Tuesday 29 March 2011

Celebration - well done Room 2

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Last Friday Room 2 came runners up at a special ceremony to celebrate Earth Hour in the Selwyn District. We are very proud of Room 2 and Mr Thurlow for their outstanding video - here is the certificate they received and below is the movie:

Monday 14 March 2011

Parents Inc Hot Tips - free seminars

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This is just in from Alison one of our lovely parents - thanks Alison for sharing this excellent resource for parents.

Parents Inc Hot Tips,  their email that came out last night says that they are making all their webinars free for a limited time.  The topics are:

Saturday 5 March 2011

Evidence of learning

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The Apple Leadership Summit in Singapore has a number of key themes:
  • challenge based learning
  • developing rich, learner-based environments which leverage technology; 
  • the convergence of mobile technologies, content and pedagogy (how we teach); 
  • developing and utilising authentic assessment artefacts; 
  • a process called 'reverse mentoring' which is a great way to help students demonstrate their learning.
One of the ideas that struck me yesterday was the idea of developing rich artefacts to show learning. This idea was suggested during a workshop with Marco Torres, who is an educator from Los Angeles. Marco challenged us to consider 'What does our top learner look like? What defines them? What are they like and what skills would they have?

Marco believes that teachers should have their own portfolio of learning and that a good principal must be a voracious learner him/herself. I think this applies to all educators - the better learners we are, the more able we are to encourage/develop this in our students. Marco asks some really thought-provoking questions about teacher learnership: What evidence shows me that the adults are learners in our schools? 

For the first time we now have the tools that change according to the need at hand.

Analog vs. Digital - he makes an interesting analogy that the piano is an analog device that you are limited to have to learn in a particular way
-can a piano change according to the need at hand?
-do I want to learn the cello, or do I want to create music that a cello creates?
Is schooling built as this huge analog device that we must learn to use in order for learning to happen?

Learners love to share and learners love feedback. People are loyal to those who provide them with remarkable moments. Learning requires quality feedback and now we can enrich that feedback in exciting ways. Here are some other reflective questions:
  • What does our evidence show about us as learners? 
  • What does it show about our learning?
  • How many remarkable moments have I provided my colleagues or students lately?


Tuesday 1 March 2011

What an amazing school we have

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There is something incredibly soothing about listening to the sound of children laughing and having fun after last week. I believe coming back to school is such a healing thing for our children and the stunning team we have in our school. If at any time any parent/caregiver or family member wants to come and join us, you are all most welcome.

We are really lucky to have our entire team at school this week. Our staff did a brilliant job of ensuring that the re-opening was calm, smooth and 'heading towards normality' - especially for new children and whanau. Our focus is in providing a caring, nurturing and calm environment where every child can learn to deal with the challenges we are facing in their own way. This means that class programmes will accommodate the needs of the children in a variety of ways. More on this later...

I'm keen to explore ways we can look after each other as a community, including new whanau and children to our school, but also the adults in our community. This is a time to really look after one another.

We've are welcoming a large number of new enrollments every day so this is an extremely busy time as we work to ensure children and new families transition as smoothly as possible, regardless of whether they are short or long term in our school. We have additional staff and volunteers to allow us flexibility in meeting the kids' needs at this time and appreciate the many offers of support. My thanks go to Louise and Tracy from BOOST, as well as many others who have helped in a range of ways - providing lunches, bags, lunch boxes, fruit, baking and moral support to make new people feel welcome and supported.

Thanks Room 6 for organising this!!
The work that the NZDF are doing is simply incredible in Christchurch and I want to take this chance to thank them for the amazing support they are providing the region.

Our kids and teachers make a difference - check out these links showing how classes are already working at making a difference to people affected - WOW!!! Please support our mufti day and bake sale tomorrow if you can.

http://burnhamrm1.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-people-are-helping-after-earthquake.html

http://burnhamrm2.blogspot.com/2011/02/students-update-on-what-is-happening_28.html


http://burnhamrm6.blogspot.com/2011/02/room-6-earthquake-plan.html


http://burnhamrm7.blogspot.com/2011/02/room-7-support.html


That's about it for now, I will keep you posted during the week.

