Virtual Learning Network

My name is Angela Kerr and I teach at Kowhai Special School in Hastings. We are a school catering for children aged 5 to 21 with special needs and intellectual disabilities. We have a large staff of dedicated teachers and teacher aides who work closely together with our specialist providers to provide the best care and education for our students.
Kowhai comprises of a base school — which also operates as an administrative centre — and a range of satellite classes
We have four classes located at our base school on Hastings Street South in Hastings.
We also have four satellite units at:

• Raureka Primary School (1 class)

• Hastings Central Primary School (2 classes)

• Heretaunga Intermediate (1 class)

• Flaxmere College (3 classes)

Our satellite units are managed and supported by Kowhai School and are staffed by Kowhai School. Kowhai has regular events for the entire staff and students to get together.
Kowhai caters for up to 75 students. Keeping the classes small we are able to give the attention that our students require and cater for their individual needs.
Our students can mix with other students of their age during playtimes, lunchtimes and assemblies in the mainstream schools. The students from the host schools come in for some programmes like 'buddy reading' and visits. There are opportunities for Kowhai students to join mainstream sports teams and classes with support. The satellite classes attend assemblies and other school events at their host schools. The satellite units at Central, Raureka and Flaxmere College have safe playgrounds for those students who need it. The satellite unit at Heretaunga Intermediate has close supervision in a mainstream setting.
I have a class of 5 and 6 year olds with various learning difficulites. I am the lead teacher of ICT and am released one day a week to work with our staff and students. I am in an ICT PD cluster of 6 special schools.