Kaua e rangiruatia te hā o te hoe; e kore tō tātou waka e ū ki uta.
Do not lift the paddle out of unison or our canoewill never reach the shore.
Working In Partnership
At Ōtari School we value interconnectedness.
We believe in the importance of developing close and effective partnerships with parents and whānau. We aim to create an inclusive community of families who contribute to their children’s learning and who feel involved and well-informed.
Montessori talked about a time for the teacher to prepare themselves to be available for the children before the day begins. We value the time before school begins to also chat with the children about whatever concerns or interests them. Some children are ready to start their work! This time allows both children and teachers to prepare their minds for the day.
Communicating with Teachers
We value involved and interested parents, therefore we are keen to be as responsive as possible. It is important parents understand we also value our time with the children and with our families and interests outside of school.
Please bear in mind that during the day, the teachers are present for the children and unlikely to check texts or email messages. Urgent messages should be delivered via the office, a note or in person. For many teachers it has become apparent that responding to the volume of emails received has become a bit of a challenge. Please consider whether a face to face conversation might be quicker.
Remember there are opportunities to talk throughout the year including at parent-teacher interviews in term 3. You will also benefit from written reports in term 2 and term 4.
We appreciate your trust in our professional expertise and our ability to facilitate an environment that will ensure each child’s needs are met.