How we decide to close school

The snow days last week provided a combination of exciting experiences and I'm sure some stress for some due to children being at home with the possibility of work still in operation. The closure of our school once again tested our procedures and communication lines.

Closing a school is a complex and stressful time for all involved. The principal and board chair jointly make the decision to close the school - neither one can make the decision without the other. The most important consideration is the health and safety of children, staff, parents and other adults entering the school site. Indeed, getting to and from school is also a factor. As I live in town, I rely on the feedback from others living in Burnham, the news, the Met Service website, the Selwyn District Council website and the principals’ network.

However, this time it really was a given, under the adverse conditions, to remain closed until the weather was somewhat settled. We were glad to be able to open on the Wednesday after two days closure due to the snow conditions. As more than half our staff live in the city and have to drive to Burnham, the always present possibility of aftershocks (outside evacuation), sick staff and students, freezing temperatures and unsafe playgrounds, we will continue to make the best decision using current information for the safety of all.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

 

 

Photo: "Lilli and the Snow Princess"

Normal School Hours Today

Good morning Burnham School community,

Today is a normal school day. Children should wear warm clothing - gumboots are a good idea as are hats, gloves and spare socks.

Children must arrive no earlier than 8.30am.

Burnham School is a winter wonderland

Dear parents/caregivers,

We have most of the school here today and it appears the weather is wet rather than snowy. A huge thank you to the team from catering company (led by Leon Whitelaw) who helped us by clearing pathways of snow and swept so we can prepare to ensure ice doesn't build up today/tonight.

Here are some notes for you to be aware of:

Sending children to/from school - 

1. All children must bring warm snow gear to school. This replaces regular school uniform until further notice. Any child who is sent to school without adequate clothing will be sent home again. The reason for this is to ensure safety (ie. in the unlikely event we got snowed in we must ensure all people have warm gear on!). Warm snow gear includes: gloves, hat, spare socks/pants, warm water proof jacket, thermals, etc. 
2. Please also send your child to school, as per normal, with a good packed lunch and water bottle.
3. If families wish to collect children earlier than 3pm, that is fine. 

While at school - 

1. Children are not allowed to play out in the snow unless directly supervised by their teacher. We will avoid children getting soaking wet/cold where possible. Teachers may take children out and play with the class towards the end of the day, if children have adequate clothing. If parents do not want their child to be in the snow at school, please email your class teacher.
2. No child is allowed to play in the snow if they do not have a spare pair of socks and adequate clothing.

Opening tomorrow - 

1. If it freezes today/tonight, we'll salt key areas to ensure these do not freeze (eg. steps into classrooms), but not pathways.
2. As far as opening tomorrow (and subsequent days) goes, this may have to be a day by day decision as the situation can change quickly. We will endeavour to make this decision as early as possible, but no later than 0700 each morning. 
3. Communication will be via text message, facebook AND the Principal Blog. 

Please update your contacts - 

Please ensure that if your contact details (mobile, home/work phones, etc.) and emergency contacts have changed you let us know. Once everyone is back at school we will send a form out to you, but in the meantime if you know these are out of date, use this link to let us know...

Many thanks for your support and stay warm!

 

Rob Clarke

Principal/Tumuake

 

The Great Burnham School Snow Photo Comp

The Great Burnham School Snow Photo Comp Is Here!

Tired of being couped up inside? Bored perhaps? Want something fun to do? Check this out!

Your challenge is to take a creative photo of something to do with snow and email it to school.
Once we are back at school, all classes will be able to vote on the best photos - it might be a huge snowball, a big snowman, or something creative like a snow-ball pie - you decide! Follow these instructions:

1. Check with Mum or Dad you can do this.
2. Get a digital camera - make sure you have permission.
3. Create something using snow.
4. Take a photo of it.
5. Send that photo to: burnhamschool.snowday@picasaweb.com giving it a good subject line (that will become the title of the photo online).
6. It will be instantly online!

Let's see how many cool photos and uses of snow we can come up with!
Good luck, stay warm and have fun.

[Photos appear here...]

School Closed today

Good morning all, school is closed today due to snow and blizzard conditions. Check back later for instructions for our snow-photo competition!

