Classrooms
Our Learning Spaces
We currently have 13 classes over 5 different sites.
Classrooms are set up to meet the needs of our diverse learners, with the use of technology, flexible spaces, visual strategies and a dedicated team of teachers and support staff.
Our On-site Classrooms
Te Matatini
Te Matatini Tahi, Rua and Toru are sensory based classrooms for students requiring a high sensory input. The name Te Matatini was chosen to represent the diverse strengths, skills and personal interests that each child brings to the classroom. The teaching staff use a play based approach that links to the sensory needs of the students, alongside Te Matatini Tahi being a new entrants classroom. This helps to engage the students to be ready to learn new skills and develop their knowledge around our adapted curriculum at Ruru School.
Te Matatini literally translated means many faces.
Te Matatini was chosen to represent the different diversities of the tamariki in these classrooms.
It is symbolic of the diverse range of teaching and learning that takes place in these classrooms, particularly the focus on the many sensory methods used to engage and work with the tamariki in Te Matatini.
The name Te Matatini was gifted to our school by Whaea Waiinu Wanakore-Conway who at the time was a Kaiako here.
Poutama Rangitahi
Poutama Junior
Poutama
The Poutama is a stepped/stairway pattern found in Māori weaving and tukutuku panels.
The Poutama pattern symbolises levels of attainment and advancement, the growth of knowledge, always striving ever upwards.
Poutama was chosen to represent the journey of tamariki in these classrooms and within their education here at Ruru.
They are always on a journey of continuous learning and advancing, gaining new knowledge and skills before new goals are set and the learning continues.
The school and teachers’ role is to nurture and engage tamariki on their learning journey, to add to their kete of knowledge. This name also takes into account the input that whanau have on the learning journey of their tamariki, adding to their kete with love, values, experiences and knowledge.
The Poutama symbol comes from the origins of Te Ao Māori, symbolising the power of Tāne Mahuta (The Atua of humanity and the forest domain) who climbed to the top most heavens to bring back the three kete of knowledge for mankind, with challenges and learning at each level before he succeeded.
The name Poutama was chosen for our classes by Whānau hauā – our Māori whanau group at Ruru School made up of whānau and staff.
Kia Mahitahi tātou mot te oranga o a tātou tamariki.
Multi-sensory Room
The Multi-Sensory room is a room full of enjoyment and fun where the students are able to explore through their senses. We are so lucky to have this community-funded room onsite.
Students from Ruru, and other Southland schools are able to access our Multi-Sensory Room as are others with diverse needs.
The Multi-Sensory Room is used mainly for three purposes
- Relaxation
- Real Life experiences
- Innovative Interactive cause and effect
The “Magic Room” environment can be altered to provide stimulation or relaxation depending on the needs of the individual student.
It is a very positive environment that can impact hugely on students positive behaviours.
The Magic Room provides an excellent space to reinforce the current curriculum focus, as our individual student programmes are essentially designed by the students for students.
Students enjoy controlling their own environment thus ensuring positive interaction.
Students love their time in the Magic Room.
Swimming Pool
Our School has a therapeutic pool for physiotherapy programmes and swimming / sensory programmes.
Our heated pool is timetabled for students all year round.
Ruru Specialist School has a dedicated pool assistant who supports students to receive the maximum benefit from their water experience. For many students, regular times of being in the water has a calming therapeutic effect and assists them to engage in their learning for the rest of the day.
The pool is made available to groups on a regular basis (at the Principals discretion), to support our community and to enable maximum use of the swimming pool, while still ensuring that priority is always given to the requirements of the school and the maintenance schedules operated by the caretaker.
Gym
Students have access to a gym on-site, this is used for daily physical activity, specific physio programmes, and for independent time for some students. Classrooms are timetabled into the gym and individuals have time in the gym with therapists and support staff.
Playgrounds
Ruru school prides itself on the outdoor facilities provided for our students. From a specifically build playground that has wheelchair access and equipment big enough for our older students, to small safe sensory areas for our youngest members of the school to have time with water play. We have a quiet area, areas with swings and a space to shot some hoops.
Our Satellite Classrooms
Being on the host school’s site enables our students access to their facilities, with the support of our specialist staff. Our students, while still getting the Specialist input from our Base Campus, have opportunities for inclusion with their peers in the mainstream setting, both within the classroom and the playground.
SIT Tec
SIT TEC is an innovative programme catering for students 16-21 years of age. SIT TEC is a well-established facility where students are valued and respected. Our aim is to meet the needs of young adults as they transition from school through to work, tertiary study and the wider community.
Our space at SIT TEC accommodates independent and group work, spaces which can enhance student hauora, welcoming spaces for families, and one where students can learn in ways that make them feel comfortable and assist them to focus.
Students are supported to fully meet their needs through student driven individualised career programmes and goal setting all with whanau input. Co-designing and constructing the learning experience aims to increase student independence in the classroom environment and in the community.
At SIT TEC students are led to utilise student agency, to have a genuine voice, increased choice over their learning and empowering them to know themselves better.
We believe at SIT TEC we help students feel safe, to better understand their needs, and to promote a positive well-being as life-long learners.
Verdon College
Based onsite at Verdon College, students have the best of both worlds. Being enrolled at Ruru Specialist school and attending a host school allows students to access supports like therapy, specialist teachers, small group learning, adapted curriculum, and up-to-date technology while also allowing students to wear the uniform of the host school, and to interact wherever the student is comfortable to do so, this can be in some classes, attending the assembly, playing sports and going to host school camps and ski trips.
We have two classes based at Verdon College.
Donovan
Based onsite at Donovan Primary School, students have the best of both worlds. Being enrolled at Ruru Specialist school and attending a host school allows students to access supports like therapy, specialist teachers, small group learning, adapted curriculum, and up-to-date technology while also allowing students to wear the uniform of the host school, and to interact wherever the student is comfortable to do so, this can be in some classes, attending the assembly, playing sports, participating in lunchtime games and social interactions.
Salford
Based onsite at Salford Primary School, students have the best of both worlds. Being enrolled at Ruru Specialist school and attending a host school allows students to access supports like therapy, specialist teachers, small group learning, adapted curriculum, and up-to-date technology while also allowing students to wear the uniform of the host school, and to interact wherever the student is comfortable to do so, this can be in some classes with host school students coming into satellite class as buddies, attending the assembly, playing sports, and participating in lunchtime games and social interactions.
Photos required
The Flat
The Flat provides students with real-life learning experiences in a supportive environment.
The focus for our students is achieving independence. Students between 14 and 21 are taught the realities of independent living in our off-site flat in Kereru St.
This unique learning environment provides an opportunity to practice everyday life skills such as shopping and budgeting, cleaning, maintenance, gardening and using public transport. These life skills are learnt while working together as a team with friendships that develop through the course and often continuing beyond graduation.
The programme is driven by students.
Partnerships are developed with community supports.
The programme is embedded in the ICP process.
Students and families/whanau are offered information on all options.
Needs of the student and the needs of families /whanau are identified and progressed appropriately.
Skills for Life are developed and practiced through ‘hands-on learning’.
Students will have Work Experience placements within the school or local community, which complement skills learnt in the flat programme.