Thursday 27 May 2010
Whanau Hui A Huge Success
Here are some photos from our whanau hui. Kia ora to everyone who supported us and contributed. We will publish the ideas generated as soon as we can.
Leadership
"Is leadership something you have or something you gain from experience?"
Recently I had a most interesting conversation with a parent who asked me whether our intention for the Student Leadership Council was to develop leadership or to reward it. My response is that we want to do both. Developing leadership in our tamariki is a theme that is coming through strongly in our curriculum consultation.
Our Student Leadership Council have now met a number of times and are learning how to run a meeting and how to effectively manage their responsibilities in the school. Our intention is to involve students from all levels of the school in this leadership responsibility, which we plan to develop in order to represent student views from every class.
There are many opportunities in classrooms in which students are given opportunities to lead - which start with developing self-management skills and lead into organising others and eventually leading others.
In which ways do you think the family or sporting/cultural experiences help develop leadership skills in our young people?
I invite your thoughts on this post...
Speed Zone Petition for Selwyn District Schools
We believe this is far too high and so this request is a bit of a 'no-brainer' in my view. We also have the support of Colonel Phil McKee on this issue. We have distributed petition sheets to the Four Square and BOOST and encourage you to sign them. If that doesn't work, you can sign a virtual petition online at this link:
http://www.ipetitions.com/
The petition is due to be presented to the SDC on June 14th. There is more detail from Amy below...
Amy Adams, MP for Selwyn, has launched a petition to the Selwyn District Council for a reduction of speed outside schools in the Selwyn electorate.
A number of schools still have a speed limit of 100kmh outside their school gates, and Ms Adams is aiming for the speed outside all schools to be no more than 50 km/h.
By clicking on this link, you are able to add your name to this petition on-line.
http://www.ipetitions.com/
As the legislation stands, local authorities have the power to decide what speed limits should be in and around rural schools. “I regularly hear from principals, teachers, parents and pupils, who all identify speed on rural roads as one of their greatest safety concerns for schoolchildren,” says Amy Adams.
“Rural councils have told me that they're worried that there is little justification for large reductions in speed. They are hesitant to reduce speeds around schools because they worry about a backlash from drivers.” “It isn't good enough to put convenience before the safety of our children. Our communities are calling for this, and council should be delivering.”
When children are crossing there can be high volumes of traffic, manoeuvring vehicles, and parked vehicles obscuring visibility. Each year between 2001 and 2005, around 500 child pedestrians and cyclists were injured or killed each year during school terms. Speed limits play a fundamental role in effective speed management to encourage, help and require road users to adopt appropriate and safe speeds. Getting drivers to reduce their speed near schools is important, especially as it significantly increases a child's chances of surviving an accident.
The Ministry of Transport states: “The faster drivers are going the more difficult it is to avoid hitting a pedestrian in their path. An alert driver travelling at 50km/h will travel 30 metres after reaction/braking before coming to a complete stop. The same driver travelling at a 100km/h will move five metres further than this before even reacting and, once braking has started, will travel a further 69 metres before coming to a complete stop.
The speed at which pedestrians are struck is vitally important in determining how seriously they will be injured. Pedestrians stuck at 32 km/h have a 95 percent chance of survival. If they are struck at 48 km/h their survival chance decreases to 55 percent. Finally, once the impact speed reaches 70km/h the survival chance is virtually zero.”Please sign this petition, which will be presented to the Selwyn District Council on June 14.
Hard copy versions are available for signing at Rolleston and Lincoln New World, and all school offices in the Selwyn District. This petition can be signed by anyone, regardless of age.
“How can we expect people to slow down and be prepared for a child when they are permitted to go past a school gate at 100kmh?” says Ms Adams. “The last thing any driver wants to do is hit someone, especially a child.”
The wording of the petition is: We, the undersigned, request the Selwyn District Council to reduce the speed limit to no more than 50 km/h during pick up and drop off times outside all schools in the Selwyn District.By clicking on this link, you are able to add your name to this petition on-line.
http://www.ipetitions.com/
As the legislation stands, local authorities have the power to decide what speed limits should be in and around rural schools. “I regularly hear from principals, teachers, parents and pupils, who all identify speed on rural roads as one of their greatest safety concerns for schoolchildren,” says Amy Adams.
