ACES Weekly Update

Kia ora, kia orana, Ia orana, ni sa bula vinaka, aloha, kam na mauri, fakaalofa lahi atu, talofa lava, malo e lelei, fakatalofa atu and hello.

In this week's issue, we celebrate Pasifika month, to embrace our Pasifika staff and students. Through our Identity Projects, students have been encouraged to connect with their culture and key elements that forge identity.

We provide important information for Whanau and caregivers on how to access your student's work through our learning platform "Hero". This is a phenomenal way to engage with your young person and ACES, setting them up to succeed academically.

Finally we also take a closer look at the amazing people behind our current Elective programme.

Campus leader Salome Ma'u chose the following proverb to centre our thoughts for this edition. "Takanga Enau Fohe" (Strength in Unity). She said "This Tongan proverb is often used in the context of rowing in a double-hulled canoe (Kalia), it emphasizes the importance of cooperation and working together to achieve a common goal." And just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes teamwork between ACES, our community stakeholders and most importantly parents/caregivers, to pave the way to strong outcomes for all our students/ākonga.

We are delighted to introduce you to our online communication and reporting system, HERO.

This platform, allows ACES to build an online environment that reflects our unique learning context. It enables teachers, students/ākonga and families to view and share content anytime, anywhere on any device. The software is secure, easy to use and brings together all school-related information in one place.

We are excited about the features that Hero has to offer families. These include the ability for parents and caregivers to:

• read and comment on posts relating to your child’s learning;

• view information on your child’s progress and goals;

• read and comment on school notices sent to the class or groups your child is part of;

• respond to school notices such as surveys and trip permission requests;

• view school term dates;

• view a school calendar of events;

• notify the school if your child is absent or late;

• navigate to other school-related webpages;

• customise your account by adding a profile image;

• select how you wish to receive notifications.

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During the time your ākonga are with ACES, staff and students will be posting rich content to our Hero software and we are looking forward to sharing this with you to include you in your child’s learning journey.

For more information about Hero including how to log in, go to Hero , Please note that the email used to sign in will be the current one registered by ACES from the parent/caregiver on enrolment. For any sign in issues please contact your Student's Roopu Tutor on the contact list below.

Damien Fogarty - ACES Pedagogical leader

Our Elective programmes are One School (Combined Campuses) and delievered by external providers from the Community. They are refined from activities students are interested in and also provide a chance for ākonga to work on soft skills such as resilience, communication, self awareness and self management.

Elective facilitator Jahstice Tautolo, is a choreographer and mentor at top New Zealand dance organisation, Identity Dance Company (IDCO). He has been dancing since 2011, with 12 years of choreography and battle experience, 2 years of training at Excel, and 8 years with IDCO.

Jah has won numerous titles, including the

• 2014 Rookie Krump Champ,
• 2022 Beatdown Krump Champ,

And awards with IDCO like the 2017 Hip Hop International NZ National Champion and medals (gold, silver, and bronze) from 2019 to 2023. Plus 2024 wins at World Hip Hop Dance Championships and World of Dance.

ACES sessions cover dance basics, rhythm, and foundations, increasing in difficulty to teach students routines for showcases and the end of year Graduation. IDCO is based in Kingsland.

Richie Hardcore is an accomplished Muay Thai athlete, coach, social activist and public speaker. He is fiercely passionate about social justice and in changing the narrative around male masculinity. He has been working alongside ACES students for over 3 years and gives ākonga access to world class coaching and insights from a man whom himself journeyed through a troubled and trauma-filled upbringing.

Read more of the amazing story behind this accomplished, but down to earth family man. For more details about his Grey Lynn gym and community focused work, click here Mauri ora!

Facilitator Kerry Knox has worked alongside ACES students in our project-based learning timetable and leads an elective this term for young people from both campuses, to learn the fundamentals of Olympic lifting and Functional Fitness. Read more here for detail on this community-focused gym.

Malo e lelei. My name is Ane, and my role at ACES Maungawhau is 2IC/Tutor. In this role, I take pride in working with youth, guiding and upskilling students to help shape their future. With our tutor leadership team, we ensure students receive the support they need and play a crucial role in setting them up to succeed. Without dedicated tutors like us, students would struggle to find their way.

1. If you could trade places with any ACES staff member for a day, who would it be and why? Salome. She is a constant reminder of how strong we polynesian women are. running a busy campus, juggling family, friends & work commitments. She always leads from the front. A reminder to our "why we do what we do".
2. If ACES were a type of weather, what would it be and why? The calm before the storm. Everyone experiences it. But it is how you navigate through the storm, your resilience, choices, and mindset that determine the outcome.
   
3. What song do you secretly love to sing along to when you’re alone? I don't sing and if I did it would be E flat for Enough singing lol!
4. If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be and why? Singing haha because I've mastered humming.
5. Which ACES Value would you say helps you power through those challenging days at work? TRUST. I can always trust my team to have my back.

If you are a local Auckland business keen to connect or advertise, we are looking for the right Partner to join ACES on our Learning waka. Contact me on 021913576 or thelo@aces.school.nz.

Alternative Education and Attendance Service | Auckland City Education Services | Auckland

With our Alternative Education Services, students receive so much more than an ordinary education. We pride ourselves on creating a unique, exciting environment that embraces all.