Why is Woodlands Park School such a special place? Woodlands Park School is nestled in a beautiful bush-clad valley. It sits adjacent to Scenic Drive in the Waitakere Ranges. This is in West Auckland.
Woodlands Park School has a strong friendly community feeling. The community identifies closely with the school. The school is the focal point of Woodlands Park.
Woodlands Park School nurtures the development of its students. It does this through values and Maori principles. These include Manaakitanga. This means showing care kindness and respect. Also Whanaungatanga. This means positive relationships and family connections. It creates a sense of belonging. Kaitiakitanga means connecting with our identity culture and environment. Rangatiratanga means leadership. It comes through understanding ourselves and our impact on others.
The staff at Woodlands Park School build strong relationships with children. They value individuality identity and culture. This creates a strong sense of belonging. It is essential to nurturing self-esteem and overall well-being. When this is in place there is relaxed learning and happiness. This leads to success. The school has an excellent reputation. It is known for ongoing academic success. It supports children with additional needs. Woodlands Park School commits to caring for the environment.
Dame Whina Cooper’s words are an inspiration. They accurately encapsulate what Woodlands Park School aspires to. This is throughout the children’s six-year educational journey.
“Take care of our children take care of what they hear. Take care of what they see take care of what they feel. For how the children grow so will be the shape of Aotearoa.”
Woodlands Park School uses Hero. Hero is a communication and reporting system. It keeps parents up to date. Hero allows schools to build an online environment. This reflects the school’s unique context. It enables teachers students and families to view and share content. They can do this anytime anywhere on any device. The software is secure and easy to use. It brings together all school-related information in one place.
Parents and caregivers can read posts on classroom activities and learning. They can also read about whole school events. Parents can read school notices sent to the class. Or groups their child is connected to. They can respond to school notices. For example surveys and trip permission requests. Parents can notify the school if their child is absent or late. They get easy access to the school calendar and term dates.
Woodlands Park School’s strategic priorities improve outcomes for learners. They support students to demonstrate agency. Students show self-efficacy in their learning. This achieves equity and excellence. Also progress and achievement. This is Manaakitanga.
They celebrate the identity of Aotearoa. They are aware of their own identity and family connections. This is through culture and language. They show commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. This is Whanaungatanga.
Students are aware of their impact on others. They seek opportunities to support those around them. They support them to thrive. This is Rangatiratanga.
Woodlands Park School helps students add to their hauora kete strategies. They learn to take care of their physical mental and emotional wellbeing. Also family and social and spiritual wellbeing. This is Te Whare Tapa Wha. It includes land environment and ethnicity. This is Kaitiakitanga.
Woodlands Park School provides education for students in Years 1 to 6. The school’s values provide a strong foundation. This is for its strategic plan and operations.
The school vision values and promotes Te Ao Maori. There are well-established processes. These identify priority learners and their requirements. Collaborative inquiry processes build teacher capability and capacity. There is a shared understanding of parent and whanau aspirations. This is for their children.
Woodlands Park School is a place where children thrive. It is a community that values learning respect and the environment.