NEWSLETTERIssue 6 27 May 2016
Kia Ora Talofa Kia Orana Chao mung quy vi Malo e lelei Aloha Olá Halo Ni Sa Bula Fakalofa atu Ni Hao Xin chào An nyong Ha se yo Assalamu
alaykum Namaste Ahalan Saleem Shalom Dia dhuit Zdravstvuyte Hej Greetings
Kia$ora$koutou,
Sandra’s$Spot$1$World$Class
This%week%I%watched%the%documentary%World$Class,%Inside'NZ'Educa.on%by%Bryan%Bruce.%Bryan%and%others%talked%about%how%important%it%is%for%our%children’s%educa<on%in%the%21st%Century%to%promote%and%nurture%crea<vity,%flexibility,%strong%interpersonal%skills,%an%inquiring%mind%and%the%ability%to%think%cri<cally.%A%system%based%on%tes<ng%and%the%rigid%thinking%that%goes%with%learning%to%get%the%correct%answer%runs%contrary%to%what%our%children%will%need%to%live%rich%fulfilling%lives%in%the%future.%Bruce%talked%about%the%importance%of%play%especially%in%the%early%years%of%school.%In%countries%such%as%Sweden%and%Finland%children%do%not%start%school%un<l%they%are%7%years%old.%Play%is%cri<cal%for%childrens’%learning.
Bruce%also%talked%about%the%importance%of%teachers%working%together%and%sharing%great%teaching%in%a%collabora<ve%not%a%compe<<ve%environment.%He%talked%about%how%cri<cal%it%is%to%have%a%high%trust%model%when%it%comes%to%our%teaching%professionals.%
Bruce%commented%on%the%fact%that%even%in%the%current%NZ%climate%schools%con<nue%to%build%many%of%the%above%capabili<es%in%children%and%are%sharing%exper<se%as%teachers%–%mentoring,%good%prac<ce,%exper<se,%commitment%to%a%quality%educa<on%for%every%child.
Our%broad%rich%curriculum%is%based%on%the%NZ%Curriculum.%The%NZ%Curriculum%was%revised%in%2007%aQer%three%years%of%extensive%input%from%and%consulta<on%with%teachers,%school%leaders,%parents,%students,%Boards%of%Trustees%to%name%a%few.%It%was%then%and%is%s<ll%considered%to%be%a%world%class%document.%
The%Vision%of%the%NZ%Curriculum%is%to%grow%Confident,%Connected,%Ac<vely%Involved,%Lifelong%Learners.%This%is%also%the%message%coming%from%Bryan%Bruce,%Pasi%Sahlberg%from%Finland,%Andreas%Schleicher%(PISA)%all%interviewed%in%the%programme.%
The%NZ%Curriculum%sets%the%direc<on%for%student%learning%in%schools.%Out%of%the%NZ%Curriculum%the%Mt%Cook%School%curriculum%was%developed%over%a%number%of%years.%
The$Vision$for$Students’$Learning$at$Mt$Cook$School$says:
Students$leaving$Mt$Cook$School$show$that$they:
are%literate,%numerate%and%able%to%communicate%and%express%themselves%confidently%in%English
have%a%sense%of%curiosity,%an%inquiring%mind,%and%the%selfXmo<va<on%and%perseverance%needed%to%keep%on%learning%and%progressing
have%the%ability%to%tackle%problems%and%resolve%issues%through%reasoned%and%fairXminded%thinking%and%ac<on
are%proud%and%knowledgeable%of%their%own%cultural%iden<ty,%and%have%the%confidence%and%sensi<vi<es%to%contribute%to%the%richness%and%diversity%of%the%New%Zealand%community.
This%vision%is%the%result%of%discussion%over%the%years%by%teachers,%children,%whanau%and%members%of%the%wider%community%on%the%ques<on%“what&do&we&want&for&our&children&by&the&3me&they&leave&Mt&Cook&School&in&year&8?”&
What&does&this&mean&for&our&students?
If%we%want%our%children%to%be%leaving%Mt%Cook%School%with%the%quali<es%stated%in%our%Vision%a%broad%rich%curriculum%for%every%child%at%Mt%Cook%School%is%impera<ve.%%It%is%fundamental%to%promo<ng%a%joy%of%learning%and%a%desire%to%con<nue%to%learn.
Every$day$we$strive$to$ensure$that$our$curriculum$at$Mt$Cook$School:
is%relevant%to%our%children%and%our%school
has%contexts%for%learning%that%are%drawn%from%our%local%environment%and%the%%% %worlds%that%our%children%experience%in%their%day%to%day%lives
connect%the%‘basics’%X%literacy%and%numeracy;%and%‘rich%learning’;%this%includes%all%%% %learning%areas,%along%with%our%values%and%the%key%competencies%that%include%% %managing%self,%rela<ng%to%others%and%par<cipa<ng%and%contribu<ng.
