HB schools rate highly in awards

• Published date: 03 November 2021

Frimley Primary School principal Tim White said he was “ecstatic” with the win, one of three picked up by Hawke’s Bay schools for their outstanding work to support tamariki and rangatahi to succeed.

Frimley Primary School took out the top prize, the Prime Minister’s Supreme Award and Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award.

Henry Hill School won excellence in Wellbeing Education, while Hastings Girls’ High School took home an award in the leading education category.

Frimley’s award celebrates the most outstanding entry received overall, winning for their place-based learning to connect students with iwi. Through this, Frimley delivered professional development for teachers, weekly te reo Māori classes and local waiata.

White said Frimley’s “place-based curriculum draws from the wealth of knowledge, of mātauranga Māori, from our local area, using it to ‘springboard off all learning across the curriculum’”.

As part of the place-based curriculum, Frimley students have been learning the stories of historical Hawke’s Bay figure, Kahungunu, an influential Māori leader.

White said his student learn a lot about the actions of Kahungunu the man, and get a chance to visit local areas that appeared in several stories.

“Learning about Kahungunu’s characteristics as a leader helps children understand what it means to be a leader and how they themselves can become leaders.”

White said, “We felt really privileged to be a finalist and when we saw what other schools were doing, we were holding our bated breath hoping, and we were ecstatic and couldn’t believe we won”.

The judges said: “There was an overall sense of community at Frimley Primary School and teachers were united about the kaupapa in learning and enhancing students’ skills in te reo.”

Henry Hill School’s trauma-informed approach won them the Excellence in Wellbeing Education award.

At Henry Hill, the day begins with yoga and karakia, led by students, calming the mind and connecting with learning.

Henry Hill School principal Jase Williams said daily yoga was implemented as a...