Principal's Page

Kia Ora - Greetings Friends

I often discuss with our WHS staff a theory I developed 30 years ago. I contend that humans have four original languages that date back to our beginning as a species.

We are social-emotional beings, and the four original languages are how we connect socially and emotionally. Emotion is essential to learning and should not be underestimated or misunderstood as a trend. Emotion is where learning begins or, as is often the case, where it ends. Thinking deeply about things we don’t care about is neurobiologically impossible.

So far, I have shared my thinking on Movement as an Original Language and Visual Language. The two left to cover are Music and Storytelling.

The Power of Storytelling

Storytelling is a fundamental part of being human. It’s how we turn everyday experiences into meaningful memories, teach valuable lessons, and connect with others.

Why Storytelling Matters:

• Universal Skill:

Every child hears stories from family from birth and soon naturally begins telling their own stories, and every culture in the world shares this practice.

• Historical Significance:

Storytelling has always been vital. Indigenous cultures, for example, have long used stories to pass down wisdom and traditions.

• Educational Tool:

Stories help us learn about life, witness and remember important events, and find inner strength.

Storytelling isn’t just entertainment; it’s a vital way to understand and navigate the world.

More on this on the Learning Page in this newsletter.

Welcome to Term Three:

It is wonderful to be back at school for term three. Lots of hugs, smiles, sharing and fun for all of us each day.

During the holiday break, while Auckland was flooded with heavy fog and torrential rain, a group of teachers from Western Heights and Mangere Central paid their own way to undertake a Pay It Forward for two schools in Aitutaki in the Cook Islands.

I made a slideshow to share at Whānau Time and included it below. If you don't have time to watch it, I have some of the 'script' for the slideshow below.

Our teachers left Auckland on Sunday, July 7, and arrived in Rarotonga on Saturday, July 6. It's pretty cool to go back in time.

Our teachers shared some of their learning programmes with the teachers at Vaitau and Araura schools. Ms Westerhoff and Whaea Sharon took sessions on phonics and early literacy; Mrs Nawaaz took sessions on PR1ME Maths and Numeracy; Ms Eyre and Mrs Leaning took sessions on Writer's Toolbox and Literacy.

The sessions were really well received. Our staff made the learning fun and engaging, and I was super proud of them all.

The staff at Vaitau school taught us all about coconuts—how to open them, grate them, make cream from them, and make natural marshmallows from them. The staff at Araura school taught our staff how to make Aikatu—traditional headdresses—and the end result was awesome.

Araura school put on a concert for us. The children in green are their little juniors

The purple and white you will see in the video are years 3 and 4

And the red and green you will see in the video are years 5 and 6.

We all loved the little guy’s yellow gumboots - so did he.

We contributed four items to the show. Jessie and Matua Aaron did a lot of mahi with us to make sure it all came together. Matua Junior and Tea taught us how to do Waka Ama. The biggest lesson we all learned is that we all need to stay in time when we paddle. The waka you can see in the video had 12 people paddling in it—they were pretty fast, but my waka was faster (well, that’s how I remember it anyway).

One of the many cool things we did was ride scooters around the island.

Some of our teachers had never driven a scooter before. Before long, they were cross-country cruising down dirt tracks like real pros—it was very cool to see them remember karawhiua and give it a go.

Before we left, I got something I have long been waiting to have done - a permanent connection between me, Aitutaki and Western Heights - our Love to Learn to Lead in Māori - Aroha Ako Arataki tattooed on my forearm by a talented local artist - Adam Winchester of 682 Tattoos.

Then it was time to get on the plane and say a sad farewell to beautiful Aitutaki - until next year when a new group of Pay It Forwarders will travel there again from Western Heights.