Earthquake Support Package

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Recognising the effect of the February earthquake on Christchurch business and workers, the Government has implemented an initial support package to support the recovery and rebuilding of Christchurch.


The Christchurch Earthquake Support Package provides support to employers and employees in Canterbury affected by the February earthquake. 


While any affected business in Christchurch City is covered, businesses located in Selwyn, but substantially affected by loss of Christchurch City trade should also apply for special consideration.


The Christchurch Earthquake Support Package is made up of two components:
  • Earthquake Support Subsidy - a subsidy for employers who believe they are going to remain in business and want to keep their staff. They'll get $500 gross per week or $300 gross per week to cover part time staff for up to six weeks.
  • Earthquake Job Loss Cover - a $400 a week in the hand payment for a period of six weeks paid to fulltime employees, ($240 in the hand for part time employees). This applies to those who are unable to contact their employer or the business has closed permanently.
The Earthquake Support Subsidy gives companies up to six weeks space to get back into operation while keeping their staff.


The Earthquake Job Loss Cover is available as an alternative for those who cannot make contact with their employer, or whose employer has closed permanently.
Earthquake Employment Support Package information on the Work and Income website

Earthquake Support Subsidy – For employers
What is it?
Earthquake Support Subsidy is an initial payment for employers to assist them to pay their employees while they deal with the initial impact of the earthquake. The subsidy is also available to the self employed or business owners who draw a wage.
If the workplace can re-open, we want to support employers to maintain their business and keep Cantabrians in work wherever possible.
The payment will be made directly to the employer who will then pay the employee.  The wage subsidy will be paid:
  • for up to 6 weeks from 22 February 2011.
  • at a gross rate of $500 per week per employee for full time employees (over 20 hours per week) or a gross rate of $300 per week per employee for part time employees (anyone working 20 hours a week or less).
Who does qualify?
  • New Zealand owned business
  • Christchurch City Council area based employer or
  • self employed, sole trader, or contractor
  • be unable to access the workplace due to damage, a cordon, or an essential service is not available, or who can open but are experiencing significant loss of trade
Employers who have business interruption insurance should contact their insurance company in the first instance. If insurance payments will be delayed, employers can access the Earthquake Support Subsidy to cover the intervening period, but will be required to repay it when the insurance payment is received.
Who does not qualify?
  • employers who can continue to operate and/or meet obligations to pay employees
  • government or government-related organisations
  • international and large national organisations
Those with staff who have been injured or bereaved and who are receiving weekly compensation from ACC, cannot also get the Earthquake Support Subsidy for those staff members.
What constitutes the Christchurch City area in terms of these payments?
The Christchurch City Council area, which includes Akaroa-Wairewa, Burwood-Pegasus, Fendalton-Waimairi, Hagley-Ferrymead, Lyttelton-Mt Herbert, Riccarton-Wigram, Spreydon-Heathcote, and Shirley-Papanui. There may be exceptions to this and employers are encouraged to call and discuss their circumstances.


** SELWYN BASED BUSINESSEES WHO HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECTED DUE TO LOSS OF CHRISTCHURCH TRADE SHOULD ALSO APPLY**
How to apply
  • Online at www..workandincome.govt.nz.
  • By phoning the government helpline on 0800 779 997 (this line is operating 24/7).
  • At a Work and Income office if there is no access to internet or phone
What information is needed?
Employers need to provide their business IRD number, business bank account number, and the details of the staff requiring the subsidy (employee name and IRD numbers). This information will be confirmed by IRD before payment is made.


Employers need to contact Work and Income and their employees and make them aware of what is happening.  Where employees have already applied for Earthquake Job Loss Cover before hearing from the employer, they will be transferred to the Earthquake Support Subsidy.