Revisiting school values is an opportunity to inspire students, engage the community and shape a positive school culture. Pompallier Catholic School’s journey to redefine their values provides valuable insights for principals and kaiako looking to do the same. 

Pompallier Catholic School set out to align their values with their vision to inspire leaders of learning and excellence – Mahi Tahi i te Karaiti. Through collaboration, cultural respect and community engagement, they established values that are now lived and celebrated across the school. Here are the key lessons learned: 

1. Collaborate With Your Community

Pompallier involved iwi Te Rarawa and Ngāi Takoto, whānau, teachers, students and of course the Catholic Church, ensuring the values were culturally relevant and connected to the community’s identity and special character. 

Their key takeaway is to engage all voices from the start. Building authentic relationships with local iwi and community leaders fosters a sense of belonging and shared purpose. 

Reflection - how can you involve iwi and community leaders to ensure your values are culturally relevant? 

Pictured above - Whānau engagement with iwi at the marae 

2. Empower Student Voice

Using tuakana teina, senior students buddied up with juniors to kōrero about what the values meant to them, creating a stronger emotional connection. This information was collated and given back to whānau, so they could understand the values from a student perspective. 

Their key takeaway is to involve students in the process through peer mentoring, focus groups, or creative workshops to ensure the values resonate with them and are well understood. 

Reflection - how might you gather student perspectives on school values? 

3. Host Inclusive Community Consultations

Pompallier’s consultation coincided with a whānau evening, creating an inviting atmosphere for kōrero. The whānau evening coincided with the grand opening of their new deck space. Lots of people attended, from students to kaumatua, with kai provided and an atmosphere of discussion and children playing. This presented a great opportunity to get some thoughts from the community.

The descriptions of the values were displayed for people to see and comment on what was important for their children to have in their life at Pompallier and what values this might lead to as a school. A lot of whānau got involved and commented, some even wrote a simple Yes! It was great to see whānau reaching out to other whānau and discussing what they thought. 

Their key takeaway is to combine consultations with community events to encourage participation. Make it visual and interactive for meaningful engagement. 

Reflection - what community events could you leverage for kōrero about school values? 

4. Use Symbols That Resonate

Pompallier’s values of Wairua, Awhi, Kaitiaki, and Ako, form the acronym WAKA, symbolizing unity and progress. 

Their key takeaway is to consider using acronyms or symbols that reflect cultural significance and community identity. 

Reflection - what symbols resonate with your community’s identity, or local pūrakau? 

Pictured above - WAKA unveiling with community 

5. Make Values Visible And Lived

Pompallier integrated their values into strategic documents and daily practices ensuring they were more than just words. One of these daily practices is, if you are caught showing these values in the playground or in class time, you are given a card with your name on it, it is placed in a box dedicated to that value and it is drawn out at assembly.   

Their key takeaway is to embed values in teaching practices, decision-making, and leadership to shape a positive school culture. 

Reflection - how can you integrate your school’s values into everyday interactions? 

Leading With Vision And Purpose

Pompallier Catholic School’s journey demonstrates the power of collaboration, cultural respect, and community engagement. Their approach not only redefined values but also strengthened connections and inspired a shared vision. 

For principals and kaiako, the message is clear; involve your community, empower student voices and live the values daily. When done with purpose, values become the guiding strength that shapes the character and future of your kura. 

Is it time to revisit your school’s values? Set sail with vision and purpose, just like Pompallier Catholic School – all in the same WAKA. 

Article written by Ann Morrogh-Yates, Healthy Active Learning Facilitator