Prinrep October 2014

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PRINCIPALS’ REPORT TO THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

29 October 2014

NAG 1: CLASSROOM AND SCHOOL CURRICULUM REPORT

Virtues Are Us: The Virtue chosen for the start of Term 4 is “Creativity”, which

has a good linkage to the “More than Words” inquiry learning concept.

Pipps Analysis and Report: Each term, a simple analysis of the Pupils in Positive

playgrounds programme is prepared and provided to classes and teachers. An

encouraging highlight was that 12 of our classes had a “100% Consequence Free”

term, as did approximately 620 Hill students.

Sports Events Coming Up: Term 4 is a busy time for sporting events.

Touch Rugby: Trials have been held to select teams for a Franklin tournament.

Cricket Tournament: A Franklin tournament is being held at the Mauku cricket

club grounds in early November, and it’s intended to include the annual

Patumahoe-Hill trophy match as part of this event. (It’s also planned to fund cricket

coaching sessions in 2015 for Year 3-6 students through Barry Rhodes at Counties

Manukau sport)

Athletics: These events for Year 3-6 students take place over a number of days at

school, group and Franklin zone level.

Jump Jam: Several teams have been training for some months for an event at

Waiau Pa School

Maori Enrichment Class: It’s intended to continue this initiative for a Year 5/6

class in 2015 with Jade Chamberlain. The Enrichment Class has been promoted at

whanau hui and at a presentation to the Board. An invitation and explanation of the

class was sent to Year 4 and 5 student families, and through the approaches to

whanau by Jade Chamberlain and Malcolm Laurence the class for 2015 is now

“oversubscribed” with 33 plus students. It’s necessary for us to decide quite early if

this “opt in” class will be able to continue in 2015 as this affects other class

composition in the senior school. Partly because of camp planning for 2015, senior

students also need to know their classes early this term.

Ronald McDonald Visits: A “surprise” visit by Ronald McDonald took place at

the end of term for junior classes. The road safety message of Ronald is a useful

part of our keeping safe programme.

English/Maths Competition Success: The results of the NSW University Testing

Centre’s English competition have been received and once again included some

very positive results from our Year 4-6 entrants. In English, 5 students gained

Merit certificates, Credit certificates for top 25% results went to 13 of the 46

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students who entered and Year 4 student Hannah Davis and Year 5 student Luke

Mitchell, won a top 10% Distinction award.

In Maths, 38 students entered, 4 gained Merit, 12 attained Credit awards, and Year

4 student Joel Mowbray won Distinction.

Keeping Ourselves Safe: At the start of term, teachers met with Police Education

Officer Andy Napier to review the Police Keeping ourselves Safe (KOS)

programme and the most recent resources that have been developed for

students.

During this term, Syndicates will be including aspects of the KOS

programme in their teaching.

Classroom Highlights: Highlight Reports this month come from Liz

Reid, Shirley Smart, Kaylie Ashworth, and Heather Brown. Heather will

meet with us in Room 21. Kaylie teaches the Room 5 Satellite Class.

Room 5 children are usually all ORRS funded through MOE special

education funding, are enrolled through Parkside School and Kaylie is a Parkside

staff member.

Classroom Highlights Room 4 2014

Room 4 has 24 busy Worker Ants in our Learning Zone Colony. Together

the 13 enthusiastic girls and 11 eager boys have been “Walking the Path to

Success”. The Ant and Grasshopper fable has set the scene for our

Learning Zone. Ant has much to teach us. He had a goal and a plan. He did

not let grasshopper distract him, he took risks and he persevered and did

not give up when it was difficult. That meant he was able to enjoy the

rewards of his successful labour. The Room 4 children are also constantly

striving to do their best and can be very proud of the progress they have all

made throughout the year. We can all celebrate the many learning successes in all

areas of the programme.

I have invited the children to share some of their thoughts.

I am a great learner because:

I have been achieving lots of interesting goals and I’ve taken a risk (Peyton)

I concentrate on my learning and I achieve my best. I listen to the amazing

teacher. (Charlie)

The teacher has helped me with my writing so I get better at it. (Baileigh)

I keep going and I try my very best. I take risks and I follow the class rules.

(Ethan)

I am prepared for my learning. I never give up and I do not distract people at

my table.(Riya)

My wonderful teacher has helped me with my learning. Also my friends have

helped me as well and with my drawing. (Emma)

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Things I have enjoyed in Room 4 this year are:

Setting my goals and achieving interesting words in my Story-Writing.

