Update 13 - 8 August, 2019
Rich Opportunities for Learning - Keeping it Real
What is critical to learn and know within a science learning area? What scientific concepts and understandings are so important that can not be left to chance? Both great questions we have been engaged in leading up to the start of this term.
As a team, we decided that sustainability was a great overarching science understanding to focus on. What happens to the stuff we don’t want anymore? Is it buried, recycled, or does it find its way into the ocean? Either way, what’s the impact? It’s a concept we felt we could use to design learning experiences that are engaging, real and connected to our learners.
Walking through the hubs this week, it is a joy to observe scientific wonderment alive and well. Our learners are fully immersed in the first phase of our learning process; Building Knowledge about sustainability. We have all sorts of scientific investigations underway related to: What will it take to reduce plastic use? Why is the conservation of water important? How much water do we actually use at school and at home? What happens when a variable changes in an ecosystem? It’s so encouraging that learners are motivated and driven towards taking action, especially when it’s for social good.
We also love seeing learning continue beyond the bounds of 9 - 3.00pm. I was taken by one 6-year-old learner who came running up to me on Monday morning saying that they have raised $43 towards their project to make the School environment better. Another group wanted to raise awareness about climate change. They were so motivated to get their weather balloon purchased and tethered last week I received a Google doc just 24 hours after meeting with them outlining how all the possible health and safety concerns I had raised might be mitigated.
Of late, I am enjoying an early morning workout at the local gym. I get to watch a good video or listen to a TED talk whilst doing my warm-up and warm down. I thought you might like this quick TedTalk watch about Joy - ‘Where joy hides and how to find it’. Alternatively, a longer one to watch is ‘Most Likely to Succeed’, about a school that is disrupting how education has always been. It’s great to see how other schools are providing authentic, engaging contexts for their students' learning.
We believe that nurturing learners’ passions and sparking new interests is essential to finding meaning and purpose in life. Learning is a lifelong pursuit, we never stop, never arrive. It’s important we interrogate how best to make learning relevant and compelling for our learners. It is work we will continue to do, and our science focus this term provides a wonderful context through which to explore.
Sarah
Lateness - Signing in at the office
This is an important reminder that all learners that arrive at school late must please sign-in on the tablet in the office prior to going to their Hub.
School Photos
PhotoLife will be coming on Monday 2nd September. All Year levels will have pictures, including Kapa Haka, netball and sibling photos (more details to follow).
Traffic Information - New Build
As of Monday, 5th August, there is an increase in truck traffic around the building site entrance on Gyon Street. Where at all possible, it would be advisable to park a little further away from the site entrance to reduce the risk of damage to any vehicles as the machinery enters and exits the site.
Truck movements start each day at 7:30am. Smaller staff vehicles start to arrive around 6:45am and set the site up ready for work to start promptly at 7:30am.
Learner Activities Before School, Break times and After School
Click here to view the activities that will be running during Term 3. We encourage your child to get involved with as many activities as they would like.
Out of Zone Siblings
Whilst the school does not take out of zone students, we do try, where possible, to allow out of zone new entrant siblings of currently enrolled children to be at school together. Each year, the Board of Trustees looks at the current and predicted roll and determines if the school is in a position to continue to make this exception.
If you are a current parent of the school and have an out of zone pre-schooler due to start primary school during 2019, you will need to write to ellie@stonefields.school.nz before Friday 31 August so that the Board of Trustees can discuss our current and predicted roll and decide if a ballot is feasible for new entrant only. Once you have informed us of your situation we will then notify you of the application process.
Teacher Aide Position
Stonefields School is forward-thinking in its philosophy of learning, purposeful in selecting the right staff and creatively utilises open modern learning environments to ensure learning is social, open, engaging and real.
We are looking for the right candidate to join our team.
Are you:
- Passionate?
- Enthusiastic?
- Empathetic to diversity?
- Able to motivate and inspire learning?
- Able to demonstrate initiative?
- Highly collaborative?
This is a full-time position, hours are 9am-3pm. If you feel you are the right individual to work collaboratively alongside our dedicated teachers for the benefit of our learners, then please send your CV and covering letter to Natasha Audi - 81 Tihi Street, Stonefields, Auckland 1072 or email.
Note:
- Experience in Teacher Aide work would be a huge advantage but not necessary.
- Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.
Thank you
No scootering/ biking/skateboarding between 8.30am and 3.30pm as this poses a health and safety hazard.
Community Notices
Please take the time to click on our community notices. This section holds information on what is going on in and around our community, outside of school activities. New notices have recently been added and the section is updated on a regular basis.
Parenting Place Workshop
Blended Family Success: Expert Advice
ONE DAY ONLY. Essential information for every couple on how to create a united, supportive home life and help children adjust in a step family.
