Tūī Syndicate (Years 4 to 6)

Tūī Syndicate is our Year 4 to 6 syndicate. Composite year 4/5 classes are located in the lower area of the school. Year 6 classes are in the lower rooms of the two story block adjacent to the office. As students enter Tūī, they have an increasing range of roles and responsibilities within the school e.g. Sports Leaders, Peer Mediators, Road Patrollers and Ngā Rangatahi o Ngaio members, MacAttackers, Buddy Readers, Junior Journalists and the Enviro Team.

Tūī Syndicate has a Tuakana/Teina model based on developing relationships between our children and helping prepare them for future leadership roles within Tūī Syndicate. 

Planned experiences through Education Outside the Classroom programmes (EOTC) help develop resilience and confidence in our learners. Our school’s ROCKET Values form a basis for these and are central to all our learning in Tūī. One highlight for our Year 6 students is Forest Lakes Camp. Pedal Ready is also an integral programme planned each year. These programmes help increase confidence and provide challenge.

Communication with Whanau and continually developing children’s well-being are essential to our core practice. As year 6 akōnga grow and venture off to intermediate, our teachers recognise that this is an essential time for support and guidance. It can be a time of apprehension and change. Our teachers liaise with families and contributing schools to help support transition of students to intermediate school. 

Below you will find important information about our Tūī Syndicate Team.

Tūī Teachers

Chantal McKee

Ruma tekau (Room 10) Tui Team Leader

c.mckee@ngaio.school.nz

I am very excited to be part of the Ngaio School kura whānau. I have been at Ngaio for nearly 8 years and teaching year 4-6 for a lot longer! I love providing challenges and seeing growth in confidence both socially and academically in our tamariki. My interests include; going away with my husband Phil in our caravan and walking Poppy (our school dog) and seeing the Wellington wind in her ears. We have two daughters, Toni is a pharmacist in Winton and Jessie has started teaching at Titahi Bay School. As Team Leader of Tūī, I am very proud of our hard working, supportive team. We strongly believe in building relationships and working closely with whānau to support our learners.

Poppy McKee

Poppy is a Canine and Friends Pet Therapy Dog. She has many talents, and often seeks out children that may need a cuddle or reassurance in their day. She is very placid and loves to lie with children on the floor. You will often see her at the school sports or around the playground walking with children. Poppy has been known to shake children’s hands at Year 6 graduation and is often a huge favourite in the Leavers Book. She is fondly referred to as Ngaio’s School Dog.

Sam Jenkins

Ruma Tekau mā rua (Room 12)

s.jenkins@ngaio.school,nz

I’m thrilled to once again be teaching year 6. I’ve been here at Ngaio since 2018 and love the school and wider community. I like to get involved in lots of different extracurricular activities like Enviro Club, Artsplash Dance, and Wearable Arts. I’ve lived in Wellington for a while now but my home is down south in Dunedin, where I visit regularly and often do road trips through Central Otago with my dad. In my spare time I like getting out into nature, playing and watching football (Liverpool is my team), reading and writing, and playing games.

Hayden Trass

Rūma Rua tekau (Room 20)

h.trass@ngaio.school.nz

I’ve been a part of this brilliant school for twelve years. I’m originally from Masterton but I’m very much a Wellingtonian now and love working in the Ngaio community. I began teaching in Asia (Taiwan, Thailand and China) and discovered a career that I love. I’m particularly passionate about teaching about the world around us, its people and their cultures. Outside the classroom, I tend to spend a lot of time researching family history and like to travel when I can. I’m excited to be teaching another year in Tūī with wonderful colleagues and students.

Louisa Marks

Ruma Rua tekau mā tahi (Room 21)

l.marks@ngaio.school.nz

This is my 6th year at Ngaio school and third year in the fabulous Tūī team. I love teaching the energetic, curious and fabulously imaginative ākonga that come into my class each day. I live locally with my husband Gus and labrador Isla. My own tamariki have all left school, two are at university and one just started work this week. My interests are gardening, tramping and I have just taken up watercolour painting.

