Taeotu – Pathways
“Ka puta nei au ki Taeotu mokai kaka ko au anake”
“I have escaped all dangers and returned to place peace on the land” Tunohopu.
Our whanau is named after one of Ngati Whakaue Koromatua “TAEOTU” who is the grandson of Tunohopu.
Pathways classes provide opportunities to experience a range of practical skills in various subject areas.
Relevant career pathways are discussed within each subject area so students are then able to make informed choices regarding possible careers and high school courses.
Subjects currently being offered are:
- Science
- Design Engineering
- Graphic Design
- Coding
- Minecraft Design
- Music Performance
- Culinary Arts
- Hauora
We are striving to increase STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) activities as these generate a high level of employment in NZ.
All subjects focus on encouraging students to think creatively and to be actively engaged. We wish all students to experience success by maximising their full learning potential in practical subjects not always taught in the general classroom.
Consumables
Parents/Guardians are expected to pay for the materials used and the costs involved in delivering these programmes. This is NOT A SCHOOL DONATION. An account outlining the cost will be issued early in the year and reminders sent out each term. Prompt payment is appreciated. This can be done with cash, cheque, eftpos, credit card, internet banking (use the child’s name as a reference) or an automatic payment.
Futures
Several times per year students are invited to opt into one of a range of subjects which provide the opportunity to experience future focussed skills. These classes take place during the afternoons and are designed to encourage student engagement in hands on practical activities with a digital focus. Subjects currently being offered include – E-Music, Robotics, E-Textiles, Photography/Movie Making, and Art Through Technology.
- Graphic Design
Common uses of graphic design include identity (logos and branding), websites, publications (magazines, newspapers and books) advertisements and product packaging. Graphic design is a part of daily life and is used for everything from CD covers and huge billboards to T-Shirts.
Students use Adobe Illustrator which is the industry standard commercial software used by companies for print, multimedia and online graphics. Graphic Design can open the door to many exciting careers for the future.
- Coding
Coding is computer programming: It teaches skills which are relevant to 21st Century life. It improves the ability of students to organise information into logical steps and to solve problems. Coding provides opportunities for students to develop collaborative potential while being creative.
Students develop critical thinking skills and these skills will improve their chances of being employed in the future. Coding has the potential to take students from being passive users to active designers and producers of the technology they use.
- Science
- Living World
- Planet Earth & Beyond
- Physical World
- Materials World
Science involves generating and testing ideas, gathering evidence – by making observations, carrying out investigations and modeling, and communicating and debating with others – in order to develop scientific knowledge, understanding and explanations.
- Design Engineering
Design Engineering utilises the hard materials and electronic spaces. Students initially learn safe skills and techniques while working with a range of mediums such as wood and plastics.
They collaborate within groups to develop a practical solutions to “real world problems”. This requires them to research their ideas and existing solutions and produce a set of working drawings in support of their chosen outcome.
Equipment available for their use includes scroll saws, drills, hand tools and soldering irons along with a wide range of materials with which to construct their solutions. Self management, thinking skills and creativity are essential skills in this subject.
- Minecraft Design
At Rotorua Intermediate we embrace the power of MinecraftEdu for learning and creativity.
Students work collaboratively with their peers while using this software to design and create a landmark structure of their choice.
They are encouraged to be effective team members and to connect with their peers to solve the problems they encounter. To do this they must communicate effectively and respectfully with each other and contribute ideas and skills to achieve a common goal.
- Culinary Arts
The cornerstone of much culinary education is replication. It is an important skill and is undoubtedly a foundation of our culinary education.
It forces students to cook creatively by improvising and building their culinary skills including problem-solving, palate development, teamwork, and communication.
Following a recipe is an important skill for a cook, however, the idea of cooking without a recipe shows mastery of skills and techniques.
Rotorua Intermediate students will experience basic cooking at grassroots by building skills and techniques that will expand their spirit into a new vision of looking at food as an ‘art form’.
Lastly, as we consider the five senses of sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing, students will explore the culinary possibilities and look for new creative ideas.
Aspects from the Health and Physical Education and Technology Curriculum will be included in our programme.
- Music Performance
Music Performance allows students to demonstrate their musical talents using keyboards, guitar (acoustic, electric and bass), drums and various percussion instruments, ukulele and singing on microphones (group and solo).
Students also experience suing the I-Pad minis to play and record a variety of instruments with “Garageband” as well as looping pedals and creating music in the recording studio.
Students are encouraged to find and develop their “creative spark” through performances – both in the music room and outdoor stage – and during assemblies, lip sync competitions and singing and playing at different schools in Rotorua throughout the year.
In addition students have the opportunity to audition for the choir, bands and extension music classes.
After school music tuition is also available for guitar, keyboard, drums and singing.
- Hauora
Hauora focuses on physical, spiritual, emotional and whanau well being. Our programme is designed to foster and develop a sense of self awareness, self belief, and identify our strengths and uniqueness.
We investigate relationship skills to develop our understanding of what healthy relationships are and what they look, sound and feel like. We examine and analyse our own values and beliefs and how these influence our relationships and actions. Boundaries and how we identify, implement, and respect other people’s boundaries are examined and discussed. We practice identifying and setting boundaries.
Emotional intelligence, what it is, how it is useful to us as individuals and collectively is studied. We look at our risk taking, decision making process and learn strategies to enable positive decisions and choices.
Internet awareness and safety is examined and we analyse our own internet behaviour. All our research, discussion and project work is in collaborative groups to enable students to use each others knowledge, understanding and ideas to further personal and group understanding. These are all skills that are important in school and work settings.
