Just thought I would pass on that I thought the trip to Goat Island today went really well. The kids were well behaved but still kids, and seemed really well prepared. Jessica always seemed on top of everything (including having everything clear for the parent helpers) and when stuff went wrong, as it does (in particular technical issues in the marine centre half of the day) easily adjusted things so that there was no real impact.

It was definitely another case where it's easy to be proud of the school both as a parent and as a board member.

One of the first things we noticed and, have grown to love about Ahuroa School, is the openness and friendliness of the staff and children.  There really is a feeling of family and being looked after by the whole school....we have found Ahuroa School to have a huge heart with so much to offer our children in becoming well-rounded individuals and enjoying their childhood in such a happy, secure and nurturing environment. 

After 9 years at Ahuroa School and 3 children later, our last is about to move on.  And what to write about our wonderful collective experiences there?  I decided to ask the family. When quizzed what the best bits were, the children’s responses ranged from ‘the vibe you get from the school is friendly’ and ‘it wasn’t like any other school, the teachers would have conversations with the children and become quite good friends with them’ ‘AND you were allowed to climb trees!’ To the school’s approach to learning; ‘we were actually learning and not being force fed dead facts.  A lot of that was down to the teachers’. On being questioned what they learnt from being at Ahuroa School they replied variously ‘I learnt how to make friends’, ‘I learnt how to be patient and understanding with little kids’ and ‘I discovered that school can be fun and interesting and a bit flexible without compromising our acquisition of knowledge and skills’....

Since coming to Ahuroa School, my children have been given the opportunity to grow both socially and educationally.  The teachers are so approachable, I feel I can always talk to them and find out how my children are doing and due to the size of the school and of classes, I know that they are always aware of my children as individuals, instead of just as part of a class. Its small size and unique setting create an ideal environment for children to feel safe and secure in, the staff all being approachable and responsive. My children have been supported to find solutions to problems and have been given the tools to deal with situations on their own and I feel that this has provided an important skill set that my children may not have otherwise learnt.  My favourite feature of Ahuroa, are the clubs in the afternoons. These allow the children to learn via their individual interests, they are given the opportunity to learn the best way possible for them...

.....What a fabulous choice it has been. We love watching our son grow in confidence, curiosity and ability all which undoubtedly are supported and encouraged by the wonderful staff and vast experiences provided by Ahuroa School.  We truly value how Ahuroa School stretches his thinking and abilities but also allows him the freedom to just be a child. As for our second child, the Four Year Old Friday visits - we don’t know any other school that does this – have been invaluable in making her already feel very much a part of the school, which of course will make the transition to full time schooling so much easier. The way we see it, teachers that can manage to make their pupils look forward to a day at school are blessed with  a true gift, how fortunate for us to have that gift right here in our community.