24 July 2020

Kia Ora koutou katoa,

Nga mihi kia koutou mo te tau hou and welcome back to Term 3! We were  grateful to have a beautiful clear sky to celebrate Matariki early on Monday morning this week. A huge thank you to everyone who came together to acknowledge the importance of the Matariki star cluster indicating the agricultural significance of the past, remembering loved ones who have passed on, and sharing our school vision and values together. It was a real privilege to celebrate as a school community and to share in a meal together afterwards. Thank you to our dedicated PTA for organising a yummy breakfast. 

Learning Conversations Friday 21 August 

Our teachers are looking forward to meeting with you to discuss your child’s learning journey so far. To validate and acknowledge the importance of this conversation- the school will not be open for instruction on this day. Instead our classrooms will be open from 8am through to 5pm for you to book an appointment and bring your child to meet with your classroom teacher. These appointments will be scheduled at 15 minute intervals and details for booking will be available from next week.  It is important that your child is present for these learning conversations. 

Professor John Hattie (formerly University of Auckland) published a list of the most effective influences on student achievement which identifies student self-reporting as the most significant indicator linked to raised student achievement. Two other international researchers, Black & Wiliam, further comment, "the process of students reflecting on their learning, through effective questioning that promotes the articulation of student thinking, is integral to classroom assessment practices that enhance student learning".

‘If the focus is to be kept on learning, and the ownership of the learning with the child, then the best person to talk about the learning is the learner’... ‘Not only is the student the best person to tell their parents what they have learnt, but if we believe that students build their knowledge by communicating what they know, then providing an opportunity for the students to tell their family what they know can significantly assist with that learning.' Absolum,(2006). Research also shows parental involvement in schools and classrooms has a positive impact on children’s learning (Bastiani; Epstein), in helping to strengthen the partnership between the learner, the teacher and the parent. 

Annual Strategic Plan 

One of my goals as the Principal of Woodlands Park School is to ensure the visibility of the school’s vision and values. There are many ways to ensure we are aspiring to this. Here are some of the ways in which I am working toward this goal; 

VALUES 

• Signage in the school, so that everyone who comes into the school grounds can see what we stand for

• Celebrating and acknowledging students who are role modelling the values through weekly certificates and playground values chits

• Celebrating and acknowledging the values in our school at Hui Time and at assemblies

• Classroom teachers worked collaboratively to build a common understanding of our values, displaying consistent signs and messaging in each class

• Classroom teachers explicitly teach the values and also model the values and vision through daily interactions with students

• Creating opportunities for the school council to build on their leadership and guardianship within the school 

• Guest speakers at Hui Time who share their achievements based on the way they live by  the shared values

VISION 

Our annual strategic plan is built on our school vision

INCLUSIVE COURAGEOUS SUCCESSFUL 

This year we are committed to raising student progress and achievement as well as strengthening well being through Hau Ora and experiencing, learning about and connecting with Te Ao Maori. We are striving to demonstrate these goals through; 

• Providing authentic and engaging learning experiences

• Ensuring that all students feel safe,  have a place of belonging, are connected and strong in their identity and are resilient

• Ensuring children are connected with their environment and understand the history and language which is unique and endemic to Aotearoa. 

Inquiry 

Our teachers make deliberate efforts to integrate relevant knowledge, skills, strategies and competencies. Through integrated inquiry students at WPS learn in a variety of ways in authentic contexts to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their world.

This term our whanau are inquiring into the following; 

Whanau Kowhai - What lives in my garden? Science - Living World 

Whanau Pohutukawa - Can we survive alone? Science - Living World

Whanau Harakeke - “Pop, Froth, Fizz” What creates a reaction? Science - Material World 

We have planning underway for a number of activities and trips out to support children’s classroom programmes of learning with their inquiries this term. 

Hui Time Year 3-6 

This term we get back into Hui Time with Whanau Pohutukawa and Whanau Harakeke. This coming week we have an Olympian from the NZ Women’s Black Sticks team, Samantha Charlton visiting and sharing her journey of goal setting, being an athlete and how our school values align with her success as an Olympic athlete. We are looking forward to meeting her. 

We have a number of other exciting events planned for our children this term, including the Peace Run, Book Week, Drums of the Pacific and much more! - Keep an eye out for details on our website! Take care and enjoy the weekend. 

Nga Mihi, 

Nardz Stephenson 

Green Bay Primary & Intermediate School

2020 Intermediate Open Day

1.       When:       Thursday 13 August 2020

2.       Where:      Green Bay Primary & Intermediate School, 131 Godley Road, Green Bay              

3.       Venue:      Room 15

4.       Time:        9.00am-1.00pm 

2020 Intermediate Open Evening

5.       When:       Thursday 13 August 2020

6.       Where:     Green Bay Primary & Intermediate School, 131 Godley Road, Green Bay              

7.       Venue:         School Hall

8.       Time:        6.30pm – 7.30pm

We offer a full curriculum aimed at Year 7 and Year 8 students in order to prepare them for High School.  There are also other exciting initiatives in the pipeline for next year, so come along and meet our whanau Kauri teachers plus meet our Principal, Mr Anand Muthoo, and find out more.