Our Motto, Message

Principal's Welcome

Te Karaka Kura hi! Te Karaka Kura hi!

Te Karaka Tauira ki mua, Te Karaka tauira ki runga e.

At Te Karaka Area School we provide a safe and caring learning environment that recognises individual needs, and encourages all students to develop to their full potential. We celebrate our Te Aitanga a Mahakitanga, our learners have access to knowledge of te reo me ona tikanga, local whakapapa, history and stories. 

Our school values of Whakaute (respect), Manaakitanga (care), Angitu (Success), Rangatiratanga (Leadership) and Whanaungatanga (relationships) underpin all that we do for our tamariki and rangatahi. We support the holistic development of our students: spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social, moral and physical being. Development of positive relationships in our school community is key to the engagement of our students in their learning. 

We cater for students from Years 1-13 and this means that we are a whanau focused school. It is common to see our senior students helping the younger students both in the playground and in the classroom. We also create opportunities for the students to engage through whanaungatanga based activities at school and in local learning environments such as the river and marae. 

We work to inspire our tamariki and rangatahi with innovative learning opportunities founded on positive and respectful relationships. We pride ourselves on developing positive relationships which allow our younger students to enjoy a safe and supported environment while our older students develop valuable leadership and communication skills. We sincerely believe that students learn best when they enjoy being at school and feel safe and supported in the school environment 

Our modern learning environments enable students to experience many different ways of learning. It allows students and teachers to be flexible in terms of the spaces they need for certain types of practice. Our small size means that we can offer small classes which focus on individual needs. Our size also means that we have to be innovative in how we deliver our senior curriculum. We support these students to develop individual learning pathways which enable them to make meaningful and informed choices about their future study and work.

“Hei Kura mo Mahaki” – A treasure of Mahaki.

Nga mihi,

Koka Renae Savage.