Shirley Intermediate School
February 14 2012
Newsletter www.sis.school.nz
“The important thing, is to not stop questioning” – Albert Einstein
Kia ora koutou, Greetings to you all
Thanks to those of you that came along last Thursday evening for the Meet the Teacher evening. I spoke briefly to the parents, who then moved to their child’s classrooms where the teacher explained a few of their routines. I hope the session was useful. We enjoyed the free sausage sizzle with music in the quadrangle area.
I explained to the parents our “Big Six” focus areas for 2012:
- Student achievement (via the New Zealand Curriculum)
- National Standards (literacy and numeracy)
- Teacher Inquiry (Keeping our teaching sharp)
- Positive Behaviour for Learning (Creating a school tone conducive to learning)
- Maori and Pasifika achievement – A Ministry of Education requirement to collect data. We also want to do our best for achievement of these (and all) pupils.
- Building Community – We want children to know that they belong to a community; to feel connected. We offer them a chance to be a part of a team – at several levels.
Teachers are busy at this time completing the last of several tests which provide our starting place for measuring academic progress later.
Please consider coming along to our PTA meeting this evening. The PTA is a group which meets monthly, and plans fundraising activities, learns a little bit more about the school operations and provides useful feedback for school management. 7pm today. Phone Liz 980 1061 for details of future meetings.
Geoff Siave
Principal (Principal’s blog http://geoffsiave.blogspot.co.nz/)
Contact Details
Please make sure that we have your current contact details if these are now different from what you last provided. This information can be crucial in times of emergency.
The Rise of Avon and Heathcote
This year we have introduced two house groups – Avon (Otakaro) and Heathcote (Opawaho). The house colours are yellow and green.
Avon House is made up of Rooms 1,2,6 and 8. Heathcote is Rooms 3,5,9, and TTRR. This initiative is aimed at providing more opportunity for children to build comradeship, and to experience competitive situations.
Coming Up
Tuesday 14 February Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
7pm Staffroom. Please come along and join our welcoming group of parents. They get to learn a little more about the school, provide the Principal with informal feedback, and consider ways to enhance the school facilities and activities. It’s a great way to meet other caregivers who are at the same stage of parenting, and to contribute in a meaningful way to your child’s school. No one is lumbered with responsibilities they don’t want or need. Your participation helps to ensure that we have “many hands” to make the “light work”! Check our Facebook page for further information. Search for Shirley Intermediate PTA
Wednesday 15 February – 11am Ensemble Group. Children who already know how to play orchestral instruments are to meet Mrs McKenzie in the library. Our ensemble group (string, wind, percussion) will practise at this time each week. If interested, please be at this meeting.
Thursday 16 February – Pasifika Families Evening. One of the targets which the Ministry of Education requires schools to focus upon is achievement levels of Pasifika children.We invite all families of children with Pacific Island heritage to come along to share an evening meal. We will have a guest speaker, and an opportunity to meet each other and talk a little bit about goals for Pasifika learners. Location: Library and Foods Room. From 5pm- 7pm. You are invited to bring a dish (of food) to share with encouragement to make this an island dish. While our focus is Pasifika achievement, any families are welcome to join us.
Wednesday 22 February - Memorial of 2011 Earthquake
We will have a short assembly in our quadrangle which is where we were forced to on February 22 last year after our school field was covered by 100 000 tonnes of liquefaction. A few short messages and reflective thoughts will be read out, followed by a minutes’ silence at 12.51pm.
We will also focus upon the commemorative edge to our rose garden and the commemorative garden seat which will be in place by next week. Parents are welcome to join us.
Jayden Andrews-Howland. We will also take the opportunity to acknowledge Jayden, who was killed when the bus in which he was a passenger was crushed on that day. Jayden attended Shirley Intermediate School in 2008 and 2009. He was in Mr Carrick’s classroom and is remembered by several staff members as a quiet, cooperative pupil.
Board of Trustees News
The Green Paper for Vulnerable Children: Norm Hewitt asks us to “Say something and change children’s lives.”
Like me, as parents I’m sure you feel angry and sad every time another child is deliberately hurt – or worse – by their caregiver. Each year, around 10 of our children – our own tamariki – are killed by the very people they are supposed to rely on for protection, while at least 160,000 children are living in conditions that mean they are unlikely to reach their potential. We know the factors that make these children vulnerable – the big question is how can we fix them? What needs to change to make New Zealand a great, safe place to bring up kids?
These are the types of questions the Government’s Green Paper for Vulnerable Children asks. Released in July last year, this discussion document is asking what we think should be changed to ensure all children reach their full potential. We need as many New Zealanders as possible to answer – it doesn’t matter what you say; you just need to say something. We aren’t powerless to stop child abuse – this is something we can all do to help.
Please take the time to go to www.saysomething.org.nz and have your say. You can also mail in a submission, or post comments on Facebook or Twitter. After the submissions are read, a Children’s Action Plan will be developed and released during 2012. As parents, you know what it’s like to raise a child in New Zealand; you are the experts. So, please, do your part to become part of this critical conversation. Submissions close on February 28.
