetable 

Begins week 2

Tuesday

Rūma 6 Michelle 9:00-10:00

Rūma 7 Tessa 10:00-11:00

Rūma 8 Thomas 11:30-12:30

Rūma 1 Bronwyn 1:30-2:30

Wednesday 

Rūma 3 Elise 1:30-2:30

Thursday 

Rūma 5 Christina 1:30-2:30

Key Competencies Focus Term 1

Relating to Others (Aroha, Respect, Honesty)

Relating to others is about interacting effectively with a diverse range of people in a variety of contexts. This competency includes the ability to listen actively, recognise different points of view, negotiate and share ideas. Students who relate well to others are open to new learning and able to take different roles in different situations. They are aware of how their words and actions affect others. They know when it is appropriate to compete and when it is appropriate to cooperate. By working effectively together, they can come up with new approaches, ideas and ways of thinking

Managing Self (Initiative, Perseverance)

This competency is associated with self-motivation, a “can do” attitude, and with students seeing themselves as capable learners. It is integral to self-assessment. Students who manage themselves are enterprising, resourceful, reliable, and resilient. 

Library Visits

Each week we visit the library and children are able to choose 1-2 library books to take home and enjoy. The books are then returned the following week, in time for new books to be issued. Please help your child to remember their library books each week, so they can return them and get new books issued. The library is also open during lunchtimes for children to independently issue and return books.

 

Library Timetable

Monday: 

  • Rūma 6+7 Michelle and Tessa
  • Rūma 8 Thomas

Wednesday: 

  • Rūma 5 Christina

Friday:

  • Rūma 1 Bronwyn 
  • Rūma 3 Elise

Home Learning

Reading

At Ngaio School we use the Better Start Literacy Approach in our first two years of school. Your child will bring home a variety of language tasks to practise. These tasks can vary from guided books, independent books, word building games or phonics games to help your child practise their decoding skills. 

Please click here for more information about how you can help support your child with their literacy at home.

Poetry Books : Each week your child will bring home a poem in their poetry book to share with you. 

In years 2 and 3 students continue to be exposed to a broad range of texts and vocabulary and reading widely at home helps to reinforce the reading strategies introduced at school. Poems and reading books are sent home regularly and students are encouraged to select their own reading books for personal enjoyment.

Library Books: Each student will have the opportunity to select and share one or two books from our wonderful school library with their whānau.

Spelling

In the year 1 classes we work to develop the children’s spelling knowledge through both phonic knowledge, word building, rhyming words and securing the skills to spell new words.  

Twice a year (Term 1 and Term 3) the children will be tested formally on their spelling vocabulary and the data will be sent home so you are able to support your child with words they have not yet secured.

This continues in year 2 and by year 3 akōnga have their own individual spelling programme based on results from Essential Word testing. Akōnga have five words to learn each week, are tested by a buddy on Fridays, then new words selected.

Basic Facts
Each child in Kakapo has their own individual basic facts programme based on testing of the Basic Facts. Children have five facts to learn each week and are tested by a buddy on Fridays, then new facts are selected.

The ROCKET Challenge is an optional home learning programme.

These are presented in our classes as they are completed. Children are able to demonstrate their organisation skills and enjoy sharing their experiences and challenges with their peers. 

Find out more about the ROCKET Challenges here.

New Parent Information Booklet

Sunsmart

Term 1 is a sunny term and all ākonga are expected to wear a hat everyday when outside at school. Please ensure your child has their sun hat in their bags daily for fitness, brain breaks and physical education.

Swimming Timetable

Begins week 2

Tuesday

Rūma 6 Michelle 9:00-10:00

Rūma 7 Tessa 10:00-11:00

Rūma 8 Thomas 11:30-12:30

Rūma 1 Bronwyn 1:30-2:30

Wednesday 

Rūma 3 Elise 1:30-2:30

Thursday 

Rūma 5 Christina 1:30-2:30