FRIDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER 2011
KIA ORA, MALO E LELEI, TALOFA LAVA,
FAKAALOFA LAHI ATU,
KIA ORANA,NAMASTE, NI HAO,
GREETINGS EVERYONE!
As springtime is rapidly arriving around us, so is the RUGBY WORLD CUP – isn’t it great to see our community all so excited by the competition? – I've never seen so many flags in my life! Let’s hope the games are as exciting as we all hope, and that all these fans out there have FUN (remember it’s just a game!)
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Many thanks to all those parents and whanau who came along to share information and reflections on their children’s learning a few weeks ago. We are very proud of the confidence shown by students and by the way they clearly own and take responsibility for their learning! We hope you got clear messages from the conferences and that the half-year report you received gave you some valuable data about your child’s learning.
It was disappointing that some classes reported a disturbingly high number of families couldn’t be bothered to come along for this very important feedback session with their children. We know that those children who get support and recognition from their families always do better in their learning at school.
We have recently done some detailed analysis of the impact that absences have on students progress in reading, and the results are stunning! It is very clear that:-
- Poor attendance = Poor reading progress
- Good attendance = Good reading progress
A very worrying trend that is evident in our school is the very high levels of non-attendance in Years 1, 2 & 3 compared to the attendance levels in Year 6, 7 & 8. It seems that parents are quite happy to allow their 5, 6 & 7 year old children to stay home too much and this is no doubt having a very bad effect on their reading progress.
I know all parents want to do their best for their children. Clearly, the best thing you can do for your children is to get them to school every day! NOTHING else you do will help them any more than this.
Congratulations to Ms. Fran Mes our Information Studies Specialist who obtained a $10,000 grant from A.S.B. for our library. Very soon we will be able to enjoy the new books and resources this will provide.
Congratulations to Ms. Pondicherry and Ms. O’Dwyer for recently winning travel scholarships. Ms. Pondicherry will be travelling to China in October and January to do further studies in Chinese Language while Ms. O’Dwyer will be visiting a Spanish speaking country next year to further her studies in Spanish!
We have had some reports recently of people driving dangerously on and around the crossing just adjacent to where Idlewild Avenue joins Bader Drive. Please do everything you can to ensure that you and people you know drive carefully near this crossing.
On Thursday, Friday & Saturday this week Mr. Stevens & Ms. Mes will be leading a group of teachers to this conference which is dedicated to learning more about the Interactive Whiteboards that we have in many classrooms
Next week on Tuesday we should see building start on our new Dental Clinic. This will mean that our school car park will be a little busier for a few months, so please be patient..
Dental Services for your children will be available at:
Buckland Road Community Dental Clinic
225 Buckland Rd East, Ph: 4427208
Koru School Dental Clinic
71 Robertson Rd, Ph: 2759647
For any Dental Emergency and/or Relief of Pain (ROP) options please contact the above clinics, or call 0800 Talk Teeth (0800 825 583)
- Congratulations to Brent Tongotea who has been selected for the Auckland East Roller Mills Rugby Team.
He will be playing in the Roller Mills Tournament to be held in Thames Valley in the next school holidays.
Brent carries on a great record by being selected as the 25th Roller Mills player from Viscount School.
- Our Y.7/8 Boys & Girls Seven’s Rugby Teams recently competed really strongly in tournaments organized at College Rifles Rugby Club.
The boys team finished 3rd and the girls team 2nd. Well done to coaches Mr. Futialo and Ms. Su’a.