Nicola Stevenson

Rūma Rua tekau mā toru (Room 23)

n.stevenson@ngaio.school.nz

I am originally from the UK. I have taught in London, Melbourne and Wellington for over 20 years. In my spare time I enjoy travelling, running, hiking and biking. I am passionate about meeting students where they are at and building on their strengths. I am excited to continue my teaching journey in Tūī this year!

Dan Byrne

Tūī release teacher

d.byrne@ngaio.school.nz

I am happy to have been a part of Ngaio School as a teacher since 2016. On top of that, both of my children attended Ngaio as ākonga, so I feel very committed to this wonderful place. Before moving to New Zealand, I trained as a teacher and worked in London schools for 7 years. My interests include playing and watching many sports, especially football. Outside of school, you might spot me running around or playing football. It has been a pleasure to be part of the community here and I am excited to be part of the 2026 Tūī teaching team!

Hannah McAdie

Ruma tekau mā rua (Room 12)

h.mcadie@ngaio.school.nz

I am so excited to be completing my placement for the Master's of Primary Teaching and Learning at Ngaio School. I will be entering Sam’s Year 6 class (Room 12) as a Student Teacher to observe, learn and practice. I grew up in Taupō, where I lived with my family and dog (Zola the cavoodle), before I moved to Wellington to study Educational Psychology in 2023. I love nature and spending time with whānau and friends. I am a creative person who grew up dancing, choreographing, and acting, and I have recently joined cheerleading! I am looking forward to being a part of the Ngaio School community!

Zoe Smith

Ruma tekau (Room 10)

z.smith@ngaio.school.nz

Sandra Lissaman

Sandra Lissaman

Part time teacher

s.lissaman@ngaio.school.nz

I am thrilled to be joining the Tūī team as a part-time teacher this year.
I live in Karori with my partner and our two sons, who are both at primary school. When I’m not teaching, or being corralled into a game of backyard cricket with my boys, I enjoy reading, gardening and walking in the hills around Karori. I am passionate about building strong, positive relationships with ākonga and working creatively and collaboratively to meet the needs of all learners.

Tūī Syndicate Information

Teacher Release

At Ngaio School, we are fortunate to have a team of experienced and passionate release teachers supporting our ākonga and kaiako. Classroom Release Time allows our teachers to focus on planning, assessment, and leadership responsibilities while ensuring continuity of learning for tamariki.

Dan Byrne will cover:

  • Support in Year 6 space 9-11am 
  • Chantal’s leadership  every Wednesday, Non-teaching Friday (odd weeks) and CRT every Thursday 11.30-3pm
  • Sam’s CRT every Tuesday 11.30-3pm
  • Hayden’s CRT every Friday (odd weeks)
  • Nicola’s CRT every Monday 11.30-3pm

Sandra Lissaman will cover:

  • Louisa’s every Friday – CRT even weeks + Non-Teaching odd weeks 

Our release teachers are dedicated professionals who embody the values of our kura and are committed to maintaining a positive, engaging learning environment for all tamariki.

You can check out our part time teachers in the Our Team section.

Syndicate Dates

Please refer to website calendar

Syndicate Hui

If your child’s class is hosting, we look forward to welcoming you to celebrate their learning. Hui are held in Room 24

Dates

  • Week 2: Friday 23rd October  Room 21 hosting  
  • Week 4: Friday 6th November  Room 12 hosting 

 

Tūī Celebration Hui: Week 8 Friday 4 December at 10.10am 

To accommodate all of our whānau, our Celebration Hui will be held outdoors. If it is raining, the hui will be postponed until the following week, Friday 11 December. 

We will share more details closer to the date.

Syndicate Programme - Termly Overview

Inquiry – Social Sciences: I am a citizen  

This term ākonga across Years 4-6 will dive deeper into the concept of what it means to belong to a group and to be treated fairly as part of a community. These themes will be based around decision making, following rules/laws, understanding what ethics and democracy mean in New Zealand. 

As learners, we will further discuss how Aotearoa New Zealand is governed, explore the roles and responsibilities of our government, and learn how people are elected to represent us. 

