Whānau at Ellesmere College – Te Kāreti o Waihora
Our Whānau Pastoral system
Part of how we provide a supportive and caring environment for our ākonga is through our Whānau structure, named after four native New Zealand trees: Rāta, Rimu, Kōwhai and Tōtara.
Our whānau structure fosters a feeling of belonging in ākonga, and acts as an extended family and support network.
The unique grouping of mixed years encourages mentoring between junior and senior ākonga, giving senior ākonga the opportunity to develop leadership skills, and junior ākonga the ability to form bonds with positive role models.
