EDUCATION: CARMEL COLLEGE
Tuakana Programme Carmel College’s Tuakana Programme strives to strongly support the Year 6 to 7 transition and to create long-lasting bonds between students that contribute towards all students feeling deeply connected to each other through a shared school identity and common understanding of what it is to be part of the Carmel College community. We have found that having the Year 7s meet their Tuakana and Atawhai teachers on Orientation Day has allowed them to feel more confident about their transition and helps them feel a sense of belonging and pride in their House from the outset. The connection the new Year 7s feel to their house and Atawhai is established on their first day of school as they meet in their Atawhai groups. This year was the first year that we had just the Year 7s and their Tuakana leaders at school. The new students loved this as it really gave them a chance to connect with their Atawhai teachers, other new students and spend quality time with their Tuakana leaders. The Year 7s have weekly sessions for the first six weeks of the first term with their Tuakana leaders and ongoing catch-ups over the year. The nature of the Atawhai structure means the relationship doesn’t end in six weeks or even in a year. The tuakana/teina relationship is one that continues through the years and many of our school leavers are still in contact with their teina!
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Issue 118 - April 2021 www.channelmag.co.nz
Tuakana Leader, Layla James, Year 11 Being a Tuakana leader is a privilege. As a leader, you are entrusted to represent Carmel College with pride. Tuakana leaders develop great friendships with their teina, and teina are put at ease knowing they will always have a friend and someone to help them cope with the challenges they face when joining a new school. Throughout Term 1 we played a number of games during Atawhai time with our teina, making them feel comfortable and allowing them to get to know their fellow Atawhai members. Tuakana leaders have taken on the role as a sister figure for the teina; we help to guide them through the exciting environment at Carmel, and give useful advice on how to go through life at a new school with an open mindset. Year 7 student, Erina Younan As a Year 7, I had little idea what I was meant to be doing when starting at a new school. Thanks to the tuakana leaders this lack of knowledge was not a problem. The tuakana leaders make me feel comfortable around the school as they guide me through with their knowledge. We meet up once a week with our buddy Atawhai and we just talk about how our week has gone so far and some upcoming events around the school. Then we wrap up with a game! Tuakana time helps me learn so much about life at Carmel.
