At our school, every student’s journey is unique. To ensure all our tamariki have the exact support they need to thrive, we are proud to introduce Te Puna Ako, a dedicated space designed to support emotional regulation, wellbeing and academic growth.
Why Te Puna Ako?
The name Te Puna Ako translates to “The Spring of Learning.” Just like a natural spring provides fresh water, renewal and life, Te Puna Ako is built as a welcoming space where students can pause, reset, learn essential regulation skills and return to their regular classroom feeling refreshed and ready to succeed.
What Happens in the Space?
Te Puna Ako balances structured learning with rich, engaging activities. Students earn access to hands on, high interest activities by completing their core academic learning tasks. A typical day includes:
- Academic Learning: Individualised learning programmes focusing on reading, writing and mathematics tailored to each student’s needs. Students are held accountable to complete their allocated learning tasks, helping them learn what success looks and feels like each day.
- Active & Mindful Reset: Morning martial arts sessions to help channel energy, daily group fitness and quiet calm down time.
- Life Skills & Hands On Fun: Opportunities to learn cooking and baking, kitset building, furniture refurbishing, art, Lego construction and guitar lessons.
- Shared Kai & Community: Daily morning check ins with breakfast, as well as shared kai (food) and karakia to strengthen connections.
Who Makes It Happen?
It takes a whole village to support our tamariki! Te Puna Ako is brought to life by a passionate, dedicated team:
- Overseen by: Associate Principal, Alisha Kerr, who leads and coordinates the learning programmes.
- Supported by: A wonderful team of kaiāwhina and staff, including Mr Lewis, Matua Kingi, Kayla, Riley, Michelle, Jeff and Sensei Shane, who teach, guide and care for our students every day.
- Community Support: We extend a heartfelt thank you to Methanex for their investment and support in bringing this space to life.
How Does It Work?
Te Puna Ako is not a punishment nor a reward. Rather, it serves as a tailored classroom and supportive pit stop:
- Access & Placement: Students access the space through structured plans tailored to their individual learning and emotional needs.
- Reintegration: The ultimate goal is always to guide students along a clear reintegration pathway, paced for each individual, back into their regular classrooms with confidence and tools to succeed.
- Whānau Partnership: We walk this journey alongside our families, ensuring open communication and collaboration every step of the way.
Together, through care, routine and community support, Te Puna Ako is helping our tamariki build the skills they need for a bright future.
Special Thanks to Methanex
A Heartfelt Thank You to Methanex
We simply could not have made this space possible without the incredibly generous funding and support we received from Methanex. Because of their community minded sponsorship, we have been able to fully resource Te Puna Ako with specialised tools and programmes to support our tamariki, including:
- Calming Resources: Specialised soft lighting, regulation software, anxiety blankets and calming sensory toys.
- Energy Outlets: Interactive games that teach collaborative play, alongside physical equipment like punching bags for when students have high energy to channel.
- Empowering Programmes & Kai: Nourishing food and structured programmes, including the Sensei Shane Martial Arts Programme, where our tamariki proudly earn belts as they master the art of emotional regulation.
We are already seeing the positive impact of this room and we are so incredibly proud of the growth and success our tamariki are making within it. Thank you again to Methanex and our dedicated staff for investing in the well being of our future generations.