Numbers are limited.
Saturday 7th September: 8.30am – 3.30pm
Venue: The Parenting Place, Greenlane, Auckland
For tickets click here or email.
School Beanies
Available at the office for just $10.
Thank you for supporting our Hub 5 learners Cupcake Day SPCA fundraiser on Monday 5th August.
We are delighted to share that $312.20 was raised on the day and $511 in total.
Sport
Junior Cross Country
Please read the important information below.
Who: Year 0-3
When: Friday 23rd August 2019
Time: 9:30 (First race starts at 9:45am) - 12:30pm
Where: Stonefields Wetlands
Dress: Sport / casual gear (comfortable clothes to run in)
What to Bring: Water, Healthy Snack, Jumper and wear trainers.
Thank you to everyone who contributed their thoughts to our discussion about Junior Cross Country and Whole School Sports Events. In response to student and community voice, we will be offering two options for Yr 0 - 3 Junior Cross Country this year; a team orienteering race and an individual race. Learners will have the opportunity to try both formats during their Hub PE sessions and choose which they would like to participate in on the day. All Yr 0's will be taking part in a team orienteering race. Our aim is to create an event where all of our learners can celebrate their learning, challenge themselves, experience success and have fun being physically active.
All learners will be walking from school to the Wetlands. In order for this to happen, we require your permission. Please complete this form.
- If your child/ren is in Hub 7 or 8 please make sure the permission is complete by Sunday 11th August as they will be walking to the Wetlands for a practice on Monday 12th August.
- If your child/ren is in Hub 1 or 2 please make sure the permission is complete by Wednesday 14th August, they will be going for a practice on Thursday 15th August,
Full event information (routes etc) will be available on our sports website on Friday 16th August 2019.
Should the event be postponed due to the weather, this will be communicated via the School app as early as possible on the morning of 23rd August 2019. The "save date" for this event is Friday 30th August 2019.
Eastern Zones Futsal
We had 4 teams take part in the inaugural Eastern Zones Futsal Tournament last week. Futsal is a fast, fun indoor version of football which develops skill and speed in players. Our teams faced seasoned Futsal teams from across Auckland and learned a lot throughout the day. Congratulations to our Yr 8 Boys team who finished 2nd after a brilliant performance in the final.
2019 Entertainment Books
Click here to order the NEW 2019 | 2020 Entertainment Membership.
Lunn Avenue Store Promotions
Mention Stonefields School at the till when paying for your items and we earn points towards materials.
Mention Stonefields School at the till to receive a 5% discount.
Term Dates 2019
T1: 4 Feb - 12 April
T2: 29 April - 5 July
T3: 22 July - 27 Sept
T4: 14 Oct - 18 Dec
Term Dates 2020
T1: 3 Feb - 9 April
T2: 28 April - 3 July
T3: 20 July - 25 Sept
T4: 12 Oct - 15 Dec
Primary Gymnastics Competition
Well done to all of our gymnasts who took part in the Eastern Schools Primary Gymnastics competition last week. A special congratulations to Callum Silva who has qualified for the Auckland Primary Gymnastics Champion of Champions. We hope to grow our school gymnastics programme next year to enable more learners to give gymnastics a go.
Eastern Zones Netball
On Monday, we had four teams take part in the Eastern Zones Netball tournament. It was wet, windy but that wasn't going to stop us. We won some, drew some and lost some but all and all we had a great day. There were some moments of netball brilliance, great long shots, intercepts, and good passing. We showed terrific teamwork and encouraged each other on and off the court.
Intermediate Gymnastics Competition
Congratulations to our Yr 7/8 Gymnastics team who showed off their skills on the floor, vault and beam this week. All of our gymnasts qualified for Auckland Intermediate Gymnastics Champion of Champions having placed in the top 6 in their categories. We wish them the best of luck!
As always, we would like to thank all of our whānau for their support across these events. We love having our community share their energy and passion for sports with our learners. If you would like to be involved with Sports at Stonefields School, please email lynnk@stonefields.school.nz for more info.
Netball
The Year 5 Stonefields Superstars netball team are having a great season.
They recently won 15-5 against the Victoria Ave Magpies.
The team plays so well as a team and it’s amazing watching them go from strength to strength.
Eco Shop | A great initiative that does our little bit to help the planet |
Munch Cupboard is an award-winning New Zealand self-sustaining social enterprise. Our drive is to assist in social change to make the world a better place for the next generation by considering the environment and what we feed our children.
Some examples of products available for purchase are beeswax wraps, lunch boxes, reusable organic sandwich bags and produce bags, etc. View the full range of products and make purchases through our school online shop.
Items are delivered to school every fortnight, free of charge and we will contact you once your items arrive.