This week our school community is coming together to celebrate Maori achievement and to listen to each other's wishes and aspirations for further engaging students and strengthening partnership in learning.
At this time it is interesting to look back at the work led by Prof. Russell Bishop getting teachers to understand the power of relationships with the youngsters in their care.
View TV feature on the project.
Learn more about the book, Culture Speaks:Cultural relationships and classroom learning.
Coffee Meeting
Thanks to the parents who turned up for this term’s morning coffee meeting. We were able to discuss and clarify a wide range of points. Those unable to attend can see what we covered below. Feel free to phone, email or drop in at any time to clarify any questions you may have.
Notes from recent parent questions discussed at Term 2 Coffee Meeting:
Recent ERO Review. Report is still in draft form. Should be published by the end of this term.
Parents’ library. Reminder that we have a collection of books for parents. Teachers will point parents towards display in library during interviews over next two weeks.
Making the most of school website. Those lost newsletters and missing sports notices can be found on the ‘SportZone’ and ‘Info Central’ pages on the school website. Also remember to use the ‘Any Questions’ page if you are unable to visit school to ask questions.
Upcoming Maori Consultation. Invitation for whole community to take part.
Year 3/4 outdoor education programme. Teachers currently working on details of a y3/4 outdoor challenge event to replace previous Y4 camp. Will involve all Year 3 and 4 classes. Will probably be two day long event including an overnight stay. Scheduled for mid-late Term 4.
Same learning, different contexts: Why all rivers don’t look the same. There are school-wide focus areas, all classes are working on the same curriculum areas, the contexts used by each class are different.
What is a decile rating? Explanation that decile ratings are calculated based on community socio-economic data and are not related to teaching and learning or the performance of a school.
We will follow up on parent suggestions to spread notices and newsletters across all Rivers so that more consistent information about school events arrives in each household.
It was noted that children’s ICT skills are surpassing some parents. Student-led lessons for parents are a long term goal to address this issue. Will be 2010 or 2011 when these start.
Our identification of gifted and talented children was explained. Our aim is to ensure all teachers are challenging and extending children all day, every week - as opposed to sending these children to special events and programmes and believing this alone meets their needs.
We will follow up on parent suggestions to make clear the classroom release timetable for teachers with extra duties.
We will also ensure timely notices are send home when there is an impending change of class teacher.
We clarified that the large number of new entrants this year are IN ZONE students. Out of Zone pupils are not a significant pressure point on numbers in the junior school.
2010 class compositions. We clarified that the make-up of classes for 2010 will be done to meet the needs of the children, not to keep groups together at the expense of teachers’ and parents’ knowledge of what might be best for the child.
Notes from recent parent questions discussed at Term 2 Coffee Meeting:
Recent ERO Review. Report is still in draft form. Should be published by the end of this term.
Parents’ library. Reminder that we have a collection of books for parents. Teachers will point parents towards display in library during interviews over next two weeks.
Making the most of school website. Those lost newsletters and missing sports notices can be found on the ‘SportZone’ and ‘Info Central’ pages on the school website. Also remember to use the ‘Any Questions’ page if you are unable to visit school to ask questions.
Upcoming Maori Consultation. Invitation for whole community to take part.
Year 3/4 outdoor education programme. Teachers currently working on details of a y3/4 outdoor challenge event to replace previous Y4 camp. Will involve all Year 3 and 4 classes. Will probably be two day long event including an overnight stay. Scheduled for mid-late Term 4.
Same learning, different contexts: Why all rivers don’t look the same. There are school-wide focus areas, all classes are working on the same curriculum areas, the contexts used by each class are different.
What is a decile rating? Explanation that decile ratings are calculated based on community socio-economic data and are not related to teaching and learning or the performance of a school.
We will follow up on parent suggestions to spread notices and newsletters across all Rivers so that more consistent information about school events arrives in each household.
It was noted that children’s ICT skills are surpassing some parents. Student-led lessons for parents are a long term goal to address this issue. Will be 2010 or 2011 when these start.
Our identification of gifted and talented children was explained. Our aim is to ensure all teachers are challenging and extending children all day, every week - as opposed to sending these children to special events and programmes and believing this alone meets their needs.
We will follow up on parent suggestions to make clear the classroom release timetable for teachers with extra duties.
We will also ensure timely notices are send home when there is an impending change of class teacher.
