Learning, Hauora, Engagement & Enrichment
Te Kura Tātahi o Waihī | Waihi Beach School is a vibrant education community that is united in purpose, striving toward a high-quality teaching and learning environment. We follow the New Zealand Curriculum which is holistic, formed through a shared understanding for education in Aotearoa. We provide a structured literacy and numeracy programme which is research informed enabling all children to access the curriculum. We focus on hauora | wellbeing, inclusion, engagement in learning, and enrichment programmes and offer a broad range of curriculum opportunities. We aim for all tamariki to be comfortable at kura and actively promote learning outside the boundaries of school.
“Tukua kia tū takitahi ngā whetū o te rangi. We aspire to let each star in the sky shine its own light.”
Te Mātaiaho | Our Curriculum
Learning Hubs
The day-to-day learning of our tamariki is formed through groups that are based on age.
Our collaborative learning hubs are named to reflect the diversity of our local environment. Our learning pathway moves through three distinct areas of the kura. Te Puna are our junior learners (Year 1-2). Their programme focuses on nurturing and strengthening confidence at school and is informed through deliberate play, sensory exploration, and connection to nature. Te Awa is our middle school (Year 3-4) and acts as an area of tremendous growth, wonder and excitement for learning, and Te Pūaha (the outlet/estuary) are our senior tamariki (Year 5-6). We are focused on expanding knowledge and capability in all curriculum areas and nurture their passions, curiosity and potential for leadership.
Learning Hubs Slide 2
The day-to-day learning of our tamariki is formed through groups that are based on age.
Our collaborative learning hubs are named to reflect the diversity of our local environment. Our learning pathway moves through three distinct areas of the kura. Te Puna are our junior learners (Year 1-2). Their programme focuses on nurturing and strengthening confidence at school and is informed through deliberate play, sensory exploration, and connection to nature. Te Awa is our middle school (Year 3-4) and acts as an area of tremendous growth, wonder and excitement for learning, and Te Pūaha (the outlet/estuary) are our senior tamariki (Year 5-6). We are focused on expanding knowledge and capability in all curriculum areas and nurture their passions, curiosity and potential for leadership.
Learning Hubs
The day-to-day learning of our tamariki is formed through groups that are based on age.
Our collaborative learning hubs are named to reflect the diversity of our local environment. Our learning pathway moves through three distinct areas of the kura. Te Puna are our junior learners (Year 1-2). Their programme focuses on nurturing and strengthening confidence at school and is informed through deliberate play, sensory exploration, and connection to nature. Te Awa is our middle school (Year 3-4) and acts as an area of tremendous growth, wonder and excitement for learning, and Te Pūaha (the outlet/estuary) are our senior tamariki (Year 5-6). We are focused on expanding knowledge and capability in all curriculum areas and nurture their passions, curiosity and potential for leadership.
Learning Hubs Slide 2
The day-to-day learning of our tamariki is formed through groups that are based on age.
Our collaborative learning hubs are named to reflect the diversity of our local environment. Our learning pathway moves through three distinct areas of the kura. Te Puna are our junior learners (Year 1-2). Their programme focuses on nurturing and strengthening confidence at school and is informed through deliberate play, sensory exploration, and connection to nature. Te Awa is our middle school (Year 3-4) and acts as an area of tremendous growth, wonder and excitement for learning, and Te Pūaha (the outlet/estuary) are our senior tamariki (Year 5-6). We are focused on expanding knowledge and capability in all curriculum areas and nurture their passions, curiosity and potential for leadership.
Our Place - In School and Beyond
We have exceptional learning spaces in our kura that strengthen what we can provide. We are fortunate to have collaborative spaces for learning, smaller spaces for breakout activities, playgrounds, access to sports equipment, large fields, our māra kai | garden, a maker space, a native bush grove (Joan Jensen Grove) and we see our wider shared public spaces as part of life at our kura. We have a large multi-purpose space ‘The Cove’ that serves a purpose in enabling our community to come together in meaningful ways.