(Peyton)

Amazing Art.(Asher)

I have enjoyed every single thing this year. (Holly)

I have enjoyed lots of interesting Art and hard Maths and we are learning

how to count money.(Charlie)

I have been learning cool things about fibres. (Elizabeth)

Physical Education because we have lots of awesome games. (Tyler)

I have enjoyed my Art because I am good at it and it looks awesome when

you have finished. (Connor)

Writing fables in Story-writing and cool Culture Art. (Kayla)

I think Hill School is wonderful because:

It helps me learn lots! (Connor)

There are so many fun things to do.(Tyler)

I get to learn cool things.(Cassandra)

Hill School is the best! (Jasdeep)

I make lots of friends.(Stephanie)

There is a cricket pitch.(Charlie)

The learning is fun.(Asher)

It has an amazing environment.(Maia)

It has a big field.(Ethan)

We learn how to write.(Shenaye)

During Term 3 our learning was focussed on the Culture Concept. The children

enthusiastically entered in to all the Rotation activities where we explored the Food,

Clothing, Art, Customs and Music of the Indian, Maori and Kiwiana Cultures. The

Kiwiana theme will continue in to Term 4 with this now being the motivation for

the Junior School Production.

The children gained an appreciation of their heritage and this knowledge was used

in producing a Treasure Box to keep items of importance to them and their culture.

Here we are proudly displaying them.

There was a great turn

out from parents and families on the “Culture Open

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Evening”. They enjoyed the variety of Art works from different cultures, the

“Kiwiana Powerpoint” (which is also able to be viewed on the School Web site)

and had a taste of L & P and Pineapple Lumps.

We look forward to a busy and productive last term of the year, with our learning

goals in place and Production practices underway.

Thanks to the Board for your support and all you do for the school to make this a

happy and stimulating learning environment.

Liz Reid

We have had a very busy year here in Room 5. Our focus for 2014 has been to

develop the Key Competency – “Understanding Language, Symbols, and

Text”.

The Room 5 Hill Satellite class has had a fantastic year with many fun learning

opportunities. Throughout the year, we have used language, symbols, and texts to

continue to develop our learning. Opportunities to develop new knowledge through

understanding language, symbols, texts, communication, and new experiences and

ideas, included a range of reading, writing, listening, speaking, mathematical,

social, sensory, scientific, art, and technological learning experiences.

Every day has been new and exciting, and we have all learnt a lot! We have 9

students in our classroom with a range of learning difficulties. We have children

who are on the Autism Spectrum, and children with Down Syndrome, Cerebral

Palsy, and Global Delays.

We are very supportive of one another and enjoy the support we receive from Hill

School as well! Our children particularly enjoy integration experiences such as

buddy reading each Monday, and regular opportunities to play together in the

playground. It is very rewarding to see the social benefits our children receive being

based at Hill School.

Here are some photos to demonstrate how we have been developing our knowledge

through the Key Competency of “Understanding Language, Symbols and Text”.

Room 5’s

2014 Learning Journey

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Children

create

symbols

and text

with play-

dough.

Shiquan following visual instructions to ice the

biscuits.

Dates for End of Year: A recent Newsletter had details of dates and events for

Term 4.

December 4: Junior Concert evening

December 9: Middle School Prizegiving

December 11: Senior Prizegiving.

December 12: Parent Helper morning tea

December 15:Junior Prizegiving Concert

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

Open Evening: The Open Evening was another successful community event. An

estimated 800 plus students and families came. This year, the focus was on students

and families spending time in classes. There was a range of attendance by families

and whanau, with several classes reporting over 65%, but the overall attendance

was lower than last year, possibly because of the weather.

The Room 5 Team:

Teachers: Kaylie Ashworth and Jillian Chernosky-Schuurrman

Teacher Aides: Kim Brigman, Jasmine Stewart, Susan Mugg

Students: Fifita Nau, Kathleen Urroz, Samuel Van Beerendonk, Aaria Hoete, Brodie

Griffiths, Blayke Markham, Samuel Lawrence, Shiquan Tuhura-Herkt, Nathan Kihi

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Te Huarahi: It is now 4 years since we launched the Te Huarahi strategic pathway

and the work of Te Huarahi has now developed with a Trust, a range of sub-

committees, general hui and the work of individual schools and communities.

Events Coming Up:

Nov 7 at 6pm: Hui at Nga Hau e Wha for school and ECE’s to celebrate their

success in implementing the Path. This will include our kappa haka group

performing.

Nov 14 at 6pm at Nga Hau e Wha: Te Huarahi AGM

Nov 26 at 10am at Nga Hau: An ECE celebration and activity day