The Knighton Way

(Ngaa tikanga o Knighton)

We acknowledge the following people that contributed to the creation of the Knighton Way image:

- original carver Wiikuki Kingi Snr (Master carver) 

-Rangi Martel (design and kowhaiwhai) 

-Kataraina Berryman (tohu for pou)

-Scott Pearson (Visual Evolution) final image 

Background information about the KNS Way Image

• Acknowledgements - Wiikuki Kingi Snr -Master carver, (carved Te Hihiri mahau) Rangi Martel (design and kowhaiwhai) Kataraina Berryman (tohu for pou).   

  • Mahau 

  • Koruru is blank. It does not identify just one tiipuna but all tiipuna within our kura. 

  • Maihi represents the Waikato awa-  eddies and flurries of/are our children. The colours depict our different nationalities. He piko, he taniwha.

  • The raparapa depicts Tainui taniwha rau.    

  • Pakitara

  • The walls are left open- they don’t restrict any potential. 

  • Each column has a kowhaiwhai depicting each competency.

  • Aatea

  • The ground in front of the whare depicted by a koru.

  • The koru grows into the centre (koro piko) which represents the child. 

  • The six pitau represent each of our KNS values, feeding  into the koro piko.

The 'Knighton Way'

Throughout the world there are exponential changes occurring that are going to impact on the lives of our learners.  Three major factors are contributing to these changes:

 Technology

Technology is changing our lives.  If you were to cast your mind back 10 years ago (before smartphones, Facebook and 3D printers) not even futurists were able to predict the advance in technology.  What will the next 10 years bring?  A wide range of technologies are influencing what the future workforce will look like.  At the time of writing this piece buildings are now being 3D printed overnight for a fraction of the cost of building, robots are completing surgeries and the first unmanned trucks have completed delivery of goods across America.  It is impossible to accurately predict what jobs will actually exist in the future. 

Population Growth

There are now more people on earth than at any time EVER.    

Can the planet sustain this?  Food, water, fuel, air…. How many people can the earth sustain.  Recent research has indicated that  if the average person consumed as much water as a person in India, the earth could sustain 15 billion people.  However if we took the average water use of a person in North America the figure would be 1.5 billion.  The current population of the world is 7.5 billion.  Never before have issues such as sustainability been so important. 

Globalisation

The world is shrinking.  As a result of technology people can communicate seamlessly in real time and travel is fast, efficient and increasingly affordable.  This provides more opportunity to collaborate and connect, but also creates pressures on the workforce.  It is now not good enough to be the best in your country, you need to be competitive on the world stage.  An understanding of cultural difference is now only a fraction of what is required of our learners.    There has never been more opportunity to collaborate and connect. 

 Sir Ken Robinson believes that these pressures have some implications for curriculum design.  He believes that the purpose of education is:

 ‘To enable students to understand the world around them and the talents within them so that they can become fulfilled individuals and active, compassionate citizens’.

The Knighton Way visual represents the capabilities that we believe our children need for success in their lives as lifelong learners.   

Our staff are constantly using the language of the Knighton Way when talking with our learners. This helps create a shared language of learning that helps empower students with a range of strategies.

‘THE KNIGHTON WAY’

The Knighton Way dispositions are complex and changing – they will look different in different contexts, and will be developed through opportunities to use them in increasingly wide-ranging and complex contexts.

Mahi tahi ~ ‘Getting Along’

We believe it is essential that children learn to relate to a range of 

people in a variety of contexts.

- Socially responsible

- Playing by the rules

- Thinking first

- Accepting others

- Valuing cultures

- Co-operative

Whakarite ~ ‘Organised’

Being organised assists children to ‘take charge’ of their learning.

- Planning our time

- Setting goals

- Self motivation

- ’Can Do’ attitude

- Make plans, and set high standards for oneself

Whaikaha ~ ‘Persistent’

Knowing what to do when you are stuck is an important life skill

- Kia Kaha

- Trying our best

- Know what to do when things are hard

- Problem solve

Maiatanga ~ ‘Are Confident’

We want our children to know their strengths, talents and weaknesses.

They are unique. 

- Accepting ourselves

- Being independent

- Taking risks

- Sense of belonging

- Identity

Kairapu ~ ‘Inquirers’

We want our children to explore, understand and apply knowledge to 

solve problems.

- Question

- Think critically

- Make decisions

- Explore, understand and apply information