te kura o te roto a rangi - balmoral school · 3. boys are not achieving as highly as girls maths:...
TRANSCRIPT
Tena koutou, Malo e lelei, Kia orana, Fakalofa lahi atu, Bula vinaka, Ciao, Namaste, Al Salaam a’alaykum, Ni
hao, Merhaba, Konnichiwa, Hola, Annyong hasayo, Greetings
Balmoral Intermediate Newsletter
Te Kura o te Roto a Rangi 19 Brixton Road, Mt Eden Auckland 1024
Phone 638 7960 Fax 630 1944
Email [email protected]
w w w . b a l m o r a l . s c h o o l . n z
Vision
To value diversity and to develop curious, confident and
connected learners.
Friday 21 February 2020
Intermediate Dates to Diary
Community Treaty of Waitangi Course Saturday 22 Feb 8-2:30pm
Class Photos Thursday 27 & Friday 28 February
Year 7 Camp Tuesday 3 March – Friday 6 March
Teacher Only Day (T.O.D) Monday 9 March (School Closed)
Polyfest Wednesday 18 March
Year 8 Camp Tuesday 5 Mary to Friday 8 May
Please check the calendar on our school website (www.balmoral.school.nz ) for up-to-date
events and times.
Intermediate Whanau Blogs
Turanga http://whanauturanga.blogspot.co.nz/
Aparangi https://aparangibalmoral.blogspot.co.nz/
Canteen Days: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday only
Tena koutou e te whanau, he mihi nui kia koutou katoa
Dear Parents, Whānau and Caregivers
Our school has developed a unique local curriculum by working with the New Zealand
Curriculum over many years.
We have been influenced by John Dewey’s philosophy of ‘learning by doing’. The theories
of Reggio Emelia add further dimension, by entrusting our school to develop a learning
culture that can relate to children, in order for them to have a sense of control over their
learning(agency), a sense of hope and a recognition of their rights.
With this theoretical underpinning we have been challenged to develop a curriculum
which builds on human virtues, skills and abilities like creativity and empathy. This localised
curriculum doesn’t just promise to make better employees, it offers more resilient, curious
and imaginative people. It doesn’t just set children up for better jobs, but better lives.
Linked to this view of curriculum is our ‘image of the child’. We see a person who is already
tightly connected and linked to a certain reality of the world — s/he has relationships and
brings wide experiences and understandings. When s/he enters school in the morning, s/he
carries pieces of their life — happiness, sadness, hopes, and pleasures. S/he comes with
pieces of the world attached and with a natural curiosity. So therefore we see a world that
can only be interpreted with the experiences that we bring with us. Therefore we need to
accept that others think and do things differently (Diversity).
As a school community we must also consider what does celebrating / accepting diversity
mean to us? How do we talk and teach our students to be citizens who will listen, who will
question, who can respect different kinds of lives in new ways to enable a democratic
society? How do we assess this?
Our pupils need an environment that places no barriers on their learning. They need to
learn in meaningful, real-life, challenging contexts. Children need to have some control
over the direction of their learning and be able to ask and answer questions that have
meaning and relevance to them.
Children must learn in depth, see the links, think and solve problems, discover and create
new knowledge for themselves and others. Children need to learn about themselves.
They need to realise their personal strengths and weaknesses and to develop their
emotional intelligence. In a changing world only the truly knowledgeable person is the
one who will succeed.
By creating this type of learning environment, we can enable children access to
knowledge.
The task of providing this learning environment is not an easy challenge, but one that we
approach with vigour and enthusiasm.
Finally, in thinking about what and how our pupils learn we need also to be open minded
and questioning and therefore ‘hold our position with doubt’.
Kia pai to mutunga wiki (Have a good weekend)
Naku noa
Malcolm Milner
Principal (Te Tumuaki)
TEACHER ONLY DAY: SCHOOL CLOSED Monday 9 March
This year some of our staff and pupils will be moving into new Flexible Learning Spaces.
