Day to Day Relief Teaching Positions
Day to Day Relief Teaching Positions
Day to Day Relief Teaching Positions
ORANGA SCHOOL
Our Spaces - Our library and Our Garden
Our Library / Whare pukapuka
Our whare pukapuka is a friendly place where the school community can find resources for information, inspiration and enjoyment. Our teacher librarian, Mrs Wills, believes in the power of books to act as both mirrors and windows, giving us the chance to see ourselves reflected plus the opportunity to look out to other worlds. She loves picture books that are funny and books that make us think.
The library is open at playtimes for students to enjoy reading, drawing, Lego and games. Students can access the catalogue online or ask a helpful student librarian when they need to find a book. Classes visit the library once a week and students can borrow between 1-4 books per week depending on their year level. Students learn how the library is organised and how to find what they need. They reinforce their literacy skills with fun material, in a relaxed setting. Mrs Wills also works with teachers to help find digital and physical resources to support their classroom programmes across a range of curriculum areas.
Each year we hold a Book Week, and we have authors visit to do presentations and workshops. Mrs Wills’ plans for 2026 are to expand our celebrations of cultural events and language weeks, and to invite local ECE providers to visit.
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Our Garden
Our school has a large garden with raised beds, about 20 fruit trees, a rainwater collection tank and a tunnel house. We grow an ever-changing selection of vegetables, herbs, flowers and fruit. Mrs Wills looks after this space with the help of Mr Sussex and community help at our whānau working bees. The garden was installed by the Oke Charity and we have also been supported by Mitre 10 Onehunga and Love Your Neighbourhood grants.
Students are involved in planting seeds and seedlings, making compost and caring for the worm farms. We harvest the produce and either cook and eat it here at school or send it home with student volunteers. Other projects have included making herb teas, hand balm and pressed flowers. The garden is open most days at morning tea time, and classes visit at least once during the year for a session with Mrs Wills - these lessons are a highlight for many of our children. Senior students have the option of joining the Green Team and getting even more involved!
