Dairy Flat School

Dairy Flat is a rural haven close to Auckland, where our families can enjoy the freedom of space and feel connected to the country. The school greatly benefits from strong support from our community.

School aims to “provide the best possible learning experiences and environment to facilitate students to become lifelong learners who strive for excellence, value diversity, think creatively and care for themselves and others.” We believe that ‘everyone can become a powerful learner, in a supportive, connected learning environment based on respect for each other and reflective practices.’

Dairy Flat School has a long and proud tradition. The school was established in 1878, and from old accounts of the district, Dairy Flat had a predecessor, Pukeatua School, which had a roll of twenty. The school has certainly progressed from its early beginning and now proudly offers excellent learning and teaching. We are responsive to the community and the needs of the children.

We teach the values of Respect, Responsibility, Resilience, Consideration, Honesty and Fairness. Our behaviour expectations are based on these values which are displayed throughout the school. We have a clear set of consequences and rewards for displaying these values. Certificates and a values band are given out at assemblies to students who have displayed our values.

Positive Behaviour for Learning helps parents, whānau, teachers, early childhood centres, and schools address problem behaviour, improve children’s well-being, and increase educational achievement. By strengthening relationships and creating more positive home and school environments we remove barriers to engagement and improve students’ chances to achieve at school and beyond.

All curriculum should be consistent with these eight statements: (taken directly from NZC) The curriculum supports and empowers all students to learn and achieve personal excellence, regardless of their individual circumstances. The curriculum acknowledges the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, and the bicultural foundations of Aotearoa New Zealand. All students have the opportunity to acquire knowledge. The curriculum reflects New Zealand’s cultural diversity and values the histories and traditions of all its people.

The curriculum is non-sexist, non-racist, and non-discriminatory; it ensures that students’ identities, languages, abilities, and talents are recognised and affirmed and that their learning needs are addressed. The curriculum encourages all students to reflect on their own learning processes and to learn how to learn. The curriculum has meaning for students, connects with their wider lives, and engages the support of their families, whānau, and communities. The curriculum offers all students a broad education that makes links within and across learning areas, provides for coherent transitions, and opens up pathways to further learning!