Papakowhai School is a great school!

Dear Parents/Caregivers

Papakowhai School is a great school!

Education Minister, Hekia Parata, visited Papakowhai School yesterday. The Minister had a brief window in her diary and asked Murray Williams, Regional Director MOE, for a good school to visit in the Porirua area.

We talked together about the high levels of achievement at Papakowhai, the transformational shift we have made with digital learning over the last 3 years and the professional development we are doing in writing that is seeing improvements in outcomes for our children. We also talked about the challenges of roll growth from Aotea. The Minister was particularly interested to hear about this and assured us that she would keep in touch and closely monitor how this was being managed.

The Minister also visited Kauri block and talked to children in our 3 BYOD classes. She was very impressed with the high levels of student engagement, the focus on learning and the confidence of the children to talk about what they were learning. It was a very positive visit.

We have also just received our very positive ERO report. This will be online to view on the ERO website in about a week’s time. Some of the headline quotes are:

·         Areas for review and development identified in the 2011 review have been purposefully progressed

·         Assessment involves comprehensive collection of data

·         Priorities to support achievement in 2014 have been identified

·         Most students achieved at or above in relation to the National Standards in reading, writing and mathematics

·         Maori students made considerable progress in 2013. Pacific students achieve successful National Standard outcomes.

·         Parents are well informed about student progress and achievement

·         Students experience positive outcomes through their participation in the Papakowhai School curriculum

·         [There are] supportive and affirming relationships between teachers, parents, students and their peers

·         Students have a strong sense of belonging to the school

·         Senior leaders have a clear understanding of the effectiveness of teaching practice. Students are suitably engaged in the classroom. Examples of effective teaching practice clearly motivate student interest, match their assessed needs and demonstrate the effective strategies contained in the school’s curriculum statements.

·         Positive actions have occurred since the previous ERO report to support the inclusion of culturally responsive practice for Maori learners

·         Papakowhai School is well placed to strengthen its self-review and evaluation practice to sustain and improve its practice

·         No issues of compliance were identified

Kind regards

Mark Smith

Home and School

I just wanted to say a very big thank you to Lisa Avery who completed her term as chairperson of the Home and School Committee on Monday. Lisa has been a powerhouse of energy and enthusiasm. She has provided great leadership and motivation to the team. I am glad that she will continue to be a part of the committee fundraising for a new playground.

Under Lisa’s leadership the Home and School Committee have:

·         Created a blog for the committee

·         Increased the use of the Facebook page for communication, (Please click “like” all you Facebook users out there!)

·         Held two discos in one night

·         Initiated a fundraising movie night

·         Organised an amazing Ladies Shopping Night

·         Arranged school lunches for term one

·         Involved children in fundraising events

·         A clear plan of fundraising for 2014.

·         Applied for external funding starting with Infinity Foundation.

·         Run superb BBQ’s in terms 1 and 4.

Thank you to all the other wonderful committee members and others who help the committee for events. The Home and School Committee bring a wonderful richness to our school community.

There are two upcoming Home and School Events: The Brainwave Trust fundraising speaker (details in the newsletter) and a Twilight toy and book sale.

TWILIGHT TOY AND BOOK SALE FRIDAY 4 APRIL 6 – 8 PM The Home and School Committee are hosting a massive toy and book sale, sweet stall and BBQ on Friday 4 April. It’s about raising funds for our new playground and all families and friends of Papakowhai School and community are welcome. How can YOU help us prepare for this event? Clear out your old toys and books and send them to school. There will be a coloured box for each whanau group at the Office from Monday for your child to place their donated items. There will be a prize for the whanau group with the best collection rate. Email laureen_murray@hotmail.com by 26 March if you are able to help with cakes or treats for the sweet stall. Email liz.kitching@hotmail.co.nz if you have connections with a local business that can donate toys or other items to be auctioned or raffled.

Kind regards

Mark Smith

Parenting

Being a parent is an awesome job but it is also very challenging. At times it is hard to know if you are doing the right thing or not. I have three children of my own and they are all very different. I have certainly benefitted over the years from going to parenting courses or reading books with helpful tips.

I am looking forward to going to hear Kathryn Berkett in our school hall on Wednesday 26^th March. I have heard great things about the Brainwave Trust. I understand they only promote speakers of the highest calibre. I have three teenagers living at my house so I need all the help I can get, but don’t think you are off the hook, your children will morph into teenagers before you know it.

The proceeds are all going to our playground development so why don’t you bring a friend or two and have fun while learning a trick or two. See the flyer on the back of this newsletter.

