Principals Piece: 3-2010 from March 5 Newsletter
Tena koutou e nga
Matua;
It’s all about
relationships
There is mounting evidence to
suggest that a teacher’s ability to establish and maintain respectful
relationships with their students is a major factor in ensuring high levels of
engagement in the classroom and subsequently improved academic achievement. As a
school, we have invested time and resourcing to ensure that our teachers know
what this looks like in the classroom and can deliver. It can be as simple as
getting to know the student at a personal level and taking an interest in them
as an individual, or as complex as gathering data on the type of feedback
teachers are giving their students and making improvements accordingly. At Taipa,
we work at both ends of the complexity scale and the recent school camps have
been organised not just as an educational opportunity outside the classroom, but
also as a deliberate strategy to encourage positive parent, teacher and student
relationships.
I paid a brief visit to the Primary
School Camp last night out at Matai Bay and despite the downpour it was awesome
to see the positive things that were happening, especially in regards to
relationship building. There were a large number of parents there supporting in
many different ways, the kids were happy and the teachers determined that,
despite being a bit wet, they were going to make it the best camp possible.
Thank you to parents who already have given of their precious time to support at
the last two camps – it makes a huge difference not just for the success of the
camp but also in helping build those relationships.
This Friday the school continues in
its quest to foster good community relationships with a parent/teacher/student
BBQ beginning straight after school and finishing at about 5.0pm. Our senior
student leaders are responsible for organising the evening and there will be a
few games to keep everyone entertained. The other purpose of the BBQ is to give
parents and teachers an informal catch up opportunity at the beginning of the
year, so please come and make the most of this time. See you there.
Naku noa
Principals Piece: 2-2010
from February 19
Newsletter
Tena koutou e nga Matua;
There has been
a bit said in the media lately about National Standards. Many schools and their
principals have voiced concerns about the way the Government has thrust them
upon schools with little consultation with either parents or indeed the people
at the chalk face. I am sure you have heard the arguments for and against and
are making up your own minds. Regardless of my opinion (which along with many
principals doesn’t seem to count much in the eyes of the government), schools
are required to implement them and report against them in 2010 and at Taipa we
will ensure that this happens in a professional and consultative way with
parents. An important thing in my mind is to ensure that your child’s progress
is not hindered by a possible label of under achieving if they do not reach an
expected standard and that, as a school community, we are able to celebrate the
progress all students make whether they may meet a standard or not. Secondly I
want to ensure that our teachers are not deterred from developing an exciting
and broad curriculum that is unique to Taipa Area School and meets the needs and
aspirations of our community.
Over the next
few days all year 4 – 10 students will be sitting PAT tests in Reading,
Listening and Mathematics, the results of which will be shared with parents at
the up and coming parent/teacher BBQ. These tests will allow the school to
identify the strengths and weaknesses of groups and individuals and implement
appropriate strategies to address learning needs.
The year 13s
returned from a very successful camp at the end of last week and the experience
will assist them in developing as group and individual leaders this year.
Next week,
students of the Bilingual Unit head off to Waiari Marae on the Karikari
Peninsular for 3 days and over the next few weeks many students will enjoy
similar experiences of learning outside the classroom. It is important that all
students take part in the upcoming camps as they are an early opportunity to
build good relationships with teachers as well as with other students.
Work is now
underway on the new library adjacent to the primary school and when completed
will make a huge difference to the look and feel of the school. Closely
following this project will be a new staff room (at long last) and covered
seating areas for students around the quad.
We are looking
forward to another positive and successful year with your support.
Naku noa
Pateriki Toi
Principals Piece: 1-2010
from February
Newsletter
Tena koutou
katoa;
Welcome back
to school to all students and staff and especially the new faces. We welcomed
all our new students and staff by way of powhiri on Wednesday morning and it was
pleasing to see the large number of students who have arrived from our local
contributing primary schools ready and eager to begin the next phase of their
education.
New Staff 2010
A big welcome
to four new teachers who were appointed at the end of last year; Liz Shulze who
is beginning this year as an intermediate teacher covering Dianne Vette Welsh
who is on study leave this term, Natalie Nicholls who also joins the
Intermediate department, Margret Timmer-Arends as HOD Mathematics and Jessica
Williams who will be the immersion class teacher this year.
Teacher Only days
Next Monday 8
February and Tuesday 9 February is Teachers Only Day. Teachers will be involved
in an intensive 2 day training programme on Restorative Justice. The RJ process
has become very much a part of our schools culture when dealing with student
issues as they arise. Over the past few years we have had a number of staff
trained as facilitators and now aim to have all staff trained and further
enhance the Taipa Way of doing things. The training will be facilitated by
Margret Thorsborne from Australia who is recognised around the world as the
‘guru’ on Restorative Justice.
ERO
On 15 March a
team from ERO will be reviewing ‘how effectively this school’s curriculum
promotes student learning: engagement, progress and achievement’. We look
forward to some productive feedback to help us improve what we are doing.
Year 13 Camp
This camp
takes place next week, Wednesday 10 Feb – Friday 12 Feb. It is part of an
important process that helps us determine who our student leaders will be for
this year. Aside from that, it is an opportunity for all Year 13s to come
together and focus on the ‘what’ and ‘how’ they are going to achieve this year
so it is important that all students take part.
Immersion Class
Whanau Hui
There will be
a whanau hui for all parents and caregivers of students in the immersion class
next Wednesday 10 February, 6.00pm in the immersion classroom itself. The
purpose will be to introduce Whaea Jessica and to discuss and negotiate the
kaupapa of the class as a whanau.
Bilingual Class
Whanau Hui
There will be
a whanau hui for all parents and caregivers of students in the Bilingual Unit
next Thursday 11 February, 6.00pm in the unit itself.
NCEA Results
Once again our
senior students have achieved excellent NCEA results for 2009;
|
|
Taipa Area School |
National Norm |
|
Level 1 (Year 11s) |
86.2 |
70.1 |
|
Level 2 (Year 12s) |
84.4 |
75.3 |
|
Level 3 (Year 13s) |
51.9 |
68.9 |
These results
are participation based, meaning they include all students who attempted NCEA at
our school last year. Well done to all students, teachers and parents who have
helped continue the trend toward improvement in our academic results.
The Taipa Way
Feedback from
students and teachers was used to create The Taipa Way for both students and
teachers as from the start of this year. They are based on values which we hold
as important and outline clearly the ways both students and teachers can show
how they can be successful in the classroom.
The Taipa Way for
students
In every
lesson I shall be successful by;
-
Showing respect
-
Using positive language
-
Doing my best
-
Encouraging and working well
with others
-
Being prepared
-
Being determined
-
Thinking before I act
The Taipa
Way for teachers
In every
lesson I shall be successful by;
-
Incorporating at least 1
cooperative activity
-
Incorporating at least 1
literacy strategy
-
Negotiating and displaying
learning intentions and success criteria
-
Implementing Ka Hikitia desired
learning outcomes for Maori
-
Implementing the new curriculum
We are looking forward to
another successful year.
Naku noa
Pateriki Toi
