Vision, Whakatauki & Motto

Our Vision:

To challenge and inspire for lifelong learning and achievement. 

Our Graduate Profile:

Our Graduates:

When students leave Kilbirnie School at the end of Year 6, they will be:

  • curious and engaged participants, contributors and leaders

  • creative, innovate and critical thinkers who communicate effectively

  • independent self-managers who set goals, self assess and reflect

  • happy at school with a strong sense of inclusion and belonging

  • literate, numerate and keen participants in physical activity

  • confident, resilient and willing to take risks

  • respectful of others and aware of tikanga Maori

  • skilled users of technologies and dicerning consumers of information

  • aware of the environment and eager to protect it.

Our Teachers:

Our teachers will reflect the principles of:

  • Awhina: Students will be incuded a spart of their class and the school as a whole

  • Ako: Learning is an active process shared by adults and students

  • Whanaungatanga: Parents and whanau are central to student progress and achievement.


Kilbirnie School Whakatauki (saying):

Whaia te iti kahurangi. Ki te tuohu koe, me he maunga teitei.

This Whakatauki speaks of aspiration, striving for success and determination to be the best one can be. It is about aiming high and persevering when challenged. These themes resonate with the vision, graduate profile, enablers and values of Kilbirnie School. This Whakatauki is aligned to education in a broad sense, with education and learning beginning at birth and continuing throughout life.

Kilbirnie School Motto:

Whaia te iti kahurangi.

Our motto is associated with the idea of encouraging and supporting learners to strive to reach their personal potential - to be the best they can be. This motto encourages us to pursue the things that we believe are important in growing our students into lifelong learners and achievers. The motto is closely aligned to the notion of personalized learning. Our school intends to deliver personalised learning in regard to student needs and interests. We conceptualise success and achievement in a holistic sense. We also believe all students are capable of engagement, progress and achievement. 

Our logo:

The Kilbirnie School logo reflects the local story of Ngake and Whataitai, the two taniwha who once lived in the lake that is now Wellington harbour.  Ngake, the lithe serpent, burst through the side of the lake to get to the sea, while Whataitai's attempt left him beached in the shallows near the harbour entrance. After many years, an earthquake lifted Watatitai right out of the water and his spirit transformed to a bird, Te Keo, which flew to the top of the closest mountain, Matairangi (Mount Victoria). This story is also depicted in the carved waharoa (gateway) at the school's Hamilton Road entrance.

The blue of the logo references the traditional colour of the school as well as reflecting the local sea and green shades have been introduced to depict the sea and hills.