Nāku noa, nā
Norm Hewitt
Whaia ti iti kahurangi, me tuoho koe, he maunga teitei
Pursue lofty heights, if you are to bow down, let it be to a high mountain
From the Ministry of Edcuation website: http://www.minedu.govt.nz/Parents/YourChild/ProgressAndAchievement/NationalStandards/Introduction/SupportingYourChildsLearning/ByTheEndOfYear7.aspx
Make reading fun
- Play card and board games and do complicated puzzles.
- Help your child to follow a recipe and cook for the family.
- Encourage your child to read and follow instructions for playing a game, making or using a piece of equipment, completing a competition form or for completing tasks for pocket money.
- Remember their reading doesn’t have to be a book – it could be a magazine, comic, newspaper or something from the Internet.
TIP: Talk a lot to your child while you are doing things together. Use the language that works best for you and your child.
Talk about it
- Ask your child to talk about parts of a story they liked and why.
- Talk about the key facts, characters, plot, setting, theme and author’s purpose.
- Have them retell the main ideas or describe characters, events or facts they were interested in.
- Ask them to show you where the story supports their thinking.
- Be a role model. Show you read for a variety of reasons; eg to compare products advertised in brochures, to be informed on current issues, to find a phone number or a bus timetable, to relax etc.
- Try reading the same book as your child so you can talk about it together.
- Talk about the TV show you are watching. What were the main ideas? Talk about the order events happen in – practising this skill is important as children can find this difficult to learn. What did they like/dislike and why?
TIP: Encourage your child to read every day. Make reading fun and praise your child’s efforts, all the time.
TIP: Help your child to link stories to their own life. Remind them about what they have done when a similar thing happens in the story.
| Community News |
Shirley Rugby – Junior Registration
Saturday 25 Feb 10am-1pm,
Wednesday 29 Feb 6pm- 7.30pm
Saturday 3 March 10am – 12pm
Burwood Park
Contact Debbie Curtain 029 3838414
Shirley Rugby League Club Registration Day
19th February Sunday at 11.30am to 2.00pm at 33 Briggs Road .
Looking for all age groups to join . Contact details Rochelle Lynch 0211335437 or 3894303
Burwood AFC Junior Soccer Club Registration for 2012
Clare Park, 153 Burwood Rd: (Behind the Plunket Rooms)
Wednesday 15 February 2012
6.30pm to 8.00pm
Sunday 19th February 2012
11.00am to 1.00pm
New players to our Club, please bring along proof of age on Registration day. We only need to sight a birth certificate, passport or Plunket book.
Website http://www.burwoodafc.co.nz
Email admin@burwoodafc.co.nz
or please phone the Secretary, Mark Tolchard 3832-035
Linwood Rugby Junior Rugby Registration dates are as follows:
All Junior players will receive a Linwood Bulls supporter pack (Bulls beanie and boot bag) and go into a draw to win a Crusaders signed jersey. All new registrations require birth certificate please.
All junior players who come along and register before 12pm will get a FREE Milo Cereal Breakfast + FREE Milo Cereal Giveaways. Plus there will prizes for those who turn up first.
Subscriptions for 2012 are $50.00 for first family member and $20.00 for additional family members.
- SUNDAY MARCH 4TH at Linwood clubrooms from 10am – 2pm.
- TUESDAY 13TH MARCH at Linwood clubrooms from 4pm – 6pm. Two Crusaders will present the signed 2008 Championship crusaders jersey, and are available for photos and signing session.
- SUNDAY FEBRUARY 26TH“LINFIELD FAMILY PICNIC DAY” at Linwood club rooms from 10.30am – 2.30pm. Drive in and enjoy the day.
Adult and Community Education Classes
A full range of Adult and Community Education classes is on offer through Risingholme Community Centre. Classes are held at Risingholme Community Centre, Shirley Boys’ High, Riccarton High School and Christchurch Girls’ High. Full details for Term 1 programme on www.risingholme.org.nz or email info@risingholme.org.nz.
THE SCHOOL FOR YOUNG WRITERS SEEKS TALENTED WRITERS
who want extra time for their writing. Come along and expand your skills, enjoy mixing with other writers, and get your work published
We offer professional creative writing tuition on Saturday mornings 10.00 to 12.00 based at Hagley Community College.
Suitable for Year 4 — Year 8.
Saturday fees are $150 per term (eight 2-hour sessions).
Also available: after school classes and a correspondence study option.
Fees for these options may vary
Enrol online at www.schoolforyoungwriters.org
To discuss further, contact Dr Glyn Strange
phone 355-3588 or email young.writers@xtra.co.nz
The Co-Operative Bank CHILDREN’S DAY
Sunday 4TH March 2012 – 11am – 4pm
Come along and celebrate Children’s Day a FREE community event. Pack a picnic lunch and bring along family and friends. Over 40 fun filled activities that are all FREE. So come along and join in on the excitement at the Groynes Park on Johns Road. Buses will be organised to depart from different locations to bring families to the event.
For more information contact 941 5409 or check the Be There website http://bethere.co.nz/
SURFKIDS
Kids surfing programme.
Learn the skills of Surfing in a fun, safe environment. All equipment provided and professional instruction from Aaron Lock and team. For kids 8 -14 years.
Sundays 10am-12pm
Cost $28 per day or $125 for five. Bookings essential.