Our Young Leaders

Key ideas about valuing student leadership

At Thames South School we seek to develop leadership skills and potential in all our students. A sense of connectedness to school is a protective factor for young people. Students who are connected to school have improved longer-term health and wellbeing and education outcomes. Creating opportunities for students to have meaningful input into school decisions, and show leadership at school are ways of enhancing students’ sense of belonging and connectedness. These opportunities are also one way of enabling students to develop social competencies. Active student involvement can take a range of forms.

A student leader is any student who takes on the responsibility of spreading the kaupapa of Thames South School. A student leader strives to change the world by starting with their own community. Year 8 leaders engage with mentoring, role model and Leadership programmes and Leavers Dinner. They also share their experiences, ideas and thoughts through consultation processes and an exit survey. School leaders support the implementation of fundraising events, fun days and social functions.

Across our school, self leadership is valued. Learning is the behaviour that we strive for as a kura. By upholding our mana and supporting others to do the same we can work collectively for excellence. The school designs a variety of activities, contexts and events to give students a chance to grow. Manākitanga - aroha mai, aroha atu exemplifies the collective expectation for all students to experience success and a sense of pride, purpose and automony. Kia tupu ai ēnei kākano, hei rākau nui.

Across our syndicates, ngā akomanga, we recognise leadership in diverse and varied ways. Through our curriculum we are building an expectation that we will lead the way for our whānau, community and nation towards accepting a pathway of biculturalism. We will explore our history and empower ourselves and others through knowledge.

The reintroduction of whanau grouping - Ngā Manu o te kura -: Tui, Ruru, Piwakawaka, Kiwi- connect us to the challenges of sustainability on a local, national and global scale. This collective responsibility as a group or team, builds cross school and tuakana teina relationships that values the contributions of all students of all ages. Acknowledgement of the characteristics and attributes of each native bird and their journey or pathway aligned to that of each student. Student have the opportunity to select their own leaders.

Aspiring Young Leaders sign up every year to organise school events like Daffodil Day. They promote the event, create activities and make each event memorable for all invo

Whāia te iti kahurangi, ki te tuohu koe me he maunga teitei.

Pursue that which is precious, and do not be deterred by anything less than a lofty mountain.

Ngā Manu o te Kura

Our focus in 2023 is to strengthen our Whānau Groups and embed them in all that we do. Each individual Whānau continues to establish their identity, build opportunities for self leadership through tuakana - teina experiences.

Growing Rangatahi for a bicultural future - Our Year 7 & 8s visit Waitangi

Our aim this year is to give our Year 8's the skills needed to grow and fulfill their potential as effective Young Leaders within our school and out in our wider community. Our aim also is to better equip them for everyday challenges and opportunities they may face this year as well as years to come. It was fitting then that our venue for such a camp in 2018 was visiting Waitangi on Waitangi day. The significance of this place was historical and educational thus enabling our students to deepen their knowledge and appreciation of where they live and learn.

Our goals for this work stream are to;

develop social and co-operative skills in leadership
develop working relationships with one another and work in co-operative ways to achieve common goals
grow active decision makers
extend self-management skills
develop constructive and positive approaches to challenges and change
build knowledge and understanding of the significance of Waitangi Day, the treaty and its implications for the people of Aotearoa, NZ

It is our expectation that all students take an active role in all activities. Some students find some activities challenging, but positive encouragement by staff and peers help them to rise to the challenge. Leadership programmes build student’s self esteem, confidence and self worth as an individual and within our wider school whānau.

Kia tupu ai enei kakano, hei rakau nui May these tender seedlings grow into mighty trees