Learning Conversations

Last week, Learning Conversations were held.  Thank you for coming along and hearing more about the learning your tamaiti are doing from them and their kaiako.  If you weren't able to make it kaiako will be in contact with you to make an appointment for a different time.  This can be in person, online, on the phone or they can send an email. 

“What Are They Learning?” – English: Oral language, Reading and Writing

Key characteristics of how people learn have informed the development of the English learning area.  These characteristics are:

• We learn best when we experience a sense of belonging in the learning environment and feel valued and supported.

• A new idea or concept is always interpreted through, and learned in association with, existing knowledge.

• Establishing knowledge in a well-organised way in long-term memory reduces students’ cognitive load when building on that knowledge.  It also enables them to apply and transfer the knowledge.

• Our social and emotional wellbeing directly impacts on our ability to learn new knowledge.

• Motivation is critical for wellbeing and engagement in learning.4

All five characteristics are interconnected in a dynamic way . They are always only pieces of the whole, so it is critical to consider them all together.  The dynamic and individual nature of learning explains why we see individual learners develop along different paths and at different rates (from New Zealand Curriculum)

The Parent Portal shows the different learning for each year level. 

Want to Know More?
Here’s a Ministry of Education guide showing what tamariki typically learn at each year level:  Guide for the New Zealand Curriculum – Years 0–8.  This is based on the Refreshed Curriculum.

If you’d like more detail about your child’s learning, don't hesitate to get in touch with their kaiako — they’ll be happy to guide you.

Sports Registrations - Term 4 - FINAL CALL for registrations

Our Term 4 registrations will close at 5pm on Wednesday for the following sports:

Futsal (New Entrants-Y6) - NO COST

Mini-Polo (Y3- Y6 competent swimmers only) 

Touch (New Entrants-Y6)

Netball (New Entrants-Y4) 

Volleyball (Y5/6) - No COST

Floorball (New Entrants-Y6)

Please read the information on HERO in the Community Feed and if your child is interested in playing a sport, please register using the links by Wednesday 5pm.  

If you have any questions, please email sport@lyallbay.school.nz

Eastern Zone Swim Sports

Last week a number of our tamariki proudly represented Lyall Bay School at the Eastern Zone Swim Sports, held at the Wellington Regional Aquatic Centre. Our swimmers demonstrated real hīranga, competing with determination and excellence alongside other local schools – tino pai rawa atu!

We are thrilled to announce that the following students placed in the top two and will now go on to represent both our school and the Eastern Zone at the Regional Swim Sports next term. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement!

Darcia - Year 6 25m Freestyle - 1st place

Leila - Year 5 25m Backstroke - 2nd place

Darcia - Year 6 25m Butterfly - 2nd place

Baraa - Year 5 50m Freestyle - 2nd place

Denim - Year 4 25m Backstroke - 2nd place

Our Year 6 Girls Relay team placed 1st in the 25m relay, while our Year 5 Boys Relay team placed 3rd.

Two weekends ago, some of our Lyall Bay tamariki took part in Wellington School’s Diving Championships.

Darcia took out top honours in the Primary School competition (girls category).

Patrick got 3rd in the boys' grade, which was so awesome, as he’s only started diving this year.  Bobby got merit for his efforts, also!

Onepū - Te Whanganui-a-Tara Adventure 🌊

Last week, our Onepū tamariki headed into Wellington City for a special day of exploration and discovery!  Together they learnt how earthquakes have reshaped our harbour, how ecosystems and plants adapt to change, and how both mātauranga Māori and Western science help us understand our environment.

The trip included a walk along Wellington’s old shoreline to uncover stories of the past, and they visited the Botanic Gardens, where WCC staff led a Discovery Centre programme designed especially for our kura.  An exciting ride on the Cable Car linked the trip together.

A rich and memorable learning experience was had by all.  We look forward to sharing our new knowledge in our school environment.