Burnham School Whanau Hui Action Plan

Te kura o Tiori - Burnham School

Whanau Hui Action Plan 2011 and beyond

Kia ora to everyone who contributed to the mahi for this plan, we appreciate your ongoing support.

	Short Term	Medium Term	Long Term
Tamariki/Children	√ Implement junior kapa haka as well as strengthen senior kapa haka (Jan 2011) √ Develop Team Hui (2010) √ Develop tuakana teina - EnviroGroup, Student Leadership Council, Physical Activity Leaders (ongoing) √ EnviroGroup to plan planting of native trees and shrubs at Coes Ford in conjunction with Ngai Tahu (July).  √ Whole school to attend planting (9 Sept).	Junior kapa haka performs at Cultural Festival alongside seniors. Develop graduate profile of what we want a Burnham School Learner to be/have. Intensive 'opt in' Te Reo Māori classes.	Investigate the possibility of establishing a bilingual unit by 2013 - first one on this side of the city.
Kaiako/Staff	√ Develop use of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori - karakia, commands, waiata √ Ensuring staff are planning for te reo Māori and tikanga Māori. √ Staff use EnviroSchools programme and principles as part of school curriculum. √ Regular sharing of skills. √ Staff professional development in te reo - e.g. Te Manawa Pou. √ Strengthen expectations of new staff for usage of te reo Māori and tikanga Māori (2011).	Attract staff with expertise in te reo Māori and tikanga Māori. Set up staff who may be able to run possible bilingual unit. Staff are confident in usage of te reo Māori and tikanga. Develop protocols for powhiri for our kura.	Fluent te reo Māori speaker on the full time staff.
Community	√ Hold another whanau hui 2011. √ Share story behind the Tree of Knowledge. √ Strengthen ties with kindergarten - transition to school. Strengthen 4 way ties between school - military camp - Te Taumutu Runanga and o Tiori whanau. Establish powhiri and hongi hakari protocol.	Whare upgrade - reposition mural. Regular hangi. Explore having language classes for adults. Kaumatua days each year - regular visits from kaumatua from NZDF and Taumutu Runanga
Board of Trustees	√ Build priorities into new Strategic Plan - whare upgrade. √ Analysis of achievement/progress information (2010, ongoing). Define Māori area of focus on Board of Trustees (Oct 2011). √ BoT karakia (Jan 2011)	Reporting of achievement and progress.
Environment	Continue to maintain and plant new areas in native plants.	Bilingual signage Provide signage in English and Te Reo of our native plants. Establish a pā harakeke for weaving flaxes, senior girls to care for this area.

---

Feedback from the Whanau Hui held Thursday 27^th May 2010, Burnham Camp Whare, 5pm-8pm

Question One: What do we do well?

• This Hui- initiative
• Welcoming inclusive atmosphere
• There is Open Communication
• Parent inclusion
• Proactive Approach
• Principal uses Te Reo
• Children doing their Mihis
• Noho Marae Yr 5 Camp
• Kapa Haka Yr 5- kids felt happy pleased and informed.  There is a sense of belonging, pride and children enjoy singing in Te Reo.
• There is support from the Army and from Burnham Kindergarten
• Foundation in Reo, some Tikanga, Children are educated in the Culture, understanding Powhiri.
• Study Leave for Teachers
• The School promotes community spirit.
• Long term commitment from supporters, and an ongoing commitment to doing things well.
• There is support for children’s emotional and educational needs.
• Learning is fun for the children.
• Life- long friendships among the children and adults.

 

Question Two: Do you believe we are meeting the needs of our Maori students? Why?/Why not?

1.    Parents:

Difference in parents awareness of their children’s needs.

              What are the needs of your child/ren in terms of things in Maori?

              -grounding in whakapapa, self awareness, belonging.

 

2.    Teachers:

Teachers approaching parents to identify needs.

 

Children’s input:

• Yes
• We learn Maori in fun ways
• We have had heaps of Maori culture experiences
• Learning Maori actions
• Stories of Maori Legends
• Because the teachers teach in Maori, there are numbers in Maori placed in classrooms.

