28 November 2025

Kia ora koutou

Progress meetings are in full swing!

I love reading these reports over a couple of sittings each year. I always have the visual of the child in my head as I read, and I can hear their voice clearly in that first section of "###  says..."

We truly hope you found your recent catch up with teachers more like a tennis match rather than a one-way volley. These are crucial times to ask questions, share your thoughts, and exchange perspectives.

The Wonderland Vision for 2026
Since last week, we have been progressing our big-picture planning for 2026. Based on what you contributed to our strategic direction, next year will have an overarching theme of ‘WONDERLAND’!

This theme is designed to be magical yet practical—a focus of feet on the ground and heads in the clouds. It is both Land and People-focussed, and it’s also a nod to the past when Wonderland used to be right here on the Peninsula. (You can read more about that history here: www.stuff.co.nz/travel/350420517/welcome-wonderland-story-wellingtons-forgotten-amusement-park).

Our aspiration is to create a vibe of wonder and curiosity both inside and outside the classrooms.

Oh, we have big plans! As well as steadily focusing on structured literacy and maths, you can expect a large emphasis on Mātauranga Māori and the whenua. This will bring in plenty of rich science and ecological learning. The Arts will fit in beautifully with Wonderland as we gear up towards another rich Arts Celebration in Term 3. We are elevating things, folks!

The good news is that we are wanting to create even more opportunities for home and school to learn together.

Expect the Term 1 plan, complete with plenty of dates to diary, to be published before the year ends.

Coming back to ecology, I read an interesting piece in The Guardian this week  "What AI doesn't know: we could be creating a global 'knowledge collapse'," www.theguardian.com/news/2025/nov/18/what-ai-doesnt-know-global-knowledge-collapse

This discusses how the reliance on Generative AI as the primary way to find information is leading to a massive loss of valuable local and traditional wisdom.

The key reasons were:

• Bias (Large Language Models) overwhelmingly privileges Western, institutional, and formally documented knowledge. 

• Marginalised Knowledge: especially
  - Oral traditions and cultural practices.
  - Embodied practice (hands-on)
  - Knowledge encoded in languages that ' are not highly considered'

• The Loss of Resilience: The article warns that future generations will be disconnected from vast bodies of undocumented insight—such as traditional medicinal remedies, local ecological expertise, and natural building techniques

I am no expert in this area, believe me but I have found myself attending a number of recent workshops to try and get a bit ahead of myself. From what I currently understand and keeping your contributions to our strategic direction in the forefront I believe the plans we have in place for 2026 will be very timely.

We wish to value the undocumented: Reminding children that not all wisdom is digital. We will continue to encourage them to seek knowledge beyond the screen. Cultivating critical inquiry and prioritising embodied hands-on learning and encourage learning that teaches resilience through physical and experiential practice. 

Fun times folks:)

Ngā mihi nui