These spaces have walls and breakout rooms for three classrooms. Our teachers are
working hard to up skill themselves in order to be ready and prepared to create positive
learning experiences from day one.
In order to support this transition, the Board have employed Jo Robson from Leading
Learning to work with the staff again on Monday 9 March. School will be closed for all
students.
School Achievement Data
On Tuesday night at the Board of Trustees meeting we discussed the student achievement
data based on Overall Teacher Judgement (OTJ) at the end of 2019 in Reading, Writing
and Maths. There was much to celebrate as overall achievement was very high.
Some interesting points.
Reading:
1. The Year 1 / NE achievement in 2019 is slightly higher than 2018
2. 83% of students are at or above
Writing:
1. Girls are achieving at a high level across all year groups. This is particularly evident in
Year 2.
2. The Year 6 cohort made significant progress across the year
3. Boys are not achieving as highly as girls
Maths:
1. The achievement of all year groups is very good.
2. Students in Year 4,5 and 6 cohorts made increased achievement from 2018.
3. Overall, boys and girls achieve similarly although boys’ achievement is slightly higher
than girls. There is a 0.7% achievement difference for All boys and All girls – boys
achieving slightly higher. This gap has closed since 2018
As with any data and in-depth analysis we also are aware that there are always some
areas to improve or to delve deeper into understanding it.
The Board will receive further achievement information after we have completed an
analysis of PAT. This information will be norm referenced.
Green and Gold Day
Kia mihi
Many thanks to everyone who participated in the Green and Gold Day. We raised $849.40
dollars for the Australian schools affected by the bush fires. This has now been donated to
the Auckland Primary Principals Association (APPA) to pass on to the Australian Principals
Association.
Health Advice COVID-19 (Novel coronavirus)
The end of the 14 day stay away period is approaching for some members in our community
who have been in China or who had contact with someone who has had COVID-19.
On Monday the Minister of Health extended the temporary travel restrictions on people
travelling from, or transiting through, mainland China for a further 8 day period
Recent arrivals from mainland China are required to self-isolate and register for health checks
through the Healthline service. Call 0800 358 5453 to register. This is to provide you with health
support while you are in New Zealand.
For people arriving or transiting through mainland China the MoH ask that you:
• please register your details with Healthline within 24 hours of arrival
• self-isolate for 14 days.
Sickness Absences
Please do not send unwell children to school.
This year we will be calling parents to pick up their child
immediately if they come to school unwell or become unwell at
school. There is an expectation that parents and caregivers will
arrive promptly to collect their unwell child if they have been called.
Please let the office know before 9:15am if your child is going to be late or away from
school due to sickness or travel: email [email protected] ,
website http://www.balmoral.school.nz/absence/ or phone 09 6387960.
All un-notified absences result in a text message being sent to query the student’s
whereabouts. Caregivers can reply to these texts, but it reduces unnecessary work if the
office doesn’t have to send them in the first place.
• Unexplained absences automatically change to a ‘truant’ mark with the Ministry, so it is
important that you let the office know as early as possible if your child is going to be late
or absent – the office can then put the correct code on the electronic roll
First Aid
We have revised our first aid, medicine and injury procedures to
include the use of asthma inhalers. These guidelines will be applied.
1. School staff will not administer prescription medication at
school except where there is a pre-existing condition ie.
Asthma, allergy etc.
2. Parents will apply in writing on the Administration of
Medicines to Students form. Before any medication is
administered the completed form must be signed by the
Principal or a Deputy Principal.
3. Except in the case of asthma inhalers. Children in Year 5 – 8 will be allowed to
keep these in their bags or on their person.
• Library
We are looking forward to another great year in our school library and are delighted to
have the use of the Reading Lounge again. Classes have all started their weekly class time
and the library is open every lunchtime.
If you would like to see us, or help you select a good book, we are here to help children
and whānau until 3.30pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and also an early Tuesday
morning from 8am to 8.30am.
