Sylvia Park School
Lighting up learning in urban life
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern joins Sylvia Park School students to launch the Aotearoa New Zealand Histories curriculum in Term 1. All images courtesy of Sylvia Park School
By Heather Barker Vermeer Industry Reporter
commitment to being research informed and evidenced-based in every aspect of our practice.
The chance to work in a highly urban, largely Māori and Pacific community attracted Barbara Alaalatoa to Sylvia Park School. That was in 2004. “The opportunity to buck all the trends too often associated with communities like ours was all too tempting!” she told me: “For the past 17 wonderful, wonderful years I have been lucky enough to have been the Principal at Sylvia Park School. It is the absolute joy of my life!” Now with the title Barbara Alaalatoa ONZM, this principal ensures that joy runs deep at this co-ed school for Years 1 to 8. And this joy was particularly evident last term when the school was chosen by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as the launch venue for the new Aotearoa New Zealand History Curriculum. In fact, “It was an all-out party,” says Alaalatoa. “It was an absolute honour and privilege to host the Prime Minister for such a momentous policy launch. Our students
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Principal Barbara Alaalatoa, second from left.
always love any opportunity to talk about the things they love and have learned about. The bigger the audience the better!
to celebrate in unashamedly, celebratory ways. We have so much to be grateful for right here in Aotearoa New Zealand!”
“The opportunity to share what they know about the arrival of Kupe, 500 years of a thriving Māori community and the first encounter between Māori and Pakeha, amongst other things, with the Prime Minister of Aotearoa New Zealand was one they absolutely relished. They shared their stories with pizazz and humour, and in a way that is relevant to them in the here and now.”
For over 40 years, Alaalatoa has worked in education. This has included teaching, lecturing at pre-service teacher education and working at the Ministry of Education.
Balloons, waiata, banners, flag waving and an enormous cake were part of the celebration event, says Alaalatoa, who is all in favour of marking life’s wins. “We need to remember how
She also had the honour of chairing the inaugural Education Council and is currently the Chair of Te Aho o te Kura Pounamu - the Correspondence School, which she describes as “an amazing school”. At her Sylvia Park School, there have been many “pretty amazing initiatives” over the past two decades. “I think the thing I am most proud of is our absolute
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“We have never searched for silver bullets in the form of the latest professional development offering, rather we have always leaned into that which we know constitutes excellent teaching and learning practice. The results of this practice have been evident in the rich achievement of our students. “Most recently, we were one of the schools selected for the PIRLS study. It was deeply satisfying to see our students achieving well in all aspects of the study. The fact that they also exceeded the average on almost all the questions that related to their reading efficacy is an absolute tribute to the collective effort of the teaching and support staff that are committed to quality teaching practice every single day. It doesn’t get much better than that!” In regards to the new history curriculum launched at her school, Alaalatoa is impressed: “The Aotearoa New Zealand History Curriculum provides us with a real opportunity to create a sense of our individual and collective belonging right here in our own backyard. Term 2, 2022 | schoolnews.co.nz
