Farwell to Kala Deepak - BOT Chairperson

Some of you may be aware that Kala Deepak, our current BOT Chairperson, is standing down from her position on the Board. Andrew Howe is to take on the role of chair of the BOT. Kala has given nearly 10 years of service to the Board of Trustees for Burnham School. It goes without saying that this is a massive commitment to our school and our community.

Kala has overseen much change in her time at Te Kura o Tiori and it is her guidance and leadership that is part of what makes our school the amazing place it is today. On behalf of past and present students, families, wider community, staff Board members and of course Principal's we thank you for your leadership and guidance and we wish you all the best. Please know that this place is your place and that you are always part of the Tiori whanau.

Staffing Updates - Congratulations Linda Sweeny

I have some updates regarding staffing. I am delighted to announce that Linda Sweeny has been appointed as our Associate Principal. Linda is currently teaching in Room 6 and will take over the leadership of the senior teaching team from Sandra Keenan, who will move into the junior team as the Associate Principal in this area of the school.

This has been a very exciting process and I'm excited that we've been able to appoint two exceptional classroom teachers who are also fabulous leaders in their own right! Congratulations Linda you should be proud of this promotion. Given that Sandra is leaving the senior team this means we are seeking another classroom teacher, which I will update you on in due course.

Welcome Kelly Sheppard to our team

It gives me great pleasure to welcome Kelly Sheppard to our teaching team. Kelly has had experience teaching in London and has many skills and talents to enhance both our team, but most importantly the learning of the children in Room 5 2010.

Welcome Kelly we know you'll love working and learning with us at Burnham School.

Assembly Evaluation PMI

Below are our thoughts about what is good and what could be improved about our school assemblies. We will be giving children more and more say in how the school functions and this is one example of this. The thinking behind this is that the more say the students hav - the more ownership they will have of their learning.


If parents have comments we'd love to hear from you, just click the comment link and make them.

Room	Plus	Minus	New Ideas/Solutions
1	Singing Certificates House Points Principal Award Boot Award Notebook Art Mr Clarke's guitar	Sitting down too long Too much talking Clapping Telling off Junior Hui	Certificates on birthday Exercise in the middle of assembly Assembly everyday (short)
2	When everyone gets certificates learning new songs	Coming into the hall with to much noise All the class have to be in the same spot when all the classes are talking when we have to wait for all the other classes cause it makes the assembly to long being told off for talking	Fake birthday cake and some candles When we sing songs someone to play the guitar When you get certificates you get a toy Everyone should have a idea to share with assembly like an item or something.
3	Certificates Songs Prayer (karakia) Ball Skills National Anthem The Boot Mr Clarke talking House certificates Getting out of the hall	When we have to stay there forever When Mr Clarke has to growl Too noisy Same songs	A golden boot We could sit nicely, be quiet Listen Better songs - ABBA
4	Singing Certificates -standing on the stage Boot Principals award National anthem/karakia Notebook House points- Certificates End of term prizes Sitting up nicely Mr Clarke talking-his photo Teachers sharing notices Having senior leaders Ball skills	Noise!! Ball skills House points-talking-been around to long. Singing too long People being told off Everyone talking while waiting to begin and talking again at the end. Seniors running it its not fair on the other classes Sitting to long Waiting for people to be quiet	Mr Clarke - talk about whats happening in the school-events New songs-fun songs Ball skills every second Monday House points-power points slide, already added, Mr Clarke announces winner, does certificates A different class runs it each week and have a class item to share Song to come to into sing while waiting also a song to go out with but change it weekly. Comfy seats.
5	Certificates House points Singing Notices Boot Vouchers Notebook National anthem/karakia When classes show art Students running When we're 1st to leave Principals award Honors award	Too long People talking/Playing Staying in to practice People always in trouble Lots of waiting Sore bottom Repeating songs Having to wear shoes Making up silly words in songs People turning around People humming instead of singing People try to talk to others People make fun of songs	Each class has a principals award Sit on seats if good Pencils with principals award Best class gets seats next assembly Assembly outside Classes lead assembly Stretches Notebook gets pencils Big prize for one person in the notebook All do stereo yr 4+ classes sit boy/girl Different songs Fun songs like sing star songs 90s 60s Karaoke All to take part Classes take turns to choose songs Performances Year 8's hand out awards Classes watch out for good people
6	Awards- The Boot, Certificates, Notebook Prizes- Rugby Tickets, End of term notebook prizes Singing together Year 8 seats at back Humour Being at end of a day	Audience behaviour- Clapping Mucking about Talking while items are happening Leader doing everything It's repetitive Waiting for people to stop Mucking around- having to set the example Song variety- Type, Repeating Too long Leaders not being clear It gets hot	More songs to choose from Teaching how to sing songs 1 senior + 1 junior song Class items/sharing/plays/student notices Better behaviour entering Exciting (no pushing) Shorter time School soap opera/running/news desk Teachers/counting down to leaders to get attention Everyone sits on seats Different order for certificates Class choose song to teach Talkers have consequences
7	Don't have to do any work Certificates The boot The notebook-winning prizes Songs House points Some classes share their work Learning new songs Everyone gets together Kapahaka  performances at the assembly I like the tingling feeling I get inside when I get a certificate. Sharing of manual projects Principal's award Mr Clarke's motivational speeches The principal's blog	We are constantly repeating the same songs over again. Sitting down and having to listen. My bottom gets sore at assembly I hate having to wait for people to stop talking between assembly. My legs hurt after having to set so long. Sometimes the assembly is too long Always on a Monday-Why? Everything is the same nothing changes. Things are said that don't need to be said e.g we know we have to wear hats. You get pins and needles. Its not exciting it is boring. It takes the kids to long to find the song. We never move other than stand up or when we sit down. All the juniors get to go first The teachers get to talk but we don't.	Year 5 and 6 should be able to help out with the assembly to. We should have actions to our song so we can get up and dance We should have it on different days Have more kids providing entertainment each week a different class should organise the assembly. Mini snacks like popcorn All the boys sit on one side and all girls on the other Could we have an isle so it would make it easier to go and get certificates We could sit with juniors and do activities together Have seats to sit on Jump jam in assembly 5 minute talking time in assembly Fun facts could be shared Birthday certification and sing happy birthday also have birthday badges.

The Tree of Knowledge - draft 1

Here is a video which describes our school logo - The Tree of Knowledge. This video is our first draft and we are working to put titles onto this movie:

WANTED - Music tutors for Burnham School

Help Us Make Our Music Room Rock!

Music tutors needed in 2010 to teach musical instruments to the students of Burnham School! This could be before school, after school or even during class time. We are looking for people who are talented and want to teach us different instruments. We have lots of instruments, including guitars, pianos, keyboards, recorders and more.

For more information contact us on 3476851 or email: admin@burnham.school.nz

Assembly Item - Respect

Today in assembly we talked about respect - what does it mean to be respectful? There were three questions that Rob asked people to consider:

1. What does it mean to be respectful?
2. When is it difficult to be respectful?
3. What do you do when you see someone being disrespectful?

Classes over the next couple of days will be discussing these questions and coming up with their own ideas.