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Tena Koutou Katoa
Ko kapukataumahaka te maunga whakamarumaru i a au
Ko Owhio te awa whakaora i a au
No Koputai, Otepoti ahau
Ko Mike taku tāne
Ko Isabella raua ko Amélie aku tamariki
Ko Bancks toku whanau
Ko Claire toku ingoa
No reira, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena tatou katoa
Kia ora and a very warm welcome to Omakere School.
My name is Claire Bancks, and I have the absolute privilege of being the Tumuaki / Principal of Omakere School. With 26 years of teaching and leadership experience across a variety of Hawke’s Bay schools, I am proud to be a leader in a small rural setting. I firmly believe that a great school is the vibrant heart of its community: a place where whānau gather, resources and skills are shared, and every child is known, valued, and nurtured.
Our unique rural environment offers rich, authentic learning opportunities not just for our tamariki, but for our entire whānau and extended community. As a proud mother of two daughters who have navigated their own schooling journeys, I deeply appreciate that every child walks a unique path. This perspective drives my commitment to raising confident, capable, and values-driven young people who are ready to thrive in an ever-changing world.
At Omakere School, our learning environment blends strong foundational skills with modern, place-based learning. We are deeply committed to raising student outcomes through proven, evidence-based practices, bringing strong expertise in Curriculum and Pastoral care to ensure our learners excel. We believe learning should connect directly to the world our children live in, which is why we honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi through culturally responsive practice and a rich, localised curriculum that weaves together the unique people, places, and pūrākau of our regional area. While our rural setting offers extraordinary hands-on learning opportunities, our school bus service connects us seamlessly to Waipawa and Waipukurau, bringing families together into one united, supportive regional community.
"Kei te whakatupu i whakamanahia ngā ākonga – Growing Empowered Learners."
This vision is the living, breathing anchor of our school. It guides how we teach, how we lead, and how we care for one another every day.
Nō reira, welcome to Omakere School—a future-focused, heart-centred kura full of learning, connection, and community. We invite you to visit, meet our team, and be a part of our journey.
Ngā mihi nui,
Claire Bancks
Tumuaki | Principal, Omakere School
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