Liz Hamilton and Nicola Brown
Librarians
Balmoral School
• Parents and Children Book Happy ½ Hour
• Come and read in our library with your child
• Library Open until 3.30pm Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday
• Early morning - 8am to 8.30am Tuesday
The Build
• The build is making steady progress. On Tuesday Trish Cullen (DP), Liz Oorthius and I
visited both the Gymnasium and the Intermediate Block.
• The Gym is looking close to being finished. The wall linings are nearly complete and the
basketball hoops have been installed. The wooden floor installation has begun. The new
pool changing rooms and the gymnasium changing rooms are finished. Some minor
services are to be installed.
• The Intermediate Block has been lined on the bottom floor. The room divisions have
been built. Many services still need to be completed and the atrium stairs and
amphitheatre concrete will be poured later this week. The classrooms are looking like a
good learning and teaching space for our pupils and staff. We are all beginning to get
very excited about moving into these specially designed classrooms.
• Initial groundwork on the surrounding earthworks has begun. The spaces outside the
classrooms have wonderful outdoor flow and look big enough to be great areas for the
pupils to work and play.
• We have not received a confirmed completion date yet. While we were hoping it was
going to be this Term we may have to wait until Term 2.
• Later in Term 2 we will have an open afternoon where parents can visit the classrooms
to see the pupils and teachers at work
News from the Intermediate School
To value diversity and to develop curious, confident and connected learners Kia ora e te Whānau o Te Roto a Rangi,
It has been a fabulous start to the year in the Intermediate. We have all been impressed
with the give-everything-a-go attitude that the majority of the students have started the
year with. Dance, Drama, Kapa Haka, Chess, Eco-Warriors and the Wellbeing Club are well
underway, as are the librarians, assembly leaders and the bands. Next week our House
Elective programme begins, where the students will be spending time on Wednesday
afternoons on one thing they love, and one they want to learn more about. Your child will
be able to tell you more about this.
Our sports programme has also begun, with the tennis and swimming teams competing this
week. We will publish results when we have them from the competition organisers. Well
done to everyone who is making sure they are at trials on time, and giving it their best.
A huge thank you goes to our hard working and dedicated staff, who go out of their way
to provide the myriad of extra experiences available to all our students, as well as running
classroom programmes that reflect all the wonder of learning that Malcolm referred to at
the beginning of this newsletter.
Thank you to you as well for supporting your children to be organised and ready for school
each day.
Ngā mihi
Trish and the Intermediate Team
Please have a good read as there’s LOTS going on!
Balmoral School Duathlon - 29th March, from 9am - 1pm, Eden Park
Make sure your kids are registered for this awesome event - rego packs coming home
soon! Heaps of fun where kids can compete at relevant age levels.
Whanau on the Field - 12th March 5-7pm, School Field
We think this is a great way to kick off the new year and get to meet some other families. A
casual evening on the field with some music and ice blocks for the kids. Bring along your
picnic rugs, your food, maybe a ball or a game for the kids to play. We know that rain is
needed, but we are hoping for a fine evening as
there won’t be a rain date. This is also a rubbish-
free event – please make sure you take all of
your rubbish home with you. We hope to see you
there!
PLUS! Be in the draw to win 2 tickets to the
Balmoral Comedy Club event on Friday May 8th!
(this is a sell-out event every year). If you are
already on the Friends of the PTA database
you’re automatically in the draw, if not then fill in
your details at the marquee on the night.
AGM and new leadership positions open
A great way to be more involved in the event and fundraising side of the school, the PTA.
Submissions for Chairperson and Leadership Team positions due in writing by 7.30pm on
Saturday March 7
Volunteering is good for your health!! Research has found “social connectedness” is at
least as good for your health as quitting smoking or exercise.
