Connecting to Our Contributing Schools

Last week I visited eight primary schools; our contributing schools in Rotorua and Ngongotaha. We will receive from two to seventy children from each of these schools and the visits are our way of connecting to these students before they arrive at Kaitao.

Two years ago I asked our student leaders how to best get the news out, to these years sixes, about how great we are as a school. Without hesitation they answered, 'WE have to tell them; they will hear our reasons more than they will hear your reasons.' Of course they are right. Children are far more interested in what their peers have to say; their peers will have a great influence on their choice of intermediate or middle school.

I am proud to say that our student leaders brought the news to these year sixes better than ever, this year. With confident, informative and sometimes humorous kid-speak, they delivered the message; KMS is your local school and it's in your best interest to go there.

We visit each school and perform a well prepared 'skit' which summarizes the point of view of parents, students and teachers. We then set up stations using display boards, which are manned by one or more students from each of the seven academies at our Middle School. Children then rotate, sitting at each display board and conversing with the students for about 5 minutes before moving onto the next 'station'.

We encourage year sixes to ask questions at these stations; they know many of the students who attended their school last year. Because enrolment at KMS involves choosing an academy that best fits them, our main point is, 'does this academy fit you?'

Highlights for our students and myself were were:

• The prinicpal who spent the whole visit with us; supporting the transition from primary to intermediate.
• The spontaneous 'thank you' we recieved from primary school student leaders at the end of some visits.
• The enthusiasm shown by some teachers for the leadership qualities developed in their past students.
• The chance I had to aquaint myself with special needs students coming to our school in 1010.
• The inclusion of parents at one school. We had not considered this, but what a wonderful opportunity.
• The aroha year six teachers have shown for their students and the care with which they pass them on to us.

Thank you to all schools who welcomes us: St Michaels, Kawaha Point, Selwyn Primary, Western Heights Primary, Westbrook, Sunset Primary, Ngongotaha Primary and Aorangi Primary.