Week Two Term 2 2016
Our Living and Learning Focus continues as
CARE ATAWHAI KUMANU
Our School Values are
Tina Justice, Pono Truth, Aroha Compassion, Manaakitanga Hospitality and Tapu Respect for the Environment
Lived out in our Motto
Courtesy Care Co-operation Courage
The Learning Model for our school is: “To Know To Do To Use”
Learning to Learn at St Joseph’s #L2L
Ten year old Nadia Braganza has been chosen to compete in the World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan in September. She learnt to play chess at St Joseph’s in Year 4 and represented our school that year. She competes with adults and she and her mother, who ranks just below her, will compete in a team of 5 in their adventure to the other side of the world!
We are very proud of her achievement which she humbly acknowledges should be an exciting experience – competing in the 42nd Chess Olympiad. Well done Nadia!
Do you know where Azerbaijan is?
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS DAY COMMEMORATION PLUS OUR SCHOOL FEASTDAY-ST JOSEPH THE WORKER
Monday May 16th
Come and discover what is happening at our school.
We would love as many parishioners of St Joseph’s, as possible, and also our grandparents, to join us at our Catholic Schools’ Day Mass on Monday 16th May 9:15 am, followed by morning tea in the staffroom and a tour of learning in our school.
Teaching and Learning for the 21st Century
(continuing on from last week)
Many of the ideas and strategies that we are developing at St Joseph’s are influenced by thinking, research, expertise and practice that organisations such as CORE Education provide. For those of you who are interested in the way education is developing and changing, I have inserted some reading into our newsletter for your information.
The extract below is taken from Core Education May Newsletter.
(“CORE Education Ltd (CORE) is a world-class professional learning and development, and consultancy organisation. CORE has a strong desire to transform education, and strives to push the boundaries of educational possibility by providing future-focused professional learning and development, ICT innovation, events, consultancy, thought leadership, and scholarship programmes that stimulate educators and learners across all sectors.”)
Ten Trends
Cultural
The culture of an organisation is the product of the collective values, beliefs and principles of its members, and comprises an interlocking set of goals, roles, processes, values, communications practices, attitudes and assumptions. Influences that change or alter any aspect of this mix will likely have an impact on the overall culture.
Context
Designing for difference is impacting the way we organise and govern our societies and prepare for the future. In New Zealand, we have just engaged in our first Superdiversity Stocktake, where the implications of New Zealand’s ethnic superdiversity are being considered for business, government and citizens. The motivation is to ensure, as a country, we are fit for the future as we transition to a superdiverse society.
Implications for education
In education, this “difference” imperative is also becoming a catalyst for change:
- findings in cognitive neuroscience are confirming that there is significant variability in how we each learn (OECD 2010).
- international reports focus on the need for schools to develop acute sensitivity to individual learners differences and to use that knowledge as a driver for the design of physical and blended learning environments and flexible teaching approaches (OECD 2012, 2015).
In learning settings across the sector, discussions about what “all learners” means are increasingly commonplace. Many of us are also questioning how we can effectively and sustainably respond.
We are also collectively taking stock of what we carry:
- we have been schooled in a “teach to the majority” approach, with a built-in expectation that specialists will take responsibility for the special learners.
- we recognise the language of the education system has reinforced the idea of “othering” at an structural and organisational level and that it has shaped our practice
- we see labels that separate learners inadvertently lower expectations of participation, contribution and achievement.
As a profession we recognise that a one-size-fits-all approach is actually one-size-fits no-one. As our understanding of learner variability grows, we can see that we need approaches to designing learning environments that are focussed on designing for that learner variability from the outset: environments that are flexible and richly embedded with built-in with supports and options.
An article from Janine O. School Reporter
Fantastic Footsteps Is Back!
Every week we will now be doing Footsteps dancing on Fridays. All the dances vary according to year levels. Different styles of dance will be taught by Taylor week after week. Although we only have this once a year, it’s amazing how good everyone is in this activity. I bet the younger kids and even the new entrants have enjoyed this very much. It is great that children get warmed up during school because winter is very near.
Kakariki team has just learnt a dance called Black or White by Michael Jackson. It has challenged and tested our skills, proving that we have had many years at school having fun doing this.
Here is what Jillian A. Year 6 has to say:
“What did you like most about Footsteps ?”
“ I liked all the different and unique moves in our dances. “
“How did you feel when we started doing Footsteps this year?”
“Since I like dancing I was really looking forward to this activity.”
Kea Team had a dance from the movie Lion King.
Here is a nice word from Marcus Yap in Year 1:
“Did you enjoy your dance on Friday ?”
“ Yeah”
“Are you looking forward to the next dance on Friday?”
“Yes, I am excited for it.”
Submitted by School Reporter, Janine O, HG2 Kakariki Team
ST JOSEPH’S CHILDREN READ ANYWHERE!
CONFIRMATION AND FIRST EUCHARIST
Thank you to all the parents, the children themselves, the catechists and helpers for the work you did in preparation for the big day! Thank you to Bishop Pat, Monsignor David, priests and deacons for welcoming the children as they presented themselves to receive the sacraments.
(Hopefully some photos will emerge soon)
MULTI PURPOSE SPORTS TURF PROJECT FOR THE LOWER FIELD
Thank you to the two parents who joined Shane and I for Tuesday night’s meeting. This is a major project and Shane Coleman, our BOT Chair, is looking for a steering committee of about 10 people who will be able to help drive it. coleman.family@xtra.co.nz
It would be great if some parents, who have the interest and expertise, could contact Shane to offer to be involved. There were also people who attended a meeting last year in relation to this project. If you are still interested, you are welcome to contact Shane.
- an example of such a turf
You may find it worth watching the
St John’s Mairangi Bay School Time Lapse YouTube clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqjJBkETlLk
Rippa Rugby Tournament
Congratulations to all our teams, who played so well yesterday and to their coaches and managers. Thank you to Paula for organising teams and all that involves, and to Erika for supporting her and the children on the day. Thank you to all the parents who came along to support the children.
Photos somewhere in cyberspace; .hopefully there will be some next week!
WRITING FOR A PURPOSE
Some people in Home Group 2, in Kakariki Team, have been learning to write procedures which others can follow. By the look of it, procedures were successfully followed, with delicious outcomes, which I think, meant they weren’t hungry at lunchtime!
Remember the working bee tomorrow 10.00-1.00, if you can make it.
A message from Lucia…a challenge to us all to care for our world! She is organising a beach clean up as part of her Home Learning Challenges. Click on the link above!
Ka kite ano!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Phil