About Our School

 

 

Striving for excellence in teaching and learning with the aim of ensuring maximum achievement levels for all students is a key goal.

At Sunnybrae Normal School we believe that all children have the right and ability to learn; we have high expectations of every student. Each child is an individual with differing needs, talents and abilities. Children learn at different rates and in different ways and we acknowledge this by providing a range of activities and settings for learning. On-going assessment informs the planning of programmes.

Students need to know what they are learning, why they are learning it and what they need to learn next. Our focus is on ensuring students understand the process of learning, how knowledge is created and what their role is in creating it.

A variety of effective teaching strategies and approaches are used to achieve success in learning. These include: an inquiry-based approach, problem solving, authentic learning experiences that relate to real life contexts, cooperative learning, use of learning centres, ability-based individualised and group learning, interactive and ‘hands on’ experiences, use of the environment and peer tutoring. We believe it is our responsibility to offer children the best and most effective strategies to suit their learning needs.
It is our aim to establish a life-long love of learning that will set all children up for success. 

 Our school Charter states that:

‘Departing Year 6 students will view learning as purposeful, fun, life long, self-initiated and an integral part of their life.
They will be balanced individuals, with strong basic skills, a confidence in their own ability to succeed, and positive in their outlook.’


Stability in leadership and staff, a focus on the ongoing professional development of our teachers and strong parental support, are three of the more significant factors that have enabled Sunnybrae to build an excellent reputation in the wider community.


Our school continues to look forward to its ongoing success and the contribution it makes to the learning of its students and to education in New Zealand generally.