What$does$our$curriculum$look$like$in$the$classroom?$$We$see:
The$school’s$values%1%seen%in%how%we%work%and%relate%together
The$learning,$personal$and$social$competencies%1$learning%to%learn%and%relate
Challenge$and$enjoyment$1$as%seen%in%engagement%and%mo<va<on
Balance%1%a%balanced%range%of%learning%experiences%across%the%curriculum
Depth$1$exploring%ideas%at%a%deep%level
Inquiry$1$asking%ques<ons,%inves<ga<ng,%reflec<ng
Knowledge%1%relevant%to%building%understanding%and%ideas
PersonalisaKon%1%thinking%about%the%needs%and%capabili<es%of%individual%students
Coherence%1%building%on%connec<ons%to%previous%learning
AuthenKcity%1%learning%ac<vi<es%that%are%relevant%to%the%world%of%the%child
What$do$some$of$our$year$8$students$have$to$say$about$learning$through$inquiry$at$Mt$Cook$School?
Learning%through%inquiry%is%like%a%tree.%You%start%with%the%seed%and%plant%the%idea,%you%nourish%it%and%it%grows%and%drops%seeds%to%start%other%inquiries%1$Luka.
Learning%through%inquiry%is%more%fun.%When%you%are%learning%on%your%own%there%are%more%opportuni<es%–%when%someone%is%telling%you%stuff%your%brain%can%shut%down.%%When%you%are%inquiring%you%get%to%explore%more%areas%that%you%wouldn’t%otherwise%get%to%explore%1$Lilly&O.
Inquiry%gives%you%more%independence%and%a%longer%a_en<on%span%because%you%enjoy%what%you%are%doing%1$Joseph.
If%you%go%home%and%have%maths%homework%you%do%the%maths%homework%because%this%has%been%set%by%the%teacher,%and%that%is%your%reason.%But%when%you%are%learning%through%inquiry%which%is%your%choice,%you%become%your%own%reason%and%that%gives%you%every%reason%to%do%everything.%1$Felix&Q.
You%think%you%know%a%fact%but%you%realise%that%there%is%more%to%that%fact%once%you%start%inquiring%eg%when%I%was%studying%the%Greek%gods%I%thought%that%the%Greeks%must%be%the%only%guys%that%have%gods.%Then%I%realised%that%the%Romans%have%their%version%and%so%do%other%cultures%X%Caitlin.
When%you%are%inquiring%you%are%forced%to%learn%independently%and%this%can%help%you%later%in%life%1$Elsie.
We&will&con3nue&to&work&hard&to&develop&and&nurture&Confident,&Connected,&Ac3vely&
Involved&Lifelong&Learners&at&Mt&Cook&School
OUR$BROAD$RICH$CURRICULUM
What Is Culture?
Pekapeka%and%Kereru%classes%went%to%Te%Papa%last%week%and%looked%at%cultural%symbols%in%par<cular%the%koru%–%we%inves<gated%how%it%came%from%the%fern%frond.%We%have%been%pain<ng,%drawing%and%no<cing%koru%in%stories.
Mako%class%went%to%Te%Papa%this%week%and%looked%at%Maori%and%Pasifika%design.%%Kiwi%class%have%been%looking%at%cultural%treasures%and%things%that%are%important%to%their%families%because%they%are%important%to%their%culture.
Manaia%students%are%making%maps%of%their%country%and%on%the%map%are%building%a%picture%of%what%is%significant%to%their%culture.%
In%the%senior%school%each%student%is%inquiring%into%the%culture%of%a%country%of%their%choice%and%are%sharing%their%findings%and%making%comparisons%with%other%cultures.
In%the%middle%syndicate%we%have%started%by%exploring%what%culture%is.%Now%each%class%is%developing%open%and%closed%ques<ons%about%a%culture%that%we%are%interested%in.%We%will%be%researching%answers%to%our%ques<ons%and%then%having%opportuni<es%to%explore%lots%of%cultural%aspects%of%our%chosen%countries.%%
ElecKvesOur%elec<ve%programme%has%one%week%to%go%and%as%always%everyone%has%enjoyed%the%programme.%Children%are%all%asking%if%it%can%be%longer%next%year.%Next%newsle_er%we%will%get%our%young%people%to%comment%on%their%elec<ve.
