Activities and Opportunities

At Linden School we provide additional, fun, educational activities and support programmes for our students.

Fale/Houses


Linden School uses the concept of Tuakana/Teina, especially on Friday afternoons (when there are no assemblies).  Tuakana/Teina refers to the relationship between an older (tuakana) person and a younger (teina) person.  The Tuakana/Teina relationship, an integral part of traditional Māori culture, provides a model for buddy systems. An older or more expert tuakana (brother, sister or cousin) helps and guides a younger or less expert teina (originally a younger sibling or cousin of the same gender). 
With the Tuakana/Teina in mind, Linden School introduced fales (or houses) in 2018.  On Tuakana/Teina Fridays, students will work in mixed age groups with different teachers.  Siblings and cousins are placed in the same fale or house.    There are four fales in Linden School: Kowhai, Tawa, Kakariki and Kikorangi, with students from year 1 to year 6 in each.  The different fales will have one session with each teacher and will be doing activities based around arts, music, coding, envirostudies,  and games.


Fale groups will be widely used during the year for both learning and fun events. To save rivalry at home, we have placed members of the same family in the same fale group. 

Sporting and Outdoor Activities


Competitive and non-competitive activities are provided for students to develop their sports skills and team work such as: swimming lessons (held in Term One at Tawa Pool), school cross-country, athletics and house competitions. We regularly have sports clubs come in and run training sessions in sports such as soccer, rugby, tennis and softball. During breaks, sports equipment is available with many students enjoying playing soccer or basketball.
Each Wednesday is 'Wheels Wednesday', where students can use their wheels (bikes, scooters, roller skates) in the breaks.
As part of the Tawa Cluster we participate in all the Tawa Zone Sports events such as Sports Days, Cross Country,  Swimming, Rippa Rugby and Athletics. Students doing well at these events go on to represent Linden School at the Wellington Regional events.
There is a Fit Track located on the school grounds for students and their families to use. 
You are also welcome to use the school grounds out of school hours, with many families coming in to play on the playground, have a game of basketball, use the Fit Track, bike around the 'bike track', or fly kites or drones on the field.

Year 6 Camp


Each November Year 6 students attend an outdoor adventure camp at the Brookfield Outdoor Education Centre. They have the opportunity to participate in a variety of outdoor activities including kayaking, confidence course and flying fox. The camp usually ends with a session at H2O Extreme or a trip to Somes Island in Wellington Harbour.

School Trips


Classes regularly go on school trips to a variety of  places in the Wellington Region eg Karori Wildlife Sanctuary and the Capital E Children's Art Festival.
Trips are also made into Wellington to participate in events such as the Māori Language Week, Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori parade, National Children's Day in Civic Square and the Orange Day Parade (for school road patrollers).

School Events


There are a number of social events held at the school each year, ranging from a 'Meet, Great and Eat' at the beginning of the year, to Maths nights and Discos.

Art


Art is an enjoyable and important part of life at Linden School. Each week classes have special art sessions where they cover a variety of art styles.
Displays of art works are often displayed in the office for visitors to enjoy.

Kapa Haka


Students have the opportunity to hone their kapa haka skills through weekly sessions with the amazing kaiako Whaea Parahuia.
Our Kapa Haka groups come together to perform for powhiri, special events, assemblies, the school production, special guests and visitors.
Every year senior students take part in the Tawa Primary Schools' Kapa Haka festival, receiving rave reviews.

Performing Arts


Students at Linden School join with other schools every two years to participate in Tawa Goes to Town.
Every two years the school puts on a school production to show case the amazing talent at Linden School. The productions are held in the Tawa College Hall.
We are also privileged to have visits from orchestras, dance troupes and other performers.
Individuals and groups of Linden School students are also welcome to perform at the assemblies. Student initiated dance troupes, singers, musicians and stand up comedians have all entertained their peers.

Gardening Club


Linden School has a lunchtime Gardening Club where students can be involved in many aspects of production and amenity horticulture, as well as nature watching (in particular the life-cycle of the monarch butterfly).
We are very lucky to have a number of vegetable plots, a developing orchard and a geodome for students to use. 
Students plant, grow and eat a variety of crops, as well as do activities such as making bird feeders. The highlight of the year is when students plan, cook and serve a special lunch for all the school staff.

School Councilors


Each year senior students apply to become student councilors. Those successful are involved in leadership roles in the school, such as running the assemblies, organising fundraising events and lunch time clubs.

Pest Free Tawa


Students have the option of being part of the Pest Free Tawa group at Linden School. Students are rostered on to set traps, monitor and learn about predator control with a focus on the wider outcomes of conservation.

Road Patrollers


Year 5 and 6 students can chose to train as school road patrollers.
Each year the road patrollers attend the Orange Day Parade and award ceremony in Wellington, where over 1000 road patrollers from schools throughout the Wellington Region are thanked for their contribution to road safety.

Student Librarians


Students at all levels can chose to become student Librarians. Duties include helping our school librarian during the weekly class visits to the library.

Life Education


Each year we receive a visit from Life Education Trust who run age appropriate programmes in the following areas: food and nutrition, human biology, relationships & communities, identity & resilience and substances.