Our learning will culminate in a class election, giving ākonga the opportunity to experience voting, share their ideas and explore how decisions can be made fairly.

Through this unit, we want our ākonga to understand that being a citizen means belonging, contributing and having a voice and that everyone, no matter their age, can play a part in making their community a better place.

Literacy Focus Term 4

In writing this term, year 4 and 5 students will:

  • continue writing their narratives. 
  • Write to inform
  • Write to persuade
  • prepare debates 

Year 6 students will persuade through letters, advertisements, reviews, speeches, discussions, and arguments. They will explore social issues that are topical to them throughout our Social Science unit.

In reading this term students will focus on:

 

  • Identifying bias in text – fact versus opinion
  • Interpreting key details from Information texts
  • Identifying and discussing persuasive techniques in texts
  • Discussing an author’s choice and viewpoint by finding examples in the text
  • Critically Analysing the content within a text and discussing the purpose.

 

Through our Social Science topic students will research key information about political parties and policies and make informed judgements based on their findings. They will identify bias in text and further investigate fact from opinion. They will gather factual evidence to help persuade others while preparing for a debate. 

Mathematics Focus Term 4

Ākonga participate in a structured mathematics programme Monday through Friday, where they have opportunities to participate in whole class and small group sessions with teachers, engage in Maths Talks, practise work and extension activities.

This term year 4 and 5 students will strengthen their number skills when solving word problems by adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing increasingly large numbers using mental strategies, known facts and written methods. Students will further develop their ability to explain their mathematical thinking and choose efficient strategies to solve problems.

In measurement, students will estimate, measure and calculate the perimeter and area of shapes, using metric units and multiplication. They will also investigate volume by building and measuring three-dimensional shapes using cubes. Through practical activities and problem-solving, students will apply their mathematical knowledge to real-world situations and develop confidence in explaining and justifying their solutions.

In probability, students will investigate chance through practical experiments and everyday situations, describing how likely events are to occur and comparing possible outcomes. They will learn to use mathematical language to explain their predictions, observations and findings.

Students will develop their spatial reasoning by exploring shapes, their properties and how they relate to one another.  They follow and create directions, and investigate pathways using maps, grids and movement. Students will use spatial language to explain their thinking, visualise changes in position and direction, and solve practical problems.

 

Year 6 Major Focus:

Focus: Statistical Investigation

Rational Numbers: By applying number operations, students will continue to cement their understanding of decimal numbers. They will be able to order numbers, convert numbers, and understand and use number rules.

  • Connect: Ordering data and Consolidate: Fraction Decimal Percentage conversion. 

Focus: Measuring and Geometry Students will measure accurately and convert measurements ml-l, km-m, cm-mm with increasing confidence. They will use scale and grid references and further cement their understanding of the x/y axis.

  • Connect: Shapes and Spatial and Consolidate Measurement

Focus: Algebra

  • Connect: Squared and cubed understanding (basic facts/number knowledge) and Balancing equations. Students will use order of operation rules and understand the use of- BODMAS. They will identify and describe patterns and explain the rules to others. Algebraic rules will be unpacked and explored in connections to problems.

Focus: Experiential Probability  Students will predict and discuss the likelihood/probability of an event happening. They will understand key vocabulary such as: certain and possible and apply their knowledge of percentages to the likelihood/probability of an event.

  • Connect: percentage understanding, number understanding and knowledge of dice 

Te Ao Māori & Kapa Haka Term 4

Te Ao Māori

This term we will continue to strengthen our understanding and appreciation of Te Ao Māori through our everyday learning and experiences.

Te reo Māori will continue to be woven into our daily routines, with regular opportunities to practise new kupu and phrases related to identifying people and places, sharing waiata and participating in karakia. 

Our weekly Kapa Haka sessions with Hemi Prime continue to provide opportunities to develop confidence, learn together and connect with Māori culture through waiata, movement and performance.