 

Question Three & Four: What do we need to do to improve how we cater for Maori students? Ideas for the future of our school...

 

Suggestions:

• Maori education in school as part of the curriculum (main stream).  As provided by NEG’s.
• Is it meeting family needs?
• Kapa Haka is only for seniors, is it possible to create something similar for Juniors?
• Kapa Haka groups to perform and compete.
• Taiaha/Poi
• Strong Links to Marae/Kuia
• Have a Kaumatua Day, every term
• To include Kuia from camp to be involved.  Tap their knowledge in Te Ao Maori and their experiences.
• Treaty/Languages courses and workshops
• Celebrating Maori Language Week and Matariki
• More Mihi’s
• Stronger bond between Kindergarten and School.  In transition process What can parents do?
• More Crafts
• Maori Language classes, 10 mins a day.
• Two Hui’s a year
• Reporting Process can be strengthened
• Educating the children about The Treaty.
• Parents getting involved, giving children homework to take home to mum and dad.

• Continuity, kids with tutors, school with tutors, Burnham Camp with the School and parents with children and School.
• Teachers from Linton/Waiouru/Burnham to Hui together to assist continuity and transitions.
• Buy in from the “top” down (Ministry of Education)
• Parents, staff, BOT and Community (immersed learning)
• From the “bottom” up have a sense of belonging in preparing for next step-up.
• Seamless transition for children through relationships from pre-school to High School.
• The Big Brother Concept - Tuakana teina in and out of School.
• Is there information in the School Library in regards to the History of Burnham School? If not can there be resources available?
• Are there Maori Art shown around the room, hallways.
• Keep developing teachers and staff for future.
• Use of collective schools (other schools, etc)
• Understand School Logo’s, symbols, carvings, etc
• Whare development

Red Cross Grant Applications

The Red Cross Grants Processing Team would like to notify you of a new grant that was launched on the 1st July; the Winter Assistance for School Aged Children Grant.  

The aim of this grant is to assist people with school aged children aged 5 to 18 years who are living in their significantly damaged homes caused by either September, February or June earthquakes. The significant damage must include serious compromise to the insulation of the home or significant damage to the main heating source. This grant assists households with their electricity bills over the Winter months. this grant is for $400 in total and will be made up of three monthly payments, the first payment will be $200 and the subsequent ones for $100 each which will be paid directly to their electricity retailer.

For the most up to date information on grants visit the Red Cross grants website www.redcrosseqgrants.org.nz or call the grant line on 0800 754 726.

Ski Trip Permission Notice

Dear families of Year 4-8 students,

Today you should have coming home this permission form and information letter for the Y4-8 Ski Trip, which is in the first week back of Term 3.

The online form to complete is located at www.burnham.school.nz/ski

Parenting Seminar - Selwyn Parenting Network

Selwyn Parenting Network brings you the following FREE evening [click here to download the printable flyer]

“Ask the Panel”

7pm – 9pm Tuesday 12th July 2011 Works Lounge, Rolleston Community Centre

This team of professionals, with a focus on parents and children, will be available to discuss any questions raised by the audience:

Rebecca Reveley - Family Works

Social/Community Worker, Selwyn District & Kaiapoi

Pablo Godoy - Relationship Services

Clinical Team Leader for Canterbury Region

Christine Richards – Barnardos

Social Worker, Ashburton & Selwyn District

Karyn Riley

Parent and Women’s Well-being Specialist and Author

Beverley Flitton - Family Works

Service Manager, School and Community Cluster

Do you have questions around parenting skills and education, your child’s emotional wellbeing (helping children to understand and cope with feelings of anxiety, anger, sadness and fear), or any other situation that may be affecting your child’s learning and enjoyment of life?

You may know someone who needs counselling support right now – for others it may be further down the track. Or you may have queries on sleep deprivation.

Come along at 7pm for a relaxed cuppa and the opportunity to put any question(s), earthquake related or not, into the question box for the Panel to answer. Panel commences at 7.30pm.

We look forward to seeing you there - feel free to bring a friend.

www.selwynparentingnetwork.org.nz