School recognised for values-based learning

Councillor Shelley Deeming, whose children have attended Tauraroa Area School, presents principal Grant Burns and teacher Ellen Curnow with the School of Character award. Photo/Supplied.

A Northland area school is one of six in the country to be presented with an award celebrating its achievement in the Cornerstone Values approach.

Tauraroa Area School has received a National Schools of Character award, commissioned by The New Zealand Character Foundation, to recognise the school's excellence in values education.

Last year it became the first school in Northland and the first area school in the country to be recognised as a Cornerstone Values accredited school.

The approach to teaching values is multi-faceted across the school curriculum and extra-curricular time. It includes special form times, integration in curriculum planning, pastoral care, assemblies, modelling and extra-curricular programmes such as the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Each term they focus on one of the eight values; duty, kindness, honesty and truthfulness, obedience, responsibility, compassion, consideration and concern for others and respect. The school adopted the Cornerstone Values approach in 2008.

Principal Grant Burns is passionate about the approach.

"We believe that using the Cornerstone Values approach in our school has had a very positive effect on the overall culture at Tauraroa.

"The school enjoys a very high standard of student behaviour, supported by strong pastoral care and an on-going evidence of our Cornerstone Values. In spite of roll growth, the number of students involved in serious discipline incidents has declined steadily year to year since 2008," he said.

He said students who joined the school from other schools frequently remarked on the high levels of trust in the school and may confidently leave their bags unwatched while they take part in activities at lunch time and intervals.

Visitors to the school and relieving teachers frequently comment on the friendly, courteous and respectful manner of the students.

The principal said he was confident in showing visitors around, knowing that classes will be full of engaged students and the school grounds are very clean and tidy.