www.concord.school.nz
Phone / Fax (03) 488 2204
office@concord.school.nz
5 Thoreau St,
Concord,
Dunedin 9018
One of the outstanding features of this small Dunedin school is its strong family heritage. Multiple generations have attended the school and this creates a strong feeling of whanau connection. The school seems to be very much a “home” to kaiako, and their families.
Concord School is a decile 4 co-educational state school with slightly over 50% of students identifying as Pākeha. There is a very low turnover of staff, including support staff, and that highlights the whanau feeling of the school. Yet, professional and personal development are thriving areas, with strong communication of new ideas being shared.
Room 3 has Year 1 and Year 2 pupils, nineteen in total, and is taught by Fay Young.
The children are encouraged to develop independence, and responsibility for their own learning. Thus they select their own browsing box book for homework, are expected to bring homework to and from school, work with a partner at reading, and maths rotation activities, and develop teamwork abilities. They have duties/responsibilities to carry out at the end of the day on a rotating basis. Visual displays of what happens during the day, resources to guide independent work, and modelling books with examples of what is expected are used by the children.
The school wide positive education approach incorporating Circle Time, Strengths/Virtues, and Play is the Way is emphasised through many classroom activities, discussions, and PE lessons, some of which are taken by our Sports Activator.
Literacy and Numeracy are priority-learning areas. Reading and writing are emphasised throughout the day, and practice at home is encouraged through spelling and reading homework. Reading library books, and Duffy books are also a good way to encourage reading mileage.
Our maths programme includes following the Numeracy initiative, and the teaching of Geometry, Measurement, Statistics, and Algebra using units of work and resources such as picture books. The introduction of Mad Maths Minute to practice basic facts learning at home as well as school is proving to be effective.
Concord School has been involved in after-school Netball each week during Terms 2 & 3 at the Edgar Centre for a number of years now. Years 1 & 2 and 3 & 4 children play on Monday
Children are able to borrow whenever the library is open, and when taken there by the class teacher, or as required by their own research. Every class has at least one library time per week so students can always have a book to read at home.
Ngai Tahu is the predominant iwi in the area, however, students do have connections to hapū around New Zealand. The school is working on learning more about these connections.