Wā Ora Montessori School

"Sandpaper Letters connect movement, touch and sound, creating a powerful foundation for reading and writing."

On monday morning our kura came together with our whānau to celebrate Matariki, with each akomanga sharing their knowledge of Ngā Whetū o Matariki (the Stars of Matariki) through an original waiata or short play. The ākonga did an amazing job, with each performance bringing the stories to life, and their creativity and confidence shone through.

A heartfelt thank you to whānau who took the time to join us for this special celebration. It was wonderful to share the occasion with you and see so many of you supporting our tamariki and rangatahi.

We were also lucky enough to see the Kapa Haka rōpū from each sector perform as they prepare for HuttFest 2026. They have been practising very hard, and it was wonderful to see the pride and enthusiasm our tamariki and rangatahi bring to their performances. We look forward to cheering them on at the festival.

Last night our Wā Ora High School Choir proudly took to the stage for The Big Sing 2026, joining secondary school choirs from across the region in a celebration of music, teamwork and performance.

It’s incredible to see how far our choir has come from its beginnings as just a handful of students. Under the guidance of music kaiako Michael Stebbings, it has grown into a confident and committed group of young people who represent our school with pride every time they perform.

We are so proud of every one of our singers for the dedication, courage and enthusiasm they brought to the stage. Their hard work over many weeks of rehearsals was evident, and they were wonderful ambassadors for Wā Ora.

A heartfelt thank you also goes to Michael for the passion and encouragement he brings to the choir, creating opportunities for our students to challenge themselves, grow in confidence, and experience the joy of making music together.

Ka rawe, Wā Ora Choir – we couldn’t be prouder!

Have a look at the links below to see them performing.

https://youtu.be/rCLOe32zteo

https://youtu.be/jcyJv3rx9Nc

Wā Ora Montessori choir performing Carry the Light by Andy Beck Wā Ora Montessori Choir - The Big Sing 2026

Sometimes it takes stepping away and coming back to truly appreciate what makes a place so special.

Former long-time Wā Ora kaiako and now Acting DP (Primary), Richard Goodyear, shares his unique perspective after returning to our kura once again. Drawing on his experience in both Montessori and mainstream education, Richard reflects on the enduring strength of our community and the relationships that help shape our tamariki into confident, capable and connected young people.

It's a thoughtful reminder that while lessons may fade from memory, the people who believe in us and the sense of belonging we experience can last a lifetime.

We hope you enjoy reading Richard's reflections.

What Makes Wā Ora Special - Wā Ora Montessori School Richard Goodyear – Acting DP Primary It has been great to be back at Wā Ora these past couple of months. It is not the first time I have dipped back in. In fact, between 2020 and 2022 I returned for three different part-time stints, after spending eight years here as a full-time teacher across [....

A friendly reminder that nationally recognised cyber safety expert John Parsons will be joining us TOMORROW evening – and we'd love to see you there!

IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND, PLEASE RSVP TO THE OFFICE. We currently have only a small number of responses and would really appreciate knowing numbers for the evening.

Even if you've heard John speak before, the digital world is constantly evolving. New apps, online trends, AI, gaming platforms and cyber safety challenges are emerging all the time, making it more important than ever to stay informed and up to date.

John will also be speaking with our 9–12 and adolescent ākonga during the day, making this a wonderful opportunity for parents and caregivers to reinforce those messages at home, support their children's learning, and continue important conversations about staying safe and making positive choices online.

During the evening session, John will share practical, current advice on topics including social media, online gaming, digital wellbeing, online relationships and helping young people navigate an increasingly connected world with confidence.

📅 Thursday 11 June
🕖 7:00–8:30 pm
📍 Tāwari at the High School

Friends and whānau of our school community are warmly welcome too. We hope you'll join us for what promises to be a valuable and informative evening.

⭐️ Celebrating Jocelyn's Success in Creative Writing⭐️

We are delighted to share that Pūriri ākonga, Jocelyn Liang, has been shortlisted in the Upper Hutt Libraries Short Story Competition in the 8-11 age category.

This is a wonderful achievement, and we congratulate Jocelyn on having her work recognised among the many entries received. We are very proud of her accomplishment and wish her all the best with her future writing endeavours!

👀 CYBER SAFETY WITH JOHN PARSONS 👀

John Parsons from CITIZEN21, a nationally recognised cyber safety expert, is coming THIS Thursday - you don't want to miss this!

John works with schools and organisations across New Zealand and internationally, helping communities navigate the safe and ethical use of digital technology. He is also the author of Keeping Your Children Safe Online.

This is a valuable opportunity for parents and caregivers to hear practical, up-to-date advice on topics such as social media, online gaming, digital wellbeing, online relationships, and helping young people make safe choices in an increasingly connected world. Whether your child is just beginning to use technology or is already active online, there will be useful insights for every family.

SO THAT WE HAVE AN IDEA OF NUMBERS, PLEASE RSVP TO THE OFFICE: [email protected]

📆Thursday 11th June
⏰7:00–8:30 pm in Tāwari at the High School

Friends and whānau of our school community are warmly welcome.

A few moments from Kōwhai recently. 💚

There has been a lot happening in the classroom, from colour matching and sewing to geography work, number exploration, walking on the line, and time spent out in the bush.

One of the things we love about Montessori is seeing children choose work that interests them, revisit it again and again, and then share their discoveries with others. Sometimes it's helping a friend with a raincoat, sometimes it's working together on a puzzle, and sometimes it's quietly concentrating on a piece of work for an extended period of time.

These photos capture some of those everyday moments of learning, independence, problem-solving and friendship that make up life in Kōwhai.

What does it really mean to “follow the child”?

This thoughtful post from Association Montessori Internationale -Canada explores one of the most well-known, and often misunderstood, Montessori principles. It highlights how Montessori education combines a carefully prepared curriculum with close observation of each child, ensuring learning is introduced at the right time and built on a strong foundation of understanding.

A worthwhile read for anyone wanting to deepen their understanding of Montessori education!

💬 How can we help children become confident problem-solvers?

In this week's newsletter, Rātā Head Teacher Robyn Windley explores how we can support tamariki to navigate friendships, disagreements, and everyday social challenges without always stepping in to solve problems for them.

Drawing on Montessori principles and everyday experiences familiar to all parents, Robyn shares practical ways to listen, support, and empower children to develop resilience, confidence, and the skills to work through challenges themselves.

It's a thoughtful reflection on the balance between helping and empowering, and how small conversations can make a big difference in a child's growth.

You can read Robyn's article, Social Problem Solving with Tamariki, here:

Social Problem Solving with Tamariki - Wā Ora Montessori School Robyn Windley – Rātā Head Teacher, Primary In the classroom and playground, we often notice something interesting: a child will run over to tell an adult every detail of a problem… and then immediately run away again before we can even respond. Often, they were not looking for us to solve the ...