Students win new respect

PRINCIPAL Peter Kaua has Mana in abundance. He's an energetic, empathetic, caring man who wants and wills his students to learn and achieve.

One the most exciting events in any classroom is to see the ``light come on'' in a student's head, he said.

Even though he is a man clearly destined to be at the helm, his love of being in the classroom and teaching means he spends a few hours teaching maths to a Year 11 class.

``I am determined to get these guys to level 1 NCEA, they can do it, I know they can and I'm going to make sure they do.''

As we walked with Mr Kaua to his math class, students were changing classes and every one greeted their principal with a grin and a few high fives.

``I know every student in my school and they all know me. In the five years I have been here I have encouraged a whanau atmosphere because that is what is so important for the students, the staff and me.''

He laughs, saying when he first arrived at the school, his first principal assembly was shambolic. The students came into the hall talking, laughing, eating, climbing over seats. ``It was hopeless so I told them all to leave and came back in and behave properly. We eventually got it right after a few goes ... thank goodness.''

Last week at a principal's assembly the students filed in quietly, there was some murmuring but the second they were given the signal from the stage they were on their feet, silent and respectful.

Mr Kaua said the hall was a special place, with many portraits honouring former students right back to 1919, old boys who had achieved notable success.

``So you see it is our special place, our place of honour and the students understand this.''

Pride in his school is uppermost for Mr Kaua.

``We've had our problems but we've worked through them and I am very proud of all my students, I am very proud of my school ... I am very proud to be here, he said.

What ERO said: Wanganui City College, which celebrated its centennial in 2011, and is rediscovering pride in its history and affirming its place in the Whanganui Central Business District. The new principal who was appointed at the start of 2008 has led many changes to improve attitudes toward behaviour, learning and success.

The high proportion of students identifying as Maori (63 per cent) bring a special focus to the school. In the 2006 review, the Education Review Office (ERO) recommended prioritising the establishment of a wharenui as a learning and cultural centre. The award-winning whare, constructed in 2009, provides a multi-purpose classroom for teaching and learning te reo Maori. It is available for all students and is the heart of the school community. The proportion of boys (69 per cent) is also high, which has an impact on teaching strategies and contexts to engage students. The challenge for management and teachers is to find further ways to engage and involve all students in their learning, and to improve achievement, building on the progress begun.

Students understand the expectations for punctuality and preparedness and they are encouraged to be self-managing learners. They settle to tasks readily and interact positively, generally showing a willingness to learn.

Students are positive, trusting and respectful towards their teachers. Building good quality relationships provides a platform from which to raise students' expectations for their achievement.

A wide range of co-curricular activities provides other avenues for success and opportunities for growing leaders. Senior students are visible and effective role models for juniors and assist with peer mediation.

A military academy class was formed in 2010. After just one year, the academy is successfully improving self esteem, presence and contribution at school.

The establishment of the whanau advisory group is providing strong support for the school's direction. This group was brought together primarily to work alongside the school to improve educational outcomes for Maori and Pacific students and is now inclusive of all students and their families.

Maori students are achieving success in a wide range of activities such as sports' competitions and cultural festivals such as ki-o-rahi, waka-ama and Nga Manu Korero. These successes are recognised and celebrated, reinforcing Maori succeeding as Maori.