Thank you to all the parents who came out in the rain and cold to parent interviews. We had 315 appointments for 330 children, a very impressive turnout rate. Thank you for taking the time to complete the goal setting sheet and checking contact details. If you were not able to make an interview time, or were unable to complete them in time for the interview, we would still like you to return these forms to your child’s teacher by Friday please. I really appreciate the way parents at Papakowhai School take a vital interest in their child’s learning.

Many parents want to know how they can help at home. The best way to do this is to read with your child when they are young and take an interest in what they are reading as they get older. Go on our Maths blog to find out what number knowledge your child should have at each level and practise this together. Encouraging completion or taking an interest in Mathletics has also proven to be very beneficial for many of our children. A small amount done regularly is certainly better for parents and for kids than a huge infrequent effort.

I have had some feedback from parents at interviews about how we classify children in year groups. At Papakowhai School children who start school in February and March of the year they turn 5 will move to Year 2 at the beginning of the next year automatically, unless there are special circumstances, which will be discussed with the parents. A child whose fifth birthday is in April or May will only move to year 2 at the discretion of the Principal in consultation with the parents, according to the ability and needs of each particular child. A child whose birthday is in June or later will remain in year 1 for another year.

Parents may request a meeting with me to discuss the class placement for their child at any time. If you have a child with an April or May birthday and you would like to discuss this further please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards

Mark Smith

Picnic and Parent Interviews

Our annual Aotea Lagoon Picnic as today. The weather was perfect and so were the children. We all had such a wonderful time.

It was great seeing younger students with their older buddies in whanau groups

Thank you to family members who also joined us at the lagoon.

We are having parent/teacher meetings on March 3^rd and 4^th. School will finish at 2pm on these days, and interviews will start at 2.15pm. Each appointment is 15 minutes. Appointments to see the teachers can be made via a website, www.schoolinterviews.co.nz .

The log-in code is DGVTQ. To book:                

·         enter your name

·         enter your email  address

·         select the number of children you are booking for

·         Enter the children’s name/s and select their class, then their teacher.

·         Select the interview times you want.

We would really like all our parents to come to this meeting.

Today you received a letter including:

·         A sheet showing how we expect your child to be tracking against National Standards based on their progress in 2013. For Year 1 children you will receive a sheet showing the standard required at the end of one year at school.

·         You will also be given a sheet of all your contact details which we would like you to check before the interview.

·         A Goal Setting page to fill in with your child, if he/she is in Years 2 – 8. There are Help Notes included to assist with doing this.

Parent Teacher Interviews Term 1 2014

We are having parent/teacher meetings on March 3^rd and 4^th. School will finish at 2pm on these days, and interviews will start at 2.15pm. Each appointment is 15 minutes. Appointments to see the teachers will be done via a website.  It is a simple, accurate system. www.schoolinterviews.co.nz . Children in Years 5-8 are welcome to attend.

The log-in code is DGVTQ. To book:                               

·         enter your name

·         enter your email  address

·         select the number of children you are booking for

·         Enter the children’s name/s and select their class, then their teacher.

·         Select the interview times you want.

You will be sent an email confirming your booking details. You will control your bookings and can make them to suit you, though like any system the earlier you book the more likely you will get what you want.  Changing or cancelling your booking can be done at any time. The booking website will close at noon on Monday 3^rd . If you are not able to make a booking online please phone the school office.

We would really like all our parents to come to this meeting.

Prior to the meeting you will receive:

·         A sheet showing how we expect your child to be tracking against National Standards based on their progress in 2013.

·         You will also be given a sheet of all your contact details which we would like you to check before the interview.

What do we need from you?

·         Complete a goal setting sheet that will be sent home next week and bring this to the interview.

·         We would like to know how your child is settling into school this year

·         We would like to know about how your child learns best and what their strengths and weaknesses are

·         We would like to know about your child’s personality and how we can work best with them at school. 

First Powhiri for 2014

Today we welcomed our new children, their siblings and families to our school with a whole school powhiri. This is an important tradition at our school.

Senior students take on leadership roles of giving the karanga to welcome the manuhiri into the hall, leading the waiata and giving speeches. All children participate in the powhiri and contribute through singing and listening.

Many families have never experienced a powhiri before. Some feel nervous beforehand but overwhelmingly people really appreciate being welcomed in this way. I like that our children feel comfortable with this process so that when they attend a powhiri later on in education or at work, or in a personal context, they can feel confident that they know what to do.

If you have never been to one of our powhiri they will be held on the third Wednesday of each term in 2014.  You would be most welcome.