We clarified that the large number of new entrants this year are IN ZONE students. Out of Zone pupils are not a significant pressure point on numbers in the junior school.
2010 class compositions. We clarified that the make-up of classes for 2010 will be done to meet the needs of the children, not to keep groups together at the expense of teachers’ and parents’ knowledge of what might be best for the child.
Kids'Congress
For the last few months some of our senior students, together with Windsor School and CORE Education Ltd have been planning Kids’Congress. This local news clip gives you some insight. Our story starts at around the 4.20 point.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 - 07:36 AM
Anna Tweedy
The Organising Committee did a fantastic job and I was very proud to see them in action. Everyone I've spoken to about their involvement has been overwhelmed with what they've achieved and the skills they have learnt really are real life skills - they should be very proud!
Sunday, June 7, 2009 - 05:36 PM
Dorothy
Congratulations! This is fantastic publicity for an event which gives opportunity to many kids to SHINE! Looks like it was another good one and I am so disappointed we no longer have the Auckland event for our kids to participate in as it was a highlight of the year for them.
Dorothy
PS Can't comment on this using Firefox! So switched back to Safari. Off to try Google Chrome to see if your blog will allow it...
Tuesday, June 2, 2009 - 07:36 AM
Anna Tweedy
The Organising Committee did a fantastic job and I was very proud to see them in action. Everyone I've spoken to about their involvement has been overwhelmed with what they've achieved and the skills they have learnt really are real life skills - they should be very proud!
Sunday, June 7, 2009 - 05:36 PM
Dorothy
Congratulations! This is fantastic publicity for an event which gives opportunity to many kids to SHINE! Looks like it was another good one and I am so disappointed we no longer have the Auckland event for our kids to participate in as it was a highlight of the year for them.
Dorothy
PS Can't comment on this using Firefox! So switched back to Safari. Off to try Google Chrome to see if your blog will allow it...
Sculpture and playground dedication
Thanks to those who were able to be at school today to dedicate our new junior playground and Te Puna sculpture. Speech text is below.
______________________________________________
Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa
Welcome to our guests, parents, and children.
Today we want to thank everyone who supported our PTA in any way during 2008, every contribution (large or small) from buying a coffee in the morning, to taking part in Stars in your Eyes, and everything in between has lead to the financial ability to construct this wonderful new play area.
It gives us great pleasure to have our senior students running this event today it is THEIR school and it is therefore very appropriate that they take the lead role in thanking those who made this possible and also in gifting this playground to their younger friends.
In addition to this playground we are adding some more soul and spirit to the school’s infrastructure with a sculpture here in front of Te Puna.
The name Waimairi is all about water flowing, and we find this is powerful imagery to use as we help our children understand their journey over six years from Te Puna (the spring) into the stronger, deeper and faster moving waters of the whole school and then out into the wider ocean that is the life after primary school.
This piece of art is a stunning and tangible illustration of the learning journey that Waimairi children undertake. Children need to stretch and reach for personal excellence but they also need to use their strengths and talents as a river current to help carry along those who are younger and those with differing levels of ability.
To finish on the same theme I started on, you can help our PTA head towards their 2009 fundraising targets by staying on for a coffee from coffee shop in the hall straight after this event.
Thank you again for the support you give our learning community.
Sculpture and playground dedication
1 Comment
Monday, May 18, 2009 - 07:18 PM
Jane Hunter
Mike - thank you very much for the incrediably warm welcome and the lovely gesture of afternoon tea for the PTA prior to the playground opening and sculpture unveiling on Friday. It was really appreciated and the PTA certainly felt valued by the community.
______________________________________________
Ngā mihi nui kia koutou katoa
Welcome to our guests, parents, and children.
Today we want to thank everyone who supported our PTA in any way during 2008, every contribution (large or small) from buying a coffee in the morning, to taking part in Stars in your Eyes, and everything in between has lead to the financial ability to construct this wonderful new play area.
It gives us great pleasure to have our senior students running this event today it is THEIR school and it is therefore very appropriate that they take the lead role in thanking those who made this possible and also in gifting this playground to their younger friends.
In addition to this playground we are adding some more soul and spirit to the school’s infrastructure with a sculpture here in front of Te Puna.