As part of our I Am a Citizen inquiry, ākonga will explore Māori perspectives on leadership, belonging, community and collective responsibility, learning how people work together and contribute to the wellbeing of others. They will unpack the history of Te Whanganui-A-Tara and Ngaio. Through these experiences, we aim to nurture a sense of connection, respect and curiosity, supporting our ākonga to grow their understanding of Te Ao Māori and its place in our lives, our kura and our wider community.

 

Kapa Haka

Each Monday morning all Tūī ākonga focus on waiata, karakia, and te reo with their teachers. This term, Extension Kapa Haka is preparing for their performance at St Brigid’s Kapa Haka Festival (on September 19th) with Matua Hemi Prime.

Digital Technology Focus Term 4

Digital Learning: Designing & Developing Digital Outcomes

The Digital Curriculum will be integrated across literacy, numeracy and inquiry throughout the term.

Students will develop their research skills through interpreting information from a range of given websites. 

They will then use this to design and develop their own website by using Google Sites as a way to record and present their work. Students will learn how to use hyperlinks, create multiple pages on their site, use subheadings, and include images to grab attention

Through Coding, students will write a program that makes the robot move forward, turn, and stop. Be able to explain how their code controls the robot. They will work with others to test and debug our program.

Physical Education Focus Term 4

Physical Education – Athletics & Striking Games

Ākonga will develop fundamental movement skills, including running, jumping, throwing and striking, while building coordination, spatial awareness and control. 

Through striking and fielding games Ākonga will develop effective actions and demonstrate control while passing, catching and striking a ball. Through participating fully in PE sessions Ākonga will be able to explain and demonstrate to others and teach others how to throw, catch and strike a ball.

Graduate Profile | ROCKET values

ROCKET Values

Curiosity

Curiosity is about wanting to learn more and asking questions to find out how things work or why things happen. Curious people are interested in the world around them. A curious ākonga asks thoughtful questions, explores new topics with enthusiasm, and loves discovering new ideas.

Graduate Profile

Ngaio Ākonga are Critical Thinkers 

I can express an opinion, give reasons to justify my perspectives, ask questions and 

say why I agree or disagree with others’ views.

By the time I graduate: 

I will be willing to take risks, trying new things with a growth mindset.  

I will be learning from mistakes, embracing challenges with determination and perseverance, and
asking for help when I need it. 

Library Visits

Each week we visit the library and children are able to choose 1-2 library books to take home and enjoy. The books are then returned the following week.

Tuesday

Rūma 12 Sam 9:00-10:00

 

Wednesday 

Rūma 24 Nicola 2-3pm

Rūma 10 Chantal/Dan 10-11.00

 

Friday 

Rūma 20 Hayden 9.15-10am

Rūma 21 Louisa 1.45-2.45pm

Enviro Club

Enviro Club is an opportunity for students to learn about the environment and their role within it through both information and hands-on sessions.

Children are invited to opt in to the sessions they find interesting.

Enviro Club also offers leadership roles within the school, such as recycling, composting, and running sessions with younger students.

Throughout the year we will be focusing on the Arb and how the students, as kaitiaki, have a responsibility to look after our environment. We will also be working to improve our composting system across the school with the aim to reduce and reuse organic waste.

Enviro Club also offers leadership roles within the school, such as recycling, composting, and running sessions with younger students. Throughout the year we will be focusing on the Arb and how the students, as kaitiaki, have a responsibility to look after our environment. We will also be working to improve our composting system across the school with the aim to reduce and reuse organic waste. Students have opportunities to help sell plants at stalls during school events.

The Arb has been closed to encourage growth. This term, the Arb will be open for students to play on alternate days. Enviro students will monitor the impact this may have on the environment.  The Enviro Team endeavours to try to balance access and the impact children may have on our taonga.

Home Learning

The ROCKET Challenge is an optional home learning programme.

The purpose of the Tūī ROCKET Challenge is to:

  • recognise the learning children already do outside of school, and to encourage them to extend themselves in these areas
  • challenge children to try new things 
  • encourage children to contribute to your family, school and community  
  • enable children to discover, develop and showcase their talents. 

You can find out more about the ROCKET challenge here.  Please note these were updated Term 1 2026.

Early Term 4, teachers will be meeting with children to talk through what they have completed for the year.