Eco$DudesSea%Shepherd%came%to%visit%the%Eco%Dudes%on%Monday.%Sea%Shepherd%is%an%organiza<on%that%protects%the%ocean%and%all%animals%living%things%in%it.%During%the%workshop%we%learnt%about%rubbish%and%the%effect%it%has%on%the%ocean%and%the%sea%creatures.%We%designed%posters%reminding%people%to%protect%our%oceans%and%invi<ng%them%to%the%monthly%beach%clean%up%at%Evans%Bay%Beach.%Visith_p://www.seashepherd.org/nz/%to%see%our%posters%and%learn%more%about%Sea%Shepherd.
Self$Defence$for$GirlsAll%of%our%years%4,%7%and%8%girls%have%gone%through%the%Girls%Self%Defence%Programme%this%year.
The%following%are%some%comments%from%our%girls%from%all%the%age%groups:
It%teaches%girls%how%to%defend%themselves%from%uncomfortable%situa<ons%and%enables%girls%to%be%more%confident.
It%is%really%fun%and%it%builds%up%everyone’s%confidence%and%we%learn%a%lot%about%how%to%protect%ourselves%and%to%take%more%care%of%ourselves.
It%helps%girls%that%don’t%believe%in%themselves%and%boosts%confidence.
I%think%that%this%course%is%great.%It%helped%me%a%lot%I%feel%strong%and%confident.%I%know%how%to%do%things%I%never%knew%how%to%do.%Thanks%you%so%much!
I%think%this%course%is%helpful%to%girls.%I%had%fun%learning%new%steps%to%be%safe.
It%was%really%helpful%and%now%I%know%how%to%keep%myself%safe.
DIVE$INTO$A$BOOK$1$News$from$the$Library
Some%of%our%students%are%diving%into%the%Tom'Gates%series%of%books,%and%on%May%11,%six%students%went%to%Lyall%Bay%School%to%listen%to%Liz%Pichon,%the%author%of%the%series.%%Liz%shared%how%she%creates%some%of%the%characters%in%her%books,%and%then%the%audience%had%a%chance%to%create%their%own%illustra<ons.%%She%encouraged%us%to%get%going,%and%keep%going,%with%things%like%wri<ng%and%drawing,%as%that%way%we’ll%get%be_er%and%be_er.%%At%the%end%of%the%event,%we%were%able%to%get%some%of%our%library%copies%of%the%Tom%Gates%books%signed%by%the%author%herself!
Senior$FicKon$BooksJust%as%the%Public%Library%has%a%Young%Adult%sec<on,%our%School%Library%has%a%‘Senior%Fic<on’%sec<on.%%This%sec<on%is%primarily%for%Year%7%and%8%students.%%These%books%have%subject%
ma_er%more%suitable%for%older%students,%and%some<mes%contain%a%swear%word%or%two.%There%is%no%hurry%to%read%from%this%sec<on,%as%there%are%plenty%of%good%books%on%our%general%fic<on%shelves.%%If%Year%5%and%6%students%do%want%to%read%Senior%Fic<on%books,%they%need%a%parent/careXgiverXsigned%permission%slip,%available%from%Vickie%in%the%library.%%
ScholasKc$Book$ClubScholas<c%Book%Club%has%eight%issues%per%year,%two%per%term.%%Here%at%Mount%Cook,%we%distribute%each%even%numbered%issue,%i.e.%2,%4,%6%and%8.%%Scholas<c%have%been%having%all%sorts%of%problems%having%changed%their%processing%system,%so%much%so%that%they%did%not%distribute%Issue%2%last%term.%%Hopefully%they%are%back%on%track%again%and%Issue%4%will%be%available%later%this%term.
“Reading&one&book&is&like&ea3ng&one&potato&chip.”$$ $ $ $ $ $ $ 1$Diane%Duane,%So&You&Want&to&Be&Wizard
What&are&you&reading?
Wanted$1$Scrap$Paper$for$the$LibraryIf%anyone%has%spare%scrap%paper,%our%library%can%make%good%use%of%it.%%Each%lunch%<me%many%children%like%to%draw%and%create%things%using%paper.%%If%you%have%any%you%want%to%recycle,%we%would%welcome%it.
Sports$NewsNetball$The%netball%season%has%started%really%well.%The%senior%team%has%won%both%games%and%is%playing%so%well%as%a%team.
The%year%5/6%team%with%some%year%4’s,%won%their%first%game%and%were%beaten%2X1%in%their%second%game.%None%of%the%girls%in%this%team%have%ever%played%before%and%it%is%such%a%joy%to%see%the%girls%so%excited%about%a%new%sport%and%playing%so%well.
Thank%you%so%much%coaches,%managers,%parents%for%all%of%your%support.
