“Some schools have the vision on the wall, few have it in their heart and soul.” Edwards and Martin, 2016.
What makes your school unique? What are your values, what is your vision and how do you embed it in your culture? Is it engaging, meaningful and attractive to staff, students and community?
Ōmokoroa Point School had an identity crisis – they used to be the ‘Best Little School in the Bay’. With a rapidly growing urban community and an ever-increasing roll that slogan no longer applied. Over three years the principal, Sandra Portegys, worked with staff, students, board and community to define their identity, develop a Learner Profile and craft a vision for the future.
Sandra wanted to create a narrative that conveyed the school vision and identity in a way that every student, family, and community member could relate to.
Seven thousand kuaka (bar tailed godwit) spend their summers at Ōmokoroa after the world’s longest migration. Sandra researched these birds and found themes that related to the school and students.
That’s where I came in, with my background as a children’s author. I workshopped with Year 7 & 8 students to explore those themes and then worked with Sandra to write a narrative around the kuaka. We used that narrative to create a picture book, a taonga, that told a story of belonging and is central to the school and community.
After a marathon journey, Little Kuaka flies over the islands, harbour and ranges that surround Ōmokoroa and give the classrooms their names. She is welcomed home by Hakakao, a guide kuaka, but everything is different to the place where she hatched and lived. “Why do I belong here?” she asks. Little Kuaka learns the values of the flock – they are thinkers, citizens and navigators. ‘He Kāhui Kuranui, we learn together, we fly together.’ Over time Little Kuaka comes to realize that these are her values too, she feels like she belongs, she knows she is home.
Sandra used AI tools to create and refine the artwork for the book and included aerial photographs of Omokoroa. The real estate company, Barfoot and Thompson generously provided copy editing and paid for printing which means we can give the story to every existing student, every new student and to early childhood centres and local businesses. It’s been hugely popular with everyone in the community and is even being used to introduce the school to prospective international students.
Sandra also worked to make sure the narrative is embedded in karakia, kapa haka, song and imagery throughout the school. It is a living story and for staff, students and community, Ōmokoroa Point School has become the place where they belong.
If you’d like more information or would like to talk to me about creating a narrative for your school, whether that’s a picture book, video or non-fiction piece, then please get in touch.
