ALASTAIR LYNN / FAIRFAX NZ | June 29, 2016 • 1:12pm
The Faavae Mautu Aoga Amata preschool proves great things can come from humble beginnings.
What began as a play group in a Mt Roskill garage 25 years ago is now a thriving preschool with a waiting list of up to three years.
Founded on the principals of Fa’aSamoa, the bilingual teaching style has proved to be a successful start to a child’s education.
Now its manager Milosi Su’a-Roebeck has received an ASG National Excellence in Teaching Award (NEiTA).
Su’a-Roebeck took over the reigns from her mother in 2015 after the Education Review Office placed the preschool at the highest level of evaluation.
“We’ve got a very big job here,” she says.
“Being a manager I’ve come to realise just how much responsibility my mum had. So I need to maintain and improve our quality, not just for me but for the teachers and children.”
Bilingual children are becoming more common in New Zealand schools.
More than 110 different languages are now spoken throughout Auckland schools. Almost 55 per cent of ESOL students in 2015 were New Zealand-born.
All children attending Faavae Mautu Aoga Amata preschool are New Zealand born, but for the vast majority Samoan is their first language.
“Their culture, identity, their first language; it’s all so important,” Su’a-Roebeck says.
“We’ve got to continue to inspire the children. We need them to be competent learners within their own identity.
“As a result they’re learning on an academic level so much faster.”
Professional development has been at the forefront of developing a successful learning model, Su’a-Roebeck says.
“It’s something that has to be ongoing. If you don’t send teachers out to experience other methods of learning you can’t learn yourselves.
“That influence we’ve included in our own area has had a big effect.”
Almost 300 teachers throughout New Zealand were nominated for the NEiTA awards.
“I’m thankful, I’m grateful, I’m honoured,” Su’a-Roebeck says.
“But it’s nothing without the staff, parents and the kids. It’s inspired me to continue striving to be a great leader.”
St Cuthbert’s College head of arts Diane McKissock-Davis was also awarded an ASG National Excellence in Teaching Award.
