February 24th, 2010

VERY HIGH PRAISE

The Secretary for Education and Chief Executive of the NZ Ministry of Education, Karen Sewell, takes a special interest in SWIS. She particularly enjoys visiting our extension Art Extension group and displaying their art works around her office. The reputation of the Art Extension group has expanded further this year with Minister Anne Tolley and Assoc. Minister Heather Roy also displaying the group’s works around their office and meeting rooms.

This is high praise indeed! Congratulations to Koka Rea for her work in inspiring these students.

Above: Karen Sewell with the Art extension group late last year.

CHESS CLUB

Wednesdays 3.00—4.30 p.m.

Library

Cost $2 per session

All interested students very welcome.

STUDY CENTRE

Tuesdays   3.00 p.m. —4.00 p.m.

School Library

Students are welcome to attend for supported independent study.

Afternoon tea provided.

Quote of the Week

“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed if there is a light from within.”

Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Principal’s Comment

From about the age of eleven to fourteen you will probably notice there is a marked change in your child. This time is often called emerging adolescence and is quite different from earlier childhood. It is a transition phase from being childlike to accepting adulthood.

This transition effects almost every area of their life and parents can help ease the difficulties of transition by understanding its scope and nature.

Physically … they are changing dramatically. Apart from the first year of life, this is their time of greatest physical change.

Emotionally … they have to come to terms with looking at the world in a new way and understand the way the world now views them.

Socially … they are moving from a largely dependent to a more self-managing position.

All this new territory can be exciting and terrifying at the same time for both the students and parents. It is important for parents (and teachers) to consider the excitement and fear and to guide gently and firmly.

Emerging adolescents in the middle years are different from younger children in that they are:

Forgetful. They often have anxieties about themselves and the wider world. They are learning so much about the world in such a short time that immediate, practical things sometimes drop off their radar. This can be very frustrating for parents and teachers.

Irritable. They are full of energy but their hormones can cause mood swings and arguments can easily escalate.

Power players. They seek independence but are not always powerful.

Greatly moved by friendships. These friendships can be turbulent and may impact on other areas of their lives.

Very varied in their work habits. Formerly very compliant younger children may begin to make excuses, put things off or refuse tasks. Hormones and growth play a large part here.

Worried. They doubt themselves. They need to be able to take risks (in a safe environment) to build their confidence.

Not keen to accept consequences. This can often be another form of risk-taking.

Idealistic. They see the world how it should be, not always how it is.

Motivated differently. Their motivation is moving from external to internal rewards. They are moving towards self-motivation but still need short-term rewards.

Maturing at different rates. Boys tend to mature a year or so behind girls—physically, socially and intellectually.

During this time of great change a settled, firm and caring home is crucial to their uninterrupted development. For the adults around them at school and at home during this transition period, there will be frustrations, but the potential rewards of seeing terrific new young adults beginning to emerge are extremely satisfying.

Mike Debney

Thank You Students

We wish to publicly recognise the appropriate, positive behaviour displayed by these students and identified by a staff member.

Katrina Antipas

Josephine Harris

Henk Willcock

Tess Breitenmoser

Ruairi Cahill-Fleury

Trey Thomson

Keagan Kuhn

Saskia McDonald

Jordan Milne

Zafirah Talim

Emma Davidson

Kylie Mark

Ester Hulsbosch

Alex Lyth

Sashka Nicoresti-Goode

Malte Peick

Olivia Christie

Struan Griffiths

James Matheson

Kate Johnson

Small Empty Computer Cartridges

Don’t throw them away!

Send them to school with your child. We will collect them and can raise $4 for each one, any size. Remember your empty ones at work as well. Ask friends and family to collect for you.

Let’s see how many we can get!!

Guitar Lessons at School

Fridays

You choose what songs you want to learn!

30 minute lessons

@ $10 per person.

Two students per lesson. Find a friend who wants to learn!

Starts Friday 5th March

Contact Paddy Bleakley on

027 470 6769 or 383 5461

Available Term One Dates

01 Mar       Fest Arts—Inside Out @ 7pm

03 Mar       Fest Arts—Sutra @ 8pm

04 Mar       Fest Arts—Echoa @ 1pm

08 Mar       Fest Arts—Happy as Larry @ 7.30pm

10 Mar       Japanese group arrives

                School Athletic Sports

15 Mar       Fest Arts-The Tragic Life of Cheeseboy

                Goal setting interviews

16 Mar       Goal setting interviews

23 Mar       Inter-Intermediate Athletics

25 Mar       Postponement II Athletics

01 Apr       Last day, Term One

19 Apr       First day, Term Two

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CONTACT

Lynn McBain (Chair)

027 241 4082

Eryl Jones

383 6235

Lindsay Daysh

027 261 5840

Barry White

021 477 663

Michael Priest

934 4738

SCHOOL CAMPS

Camp was really fun. All the activities were superb, but there were two things which were the best. These were the mudslide and raft building. They were awesome! In both activities the mud was really deep and you sank right past your shins, and the water was freezing cold, but it was still extremely good fun. Everyone had blue toes and chattering teeth after paddling their raft across the lake. After our combined efforts we were all very pleased that it had stayed together after ferrying us across the lake. It was really cool, because as we paddled across, we saw a pukeko!                                                                     Bea C and Katya S (Room 12)

UNIFORM

Skorts are now available as an optional item for girls.

If you wish to purchase one you may do so at the school office for $45.00.

PRIMARY TEACHERS UNION MEETING    24th MARCH

On Wednesday 24th March, the Teachers Union (NZEI) is holding an afternoon meeting for all members. Students will be dismissed on that day at 12.30pm. The school bus will come at that time.

The school will remain open to cater for students who cannot be supervised by parents.

Parents who wish their child to remain at school to be supervised, please contact the school office.