Testimonial

Taradale Intermediate

Building a Safer Digital School Community

Principal Marty Hantz and Deputy Principal Cole Paige share how Linewize has given staff greater visibility and control over student online activity — without getting in the way of learning. The result: a school community where students, teachers, and parents all feel more confident and supported in the digital space.

Summary

School Name 
Taradale Intermediate

Type 
Y7-8 Intermediate

Location 
Napier

Champions
Marty Hantz, Principal
Cole Paige, Deputy Principal
Joanne Woolley, Pastoral Care

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Background & Context

Silverdale Primary School, located just outside Auckland, caters to approximately 750 students from years 0 to 6. With a focus on digital integration and safeguarding, the school has embraced Linewize solutions to address challenges related to online behaviour and ensure a safer digital environment for its students.

Silverdale Primary School faced several digital wellbeing challenges, including:

  • Inappropriate online behaviour - with students using online platforms for collaborative work this sometimes led to unkind comments and name-calling.
  • Exposure to inappropriate content - students’ curiosity during Google searches sometimes exposed them to content unsuitable for their age, leading to distractions and concerns about inappropriate information.
  • Online bullying - older students, particularly those in year 6, were engaging in subtle forms of online bullying, such as sending unkind emails or messages.
These issues underscored the need for a solution that could help monitor online interactions and support digital wellbeing effectively.

Partnering with Linewize

Building on their existing relationship with Linewize, Silverdale Primary introduced Linewize Monitor, a real-time platform designed for early detection and intervention. This tool identifies students who may be at risk and need support, aligning with the school’s wellbeing objectives.

The implementation process included comprehensive teacher training and informative sessions with parents and students. This training was crucial for the seamless integration of the new tool into the school’s digital management practices. Additionally, the school utilized parent information evenings to explain the benefits of Linewize Monitor, ensuring that both parents and students were well-informed about the new technology, its role in enhancing digital safety, and its contribution to safeguarding students.

How Taradale Intermediate found the heart in the data

Taradale Intermediate has always been a school of the future. As a leading 'lighthouse' school in the Hawke’s Bay region, they live out their mission statement every day: 'Create something new.'

From pioneering the use of AI for students with autism to forming high-level industry partnerships, this school has built a
reputation as a regional leader in innovation. However, the leadership team at Taradale knew that being a "lighthouse" school required more than just cutting-edge tech. It required a guarantee that no student, no matter how quiet, was slipping through the cracks of the pastoral care system.

“Pulse shifts some of the knowledge from being held in the pastoral team alone to a wider group of adults at school... which enables us to get the right people in the right places earlier to help with our learners and what they're going through." - Marty Hantz, Principal

Proactive wellbeing check-ins with Pulse

Moving beyond reactive care

The school had already taken the significant step of hiring a full-time pastoral care officer. But with a large, diverse student body, they faced a persistent challenge: visibility. In a traditional school setting, support is often reactive. A teacher might notice a change in a child's grades, or a crisis might flare up on the playground. But what about the students navigating quiet challenges at home or deep emotional shifts that aren't immediately visible? Taradale realised that to be truly "comprehensive," they needed to move beyond anecdotal observations and find a way to hear from every child, every week. That’s where Pulse came in.

 

A weekly voice for every student

For the school, the adoption of Pulse as a weekly wellbeing platform wasn't about adding another digital "tool" to the list; it was about creating a consistent, weekly rhythm where every student has a voice.

From noticing to knowing: Reaching students sooner

In a busy school, it’s easy to rely on what we see on the surface; attendance, grades, or playground behaviour. But Taradale Intermediate wanted to go deeper. By systematising a weekly check-in through Pulse, they’ve ensured that every single student has a dedicated moment to be heard. This gives the pastoral care team a real-time "pulse" on how the school is actually feeling, moving them beyond guesswork or anecdotal observations. Instead of waiting for a student to reach a breaking point, the school can now see the quiet signals early on. It turns their pastoral care from a reactive safety net into a proactive, compassionate support system that meets students exactly where they are.

The Outcomes

  • Comprehensive wellbeing: Through consistent, weekly check-ins, the school ensures every student feels seen and supported, both in the classroom and in their personal lives.

  • A "lighthouse" community: Taradale is proving that the most forward-thinking schools are those that put student wellbeing at the centre of their vision.

  • Actionable visibility: The school has a real-time view of the emotional climate, moving beyond guesswork to show exactly where support is needed most.

  • Connection over observation: Taradale has moved from simply observing behaviour and fostered a culture where students know their feelings are a priority, not just their grades.