Author: Niki Stephenson

Click here to peruse the awesome workshops we have to offer this term.

As ever, there has been an incredible array of workshop offers from parents, LAs and ākonga too. The descriptors and the form for selection will be posted on Thursday, in time for you to enjoy the long weekend perusing workshops. The form this time will give students 3 choices, and we are confident we will […]

Thanks to those of you who came to the ‘How-to-PINs’ workshop this afternoon, or who got in touch to say you couldn’t make it this time. Offers are looking interesting so far. There is poetry and creative writing, disc golf, a walk and a soak in some pools, bead and jewellery making, programming, NCEA study […]

A reminder of the ‘How to PINs’ workshop happening at school at 5.30 tomorrow. So far 3 lovely parents have RSVP’d. Please let Niki know if you’re coming so she can find the appropriate-sized space for the workshop. The PINs form will close on Wednesday, so far there are very few offers on the form. […]

Kia ora koutou, PINs this term is happening on Thursday 15 April. The form for workshop submissions has only ben live for a couple of days, and so far there is one whole offer. I met a parent new to school this morning who spoke to me about PINs, and it occurred to me to […]

It is that time already! This term, PINs will be a full day held on Thursday 15 April, the last day of term before IEMs. For those of you new to us, PINs stands for Passions, Interests and Needs, and is an opportunity for our whole school community to be involved in our kura. Anyone […]

Last week I was contacted by Jessy from Frank Film with the following request: Frank Film are making a short documentary on families living in central Christchurch; specifically those with children who have moved into the Central City for the lifestyle opportunities it offers them. We thought that Ao Tawhiti might have some whānau who live […]

A huge thanks to David Hattam for running a ‘Magic the Gathering’ lunchtime club for some of our rangatahi. Magic the Gathering will run on Monday lunchtimes on level one. Interested parties must register via this form or by talking to Niki, so we can keep an eye on numbers. We have a few students […]

Calling all students, LAs, Learning Support Staff and Parents!We would LOVE to get some Lunchtime Clubs off the ground this year at Ao Tawhiti.Some ideas for clubs that students have already said they’d like to see happening are: Environment Photography Calligraphy/ drawing/ arts & crafts/ painting Theatre Sports for juniors & seniors/ Glee!/ music/ choir […]

This Wednesday (the 24th of Feb) at 8.15am, the Ao Tawhiti Breakfast Club will have free chocolate/cacao shakes for students! This is a great opportunity for students to try out and learn about the incredible goodness of cacao and have a really filling breakfast to start the day. This is a not to miss event so get […]

Please come to our whole school community fish and chip evening on Thursday 18 February at Broad Park in New Brighton from 5pm. Bring your whānau, friends, picnic blankets, take ways, balls and frisbees. Meet some new families, hang out with some old ones and connect with some LAs. There is a playground there, and […]

We are delighted to extend a cordial invitation to all staff, Board members, ākonga, whānau and friends to attend our welcoming pōwhiri on Wednesday 10 February at 9am at the Majestic church on Durham St (just before the New World supermarket, on the same side of the road). Doors will open at 8.00, and we […]

Kia ora ē te whānau, All LAs are looking forward to seeing you for you IEM over the next couple of days. Here is a link to an IEM prep form, should you like to complete it. There is no obligation, but it is a great idea to have a think about where you’d like […]

Kia ora folks, it is so nice to see so many of you at school looking around and making connections with our awesome HBLAs. It’s wonderful to see you all coming prepared with people you’d like to meet. The form for selection your HBLA is now open and will close at 8am tomorrow morning (Tuesday […]

Kia ora folks, I hope you’re all having a wonderful break. Here is the link to complete for any Y1-6 students requiring supervision during term 1’s IEM days on Thursday 4 and Friday 5 February. Enjoy the rest of your break!

Many of you will be aware that Sarah and Linda from ‘Know Your Purpose‘, a self-development program for teens, presented at Whakanuia te kanorau – Celebrating Diversity last month. They run courses for teens to, well, get to know themselves. They are running a course for 13-15-year-olds on the 20th and 21st of January and […]

On Thursday the 10th December, from 3.15pm-4pm. Our Ao Tawhiti Careers Advisor, Kirsty McMillan, will be hosting the first ‘Ao Tawhiti Unlimited Discovery – Infosnack’. This will be held on the first floor stairs. This is an opportunity for specifically new families, (current families are also welcome) to learn about everything NCEA and careers from our resident […]

With Christmas coming up, we now have a Christmas Tree set up by reception!! We are asking the Ao Tawhiti community that if anyone has any Christmas decorations either around home or have any that have been made then feel free to come bring them in to put up on the tree. Just chuck them up […]

Here is a link to a doc that has the PINs workshops and who is in what. If you cannot find your rangatahi in this document, or you think something is not right, please email niki.stephenson@aotawhiti.school.nz and I will sort it out. Ngā mihi, Niki

Thanks so much to everyone who has signed up to support this initiative, your time is much appreciated. Here is a link to the timesheet so far. There are a couple of gaps. Please email niki.stephenson@aotawhiti.school.nz if you are able to help.