AWARD: Malfroy Primary School principal Nicky Brell with Bay of Plenty education director Ezra Schuster and students Willow Ihe, 11, and Reilly McPhee, 10. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
AWARD: Malfroy Primary School principal Nicky Brell with Bay of Plenty education director Ezra Schuster and students Willow Ihe, 11, and Reilly McPhee, 10. PHOTO/BEN FRASER
A Rotorua primary school has been recognised for its value-based learning by being named a School of Character.
Malfroy Primary School received its plaque, valid for four years, at a special assembly yesterday.
Bay of Plenty education director Ezra Schuster presented the award to principal Nicky Brell. Mr Schuster saidit was a "fantastic" achievement as only a handful of schools get it, he said.
Malfroy is a Cornerstone Values school, which means it teaches a curriculum based on values such as truthfulness, kindness, responsibility and respect. While the awards are run by the Cornerstone Values foundation, they are open to all schools in New Zealand who can demonstrate positive results in school behaviour, citizenship, school culture and academic achievement.
Last year Kaitao Middle School won the award and Kaharoa School is another former recipient. This year five schools were recognised, with Malfroy the only primary school. The others are Otago Girls' High School, Hato Paora College, Rathkeale College and Hamilton Boys' High School.
The school was presented with a plaque and a $1000 cheque, which it will reinvest into its Positive Behaviour For Learning programme.
"We've a common purpose to strive to achieve the best we can," Mr Brell said.
"The journey becomes more relevant because we can make a difference in the lives of every single individual. This is recognition of all of that. The current staff are caretakers of the programme to make sure we give the best to our kids."
