Our Vision

Together, learning to live our best lives

Our Motto

More than a school

Values

Kia Hono/Connected and Kia Māia/Courageous

Principles and Aims

A focus on continuous improvement for achievement of equity and excellence.

Sommerville School will provide the best possible learning environment for students with special learning needs aged from 5 to 21.

We will staff the school with the most qualified, experienced and appropriate personnel to provide the expertise in order to expedite quality learning in this environment.

Students will be encouraged to value:

  • Excellence by aiming high and persevering in the face of difficulties;
  • Innovation, inquiry and curiosity by thinking critically and reflectively;
  • Diversity as found in our different cultures, languages and heritages;
  • Equity through fairness and social justice;
  • Community and participation for the common good;
  • Ecological sustainability, which includes caring for the environment;
  • Integrity which involves being honest, responsible, accountable and acting ethically;
  • Respect for themselves, others and of human rights

Staff will be committed to:

  • Acknowledging and celebrating diversity and inclusion;
  • Providing specialist programmes that enable all children to experience success;
  • High expectations of pupil achievement with an emphasis on literacy, numeracy and communicative skills;
  • Professional learning, reflection and personal development;
  • Demonstrating enthusiasm, optimism and professionalism in their interactions with students, colleagues, community and whanau.

The school environment will:

  • Be a safe and secure environment for teachers and students, which is critical to learning;
  • Reflect teaching and learning programmes;
  • Reflect our cultural diversity;
  • Be visually welcoming.

Cultural diversity – our students will:

  • Be accepting of other cultures and differences;
  • Value each other's heritage, culture and people;
  • Reflect the nature of biculturalism in classroom activities;
  • Incorporate Te Reo me ona Tikanga Maori into current programmes, where appropriate;
  • Incorporate programmes to support the Pasifika languages and cultures in the school.

Our school and community value the attributes of:

  • Respect for self and others; maintaining dignity, tolerance and acceptance;
  • Caring for others;
  • Cooperation and fairness;
  • Manaakitanga (respect for position and attributes);
  • Whanaungatanga (familial and interpersonal relationships);
  • Tohatoha (working together towards a shared vision and collaborative outcomes)