For all of us that are involved in fundraising activities, either as an active member on the
PTA, part of the Leadership Team, or someone who likes to jump in and lend a hand when
they can, this is an awesome way to build a connection with the school, its families, and
get a sense of achievement from “giving a little back”
At our AGM In March this year we will be voting in a new leadership team and Chair
Person. We welcome any expressions of interest for these positions! Please consider sharing
a role with a friend if you are not wanting to commit to taking it on yourself. We are also
looking for someone to help co-ordinate our newsletter content every two weeks and are
of course always happy to see new people come along to meetings to listen in and get
involved if time and other commitments allow. It is also worth noting that the few people
standing down at the AGM will not be “gone!”, they will still be around to help with events
and offer support and advise to new people on the team.
It’s been exciting to hear of new people wanting to get involved this year, and keen to
start coming along to meetings and/or help with events. If you missed this weeks meeting,
please try to come along to the AGM at the school library on Tuesday March 10th at
7.30. Anyone is welcome to just come along to any meeting at any time – there is no
“joining up”.
If you would like to apply for the Chairperson, Leadership Team, Secretary and Treasurer
positions please send your submission to [email protected]. We need to receive all
submissions 72 hours prior to the AGM which will take place at 7.30pm on Tuesday March
10.
Voting will take place at AGM Tues March 10th 7:30pm, School Library
Additional opportunities to get involved with the PTA
Sponsorships and Partners:
We rely on generous sponsors to bring you these awesome events.
Keep an eye out for the school PTA calendar coming home next week. We NEED
sponsorship to cover the growing production costs for these events and to make them
profitable. If you want to get your brand in front of around 600 families or have a product or
idea on how you could help, pls email [email protected].
Friends of the PTA:
Everyone should join this - it’s an easy way to help occasionally on events when it suits you,
no pressure, no commitment. Can you turn a sausage? hand out an ice block? or want to
do more? If that sounds like you, please email [email protected] and put Join Friends
of PTA in subject line.
We’d love to hear from you - also add if you have special skills or resources you can add to
this e.g. prizes suitable for raffles, graphic design skills, Doctors or First Aiders to help at
events, builders etc.
Class Reps 2020
Thanks to all of you that have offered to be a Class Rep for 2020. We still have a few gaps
to fill and would ideally like to get this completed by the end of next week. Being a Class
Rep is simply a way for the PTA and the classroom teachers (if they wish) to communicate
to your class families. The PTA will send information to you as events etc come up
throughout the year which we ask you to forward on. But you can utilise the role in any
way you wish. Many Class Reps in the junior year groups like to organize casual gatherings
for your families as a way of getting to know each other. This could be ice blocks after
school, a shared food idea, or an adult get together one evening.
We still need a class rep for the following classes;
Room 11, Room 14, Room 20, Room 28, Shire 2, Shire 3, Shire7: If you have a child in any of
these classes and can help with this role, please advise your teacher or
email [email protected].
Community Notices
Done a few kilometres over the holiday break? Does your car need a check up? Getting your
car serviced regularly makes it run more economically so fuel savings & is better for the
environment with emissions.
For all your WOF’s, vehicle servicing & maintenance. See your local team.
PH: 6387866
385 Dominion Rd, Mt Eden
(Behind g.a.s petrol station. Entrance on Paice Ave)
www.balmoralautorepairs.co.nz
Help Available
The Kerr-Taylor Foundation can help you or your family if
you live in the Mt Albert area.
Money may be given if you need help and support
Organisations or groups may also be granted funding.
Application forms are available from the
Mt Albert Citizens Advice Bureau
or the Foundation secretary at
Website: www.kerrtaylor.org.nz
Applications close 5pm Friday 8 March 2019.
Rhythmix Gymnastics Open Day! Come along and have a go! Xtreme Rhythmix is offering a “Have a Go Day” for beginners in rhythmic gymnastics at Marist College (Mt Albert) on Tuesday 25th February from 5:00-6:00pm. Come along and learn fun skills with ropes, hoops, balls, clubs and ribbons. See if rhythmic gymnastics is the sport for you!
Beginner classes are available on Mondays, Tuesdays and Saturdays at Marist College plus a range of classes are available at our other facilities (Eventfinda Stadium, Albany, Glamorgan School and Glenfield College). Email [email protected] for more information or just turn up on the 25th of February and join in the fun!