LatenessA$really$important$reminder$–$school$starKng$Kme
School$starts$at$8:55$or$5$to$9.$We$have$a$number$of$children$who$are$regularly$late$and$are$missing$the$start$of$the$day’s$learning.
Please$have$your$children$arrive$at$school$by$8:45$or$quarter$to$nine$so$they$are$ready$to$start$the$day.$Thanks$for$your$support$with$this.
ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS 2016!ARE HERE!
An easy fundraiser for the school
Digital Membership or a Book are available again this year. Digital membership is very popular. This can be done by going online to:
www.entbook.co.nz/106r791
If you are thinking about buying please buy through Mt Cook School.
Flyer has already gone home!
The cost is $60 with $12 going to the school.
A great gift or something to use for yourself with many discounts on dining, arts/sports, shopping and travel.
Order early and receive the Advanced Order Certificate – there are only 15 of these!
A FANTASTIC FUNDRAISER FOR THE SCHOOLTELL ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS
PLEASE SUPPORT MT COOK SCHOOL
OTHER$INFORMATION
Newsle\erFor%those%of%you%who%are%new%to%Mt%Cook%School%you%will%receive%a%school%newsle_er%once%a%fortnight.%This%will%keep%you%informed%of%what%is%happening%during%the%term%and%the%year%in%syndicates%and%across%the%school.%
School$DonaKons2016%dona<ons%are%$20%for%the%year%or%$5%per%term.%As%you%will%be%aware%our%school%dona<ons%are%very%low.%As%a%board%we%have%made%the%decision%keep%the%fees%low%to%ensure%that%they%are%affordable%for%all%of%our%families.%We%also%have%families%who%offer%to%pay%more.%If%you%are%in%a%posi<on%to%pay%more%the%board%suggests%an%amount%of%up%to%$100.%The%school%would%be%very%apprecia<ve%of%any%addi<onal%funding%without%changing%our%dona<on%amount.%Thank%you%for%your%support%with%this.%Just%a%reminder%that%this%is%a%dona<on%to%the%school.
CARPARKING$–$PLEASE$DROP$OFF$ON$TORY$ST$OR$MARTIN$SQUARE$SLIP$ROADJust%a%reminder%that%drop%off%and%pick%up%needs%to%be%on%Tory%St%or%the%slip%road%from%Mar<n%Square%and%not&anywhere&in&Sages&Lane.%Thanks%for%your%support%with%this.
School$HoursSchool%begins%at%8:55am%and%finishes%at%3:00pm.%It%is%very%important%that%children%arrive%before%the%bell%goes%in%the%morning.%The%first%few%minutes%of%the%day%in%class%are%vital%for%the%seong%up%of%the%day.%Please%make%sure%that%your%child%arrives%on%<me.%We%know%that%there%is%the%occasional%emergency%but%in%general%we%expect%children%here%at%9:00am.%On%Tuesdayʼs%school%will%finish%early%at%2:55pm%for%staff%mee<ngs.%If%you%are%picking%up%your%child%at%3:00pm%please%be%punctual.%The%school%is%not%responsible%for%children%aQer%3:00pm%and%children%must%be%picked%up%on%<me.%Remember%that%there%is%AQer%School%Care%if%you%are%unable%to%pick%up%your%child%at%3:00pm.%Please%encourage%your%young%person%to%be%at%school%8:45am%each%day.
Lateness$and$AbsencesPlease%contact%the%school%if%your%child%is%going%to%be%absent%from%school.%Also,%if%your%child%is%going%to%be%late,%we%need%to%be%contacted%too.%These%procedures%are%in%place%as%a%precau<on.%%If%your%child%hasnʼt%arrived%at%school%by%9:15am%and%weʼve%not%heard%from%you,%we%will%need%to%contact%you%if%we%are%able%to.%If%your%child%arrives%late,%we%ask%that%they,%or%the%accompanying%adult,%come%to%the%office%first%so%that%we%are%aware%that%the%child%has%arrived%at%school.%Please%help%us%with%your%coXopera<on%on%this%important%safety%issue.%The%only%reason%that%your%child%should%be%away%from%school%is%if%he/she%is%ill.%For%our%children%to%get%the%best%educa<on%possible%they%need%to%be%at%school.
A_er$School$Care$–$Monday$to$Friday,$3:00pm$–$6:00pmThe%YMCA%con<nues%to%provide%AQer%School%Care%for%our%children%as%well%as%a%school%holiday%programme.%They%have%been%working%in%the%school%for%a%year%and%we%are%very%pleased%with%the%programme%that%they%are%providing.%%For%further%informa<on%you%can%contact%them%on%027%782%0794%or%pop%in%and%see%them%in%the%school.
