Moturoa School
Moturoa School is unique in many ways.
It is situated in a park like setting backed by native bush and overlooking Port Taranaki and the Tasman Sea. The school site and surrounding areas are very significant historically. The school is nestled between several Pa sites, in particular Otaka Pa, the site of a large battle between Taranaki and Waikato tribes.
Moturoa School is on Pioneer Road which ends near the sea at Ngamotu, the spot where the Pioneer Memorial is erected to recognise the fleet of ships that brought the first settlers from Plymouth (England) to New Plymouth.
Environmental Education:
Environmental Education is a special focus at Moturoa. It was the first Taranaki School to join the Trees for Survival programme (1996) and the first to join the Enviroschools programme (2003).
The school has won many awards for its environment education programmes, the most significant being the NZ Conservation Network national award in 2010 for saving a highly at risk plant, Scandia rosifolia. There was only one known plant left in the wild. Seeds from that plant were propagated by the children, and hundreds of plants returned to their natural habitat. Moturoa pupils are involved in all the stages of propagation from collecting seeds/cuttings, to potting, then transplanting into the natural environment.
Montessori at Moturoa
‘Montessori at Moturoa’ is another unique and special aspect of Moturoa. The Montessori classrooms were opened in 2006 and offer specialized teaching and programmes for families affiliated with the Montessori Association.
Integrated Rich Topics
Each term there is a special theme that the classes choose their learning goals from.
The ‘Rich Topics’ provide a myriad of learning opportunities for the children. Emphasis is placed on inquiry based programmes that allow pupils to extend their knowledge based on what they already know.
Virtues Programme
The Virtues Programme is an important aspect of school life at Moturoa. School-wide ‘virtues’ are taught and practiced to help children develop the life skills and key competencies required to be successful citizens in today’s global world. All staff and children are expected to use the “language of virtues†to ensure the school environment is positive, respectful and supportive.
Cultural Competencies
Te Reo and Tikanga Maori is incorporated in classroom programmes, with weekly school-wide lessons held with a kaiako. Moturoa School boasts a strong and passionate Kapahaka Group and can perform impressive haka.
Information Technology
Information Technology is highly developed at Moturoa School. All classrooms are equipped with quality IT hardware, including electronic whiteboards. The senior room is fully set up as a digital classroom thanks to kind sponsorship of computers from neighbouring Port Taranaki. All pupils have quick and safe access to the internet to support their learning. All computers are loaded with educational software to support their learning in Literacy, Numeracy and the Sciences.
Literacy & Numeracy
As well as the unique learning opportunities provided at Moturoa School, there is a strong emphasis on the core subjects of Literacy and Numeracy. Morning programmes are largely devoted to the core subjects, and a lot of support is provided for pupils who need remedial or extension programmes.
Please feel free to contact or visit the school. We are proud of what we offer educationally and emotionally for our tamariki, and would love to share our school with you.
