Rāwhiti School provides bi-lingual education (Level 2 Maori Medium) for pupils from New Entrant to Year 8 level. Our bilingual programme is called Ata Hāpara.
Ata Hāpara refers to the morning chorus – which originally was deafening in Aotearoa. This name gives inspiration to our bilingual teachers and learners, whose every effort is directed towards the reinvigoration of reo Māori in our community. We feel that the name Ata Hāpara fits well with our kura name, Rāwhiti, and helps to define their special role within the whole school.
Students who live within the school’s home zone and meet the criteria for enrolment in the special programme will be enrolled in the bilingual programme ahead of Out of Zone students.
The criteria for acceptance into Ata Hāpara is that students and their whānau will need to demonstrate a commitment to Tikanga Māori as assessed by the Kaiwhakahaere, Whaea Jasmine Stirling.
The size of the special programme will be determined annually in response to the school’s operational capacity.
The number of students who are able to participate in this programme are limited and priority for acceptance into the programme is as follows:
1. Applicants residing in the home zone and with siblings attending the Te Tikanga Rua Reo.
2. Applicants residing in the home zone.
3. Applicants residing outside the home zone with siblings currently attending the Te Tikanga Rua Reo.
4. Applicants with extended whānau connections (e.g. cousins)
5. All other applicants.