This document summarizes discussions from a staff meeting about supporting Māori students' achievement. It was noted that Māori students at the school are achieving above average but not as many earn Merit and Excellence endorsements. The school's plans to support Māori students include meeting with parents, tracking attendance and credits, offering te reo classes, and targeting Māori in careers programs. Suggestions for improving included having higher expectations for Māori students, more Māori role models, and better sharing best practices between teachers and schools.

1. PLG 1: Getting Started with Ka Hikitia
16 November 2015
STAFF DISCUSSION SUMMARY
1. How well are our Māori students doing at school? How do we know? What are the patterns in the
achievement data that we have currently?
Summary In Kamar, we can break down the students under their ethnicity when analysing their NCEA, National Standards, GPA,
AsTTle results and so on. We can the compare that to the remainder of the students and other Maori students at other
schools. Currently, at OC Maori students are achieving above the decile 8-10 national average in terms of NA but they
are still not getting as many Merit and Excellence in NCEA compared to other ethnicities.
2. What are our school’s plans to support and strengthen Māori students’ achievement?
Summary Meeting with parents and whanau at the hui, credit tracking and attendance, te reo in yr 7 & 8, Deans and HoD tracking
of Maori student achievement, SMT data meeting for Maori, flipped classroom and group work works well for Maori,
Hauora in health, 1:1 conferencing, Patti Matafeo works with Maori and Pasifika students, Katti and other Maori
targeted days at careers, powhiri and Marae style welcome, kappa haka, science day for Maori, Singa’s work with
Maori, staff actively developing Maori protocol – Whakataka, mihi, Waiata etc
3. What would we see our Māori students doing that would show that they are achieving as Māori?
Summary Getting involved in whole school, strong Kapa haka group needed, also in Performing Arts awards and outside of
school, Attending P/T interviews with parents, receiving prizes at prize giving’s, incorporating their culture into their
learning, taking leadership in public events, participating in scholarships and opportunities, absenteeism drop, on par
with other ethnicities in terms of achievement, Maori speech competition

2. 4. To what extent are we focused on accelerating the progress of Māori students? Is what we are doing having
an impact on Māori student achievement?
Summary We are making a difference at OC but still need to specifically target Maori even more - Have higher expectations.
becoming more aware as staff on our te reo, William Harrison bought in for positive role modelling, need more of this,
careers programmes build a pathway in tertiary education
5. What have my colleagues and I done that have been successful in supporting Māori students to achieve as
Māori? How can we share good practice across our school with other schools?
Summary Bringing in role models to speak, this PLG experience today- sharing, expressing heritage through work and
justifications. Maori business models, teachers ask things like How can we help? rather than you are on detention,
need a school haka, Manaaki Orewa is a great backbone, Maori scholarships have worked well, building inclusive and
positive environment, Show interest and we form good relationships with whanau.
6. How do we provide ways for Māori students and their parents, whānau, hapū, iwi or Māori communities to be
involved in decisions about student pathways and achievement, and school decision-making?
Summary Hui has some success but need it more full on, BOT elections- Maori representative, surveys, form teachers call home,
careers offering gateway and VP, parent teacher interviews

3. 7. To what extent do the school board’s processes contribute to better outcomes for Māori students?
Summary They do not really, unknown, Maori board rep?, not sure, maybe something we need to find out about, ask Cushla
8. What processes and policies do we have in place to support Māori students as they transition to secondary
school, from other schools or kura and on to vocational education and training, tertiary education and higher
skilled employment?
summary We have this for all students but not specifically for Maori, GATEWAY, Vocational and Careers, Pacific and Maori Days
to encourage tertiary and polytechnic, peer support should be available to all new students not just at year 9, one of
NAGS outlines this, Careers, Gateway, E learning, Star courses, tasters,
9. What options are there for students who want to learn or learn in and through Māori language? How do we
promote and support Māori language as a taonga under the Treaty of Waitangi?
Summary Avaliable at all levels as a language, the idea that 7/8 is where it all happens – how do we make this important when
we are teaching mandarin alongside, incorporating in task sheets, Whakataka, Matariki, Maori language week, national
anthem at assemblies, Te Reo Maori is a language subject option but not immersion, Maori language week is about the
extent of offering Maori in classes other than Maori Language.