The name Waimairi is all about water flowing, and we find this is powerful imagery to use as we help our children understand their journey over six years from Te Puna (the spring) into the stronger, deeper and faster moving waters of the whole school and then out into the wider ocean that is the life after primary school.
This piece of art is a stunning and tangible illustration of the learning journey that Waimairi children undertake. Children need to stretch and reach for personal excellence but they also need to use their strengths and talents as a river current to help carry along those who are younger and those with differing levels of ability.
To finish on the same theme I started on, you can help our PTA head towards their 2009 fundraising targets by staying on for a coffee from coffee shop in the hall straight after this event.
Thank you again for the support you give our learning community.
Sculpture and playground dedication
1 Comment
Monday, May 18, 2009 - 07:18 PM
Jane Hunter
Mike - thank you very much for the incrediably warm welcome and the lovely gesture of afternoon tea for the PTA prior to the playground opening and sculpture unveiling on Friday. It was really appreciated and the PTA certainly felt valued by the community.
Haere Ra
Today we bid a sad haere ra to Virgil Hills, our kapa haka teacher. She is moving to the North Island.
Virgil has expertly guided our kapa haka group on their pathway to becoming a stunning performance team.
My first encounter with Virgil was shortly before my arrival at Waimairi School. She travelled to North Loburn School to help prepare our children for the powhiri ceremony to ‘hand me over’ to Waimairi. Her teaching talents immediately struck me.
Virgil has made a significant contribution to the bicultural dimension of our school through her work with children and staff. Hei konā rā Whaea Virgil.
Sunday, May 10, 2009 - 03:04 PM
Phoebe
The Kapa Haka group has added a new dimension to Waimairi School and Whaea V was a warm and friendly personality who will be dearly missed. I hope a suitable replacement will be found soon so that the work we have done can continue.
Virgil has expertly guided our kapa haka group on their pathway to becoming a stunning performance team.
My first encounter with Virgil was shortly before my arrival at Waimairi School. She travelled to North Loburn School to help prepare our children for the powhiri ceremony to ‘hand me over’ to Waimairi. Her teaching talents immediately struck me.
Virgil has made a significant contribution to the bicultural dimension of our school through her work with children and staff. Hei konā rā Whaea Virgil.
Sunday, May 10, 2009 - 03:04 PM
Phoebe
The Kapa Haka group has added a new dimension to Waimairi School and Whaea V was a warm and friendly personality who will be dearly missed. I hope a suitable replacement will be found soon so that the work we have done can continue.
Term 2 is underway. The school-wide theme this term is Bigger, Faster, Stronger.
To ignite the children’s interest as soon as they set foot in the school gate for the new term we had a collection of big, fast and/or strong toys for them to play with.
Each River and individual class will be putting their own spin on the ‘Bigger, Stronger, Faster theme this term but all focussing on the science strand of the New Zealand Curriculum and the key competency THINKING.
Pictures of our Bigger, Stronger, Faster ignition morning here
Many thanks to
NZ Fire Service, Harewood Station.
Canterbury Car Club Inc.
Fulton Hogan Ltd
for letting us play with your big, strong, and fast toys today.
We have ignition
2 Comments
Monday, April 27, 2009 - 09:05 PM
Dorothy Burt
That sounds likes like so much fun. What a cool school to be part of. Look forward to getting ideas from you as the term unfolds.
Thursday, April 30, 2009 - 10:29 PM
Phoebe
What a great way to start the term. Loads of excitement with the big 'toys' and the new playground and the new markings. Looking forward to seeing the childrens work on 'bigger, faster, stronger'.
The end of term 1
Well folks, the end of Term 1 is here.
Time for your feedback.
Add your thoughts on any aspect of the term.
Leave your name or stay anonymous.
Your feedback is important.
Parents, students or teachers - let’s hear your voice.
1 Comment
Friday, April 24, 2009 - 07:24 PM
Anonymous
It's been a great term, I think. The river system is working brilliantly. Good job Team Waimairi!
Add a Comment Manage Comments for this Entry
Time for your feedback.
Add your thoughts on any aspect of the term.
Leave your name or stay anonymous.
Your feedback is important.
Parents, students or teachers - let’s hear your voice.
1 Comment
Friday, April 24, 2009 - 07:24 PM
Anonymous
It's been a great term, I think. The river system is working brilliantly. Good job Team Waimairi!
Add a Comment Manage Comments for this Entry
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