Looping & River System

Partnerships, pathways and class placements at Waimairi

At Waimairi, we recognise the crucial role that strong partnerships play — both between whānau and teachers, and between teachers and learners. Extensive international research confirms that these relationships are key drivers of learner success and wellbeing.

We bring these partnerships to life in two key ways:

1. Looping
Looping allows our learners to stay in the same neighbourhood for two years. We work hard to ensure that, wherever possible, the teachers in each neighbourhood also remain for those two years. This continuity deepens relationships, builds trust, and strengthens our sense of community.

2. Our River System
Over the past two years, we have worked to re-establish our River System — a structure that nurtures connection and continuity as learners journey through their time at Waimairi.

For learners in our main building (Years 1–6), there are two rivers that students flow through during their learning journey. This approach is similar in spirit to high school form or vertical classes, fostering long-term relationships and a strong sense of belonging.

• Wairarapa Stream
  Pātiki (Years 1–2) → Kānuka (Years 3–4) → Kōtare (Years 5–6)

• Ōtākaro (Avon) River
  Īnaka (Years 1–2) → Tī Kōuka (Years 3–4) → Kererū (Years 5–6)

Before learners join one of these rivers, they begin their journey in Ngā Puna — our two springs (Years 0–1). Ngā Puna serves as the headwaters of their learning journey, where the flow of curiosity and growth begins before merging into one of the main rivers.

Once within a river, learners tend to — though not always — flow together as they move through the stages of their Waimairi journey.

Yearly class placements

At Waimairi, our River System also makes yearly class placements a calm and predictable process. Unlike many schools, this transition is generally stress-free for whānau and learners alike, as students already have a strong sense of belonging and connection within their river.

You can safely assume that if your child is part of a river, they will continue within that same river the following year. If any change to this is being considered, we will contact you directly to discuss it.

To strengthen our Rivers further, from 2026 we will introduce weekly River Time — opportunities for students within each river to come together, connect, and collaborate. This time will also provide our senior students with meaningful opportunities to take on tuakana–teina roles, leading and mentoring younger students as they all continue to grow and flow together.

Whanaungatanga and Kotahitanga in action

Our approach to partnerships, pathways, and class placements reflects two of our core Waimairi values — whanaungatanga and kotahitanga.

Whanaungatanga is about building strong, authentic relationships — a sense of family connection and belonging through shared experiences and mutual respect. Our River System and Looping practices embody this value by ensuring that learners, teachers, and whānau know one another deeply and work together over time.

Kotahitanga speaks to unity, collective purpose, and working together as one. It is reflected in the way our learners support one another within their rivers, in the collaboration across year levels, and in the shared commitment of our whole school community to help every child thrive.

Together, these values ensure that the flow of learning at Waimairi is not just about progress through levels, but about growing relationships, shared purpose, and a deep sense of belonging — where every learner is known, supported, and part of the collective journey.