Learning Spaces
Our learning spaces are well-resourced and intentionally designed for collaborative teaching practices. Our classrooms are empowered with high quality digital technology, including iPads, chromebooks, educational apps, digital microscopes and we also have a maker space. We operate at one-to-one digital access in Te Pūaha. We have a swimming pool that our tamariki use during Term 1 and Term 4 for triathlon, daily swimming and water confidence programmes.
Māra (Garden), Orchard and Joan Jensen (Native Grove)
Our māra, orchard and Joan Jensen native grove demonstrate commitment by the community to be involved in our learning. A dedicated team of kaimahi | staff and volunteers prune and tend to the māra to ensure an abundant harvest. Our tamariki enjoy the freedom of exploring our māra whenever they choose. Our māra and orchard are complemented by an area on the northern boundary of our kura that is an established native bush grove. The grove has native plants, native manu | birds that can be observed and there is seating so we can enjoy a bush classroom. This is very special to our kura as it is called Joan Jensen - after the teacher who planted it 60 years ago. The Joan Jensen grove has significant historical, ecological, recreational and educational values and is used most days as an integral resource for learning.
Hauora | Wellness, Inclusion and Engagement
We have a community commitment to flourishing education pathways for all tamariki. We actively promote positive behaviour for learning in our school and have a range of processes in place to support tamariki should they require additional support for engagement at kura. We teach self regulation to all tamariki to balance hinengaro (mental), tinana (physical), wairua (spiritual) wellbeing.
Hauora Space
We have invested in a ‘hauora space’ which is a resource and physical space to empower our learners to feel connected when at kura. We are guided by our values of manaakitanga and atawhaitanga; all those involved in our learning community bring compassion to all our interactions with tamariki and whānau.
Mitey
During 2025 we are piloting the Mitey programme for all staff and tamariki at our kura. Mitey has been developed by the Sir John Kirwan Foundation and informed through research conducted by The University of Auckland. It is a school-wide approach to mental health and wellbeing. While still new at our kura, it has provided structure and support to guide our teaching of emotional and social regulation.
Integrated Learning Opportunities
We follow the New Zealand Curriculum which allows our kura to develop a range of purposefully designed programmes, including integrated curriculum in technology, social sciences, mathematics, science, arts, music, te ao Māori, sports, environment and we provide camps that inspire growth, grit and develop confidence.
Ngā Haerenga | Trips and School Camp
Trips and school camps are a unique and important aspect of our kura. We begin by introducing children to walks, to day trips, the move to a night away in Year 4. As confidence is gained we continue to build capability to three nights for those in our Te Pūaha hub. We believe in the power of time away from school in a different setting and we are currently utilise Otawhiwhi Marae, Tōtara Springs camp, Ngāruawāhia Christian Camp, and our Year 6 graduation camp is on Tūhua (Mayor Island).
Ngā Haerenga | Trips and School Camp 2
Trips and school camps are a unique and important aspect of our kura. We begin by introducing children to walks, to day trips, the move to a night away in Year 4. As confidence is gained we continue to build capability to three nights for those in our Te Pūaha hub. We believe in the power of time away from school in a different setting and we are currently utilise Otawhiwhi Marae, Tōtara Springs camp, Ngāruawāhia Christian Camp, and our Year 6 graduation camp is on Tūhua (Mayor Island).
Ngā Haerenga | Trips and School Camp
Trips and school camps are a unique and important aspect of our kura. We begin by introducing children to walks, to day trips, the move to a night away in Year 4. As confidence is gained we continue to build capability to three nights for those in our Te Pūaha hub. We believe in the power of time away from school in a different setting and we are currently utilise Otawhiwhi Marae, Tōtara Springs camp, Ngāruawāhia Christian Camp, and our Year 6 graduation camp is on Tūhua (Mayor Island).
Ngā Haerenga | Trips and School Camp 2
Trips and school camps are a unique and important aspect of our kura. We begin by introducing children to walks, to day trips, the move to a night away in Year 4. As confidence is gained we continue to build capability to three nights for those in our Te Pūaha hub. We believe in the power of time away from school in a different setting and we are currently utilise Otawhiwhi Marae, Tōtara Springs camp, Ngāruawāhia Christian Camp, and our Year 6 graduation camp is on Tūhua (Mayor Island).