First expo for parents and teachers
Parents and teachers had a pick and mix access to a broad range of social and educational organisations at the first expo of its kind in Timaru.
At the Social and Educational Agencies Expo initiative by the North and South Timaru Ka¯hui Ako at Craighead Diocesan School auditorium yesterday more than 20 representatives were available to answer questions and inform those attending of what their agency or organisation offered. Subject matter ranged from behavioural optometry to grief counselling.
A Ka¯ hui Ako is a community of learning institution educationalists from early childhood, primary and secondary schools who get together to support their learners and families, Timaru Ka¯ hui Ako facilitator Martin Kane said.
‘‘The three primary areas are wellbeing; priority learners, which are at the tail end of achievement; and transitions across the school sectors.’’
The group gather regularly to assist parents or teachers in areas outside the schools, meeting with various providers and informing them of what services were available, which was the aim of the expo.
Sometimes lack of funding meant staff were not able to address specific issues for students ‘‘to lift their tail up’’, or they may have undiagnosed problems, he said.
Mother-of-three Anne Hughes, who is pakeha, said her daughters were half Tongan and it was not culturally appropriate for them to learn to dance from their father so she was pleased to find the Aoraki Pasifika stand to organise lessons. ‘‘I want them to learn about their culture,’’ she said.
Another mother, who did not want to be named to protect the identity of her children, said she was at the expo to seek support for her children who had both been recently diagnosed with the autoimmune disorder postural orthostatic
(POTS).
Wendy Joy of Fale Pasifika said for her the expo was a good way of finding other services that were available and to network.
Bluestone School principal Ian Poulter would like to see the expo run every second year as the resources available were invaluable and would need updating over time.
Lead principal of South Timaru Ka¯ hui Ako Bethany Rentoul said the expo was a way of supporting parents and teachers who did not know what help agencies were available to them.
She said the Ka¯ hui Ako had been collaborating, sharing information and advice for three years with 42 members.
A review would be undertaken after the expo and a decision made on whether it would become an annual event. A list of the agencies attending would be compiled and made available to parents and teachers through the learning institutions. tachycardia syndrome