TIKOKINO SCHOOL GENERAL INFORMATION
Tikokino School is a very positive school catering for the needs of highly motivated and enthusiastic children from committed and very supportive families in a rural district. It is situated about 20 km west of Waipawa in Central Hawkes Bay.
We have three classes in 2009:
- Room 1 – Year 0-2
- Room 2 – Year 3-5
- Room 3 – Year 6-8
We also have a very strong preschool presence in the community, and a wonderful playcentre just down the road, which runs twice a week.
The school consists of one main block housing four classrooms, staffroom, two offices, sick bay, and teacher’s office. There is a large resource room and a library. There are also a number of separate buildings – A New PE Shed, a new BBQ Shed, tool shed, swimming pool, and changing sheds. All the classrooms were refurbished in 2003 and at the beginning of 2007 our new Administration Block was completed.
The grounds are extensive, with a rugby field, an artificial cricket wicket, a small soccer field, hockey field, two full-size netball courts and two adventure playground areas – one consisting of a sunken metal pit area with a climbing frame, rope walk, swing, trampoline and jungle gym. The second playground consists of a stage, tower, flying fox, slide, swing bridge and a climbing bar.
Being a rural school and situated in a rural community there is strong support and encouragement for all aspects of school life. Parents are actively involved in all areas and subsequently there is a very positive tone about our school. Sports teams are coached by parents and there is always strong turnout for games. We have a very active Home and School fundraising committee who raise in excess of $15,000 each year. This financial support ensures the Board of Trustees are able to provide our students with the best opportunities we can.
Grant applications since the start of 2006 have netted us our New PE Shed, BBQ Shed, $7000 worth of new Fitness and Gymnastics Equipment, $4000 worth of new instruments for our Orchestra, $2500 for new Piupius, and $8000 towards Interactive Whiteboards for each classroom.
The speed at which Information Communication Technology has developed is very exciting. ICT is an important aspect of all classroom programmes. At the beginning of 2007 we had our network updated as part of a Ministry initiative including the installation on a new server. Each classroom has at least four computers in them for students to use as well as an Interactive Whiteboard.
Our last Education Review Office visit in February of 2007 upheld our belief that we are a quality school. These are some of their comments from the review:
“ The small community school of Tikokino provides a high quality education to its students. They participate in diverse and interesting programmes and activities that include sport, cultural and music festivals, kapahaka, orchestra, and choir. Teachers provide a wide range of learner abilities, including special needs and gifted and talented. Staff and students are well supported by the community, the board of trustees and an active Home and School parent group.”
“Students benefit in their learning from staff responsiveness to meeting individual needs, including those of underachievers. This is demonstrated through well-planned and consistently implemented assessment systems, programmes and teaching approaches.”
Identified areas of good performance include:
- Assessment practices
- Individual student assessment
- Responsive teaching
- Engagement in Learning
- Learning programmes
- Reporting to parents
- Reporting to BOT
- Staff professional development and support
- Identifying Individual learning needs
- Meeting Individual learning needs
- Tracking Student Progress