Nau mai, Haere Mai

Welcome to Whakamārama School, a picturesque rural school located 20 minutes from downtown Tauranga in the sunny Bay of Plenty. 

For us, the success of our school begins with creating a safe place for all and having a shared vision – staff, students, parents, whānau, board of trustees and community members. We encourage positive relationships and live by our mission statement ‘Growing a Positive Learning Attitude’ to ensure that the potential of each student flourishes during their time with us. 

This website is a place where you can find information about our school and where we can communicate with you. Browse our site and get a feel for the learning environment we create for our students.

We welcome inquiries and feedback at any time from school families past, present and future. Please do not hesitate in contacting us if you would like to find out more about our school.   

Ū ki te ako, tu tangata ai apōpō 
Excel in teaching so our learners will excel in the future

Acknowledgement of Achievement
Whakanui i te Whakatutukitanga

END OF YEAR PRIZEGIVING
TROPHY WINNERS
Citizenship
A good citizen is someone who volunteers to be active in their community. They are honest and trustworthy. They follow rules and respects the rights of others. They are compassionate. They take responsibility for their actions. They protect the environment. They are always willing to learn. For being a role model to those around them and making a difference to our school community we congratulate Lillia and Lucy

The Arts - Stuart
Visual art, music, dance and drama - The Arts enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. The Arts help develop creativity, critical thinking and problem solving abilities. For excelling across ‘The Arts’ we congratulate Stuart

Academic Progress 
“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” Ayla, we celebrate your growth in confidence and the progress you have made across the year. You have flourished and set yourself on a journey to prove exactly what you are capable of. 

Academic Achievement 
“Success is no accident, it is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do” We congratulate Michi and Nina

Sports / Sportsmanship
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen” For excellence in the sporting arena we celebrate the unique  talents and sportsmanship qualities of Tiana. 

END OF YEAR PRIZEGIVING
ROOM 3 RECOGNITION 
WEEK 9, 11th December
Taylor- Year 1Certificate of Excellence: An enthusiastic learner who displays much curiosity. A keen writer who is developing a strong ‘voice’ - super progress and achievement.  
Ollie - Year 1 Certificate of Merit: An individual thinker, who is keen to know more about the world around him. Ollie is a great conversationalist who is progressing well.
Aaliyah- Year 1 Certificate of Merit: A happy and very conscientious learner! Aaliyah applies effort with a smile. A super reader.
Ben - Year 1 Highly Commended: A thinker, who loves math problems. Ben can be quite determined when ‘working on’ learning challenges.
Jake - Year 2 Highly Commended: A curious and conscientious learner. Jake has ‘strived’ to progress this year, with great gains - Super! He brings a determination to his learning across all areas of the Curriculum.

ROOM  2 RECOGNITION 
WEEK 9, 11th December
Caitlin- Year 2 Certificate of Excellence: Congratulations Caitlin on bringing that ‘little extra’ to your learning and achieving excellence in Reading, Writing and Mathematics.
Ryan - Year 2 Certificate of Merit: Ryan, you  have a keen mind and a desire to learn. Never stop questioning and continue to have fun. Congratulations!

Gemma- Year 3 Certificate of Excellence: Gemma, you are focused, hard working determined learner.  Believe in yourself, you will be unstoppable! Congratulations on a successful year.
Hunter T - Year 3 Certificate of Merit: Hunter, you start each day with a positive learning attitude and you have reaped the rewards of your efforts. Congratulations!
Isabelle - Highly Commended: Isabelle you have been consistent and persistent in your learning this year and as a result you have had great success.  Congratulations!

Marlo- Year 4 Certificate of Excellence: Marlo, you are curious and inquisitive and have an inner drive to always know more. You have excelled in Reading, Writing and Mathematics this year. 
Alfie - Year 4 Certificate of Merit: Alfie, you are focused learner and endeavour to make the most of every learning opportunity given to you. You have excelled in Reading, Writing and Mathematics this year.