School$LunchesCube&Bakery%con<nues%to%provide%school%lunches%this%year%on%Monday,%Wednesday,%Thursday%and%Friday.%These%can%be%ordered%before%school%in%the%office.%Children%then%come%to%the%office%at%lunch<me%to%pick%up%their%orders.%Menus%are%at%the%office.%
Sushi&Tuesday%–%Tuesday%lunch%is%sushi%that%must%be%ordered%at%the%office%by%8:45am%or%online%X%www.wrapitup.co.nz.%
Addresses$and$Phone$NumbersIf%you%have%changed%your%address%or%phone%number%recently%please%let%Briar%know.%It’s%really%important%that%we%have%accurate%informa<on.%%Thanks%a%lot%for%your%help%with%this.
School$Banking$School%banking%con<nues%this%year.%We%believe%that%it%is%really%important%for%our%children%to%have%an%understanding%of%financial%literacy%and%how%to%manage%and%think%about%money.%Too%oQen%our%kids%think%that%the%source%of%money%is%the%“hole%in%the%wall”.%
ASB%have%a%very%good%school%banking%set%up.%If%your%child%does%not%have%a%bank%account%and%you%would%like%them%to%do%so%pick%up%a%form%from%Briar%at%the%office.%For%children%to%be%filling%in%the%deposit%envelope%and%bringing%it%into%school%and%placing%in%the%box%gives%them%a%great%sense%of%where%it%all%starts%and%how%savings%work.%%School%banking%day%is%Thursdays.
BOT$(Board$of$Trustees)Congratula<ons%to%our%new%Board%of%Trustees.%We%farewelled%Melissa%Hare%this%week%who%had%been%on%the%Board%for%10%years%and%Pam%Jamieson%who%had%been%on%for%three%years.%We%have%been%so%lucky%over%the%years%to%have%a%board%that%fully%supports%the%values%of%our%school%and%is%commi_ed%to%a%quality%educa<on%for%everyone.
Phil%Hawker%Frances%FraserSue%PerryDavid%LloydJo%HendySandra%McCallum%PrincipalLliam%Carran/Simon%Depree%(Staff%Reps).%%%%%
The%next%mee<ng%is%to%be%confirmed.
DATES$FOR$THE$TERM$AND$THE$YEAR$
Important$Dates$For$Term$2Sharing%assembly%% % Thursday%2%June%X%1:30pm%June%21%% % % Matariki%breakfast%event%–%details%to%come‘What%is%culture‘%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%30%June%X%1:30pm%and%6:30pm
% musical%sharing%%%%%%%%%%%%Excellence%assembly%%% Thursday%7%Jul%X%1:30pmTerm$2$ends$ $ $ $Friday$8$July,$2pm
Important$Dates$for$2016Queens%Birthday%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%Monday%6%JuneLabour%Weekend% %%%%%%%%%%%%%Friday%21%October%X%Monday%24%October
Term$Dates$for$2016Term%2% % %%%%%%%%%%%%%Monday%2%May%–%Friday%8%JulyTerm%3% % %%%%%%%%%%%%%Monday%25%July%–%Friday%23%SeptemberTerm%4% % %%%%%%%%%%%%%Monday%10%October%–%Friday%16%December
Hei&konei&ra,
Sandra,&Nicola,&Lliam,&Julia,&Moira,&Jacinda,&Katya,&Ned,&Gina,&Sandy&B,&Kate,&Nicki,&
Frances,&Simon,&Jason,&Diane,&Stu,&Louise,&Robyn,&Diana,&Briar,&Makshud,&Nui,&Karen,&
Vickie,&Pippa,&Sarah,&Rachel,&Shenee,&Ren,&Shannon&&&Alison.
COMMUNITY$NEWS
Come to our workshop and learn different ways to support you and your whānau in every day life! Caregivers or grandparents raising children are of course welcome too. Light lunch provided. Please feel free to bring partners and/or children (there will be a quiet activity area for children at the back of the room).
Saturday 25 June
12pm – 2pm Presenters:
Zoe Pullman, arthritis educator, Arthritis New Zealand: will cover pain management and family communication.
Carolyn Downer, Strengthening Families Coordinator, MSD: will give an overview of support services available to families.
Atif Razvi, Physiotherapist, North City Physiotherapy: will share some ideas for getting family involved with arthritis management through activity.
Johnsonville Community Centre, 3 Frankmoore Ave, Johnsonville,
There is no charge for entry however donations are appreciated. Bookings are essential: Please call 0800 663 463 or 04 472 5670 or email [email protected]
www.arthritis.org.nz
Are you a parent with any type of arthritis?
