Welcome to Panitahi Room! We have 20 wonderful and curious Year 2/3 tamariki who love learning! Panitahi room is taught by Mr Ben Morgan and supported by our amazing release teacher Mrs Karla Rosewarne.

Structured Literacy:

In Panitahi we follow a Structured Literacy approach for the teaching of Reading, Writing, Handwriting and Spelling. Structured Literacy focuses on 'phonemic and phonological awareness, and alphabet knowledge' which provides our tamariki with the skills they need to read, spell and write with confidence. Phonological awareness relates to the tamariki's capability to make/break words, identify how many sounds in them and where they are. It also allows tamariki to identify how many words in a sentence, syllables in a word, how to hear and produce rhyme and delete/substitute sounds. The tamariki are also taught to recognise individual words, onset sounds, rime and both individual letter-sounds in a word and two or more letters that work together to make one sound. They learn to read using the Sunshine and Kākano decodable texts. Each day your child will bring home a book to read which practises the letters and sounds that have been taught at school. Thank you for supporting your child on their reading journey!

Te Reo: 

At Midhirst School and in Panitahi class we have a passion for Te Reo Maori. We not only enjoy the language but also learning about Maori history, legends, culture and kaupapa/traditions. As a school we have a goal to be using up to three hours of Reo daily. Each morning we start with 30 minutes in as full immersion as we can be. We love using visuals, waiata and kemu to keep us engaged and to further our learning and understanding. Part of our journey is normalising and revitalising Maori language. While we have specific, explicit set times when we focus on language, we also aim to integrate across all learning contexts and use it both within and outside of our kopa ako. We hope that when you enter our classroom you hear our wonderful korero. 

                               Kapa Haka:

This term, we are incredibly fortunate to have Whaea Rae leading our Kapa Haka sessions across both the Junior and Senior school. Her passion and expertise have brought a vibrant energy to our weekly practices, and the students have truly embraced the opportunity to connect with Te Ao Māori through song and movement.

Whaea Rae’s approach is centered on making Kapa Haka accessible to everyone; she has a unique way of making our waiata engaging and fun, ensuring that every student feels confident to participate and give it their best. It is wonderful to hear the school hall filled with such powerful voices and to see the pride the tamariki take in their performances.

In addition to our whole-school sessions, Whaea Rae also works with a specialized performance group. This select bunch of students meets for more in-depth sessions, focusing on advanced techniques, intricate actions, and the deeper meanings behind our mahi. This group will represent our school in upcoming performances, showcasing the hard work and dedication they have shown throughout the term.

                               Swimming Term one: 

During last term, Panitahi was swimming every day. Our swimming sessions were held in the afternoons, and every Monday we had a specialized session with our instructor at the school pool.

This year, all of our instructional lessons have been based right here at our own school facility. The aim of these sessions is to improve the students' confidence in the water and teach them essential basic swimming skills. Beyond the physical technique, swimming is a fantastic way to enhance the social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of your child.

School TRYathlon

On Thursday, 10th April, our school grounds were buzzing with energy as we held our annual School TRYathlon. It was an incredible day from start to finish, and it was a joy to see every student getting stuck in, pushing their limits, and having a fantastic time participating in the three disciplines.

A massive thank you goes to Mr. Morgan for his tireless work in organizing this event for our Kura. From mapping out the course to ensuring everything ran like clockwork on the day, his efforts allowed our students to shine and challenge themselves in a safe and supportive environment.

It was also wonderful to see such a strong turnout of parents and whānau. Having you there on the sidelines—cheering, clapping, and encouraging the tamariki—truly makes these events special. The sense of community spirit was high, and your support played a huge part in making the day a success.

Congratulations to all our participants for showing great sportsmanship and perseverance!

Central Taranaki Rural Schools’ Athletics 

In April, the Midhirst Junior Syndicate headed away for a day of sun, sweat, and sportsmanship at the Central Taranaki Rural Schools' Athletics day, hosted by Ngaere School. It was a brilliant opportunity for our younger students to step outside the school gates and represent Midhirst with pride.

Throughout the day, the tamariki rotated through a wide variety of athletic activities designed to test their speed, strength, and coordination. From the high-energy sprints on the track to the technical challenges of the long jump and throwing events, it was wonderful to see our students giving every station their absolute best effort.

Events like these are about so much more than just winning a race; they are a fantastic way for our students to build resilience, practice turn-taking, and develop positive social connections with peers from our neighuoring rural schools. The atmosphere was one of pure encouragement, with students cheering each other on at every finish line.

A huge thank you to the organizers at Ngaere School for putting together such a seamless and high-energy event. We would also like to extend a heartfelt thanks to our Midhirst whānau. Seeing so many of you on the sidelines, supporting our kura and celebrating the efforts of all the children, really boosted the spirits of our tamariki.

It was an amazing day of physical challenge and community spirit well done to everyone involved!

Junior Syndicate Assemblies 

Our Junior Syndicate assemblies are energetic, purposeful events that help foster a strong sense of community and personal development. Students come together to sing, promoting connection and building self-assurance.

These sessions also feature social learning opportunities, where students explore important life skills such as empathy, effective communication, and collaboration. A much-anticipated moment in each assembly is the awarding of KAHA wristbands and certificates—celebrating those who consistently demonstrate kindness, helpfulness, and a positive attitude.

These gatherings are a vital part of our school culture, nurturing an environment where every student feels valued, supported, and inspired to be their best selves.

Junior Discovery:

Discovery Learning develops key competencies through activity-based, child-directed learning. It is an opportunity for tamariki to direct their own learning and practice social skills within fun, hands-on activities.  In our Junior Syndicate Discovery Time sessions we have a range of activities for our students to choose between with more activities being added each week.  Our tamariki are given opportunities to engage in a variety of activities which include; arts and crafts, dress ups, play dough, block building, Lego  puzzles and much more! At times they will be working independently to develop their self-management skills and at other times they will be working with a buddy or small group to build their social and cooperative skills. During these sessions our tamariki will have the opportunity to feed forward and feedback, decide on activities and lead the discovery time sessions. 

The role of the teacher:

• drawing on curriculum knowledge to recognise the learning within play

• providing sufficient opportunities for students to engage in play

• participating in meaningful learning conversations with children that stretch their thinking  

• understanding and supporting the development of specific skills and knowledge that students need

• facilitating social interactions.

                           Tabloids Day Term one: 

Tabloids is a great whānau event that the whole school participates in! Our fantastic school leaders learn the activities and help our younger tamariki to rotate around and get them involved! It is a great way to build tuakana-teina relationships and to bring the Midhirst School community/whānau together! Who could forget our first house competition of tug of war too?!