The VLN Primary School is a busy and thriving organisation, with a rising public profile.  Stay in touch and subscribe to our regular Newsletter.

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Going deeper for gifted learners – registrations open for Term 2

Kōtui Ako VLN has recognised the need for affordable and specific opportunities for students with gifts and talents. We are seeking interest from ākonga, whānau and kura to join our programmes starting next term. Connecting like-minds All of our online programmes provide learners with opportunities to be extended and challenged in their area of interest.… Read More

Going deeper for gifted learners

Kōtui Ako VLN Primary has recognised the need for affordable and specific opportunities for students with gifts and talents. Connecting like-minds All of our online programmes provide learners with opportunities to be extended and challenged in their area of interest. Students from a range of settings and throughout Aotearoa are connected, which can be particularly… Read More

Digital Technologies

Students develop knowledge, understanding and skills of the underlying concepts of computational thinking for digital technologies and designing and developing digital outcomes. They learn programming skills to create their own interactive stories, animations and games. They think creatively, reason systematically and work collaboratively and build their skills and capabilities to be innovative creators of digital… Read More

Tutoring support in schools

We know that schools can sometimes have difficulty finding teachers, relief staff and support teachers, especially our small rural schools. We are here to help. Kōtui Ako VLN’s purpose is about supporting schools to provide a rich curriculum for their learners. Stepping into tutoring support is an extension of this kaupapa. We have tutors available for… Read More

Business Studies in Action

Kōtui Ako students studying Business Studies NCEA L3, from across Āotearoa, are carrying out their business activities this term. Read about one student’s business outcome to support others. Year 13 student, Vincent Pechay from Reporoa College, is studying Business for a number of reasons. Not only does he wish to gain his University Entrance this… Read More

Kōtuitui Hui 2022

VLN Primary teachers attended the Kōtuitui networks of expertise recently. Our teachers led, participated in and contributed to this successful hybrid professional learning experience. Kōtuitui is a MoE supported Network of Expertise for those teaching online in New Zealand schools, who want to teach and collaborate online, and who support our online learners.  Find out… Read More

Tutoring support in schools

We are very excited to announce that we have been accepted to join the MoE panel to provide additional teaching and tutoring for ākonga who have lost learning due to COVID-19 disruption. Get in touch if you need this support. During Term 4 we trialed a Maths tutoring project with one of our schools in… Read More

Farewell Koka Jules

Julie O’Donnell from Whatatutu, near Gisborne, has been our kuia, kaiako Māori and Kapahaka throughout our VLN journey. Her depth of mātauranga māori has been a treasured resource for 100s of learners from across the motu over many years. We farewelled Koka at our recent hui with several schools and whānau joining in to celebrate… Read More

Connecting rural students

The rural Taranaki school, Waitoriki, engaged with VLN Primary so senior students could take up extension opportunities and connect with other students their own age from around Aotearoa. Teresa Jones, Principal of Waitoriki School, has seen the kura grow from sole charge through to over 50 students, three teachers, and two teacher aides. Carol Downer,… Read More

From exploring to embedding

Situated in Christchurch’s red zone, Banks Ave School is used to making the most of what they’ve got, and it’s no different learning online with VLN Primary. Jan Thompson, Leader of Learning at Banks Avenue School engaged with VLN Primary for the first time in 2021. The kura utilised online learning as a means of… Read More

OnlineTaster Classes

Schools who are new to the VLN Primary can now have their membership fee waived when they register in a 5 week taster class. Jump right in and try it out! Sometimes the only way to get your head around something new or different is to try it out. Participate in an online taster class… Read More

VLN Primary Snapshot of Learning 2021

Another successful year learning online with the VLN Primary! Here are some of our vital stats for the year. Our Goals: Provide high quality inclusive teaching and learning programmes across a wide range of curriculum.  Help learners to develop future focused life skills, key competencies, and digital fluency. Recognise Te Tiriti o Waitangi to support… Read More

Free mid-year opportunities for gifted learners

We had a great uptake from schools enrolling gifted learners in VLN Primary’s range of online programmes free of charge – and now we’re ready for our semester two enrolments. The Ministry of Education granted VLN Primary funding to support gifted learners access a range of online learning opportunities free of charge. Semester one placements… Read More

Digital Citizenship

“A digital citizen understands the rights and responsibilities of inhabiting cyberspace” (MoE, TKI). “Digital citizenship is a powerful enabler of inclusion in social, cultural and civil society” (Netsafe). The VLN Primary offers Digital Citizenship classes to develop students digital fluency. Classes are based on the NZ Curriculum values and key competencies and build Digital literacy and… Read More

VLN Primary Korean Day enriches students’ cultural diversity

Students learning Korean with the VLN Primary and students from Kiwitea School recently enjoyed a Korean Cultural Day to expand their knowledge of the culture. Students experienced a variety of traditional events, such as games, fan making, calligraphy, playing instruments and savouring Korean foods. VLN Primary eTeacher Sunny Yang worked closely with Kiwitea School to… Read More

Global Connections – Making it Work

Having been asked often, “How do you establish and maintain your global connections?” Geoff Wood details the nuts, bolts and issues relating to this. We have been on an exciting journey since we initiated an on-line, collaborative, web-presence 13 years ago. We have also hosted 4 live video-conferences. It is not easy developing and sustaining… Read More