THIS full immersion kura [school] is the absolute centre of the universe, everything pivots around them, tumuaki [principal] Miriama Harmer says and smiles broadly.
``Well that's how it feels here and it's certainly how we all feel.''
Shoes are left at the door as you step into rooms and hallways
painted in vivid blues and greens and a deep warm red.
There is a comforting feel inside this school, it has an all encompassing feel of whanau and belonging.
Maori is the primary language here, there is just one room in the school where English can be spoken.
So those visitors who arrive to speak to the children and the staff _ for example a health nurse _ and can't speak te reo Maori address the school in the special language room.
The thing is, Ms Harmer says, most of the parents who send their children to the school don't speak Maori either.
``But they want their children to have that special, something extra which they never had. They feel that learning and speaking Maori will fulfil a deep need in their children.''
Te reo Maori is the principal language of communication and instruction.
The principal curriculum is taught entirely in Maori. All the students interact freely in Maori. ``They still speak English, of course, because they need to outside of school,'' Ms Harmer says.
Gone were the days where people would stop and stare if they heard Maori being spoken in the supermarket or on the street, Harmer said.
``We have some parents speaking Maori with their children when they're out and about and nobody finds it unusual any longer,'' she says. Even though the children are fluent in Maori, they have English grammar classes several times a week.
``Because English is still their primary language.''
However, to relay to a wider school audience the valuable language of te reo Maori, Ms Harmer and teacher Robin Ohia spent many hours translating an e-learning system for all students throughout central and the bottom half of the North Island. They used LAMS, the world's leading e-learning system devised at Mcquarie University in Sydney in 2007.
The system creates, runs and monitors digital lesson plans and is now used by thousands of educators in more than 80 countries and has been translated into 25 languages.
But Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Atihaunui a Paparangi is the first school in New Zealand to utilise and translate this groundbreaking system.
There are 600 students using the programme from Whanganui, Ruapehu, Manawatu, Taranaki and Wellington regions, Ms Harmer says. ``And yes we are very, very proud of our achievement.''
This small school at Putiki is the leading school of the Virtual Kura cluster Te Kahui Kura o Te Whaitua Matihiko.
Their LAMS programme delivers online learning activities developed by Maori for Maori and supports the Maori medium curriculum and Maori Medium National Standards.
Students learn individually and collectively, with teachers creating lessons and monitoring students' progress online.
The cluster leader, Robin Ohia, said that students had stepped up their learning immensely because of it. ``And they are suggesting topics for new learning activities, as well as voluntarily accessing the learning environment from home,'' he said.
Ms Harmer said the Ministry of Education was delighted with the e-learning programme and the effect it was having for so many students.
And adding to te reo Maori at home are dozens of books in Maori being sent home with the children, she says. Maori reading books are given out to schools throughout the region by the ministry but most say they really don't need so many Maori reading books.
``So the other schools give them to us, which is great because we are able to give the books to our students to take home and keep ... which is good for the whole family.''
Every child at kura is considered precious and is much loved _ this shows in the warm, vibrant classrooms where the atmosphere is about learning, respect and caring.
Musical instruments are in every room, as well as a special music room with a huge range of instruments from flutes to guitars and drums.
Artwork by the students adorns the walls throughout the school along with vivid pictures of New Zealand, including ocean scenes, bush vistas, majestic mountains and native flowers and birds.
Just two years ago there were 6267 students in kura kaupapa Maori which is an increase of 9.3 per cent since 2002 when 5428 were enrolled.
If the increase in those enrolled in kura kaupapa continues, then there will be a further increase in the demand for teachers who are able to teach the entire curriculum in Maori, an area where there is already a shortage of teachers.
The shortage is being addressed by the Ministry of Education, Ms Harmer says. She's proud of her happy school and said it was most definitely a whanau-influenced little school.
The school has been up and running on its Putiki site since 1993 and has never looked back from the day it opened, she says.
``We are a special place and always will be,'' Ms Harmer says.-->-->-->
Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi 25 Anaua St, Putiki. Staff:10. Pupils: 62. Decile: 2. Tumuaki: Miriama Harmer. Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Atihaunui-a-Paparangi 25 Anaua St, Putiki. Staff:10. Pupils: 62. Decile: 2. Tumuaki: Miriama Harmer. Mission statement: Whakamanahia a tatou tamariki mokopuna kia mhio, kia tu kaha kia noho ngawari atu. Attest and instil confidence in our children and grandchildren, so that they stand tall with knowledge and respect. What the ERO said Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Te Atihaunui -a-Paparangi operates in accordance with the principles of Te Aho Matua. Whanau and staff provide a range of learning opportunities within the kura, in the community and beyond to support students to become active participants in their whanau, hapu and iwi. Students are well supported to be physically, spiritually and emotionally confident . Students are focused and motivated to learn. Students are developing as competent readers, thinkers, writers and speakers in te reo Maori and English. Students acknowledge the importance attached to different roles and responsibilities. Students actively investigate and explore the Maori world and the wider world. Students are achieving well and are beginning to realise the hopes and aspirations of their people. All the children are my grandchildren I love them all. I love the spirituality of our language.We have special staff.Yvette McGregorIt is a wonderful environment here, The children are lovely and there is a great staff. Haley BrewerI really like coming here, we have great teachers. I love maths, sport and kapa haka. Te Miringa ParkesI love reading books and I love to help my friends. I love going on the computers. Briani-Lee Te NgaruI love that you get lots of work, there is a good family here. My nanny is my teacher.Miharo Tapa-Kawau I love my school, I have lots of friends and we learn together.Mataamua Biddle-Amarua-Nicholls
