Our Vision for Our Future:
Living Our Vision – Part Five in a Series:
Weaving the Vision Together – Living What We Believe
Our Children, Our Land, For Our Future
Over the previous four newsletters, we’ve explored the three pou of our school vision—ā tātou tamariki, ō tātou whenua, ka ora te āpōpō. We’ve looked at how we place our children at the centre, how we deepen their connection to the land, and how we prepare them for the world that lies ahead.
But a vision doesn’t live in posters or policies. It lives in people. It is brought to life every day, in a thousand small acts, by teachers, parents, support staff, and by the children themselves.
This final article brings it all together and invites you—our whānau—to be active partners in living our vision.
⸻
A Living Vision
Our Vision was arrived at by talking to our community, our staff and our children. We asked three questions:
What is the most important thing in the world?
What is the next most important thing in the world?
Why are these two so important?
The answers were synthesised down to three things -
People
Environment
A future worth having.
We re-word people as children because children are our core business.
Our environment is simplified as the Land - as Māori we see the Land (Papatuanuku) as our Mother.
The future - we want a bright future for everyone. We can only ensure that if we care for and nurture our children and the land.
In 34 years as a principal, I’ve seen, heard, and been part of a great many “Visions”.
Some school visions are beautifully worded but rarely referred to. Some are so complex and comprehensive to ensure everything is covered, that the core message is lost on everyone.
At Western Heights, we’ve taken a different path. We’ve made our vision visible in our classrooms, our curriculum, our language, and our decision-making.
Our Vision Shapes:
How we welcome new students.
How we design our learning spaces.
How we talk with children when things go wrong.
How we define success - not just in test scores, but in character, curiosity, and collaboration.
A Vision is not worth a thing unless it is lived daily.
Living our vision is about alignment: making sure what we say is what we do.
⸻
What Living the Vision Looks Like
Some examples of our vision being lived every day at Western Heights:
• Student-led learning that empowers children to explore their passions and voice their thinking
• Outdoor classroom and gardens that help children develop deep respect for the whenua
• Cultural celebrations and storytelling that strengthen identity and belonging
• Restorative conversations that prioritise empathy and growth
• Partnership with whānau that recognises learning is for all - anywhere, anytime, with anyone.
⸻
Whānau Walking Beside Us
The greatest impact happens when home and school work in harmony. That’s why we see our vision as a shared kaupapa - something we live with our families, not for them.
You can support this vision at home by:
• Encouraging questions and curiosity
• Sharing stories about your own upbringing and relationship to whenua
• Valuing kindness as much as achievement
• Helping children take responsibility for their choices
• Talking about the future with hope, not fear
When children see consistent messages at home and school, the learning goes deeper and lasts longer.
⸻
Our Commitment Moving Forward
After 34 years, I believe that as a learning community, we have actually ‘cracked the code’. We’ve nailed it, in other words.
I cannot think of a more powerful, inclusive, important or concise way to express our goal as teachers, parents, learners, human beings.
Because when we place our children at the centre of all we do, care for our land, and take responsibility for our future, we are giving our learners the best opportunity for a thriving future.
We are shaping lives.
We are honouring whakapapa.
And we are laying down the stepping stones for a tomorrow our children deserve.
We are on this path together, and it fills me with hope that we are.