Jan’s support boosts student rewards at Te Kura o Manunui
Tauranga regional manager Jan Lichtwark loves to give back to the community, and that spirit recently reached Te Kura o Manunui. He supported the school with a $1,000 donation, helping to strengthen its incentive system that encourages students to live out the school values and work positively together.
Jan’s sponsorship has made a real difference in improving the quality of rewards available to students. At Te Kura o Manunui, the school’s values are all about respect for self, respect for others, and respect for the environment. Teachers recognise positive behaviour by awarding whakamana tokens when students show these values in action, such as being kind, inclusive, or supportive of others.
Tokens are collected and counted at the weekly hui, where students go into a draw to win rewards. Winners can choose from things like books or items from a prize box. The prize box is especially popular with students, especially since Jan’s sponsorship has allowed for more meaningful rewards.
Tumuaki Tuarua Carol Burborough says the impact of the sponsorship has been amazing.
“We’ve got a pretty fabulous school here and we’ve got some really good incentives for our values,” she says.
“Jan’s sponsorship has helped with those incentives.”
The school also runs a house incentive system for each of the school’s four syndicates. House tokens are awarded for positive behaviour, creating a sense of friendly competition and school spirit.
“It’s great anticipation. When we call out who’s first, they can stand and kanikani to cool music and just be themselves,” says Carol.
At the end of each term, the winning house is rewarded with a shared celebration. As the school has grown, with each house now made up of around 65 students, these celebrations now require more treats to go around. Thanks to Jan’s sponsorship, the school can continue rewarding the entire winning house.
“They just think it’s amazing. They get time out of the class with their teammates and have treats together,” says Carol
Te Kura o Manunui is a modern school that opened three years ago after moving from Brookfield School due to growth. The new site sits on land of deep cultural significance to Māori, with strong connections to the nearby Mananui pā and local waterways linked to the aftermath of the Battle of Gate Pā.
The school has worked closely with local kaumātua throughout its development, helping ensure these important stories and histories are reflected across the school environment. Te Kura o Manunui is still a small, close-knit school where relationships really matter.
“It’s all about whānau here,” says Carol.
Tauranga franchise owners Shailesh Chandra and Ravina Prasad help keep Te Kura o Manunui looking as good as new. Carol says it’s always “spick and span” thanks to the cleaning team, and it’s reassuring to know the school’s new buildings are in such good hands. Shailesh and Ravina are also incredibly friendly to everyone at the school.
“They are really great. They treat us very well and they’re very reliable,” says Carol.
“They’re very obliging.”
With support from Shailesh, Ravina, and Jan, Te Kura o Manunui can continue to strengthen the strong sense of whānau that makes it such a special place to learn.
