July 28th. 2010

Mona Williams “Tales with a Difference”

On Monday students packed the hall to listen to the exotic and fascinating story-teller, Mona Williams.

Swathed in a black and gold robe, Mona captivated her audience with brilliant stories.

“She was quite entertaining and acted out her stories well,” Mr. Stewart said.

The tales were a mixture of fables and life experiences with lessons for us all.

Thank you Mona.

Katya C. Room 3

Artsight Kids and Teens Art classes

Artsight's Term 3 Art programme offers fun and inspiring art classes for kids and teens. Classes are held in Wellington at Toi Poneke, 65 Abel Smith St.

For more details and to book contact: Fiona

(04) 3862908,021786629 email:fiona@artsight.co.nz

www.artsight.co.nz

CHANGE OF CONTACT DETAILS

If parents/caregivers change address or phone numbers, please let the school office know immediately so we have up-to-date contact details.

All Star Cheerleaders

All Star Cheerleaders is running free trial classes for American Style Cheerleading. Held on Mondays at the National Dance and Drama Centre.

5-10yrs 4-5.30pm and 11yrs+ 7.30-9pm.

Everyone is welcome no experience necessary. For more information call

0800 CHEERLEADER or

www.allstarcheerleaders.co.nz

TOP  HOUSE

Kiwi

Coming Soon

SWIS DISCO

Details next week

LEARN GUITAR, PIANO, BASS or SAX

A full satisfaction guarantee
Lessons in the comfort of your home for no extra charge
A great grounding in theory, improvisation, ear training and performance
Free admission to two group workshops of your choice, run through Effortless Music (worth $200)

Recordings of each of your lessons, uploaded to your own section of the Effortless Music website

I have a BMus from the NZ School of Music and 20 years of experience in Jazz, Rock, Pop, Classical and Electronic Music.

To get started, contact James on 027 427 4052 or

jamesmasonmusic@gmail.com

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

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove…

… but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

Kathy Davis

Principal’s Comment

Over the last fifty years there have been many ideas touted as the ‘must do’ strategy to ensure student success at school. The Ministry adopts these ideas and money is poured in to up-skill teachers. School programmes are modified to accommodate the new idea and …. we are left disappointed when students don’t make the progress we hope for. Over time newer research shows up the flaws in the once ‘must do’ programme.

The one exception where research has consistently shown extensive academic benefits for students is parent engagement in their child’s learning. All research over the last fifty years says it is a very clear indicator for student success.

Research shows when their parents are engaged in their child’s learning, students gain:

•   Higher grades and test scores.

•   Better attendance and more homework done.

•  Fewer placements in special education.

•  More positive attitudes and behaviour.

•  Higher graduation rates.

•  Greater enrolment in post-secondary education .

Parent engagement with their child’s school is important (and I will come to that later), but parent engagement is much broader than that. It is about;

·         Having conversations with your child about what they are learning.

·         Reading with your child.

·         Offering to help with homework.

·         Having conversations about school.

·         Having conversations about items in the news.

·         Having conversations about their futures.

·         Helping to organise your child for school.

·         Having conversations about morals.

Parent engagement with their child’s school is also important, particularly as it can lead to many of these conversations taking place.

We are working hard to encourage parent engagement with school with programmes such as our ‘Working Together’ programme with evening meetings on specific topics. These have been a success and will be retained but, with parent input, I believe we can go much further.

Parents lead very busy lives. We all work hard and our jobs are often demanding of our time and energy. Often the last thing we want to do in an evening is go to school for a meeting.

The essence of parent engagement with school is in building positive relationships between parents and their child’s teachers. I have some ideas about how we can do this but I would like to hear parents ideas.

Some of my ideas;

·         Develop an online parent portal where parents can view their child’s assessments of their work and attendance data.

·         Increase email and phone contact between home and classroom teachers. Not just about giving information but having conversations.

·         Strategies to encourage parents to help in small ways with their child’s homework.

 Please take a few minutes to email me your ideas on how we can foster parent engagement with school and their child’s learning. I would greatly appreciate it. Together we will find the best way forward.

Mike Debney

Help wanted with a new study on step or blended families.

The Families Commission has identified the need to better understand the challenges faced by step or blended families.  They have helped fund a new study by researchers from the Roy McKenzie Centre for the Study of Families at Victoria University, who are conducting the ‘Overcoming the challenges to re-partnering’ study.  The study aims to investigate how couples and children deal with the issues that typically face these families.

Dr Jeremy Robertson, Deputy Director of the Roy McKenzie Centre, is interested in talking to members of married or cohabiting stepfamilies who have been together for at least five years.  Participation would involve one interview of approximately one hour, at a time and place to suit the parent.

The results of these studies will be valuable for organizations’ and individuals who work with families, government organizations’ who make policies related to families and stepfamilies themselves.

For more information contact -

Dr Jeremy Robertson

Phone: 04 463 6831 or 021 143 8712

Email: Jeremy.robertson@vuw.ac.nz

Roy McKenzie Centre for the Study of Families, Victoria University, PO Box 600, Wellington

SITUATION VACANT

South Wellington Intermediate

Caretaker

20 hours per week

Some flexibility of hours possible

May suit an active semi-retired person

Contact Mike Debney, Principal, for more information and application details.

Available Term Three Dates

28 July       Korean visitors arrive

29 July       Powhiri for Korean visitors

        Ski Trip parent helpers meeting 7pm

03 Aug       ICAS English Examination

        Inter Intermediate Hockey & Volleyball

        Puberty Information Evening 7pm. Staffroom

10 Aug       Tree planting with WCC.

17 Aug       ICAS Mathematics examination

20 Aug       Last school day for Korean visitors

25 Aug       Inter Intermediate Netball

26 Aug       Gardasil 2 for Year 8 girls

27 Aug       Postponement day Inter Intermediate Netball

01 Sept      Mathswell competition

03 Sept      Open Day, prospective students

06 Sept      Inter Intermediate Football—Boys

        Open Evening

07 Sept      Inter Intermediate Football—Girls

08 –10 Sept        Ski Trip

08 Sept      Postponement Inter Intermediate Football—Boys

09 Sept      Postponement Inter Intermediate Football—Girls

13-17 Sept Girls Self Defence

15 Sept      Waterman’s Rugby Tournament

16 Sept      Postponement Waterman’s Rugby Tournament

20—21 Sept        Science Roadshow

24 Sept      Last day of Term Three

11 Oct       First day, Term Four

BOARD OF TRUSTEES CONTACT

Lindsay Daysh (Chair)

027 261 5840

Michael Priest

934 4738

Alison Kelly

021 595 026

Malcolm Menzies

972 5804

Stu Print

383 4206

Coming soon ……

28 July   Korean Visitors arrive. A time to welcome new friends.

03 Aug   ICAS English Examination. Students challenging themselves over their English knowledge.

03 Aug   Inter Intermediate Hockey & Volleyball.  A great day of competition.

03 Aug   Puberty Information Evening 7pm. Staffroom.   Learn about the school’s approach to this sensitive topic.