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Building confident, motivated learners and an inclusive school environment is achieved through acknowledging and celebrating the cultures, languages and life stories learners bring with them. Palmerston North Intermediate Normal School (PNINS) is an inclusive multicultural school. In 2020, 44 languages are spoken with families at home, by around 170 students.
For 21 years, the annual Multicultural Assembly at PNINS has been a highlight of the school's calendar. It coincides with the publication of the First Voice magazine - a collaboration between the school, the Palmerston North City Library and the Manawatu Multicultural Centre.
PNINS ESOL teacher, Barb Drake has been the driving force behind these initiatives. Barb really knows her learners, recognises who they are and what they bring, and works hard to grow their confidence. "That's my role. If they are confident in themselves and in the New Zealand school system, they will learn."
Part of the 'proof of the pudding' are the ex-students (usually in Year 13 at local high schools) who return as guest speakers at the First Voice workshops and digital launches.
First Voice started in 2000. In the magazine each student introduces themselves in English and then completes a page of writing in their first language. Each year the students' writing is based on a different theme, including food, famous people and places, special events, and hobbies and sports. This year the theme was school.
Key to the whole process are the language mentors, recruited by the Manawatu Multicultural Centre, who assist students to produce their writing. While the students may be fluent in their heritage language, their writing skills are at different stages. The aim is to maintain the written language that they have and encourage the use of it. The variety of scripts used makes for a fascinating end product.
Barb says:
"The mentors feel extremely valued being able to use their first language in New Zealand to support the students with their writing." A mentor once said, "Every parent's and grandparent's dream is for their child to be able to speak and write in their language."
Over the last 21 years, Barb has built a great relationship with the Palmerston North City Library. The library has always supported First Voice, hosting the workshops where the mentors and students work together, publishing the magazine, and presenting each student with a copy of the finished publication.
Barb is passionate about the benefits she sees from involvement in First Voice for students, mentors, and in connecting the school with the wider community, and the speakers at First Voice launches echo her sentiments about bilingualism each year. Salma Abdalla, the guest speaker at the 20th anniversary launch said:
"Your mother tongue language is critical to maintaining your identity, especially in a place like New Zealand where it isn't the main language. Being able to speak your first language helps to value your culture and heritage. It connects us to a part of our identity that can never be replaced."
Even a pandemic could not keep Barb down.
"This year the launch was delayed. We moved from the PN Library to the Convention Centre. The Multicultural Assembly was also delayed, and rather than have an audience of 750, we presented it five times to groups of 100. The kids love it, and I wasn't going to let them down."
In 2009, First Voice won a Human Rights Commission award. It has gained recognition as a wonderful initiative over many years.
Last year, Barb was surprised by the presentation of a First Voice 20th edition celebration cake by the Palmerston North Mayor and the President of the Manawatu Multicultural Centre.
PNINS Principal, Hamish Ruawai says:
"First Voice has been an amazing community-building event that embraces cultural responsiveness, by involving families and community groups, to nurture the native languages of so many of our students. It connects people, and values their identity so they can truly belong in our diverse community."
First Voice 2020 and for the last 20 years
Each year, a video is made of some of the students presenting their work. The 2020 video of a selection of presentations is available on YouTube and Vimeo.
Support for migrant students at PNINS doesn't begin and end with First Voice
When a new student starts, they can look at the language board close to reception which has large photos of bilingual and multilingual speakers and think, "Oh look! There is someone who speaks the same language as me in Room 3."
Every week, 'Country of the Week' is presented by students. Maps, photos and flags are displayed. Specific information (languages spoken, capital, largest city etc.) is given out at the end of the previous week and Monday morning's assembly includes a hotly contested quiz.
For the last ten years, Term 4 has ended with a 'My Journey' discussion. Why did we come to New Zealand? Who made that decision? What are the differences? What was hard? Some of the stories are extraordinary, and they are now made into booklets kept in the library which other students love to read. Says Barb:
"This has become even deeper and more effective than First Voice. It is a revelation for our students to read about a former refugee whose family struggled to find clean water to drink."
Four student journeys (Word)
It starts at the top. Principal Cindy Walsh's sentiment is echoed by her staff.
"It doesn't matter if children are with us for three weeks or three years. We give them the best possible start in our school – and we are pleased if other schools benefit."
This positive approach is particularly relevant in Freemans Bay School in central Auckland. Over half of the 434 students are ESOL-funded. A relatively high number of transient students, including some from refugee backgrounds, come from nearby apartments. The school has given a wonderful start to children from many countries, including Syria and Afghanistan.
There is an explicit focus on building strong relationships from the beginning, and the enrolment process has been designed to ensure the school learns as much as possible about new learners and their families. The senior leadership team meet with families and complete initial supplementary interview forms. This information is shared with whānau teams and the school's two ESOL teachers.
The ruma reo at the centre of the school is a collaborative space where language-rich small group sessions support the identified language needs and interests of the learners.
A corner at the entrance is set up as a cosy reading nook. This photo was taken during Matariki – a map of Matariki stars is on display.
Children learn about New Zealand while they are also encouraged to celebrate their own cultural heritage.
ESOL teachers Trina Saxon and Troy Lunn work with children with the highest language learning needs – often newly-arrived to the country. They work closely with class teachers and make a real effort to get to know each learner. Trina said, "We really try to give all new children a genuine sense of belonging."
"The reality is that all of our teachers are ESOL teachers here, with around 75% of children in most classes having some level of ESOL need."
A number of learning assistants, many of whom are bi-lingual or multi-lingual, support learning in classes.
PLD is critical, and staff within the school lead ongoing professional learning related to provision of support for English language acquisition. Erin McKechnie (Tools4Teachers) also worked with teachers for the whole of 2020 and with learning assistants in 2021 to ensure that all staff are skilled in providing support for ELLs.
ESOL programmes are based on initial testing, classroom assessment and the English Language Learning Progressions (ELLP). Support for new children also includes making sure they have a buddy, touching base to see how they are going and finding out about each learner's cultural and language background.
Tucked away in a corner of the room where the ESOL teachers keep many of their resources, the seven ESOL principles are displayed on the wall as a constant reminder of the fundamental principles underpinning ESOL support.
Getting to know whānau is key, says Trina.
"I choose to be at the gate regularly, even on busy days, to greet and farewell children and their families. This morning the weather was bad and I was tempted not to go, but I ended up having two great conversations with new parents under an umbrella."
Making links with families is valued across the school, and Cultural Competency Leaders Caitlin O'Brien and Ching Liu assist with upskilling staff and ensuring that all cultures are embraced and celebrated. The school is currently looking into establishing a new space for whānau to meet and connect.
A Year 6 student said:
"In Syria we didn't have ESOL, sports or assembly or equipment like balls, and no playgrounds and clear space and no toys, like everything was boring, nothing cheers you up to learn but here at FBS you feel like you are important and enjoy learning. Over there (Syria) you feel like squished up and you can't breathe but here in FBS you feel free."
The strong sense of inclusion and welcome at Freemans Bay School is impossible to miss. He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
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