“Rural councils have told me that they're worried that there is little justification for large reductions in speed. They are hesitant to reduce speeds around schools because they worry about a backlash from drivers.” “It isn't good enough to put convenience before the safety of our children. Our communities are calling for this, and council should be delivering.”
When children are crossing there can be high volumes of traffic, manoeuvring vehicles, and parked vehicles obscuring visibility. Each year between 2001 and 2005, around 500 child pedestrians and cyclists were injured or killed each year during school terms. Speed limits play a fundamental role in effective speed management to encourage, help and require road users to adopt appropriate and safe speeds. Getting drivers to reduce their speed near schools is important, especially as it significantly increases a child's chances of surviving an accident.
The Ministry of Transport states: “The faster drivers are going the more difficult it is to avoid hitting a pedestrian in their path. An alert driver travelling at 50km/h will travel 30 metres after reaction/braking before coming to a complete stop. The same driver travelling at a 100km/h will move five metres further than this before even reacting and, once braking has started, will travel a further 69 metres before coming to a complete stop.
The speed at which pedestrians are struck is vitally important in determining how seriously they will be injured. Pedestrians stuck at 32 km/h have a 95 percent chance of survival. If they are struck at 48 km/h their survival chance decreases to 55 percent. Finally, once the impact speed reaches 70km/h the survival chance is virtually zero.”
Hard copy versions are available for signing at Rolleston and Lincoln New World, and all school offices in the Selwyn District. This petition can be signed by anyone, regardless of age.
Wednesday 26 May 2010
Maths Made Easy Community Software Plan
We are participating in the CSP (Community Software Plan) featuring great value bundles of the newly released Maths Made Easy series. The CSP is also introducing bundles of many titles previously featured with great savings of up to 85% off retail price.
Many students at our school have benefited from EDAlive software in the past and this year the savings are even greater. Please consider making an investment. As part of this our shcool will receive a FREE Unlimited School Site Licence for the EdAlive software title of our choice. If lots of parents support the programme we will also receive a FREE school edition of Maths Made Easy. Please return your orders to the school by 4/06/10.
Air Force Museum Spy Games Holiday Programme
Psst…. Hey YOU.… Yeah YOU…. Want to be a spy these school holidays?
Come along to the Air Force Museum’s July school holiday programme Spy Games and you will get to: attend secret code workshops, learn about observation and deduction, carry out real-life surveillance and complete super spy missions. You will also make new friends and participate in lots of fun games and activities. You can book for a 4 hour or a 6.5 hour programme, multiple days or a whole week. Parents can also enrol with WINZ to receive OSCAR subsidies.
5 – 9 July and 12 – 16 July for 5-12 year olds
8.30am – 12:30pm (4hr $25/day) or 8:30am - 3.00 pm (6.5hr $35/day)
Week long programme (8:30am – 3pm) = $170 per week with NO added costs.
Spaces are filling fast, so book today on (03) 343 9504 or email programmes@airforcemuseum.co.nz to become an Air Force Museum spy these school holidays.
New Kapa Haka Tutor
I'm both sad and excited with this announcement. Joe Murray, our kapa haka tutor, is unable to continue in this role of kapa haka tutor at our school due to changing work comittments.
We have been lucky enough to secure the support of SSgt Tama Andrew, the cultural liaison officer for the Third Land Force Group, as our new kapa haka tutor. Tama has agreed to tautoku (support) us while we search for a more permanent person to lead and develop this awesome group in our school. Tama is a highly experienced kapa haka tutor and we are delighted to have his expertise in our school.
Tama we welcome you to our team and look forward to learning from and with you.
We have been lucky enough to secure the support of SSgt Tama Andrew, the cultural liaison officer for the Third Land Force Group, as our new kapa haka tutor. Tama has agreed to tautoku (support) us while we search for a more permanent person to lead and develop this awesome group in our school. Tama is a highly experienced kapa haka tutor and we are delighted to have his expertise in our school.
Tama we welcome you to our team and look forward to learning from and with you.
Wednesday 12 May 2010
Invitation to the Whanau Hui 27 May 5pm
You are invited to our first Whanau Hui to discuss the future of education at our school. This hui is for everyone interested in maori education at our wonderful kura.
Click here for the invitation and RSVP...
Tuesday 11 May 2010
Cross Country Photos
Here are some shots from the cross country today - thank you for the awesome support:
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