The Discovery Centre is holding a FREE family event on Saturday 20th September called "Pollination in Action".  Located in the Discovery Garden, this could be a great way to start the school holidays with your own family adventure!

This week, a subcommittee from the Board met to discuss the Strategic Plan and how to move forward.  The whole board will come together early next term to share the current context, summarise the Gap Analysis from the information you have given us, share perspectives, and decide on the aims and priorities, ready to go forward.

Our current Aims are in the image above. 

Our Vision in Action

At the heart of everything we do is our school vision:
Waihangatia ngā Ākonga Tino Pai – Building the Best Learners.

The Future of Jobs report:

Technological skills are projected to grow in importance more rapidly than any other skills in the next five years. AI and big data are at the top of the list, followed by networks and cybersecurity and technological literacy.

Creative thinking and resilience, flexibility and agility are also rising in importance, along with curiosity and lifelong learning.

Rounding out the top 10 skills on the rise are leadership and social influence, talent management, analytical thinking and environmental stewardship.

Helping workers achieve the right mix of technical and human skills will be vital as the future of work continues to evolve.

Read more here https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/01/future-of-jobs-report-2025-jobs-of-the-future-and-the-skills-you-need-to-get-them/ 

Lyall Bay School offers  support for developing the skills our tamariki and rangatira to be in the workforce of the future, through Learning Through Play, Learner Agency, explicit teaching, and the care we offer to all tamariki. 

Furture Focussed Learning: 

This is an excerpt from a piece written by Derek Wenmouth, a NZ Educator and one of our foremost future-focused thinkers. 

Derek attended a conference in Australia and another presenter Yong Zhao ( Foundation Distinguished Professor in the School of Education at the University of Kansas.)  shared this:

'Zhao highlights three reminders that I find particularly relevant right now:

• • Everything has side effects.

  • Long-term outcomes matter as much as short-term gains.

  • Average effects can hide serious damage to individuals.

That last one really resonates. If we design a system around averages, we almost guarantee that some learners will be left behind – or worse, actively harmed.

Here is the whole article if you want to read more information https://futuremakers.nz/2025/09/06/what-works-may-hurt/ 

What do you think? How does this make you feel? Is this the conversation we should be having?

Board Report

The first meeting of the newly elected Board of Trustees for Lyall Bay School was held on Monday, 28 July.  At this meeting, the election of the Presiding Member took place, and we are delighted to congratulate Tania Heyrick on her appointment to this role.

During the meeting, Melanie presented the schoolwide mid-year data for reading, writing, and mathematics.  She also explained the process that kaiako follow when making Overall Teacher Judgements.  In addition to this schoolwide data, the Board discussed target learner progress and heard how kaiako are using adaptive practices to accelerate learning in reading, writing, and mathematics.

As noted in our previous newsletter, the Board formally approved the term dates for 2026.

The Board also reflected on feedback gathered earlier in the term from tamariki, whānau, and kaiako through surveys and the W.A.T.P Hui.  Themes identified across this feedback will help shape the school’s strategic direction and will be incorporated into the 2026–2029 Strategic Plan, which is due to the Ministry of Education in March 2026.  To support this process, a working party has been established to lead the development of this plan.

The Board wishes to acknowledge with gratitude the service, commitment, and mahi of the previous Board.  We thank Lloyd, Julia, Vito, Matt, and Amanda for their governance, dedication, and support of Lyall Bay School.  Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou!

Our next Board meeting will be held on Monday, 20 October at 7.00 pm in the staffroom.  As always, Board meetings are open to the public, and all are warmly welcome to attend.

All of our policies can be found on https://www.schooldocs.co.nz/Home/SchoolLogin 

Start typing the school’s name and then select it from the dropdown list.

Enter the community username and password. lyallbay / maranui 

Type in the search for the policy you want.

Term 4 Requirements

Hats, Hats, Hats!

We are entering the summer term and to keep tamariki safe it is a requirement that they wear a named hat at school, when outside.  Please make sure it has a wide brim to cover nose, ears and neck.  Caps are not an alternative.