St Teresa’s Whanau

Ki te ingoa o te Matua, me te Tamaiti, me te
Wairua Tapu

Tēnā koutou

Tēnākoutou

Tēnā tātou katoa

Ko Makara te maunga

Ko Te Whanganui-a-Tara te moana

Ko Kārori te takiwā

Ko St Therese of Lisieux te Tūpuna 

Ko Hato a Terehia te kura

Ko te mea nui, ko ēnei tikanga – aroha, manaakitanga, tapu tangata, awhina, panekiritanga me te tika.

He aha te mea nui o te ao?

He tangata, he tangata, he tangata

What is important in the world?

It is the people, the people, the people

At St Teresa’s, people are the most important. We look for the best in our learners – getting to know them – what they enjoy, what they are good at, what they are challenged by – so that we can support them the way they need to be supported.

We have a mixture of diverse ethnicities making up our school community. While approximately 60% of our children are New Zealand European, and approximately 5% of NZ Māori decent. We also have a large contingent of Filipino families represented, as well as a number of children from Pacific Island nations. Other nationalities include English, Irish, Chinese, Indian, Latin American/Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Sri Lankan, and other Asian and European nationalities.

We would like to learn about the cultures represented within our school community. If you would like to share your culture, there will be many opportunities during their time at St Teresa’s.

Māori families

 At St Teresa’s School we have 5% NZ Māori children. These children are from

Ngāpuhi

Ngāi Tūhoe

Ngāti Raukawa (Horowhenua/Manawatū)

Ngāi Tahu

Te Whānau-ā-Apanui

Te Rarawa

Pasifika families

Talofa Lava! Malo e lelei! Malo ni! Bula!

Approximately 9% of our children are from Pacific nations and cultures. Our Pasifika families originate from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Atiu and Tokelau. We embrace opportunities to be culturally responsive to a Pasifika children so that their cultural background is preserved. Those children from Pacific backgrounds who have English as a second language receive extra support in class and a teacher aide works with them individually or in groups, as suits their learning needs.

Filipino families

Approximately 12% of our  children are  from families of Filipino descent. Those Filipino children who have English as a second language receive extra support in class, as suits their learning needs.

Our Filipino community has a choir and a ukulele group that your child can join. If you are interested in learning more about our Filipino community, please contact our school office.