9 February 2016

Yay – it is so cool to have everyone back! It gives the place some real energy to have the kids zipping around

telling holiday stories! With the sunny weather (should it choose to continue!), it is always a good idea to make sure your child has a water bottle – spare clothes

are often a good idea too.

Last week’s lovely day:

Nat iona l Standards Data – end of 2015 :

Every year we have to report to the ministry on how all our student achieve. The following is our end of 2015 data…

Well below Below At Above While the national standards are only ONE measure of success – we are incredibly proud of all our learners and the progress they have made regardless of their achievement. So many kids have progressed in many other important areas, not just literacy and numeracy (although they are important). The developing of life skills and working together is even more/ just as important.

Reading Total 0.7% 12% 78.9% 8.5% Boys - 17.3% 76% 6.7% Girls 1.5% 6% 82.1% 10.4%

Writing Total 0.7% 16.2% 72.5% 10.6% Boys - 25.3% 69.3% 5.3% Girls 1.5% 6% 76.1% 16.4%

Maths Total 0.7% 11.3% 81% 7% Boys - 13.3% 81.3% 5.3% Girls 1.5% 9% 80.6% 9%

All in this together:

I just thought the start of the year was a good time to pop in the school vision – what we are setting out to achieve for all our kids. They are really broad ideas that we all have to work on our whole lives! The messages are more powerful and understood in more depth when they come at the kids from all directions so that more help we get from you, the better the outcomes. For example: Positive – everyone gets cross or down about things but we all need to encourage kids to focus on the positive and for every down moment there are thousands of great things that have happened in their day too. Respectful – part of this is being aware of others – the biggest impact on school around this regarding things outside school are usually the dynamics of things like birthdays or giving out Xmas cards etc. Being aware of not excluding others is something kids need help with often – 1 more card to write can mean someone feels included and the cost and time investment is minimal for the giver. The same with birthdays – imagine being the child watching invitations being given out around them and missing out each time. Please have discussions with your child about timing of giving out invitations and what they could do in the way of being inclusive of others. There are many friendship dynamics at school that can mean branching out in who you invite would work perfectly well – there are lots of kids who quite happily mix with many groups but are not necessarily first choice for parties etc but who would be huge fun and would love being included!

HELP! Pretty please….

We try and offer kids a variety of experiences but are always hunting people to help us with this. Currently we are looking for:

- People who could come in once a week for half an hour (or more) to listen to kids read or help them practice flashcards

- A couple of people to help run the school garden with our gardening group

- Anyone free to help on a Friday 11.45 – 12.30 with Hapori awhina where we have kids firing off in all directions and we need as many hands as we can get.

Please be in touch with Alison or Kylie if you can give us any time to help out – thanks! ☺

Dates this year

So you can plan your lives here are the relevant dates for the year….

Term 1 Tuesday 2 February – Friday 15 April Easter break – Friday 25 – Tuesday 29 March Term 2 Monday 2 May – Friday 8 July Term 3 Monday 25 July – Friday 23 September Term 4 Monday 10 October – about Friday 16 December

Art c lasses and Study Support Centre C lasses for 2016

These are commencing this week and both classes are free. There has been a change this year – At this stage both Art Class and Study Centre are for all ages (Years 1-8) on both days they run – you can opt into one or both days. • Art Classes run on Mondays and Wednesdays after school from 3pm – 4.30pm tutored by Rachel Jenkins and Nanny Fran • Study Support Centre classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays 3pm – 4.30pm tutored by Elena Leask and Nanny Fran • All children attending must have a parent or caregiver complete a sign-up form PRIOR to attending classes. These are essential

due to Health and Safety reasons please. The forms are available from the school or Runaka office at 12 Bradshaw Street. • If your child is being enrolled in the Study Centre Support Centre, they are required to bring with them at least 30 minutes of

homework. • All children are required to bring their own refreshments. • Any queries please contact Nanny Fran at school on 2128523

Goal Setting 3 ways - - - - - - - - 22nd March – 24 March

At the beginning of each year we set up a Goal Book for each student. These include all their next steps from the end of 2015 portfolios. They also include Key Competency Goals that we love getting parent/ whanau input on.

The purpose of these 10 minute meetings is to have a discussion with the child, the teacher and parents/ whanau about what skill/s they would like to focus on. It is also a good time to clear up any questions that you may have about anything at school.

It is really important that we touch base with an adult in each child’s household to set the year up well for each learner and their needs.

Please complete the form attached so we can slot you into a time that suits you. Thanks!

Time options for 3 ways: Monday 22 February 3.15 – 6.30 Tuesday 23 February 3.15 – 5.30 Wednesday 24 February 3.15 – 5.30

Have a fantastic week everyone!! Alison ☺

Long Course: 300m Swim (Open water), 20km Bike and 7km Run

$20 as an individual or team Check in from 8:30am Bluff Rugby Grounds; Race briefing at 9:45am

150m Swim (Open water or pool), 9km Bike and 3km Run (walk option)

$20 as an individual or team Check in from 8:30am Bluff Rugby Grounds; Race briefing at 10:45am

TRY-WHANAU

Register online at www.awaruashs.maori.nz (in the events tab)

Or

At Awarua Whanau Services, 190 Forth Street, Invercargill

Phone: 218 6668

Triathlon event and whanau festival full of awesome activities, food and entertainment for all ages

Saturday 5 March 2016 in Bluff

Proudly sponsored by: