Since 2021, Totara House have always been driven by their own set of values. The reason for this is to give the student's agency, a sense of purpose and identity in being a part of Totara House. I wanted the students to feel like they are part of something and it is something that they can see themselves in. In 2021 our House values were Teamwork, Confidence + Unity. 2022 our values were Family, Respect and Resilience. I believe that student voice, buy in and agency helps to create a culture that is positive, empowering and mana enhancing. In the context of the House system, I believe that this approach helps to build this very culture and it helps to give the students a sense of identity and vision.
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| Totara House @ COS 2023 (Term 1) |
As stated in a blog from 'A Principal's Reflection' "Student agency is about empowering kids to own their learning (and school) through greater autonomy. It is driven by choice, voice, and advocacy." The whole idea around the House values and how we (as Totara House) define what our values are is centered in student agency. I understand the power that student voice has in shaping culture in the classroom and I know this has a positive impact in how I want to shape the House I look after.
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| Totara House Assembly Term 1 |
Student feedback (face to face) has been the approach that we have taken in Totara House. The same approach that the student leadership team took in 2021 is the same approach that the student leadership team has taken in 2023. During Term 1, the House leadership team (Anika, Christian, Mario, Alo, Kosini and Danny) visited the 6 classes in our House (9TKl, 10TGu, 10TNi, 11TPt, 12TKh + 12TTt) during Week 4 and Week 5. The leadership spent time in each house during the morning mentoring session and asked them "What do you want Totara House to represent?" This is the same question that we have used in 2021 and 2022.
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| Totara House Student Feedback 2023 |
The leadership used the time during the mentoring session to talk to the students about what they want Totara House to represent and this was also an opportunity for the leadership team to introduce themselves and get familiar with their House. This time is important for the leadership team and the students as it is a chance for them talk about what their vision, hope and goals are for the House. It gives them a sense of responsibility, accountability and belonging to the House.
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| Some of the Totara House Leadership Team leading chant practice |
From here the leadership team and I met and spoke about the feedback. We went through the feedback and looked for the common values across each House. Across our Year 9 to Year 12 classes, the values that were a common thread across the classes were gratitude, integrity and leadership. The leadership decided to create a quote that encompassed the meaning of all three values. The team decided to share the three values and the quote at our most recent House Assembly - to show the students what they did with their feedback and to bless their new goal and values for 2023.
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| Totara House Values 2023 |
Our goal from here is to focus on the values through our House Assemblies, mentoring sessions and house activities. I look forward to reflecting and documenting how this goes our Totara House whanau. For the end of Term 1, we will be focusing on the value of Gratitude and hopefully we will use the rest of the year to explore our other values. As we have done over the last two years, our house values become our reference point and pillar that we lean into. It helps to give all involved - our mentors, students, leaders - a focal point to work towards. I am excited to see how we use and express our House values for 2023.
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