Newsletter – 17 October 2022

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Welcome back 

A warm welcome to all our new families joining our school community. It is a relief to be currently operating with no Covid-19 restrictions. We will be maintaining the hygiene practices in classrooms and mask wearing by students, parents and staff is optional. The school has been a busy place during the holidays with work continuing on the upgrades of Room 18 and Room 19, reroofing of Room 20, Room 21, Room 11, library and the caretakers office. There has also been drain repair work under the deck of Room 9 and Room 10. 

A warm welcome back to Mrs. Brooke Switzer (formally Miss Neale) who has rejoined our staff full-time

It is compulsory in Term 4 for all students to wear sun hats if playing outside. Sunhats either the cap or the cricket style hat are available to purchase through the office.

School dates for 2023

Term 1 – Tuesday 7 February – Thursday 6 April

Term 2 –  Monday 24 April – Friday 30 June

Term 3 –  Monday 17 July – Friday 22 September

Term 4 –  Monday 9 October – Wednesday 20 December

Teacher Only Day – Monday April 24th 

Major School Events this term

More information about trips and events will be sent out closer to the time

Week 1     

Niue language week                                                                                                                 

Year 5 Museum Trip – Tuesday 18th October

Year 6 Museum Trip – Wednesday 19th October

Week 2                                                                                                                                      

Tokelau language week                                                                                                      

Labour Day – Monday – All schools closed                                                                                     

Inter School Touch Rugby Tournament – Senior students                                                   

Junior School Assembly 9.15 am – 10.15 am

Week 3                                                                                                                              

Middle School Athletics – Monday 31 October                                                                 

Senior School Athletics – Tuesday 1st November                                                            

House Captain speeches and voting – Wednesday 2nd November

Board of Trustees Meeting – Tuesday

Week 4                                                                                                                             

Bicycle Skills Training –Year 5 and Year 6                                                                        

Junior School Athletics –Thursday 10th November                                                                           

Road Patrol Training – Friday 11th November                                                                   

Middle School Assembly – Friday 11th November, 9.15 am

Week 5                                                                                                                      

Interschool Athletics – Thursday 17th November                                                                            

Full School Assembly – Friday 18th November 9.15 am     

Week 6                                                                                                                           

Senior School Assembly – Friday 25th November, 9.15 am

Week 8                                                                                                                          

Bee Fit Fun Run 

Week 9                                                                                                                              

Board of Trustees Meeting –Tuesday December 13th

Celebration Assemblies –                                                                                                           

Junior School and Middle School – December 13th                                                        

School Duty Awards Ceremony – Wednesday December 14th                                         

School Disco – December 15th   

Student reports go home – December 16th

Week 10                                                                                                                             

Senior School Graduation Assembly- Monday 19th                                                                                  

Last day of the school year – Tuesday 20th school finishes at 1pm.

Covid-19 Predicted Increasing Coming   

New variants and waning immunity are driving what appears to be the beginning of a new Covid wave in New Zealand

A third nationwide wave caused by Omicron sub-variants appears inevitable, data analysed by Stuff News The data shows Covid infections, hospitalisations and deaths are once again beginning to climb.

New variants and waning immunity are already driving new waves of infection overseas, particularly in Europe.

If we do experience students and staff getting sick with Covid-19 then the Board of Trustees may reintroduce our Covid Protocols from last term eg: senior students and staff wearing masks. Hopefully this will not be necessary.

CLASSES 2023

Later this term, once staffing is finalised we will be working on student and class placement.

Every year friends and parents ask me about the difference between composite and straight year level classes. I will attempt to explain the differences and advantages.

Composite classes usually occur when there are too many students for one class, but not enough for two classes of the same year group. The Government provides our staffing based on our numbers so we have to organise classes based on our allocated staffing.  Composite classes have a controversial history, with parents often believing that their child may be disadvantaged by being in one. While many can see the benefits of composite classes for the accelerated learning of younger children, they also fear the older students will be bored or held back with easier work.

The key to appreciating the benefits of composite classes is in understanding that growth is determined in stages and not by ages. Ironically, every class is already a composite in terms of the range in school starting ages and the different academic abilities of the students. The Ministry of Education groups student learning into levels, usually over a two to three year period. The emphasis is on the progression of the individual through logical stages of learning. In every class – including composite classes – students are assessed to ascertain their current level of learning. The teachers then design and implement a program that caters for all students’ needs, while keeping in mind the content in the level that must be taught.

Before a composite class is formed, we consider the children’s academic, social and emotional stages and decide which would be the best way of organising the class or classes.

Composite classes can have many advantages for teachers and students:

• Teaching in a composite class compels teachers to think of children as individuals.
• The techniques of group teaching and of individual instruction can be applied in composite classes.
• Learning-through-teaching is promoted when students at different stages of learning can help each other with their work.
• Composite classes can be arranged so that they are a means for catering for the special needs of talented children as well as slower learners.

The latest teaching and learning materials are being developed with composite classes in mind, allowing teachers to simultaneously develop an understanding of learning outcomes at different levels within a Level. Wherever possible, the teaching and learning activities within each Level are parallel to each other, ensuring that teachers can introduce core concepts to the whole class and differentiate instruction for the range of learners in the classroom.

I was more than happy for my own children to be in composite classes.

Should you have any concerns or questions about this please do not hesitate to ring or come and see one of the senior team.

Fintan, Sue and Monique

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You are invited to attend the Middle and/or Senior School Athletics. Students will compete in age groups with boys separately from girls. Ages will be based on their age as of Friday 28th October 2022. 

Programmes for the Day:

Interschool Athletics is Thursday 17th November at Lloyd Elsmore Park (the team will be chosen on school results).

Please feel welcome to come along and support the students.

Children are encouraged to wear their house colours for school athletics day.