ROOM  1 RECOGNITION 
WEEK 9, 11th December
Charlotte - Year 5 Certificate of Excellence: Charlotte, you have a keen mind and a desire to learn. You have a quiet strength in all that you do. Congratulations!
Nadia - Year 5 Certificate of Merit: Nadia, you are a positive member of our learning community whose potential continues to flourish. You apply yourself to all that you do and the fruit of your hard work is sweet! Congratulations

Nina- Year 6 Certificate of Excellence: Nina, you have an inextinguishable appetite for learning and experience. You are curious - you are not afraid to try, explore and question. Continue to be curious and have fun. Congratulations!
Hunter S - Year 6 Certificate of Merit: Hunter, you are curious about the world around you, you look for interesting problems to solve because you enjoy it. Continue to be passionate, amazed and intrigued in all that you do. We will miss your keen mind; Continue to have fun. Congratulations!

Mika- Year 7 Certificate of Excellence: Mika, your keen mind and eagerness to learn is a role model to those around you. Keep smiling and having fun! Congratulations
Rue - Year 7 Certificate of Merit: Rue, you have an independent mind. You know how to think and have the ability to critically think through problems to make the most of learning opportunities presented to you. Never stop learning because life never stops teaching.
Holly - Year 7 Highly Commended: Holly, you work hard and never give up. You have continued to grow across all areas of school life and should be extremely proud of your efforts. Congratulations!


Michi- Year 8 Certificate of Excellence: Michi, you not only grow yourself as a learner; but you grow all those around you. Your success is the repeated efforts that you put in day in and day out. 
Lucy - Year 8 Certificate of Merit: Lucy, you are kind, work hard, humble, smile often and keep honest. Continue to be who you are and do what you do. Keep smiling and having fun!
Lillia - Year 8 Certificate of Merit: Lillia, you are a motivated learner. You work hard. You have an inner drive leading you to be the best in the world at what you want to do. The real secret of success is enthusiasm and you have this! Take chances, make mistakes and continue to grow. You will sincerely be missed.
Matthew- Year 8 Certificate of Merit: Matthew, you stay positive and happy. You work hard and don't give. You enjoy learning, come to school smiling and contribute immensely to our learning environment. Your keen mind and eagerness to learn is a role model to those around you. Keep smiling and having fun!

The End of a Momentous Year

2020 has been a year like no other. It is the end of a momentous year, a year in which we have faced so many challenges and  learnt so much. 2020 has been a year of aroha, a year of compassion, a year of support, a year of resilience and a year in which our community did a wonderful job of keeping whānau, each other and our learners safe. 

Whilst with some interruptions along the way; 2020 has been another year of positive change for our school community - accelerating learning in literacy, a board funded music teacher, Waitomo Camp, sourcing of a Kapahaka Tutor, our school production and funding approved to invest in our school grounds to name a few. The highlight for the year however has to be the continued roll growth and the upcoming opening of a fourth classroom in 2021. 

We would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Enjoy the time off you have with family and friends.

Orange Day Parade

Tauranga city streets were flooded with over 760 local students on Friday 27th November as they walked the streets with large banners encouraging road safety and active travel in their communities. The Orange Day Parade is a celebration of students sharing their road safety messages which is supported by Tauranga City Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and NZ Police.

Mika, Lucy, Michi and Luke paraded the city centre with their colourful banner to raise awareness about road safety. There message: Ur Life Means More Than a Text. After the parade the students were treated to a swim at the Baywave TECT Aquatic & Leisure Centre.

Waitomo Camp

On Wednesday 18th November, our Year 3-8 students headed to Waitomo for a three day adventure. The students were involved in a wide range of activities that were fun and challenging. Caving, ziplining, the Troll Cave, hiking, abseiling and much more created lasting memories for our talented learners. Our learners did not shy away from giving things a go and as a result they grew within themselves as individuals.

It was a privilege to stay at Tokikapu Marae and the whakatau welcome was heartwarming. Ngā mihi nui ki a kourua Cale me Tiana for supporting our school with the whaikorero and karanga during the formal welcome.

Overnight Stay at School

Our Year 1 / 2 learners had a super day of activities on Thursday 19th November: A bus drive to Mauao, sighting dolphins while hiking around the base track, a swim, movie night, a sleep over in the library and MUCH more! Ngā mihi nui a ngā kaiako me ngā mātua - big thanks to the teachers and parents who cared for our teina, our youngest, for this event. ​

What has 2020 held for Whakamārama School?
​Check out our photo gallery

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