Our Key Values

Whangarei Heads School Values:

CREATIVITY -

actively valuing creativity, encouraging  individuality and differentiating the curriculum

BELONGING –

celebrating our connection to Whangarei Heads School and Community, and Caring for each other

ACHIEVEMENT -

valuing all areas of learning: Personal, Academic and Physical

RESPONSIBILITY -

promoting social responsibility, self responsibility and environmental responsibility

FUN -

enjoying school and encouraging freedom

 

Implementing the Values at Whangarei Heads School –

 At Whangarei Heads School we teach values in authentic contexts by threading them through everything that we do. All members of our school family aim to model these values. We believe this is more valuable than teaching them as separate entities.

 New Zealand Curriculum Values:

Excellence; Innovation, Inquiry & Curiosity; Diversity; Equity; Community & Participation for the common good; Ecological sustainability; Integrity

 

School Value/ Key Competency/ NZC Value

How does that look at our school? Linking our values and the NZC values.

Creativity

  • Thinking

  • Using Language, Symbols and Texts

 

NZC Values - Innovation, inquiry & curiosity; Community & participation

Examples of creativity: Bi-Annual Art Exhibition; Original Bi-Annual Production; Artists-in-Schools with local artist Laurence Berry (2008) Individuality: Valuing the individual – knowing our children; targeting children with special needs and recognising individual talents; encouraging children to be individuals Differentiating the curriculum – personalising learning; tailoring curriculum delivery to suit individual needs/strengths; variety; choice; opportunities to develop critical and creative thinking skills;

Actions – murals in the community; Marine Reserve human chain; Coastal clean-ups; Community Problem Solving; Ocean Beach bird protection signs; Passion Time; Science Fair investigations – local themes & impacts; Creative teaching styles

Belonging

  • Managing Self

  • Relating to Others

  • Participating and Contributing

 

NZC Values – diversity; Community & Participation; Integrity; Ecological sustainability; Equity

Connection to Whangarei Heads School and Community: Care for our environment – part of the culture of the school, conservation of resources; recycling; part of school routine; Sense of community – students involved in shaping and caring for school and local environment; awareness and celebration of our history – including connection of tangata whenua to the land; awareness of benefits & responsibilities as a member of a community; Caring for each other: Building Relationships – Open-door policy; showing empathy for others; Seniors looking after juniors; a safe secure environment; Peer mediators; feeling of being ‘listened to’.

Actions: Leadership opportunities; Houses; fostering personal responsibility; inclusion; special needs programmes; transition from pre-school and transition to High School; frequent visits from high school students (ex-pupils); sports teams; inter-school events; representing the school; House Captain meetings; Support Group events; Family fundraisers and social events

Achievement

  • Using Language, Symbols and Texts

  • Thinking

  • Participating and Contributing

 

NZC Values -

Excellence; innovation, inquiry & curiosity; equity; integrity

Valuing all areas of learning: personal strengths recognised and valued and integral to learning; acknowledgement of achievement; recognition of special qualities and ideas – for example our ‘Harry Potter Day’ organised by students for students. Personal: meeting personal goals and challenges; recognition of personal talents whatever form they may take; opportunities to use personal talents Academic: meeting and exceeding expected levels of achievement; balanced curriculum and timetable Physical: involvement in outside opportunities – using our local environment to enhance physical well-being;

Actions: Portfolios, personal goal setting; involving children in peer/self assessment; positively critiquing each others work; building success criteria with children; using exemplars; celebrating success of all kinds; maintaining motivation of students by using authentic contexts – students undertaking purposeful learning experiences

Responsibility

  • Managing Self

  • Relating to Others

  • Participating and Contributing

 

NZC Values - Excellence, Diversity, Equity, Communication and Participation, Ecological Sustainability, Integrity

Social Responsibility: Relating to others – All opinions valued, listened to; respect for all by all; speak and listen to others respectfully; celebrate difference;

Acting for the good of the whole – working together on common goals; collaboration; shared responsibility; Taking initiative; supporting each other; Leadership opportunities – Community Services Programme for Year 7 & 8; development of leadership qualities and confidence throughout the school.

Self Responsibility: Thinking before acting – reflecting on behaviour and how it affects others; thinking of consequences – good and bad; resilience (mistakes are acknowledged as part of learning process); fostering empathy;  Independent Problem Solving – across all curriculum areas; taught a variety of thinking skills; Respect for self and others – Positive feedback, modelling of support; Managing Self - self belief; Mental and physical risk-taking (within reason);

Environment: Awareness of the world – exposed to wider world issues; mixing with a variety of cultures in different environments; awareness of special connection with the tangata whenua; Sustainability – awareness of guardianship for those who come after us; Understanding where products come from – making informed decisions when purchasing and producing products

 

Actions: Taking responsibility for what happens – making things right; learning from mistakes; taking action within the community when needs arise; making a difference within the community; students empowered by others valuing their ideas in discussion; ethical dilemmas discussed and resolved

Fun

  • Relating to Others

  • Participating and Contributing

 

NZC Values -

Communication and Participation, Integrity

Enjoying school: We hear laughter in and out of classrooms and staffroom; children are engaged and motivated learners; encouraging and sharing our sense of humour… happy children learn well and happy staff teach well. Freedom: children trusted to make safe and sensible choices – hut building; scooters and skate boards; children learning to moderate their own behaviour to keep themselves safe

Actions: Flexibility; perseverance; spontaneity; grabbing the teachable moment; sense of accomplishment when taking on the challenge; no put downs – laugh with, not at; sense of ‘making a difference’; involvement of students in shaping our school and it’s environment