Tākaka Primary School

Tākaka Primary is situated on 4 hectares of land with the local Kindergarten and High School just steps away. Our beautiful grounds back onto a forest and the community gardens, and we are a short walk from Tākaka town. We get the best of both worlds; being able to access the library and other amenities, while still being close to nature. 

We have fantastic facilities that enhance the learning opportunities we provide our tamariki. These include: a heated swimming pool, a pump track and an asphalt bike track with access to school bikes daily, a school forest for outdoor learning, school gardens and green house, as well as an orchard onsite. We are fortunate to have a heated swimming pool for your child to enjoy water safety and swimming lessons during both Term 1 and 4. We have a modern school library that allows access to new books weekly for your child to enjoy at home with you. Our hall is a wonderful asset and is well utilised for assemblies and sharing learning with whānau.

Our school prides itself on being able to provide opportunities for students to discover themselves, one another, and their environment. We actively teach our students how to manage risks and be safe. Your children will climb trees, build huts and explore nature. They will ride bikes and scooters, zoom around, and play bull rush and rugby. They will be kids and have a great time exploring and learning! 

Our committed staff work in partnership with students, whānau and one another to create learning opportunities that engage, excite and encourage our learners to lengthen their stride and reach the potential they deserve. Our school is a great place to be, supported by our strong focus on values, relationships, and creating a family-like context. Tuakana teina relationships are at the heart of living our vision in providing an environment for tamariki to thrive. Tuakana teina is a concept from te ao Māori and refers to the relationship between an older (tuakana) person and a younger (teina) person. Tuakana teina relationships are visible in many different forms throughout our kura. 

He Puāwaitanga Vision

Ākonga experience belonging to - and connection with - Te Ao Māori through Te Reo Māori, Tikanga Māori and Pūrākau-a-rohe.

Ākonga experience a curriculum that is developed through our Cultural Values:

• He Tikanga: The kawa, tikanga, and cultural values of Manawhenua ki Mohua

• Arohatia Te Reo Māori: A love of learning

• Kaitiakitanga: A commitment to caring for each other, the whenua and the wider environment

• Whanaungatanga: An understanding of the interconnected nature of people, places and our learning.

Our KIA ORA Kid Values

• Kotahitanga - Unity

• Integrity - Pono

• Adaptability - Autanga

• Open to Learning - Kia Mataara

• Respect - Whakaute

• Aroha - Empathy

Our school values and qualities guide the way we engage in learning and play at Tākaka Primary School. They are infused into all aspects of our school learning community. Both our values and qualities are future focused, ensuring we are providing our next generation with the skills and qualities they are going to need for THEIR future. These are explicitly taught and embedded throughout life at TPS. We live our values and qualities everyday! 

Our Values are the building blocks within which we grow;

Collaborative, Connected, Life Long Learners who thrive in Respectful Relationships.

A Structured Literacy approach is much more than just reading. It includes the following that is aligned to the stage each child is working at:

• decoding or reading words, sentences and text aligned to the stage 

• encoding or writing the sounds, words and sentences with the sounds for that stage

• learning letter formation for each of the sounds 

• learning spelling rules for different sounds eg: when to use c versus k.

This approach is a personalised approach tailored to the individual needs of every child, to ensure we develop them as confident readers, writers and spellers.