NEWSLETTER 07/19

16 May 2019

Kia ora, Talofa, Kia orana,

Greetings Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers,

TEACHER’S STRIKE DAY - Wednesday, 29 May 2019.

As you will have seen in the media, our teachers will be taking strike action on Wednesday,

29 May 2019. After careful consideration it has been decided that we can't provide normal

teaching services during the strike, so our school will be closed on Wednesday 29 May. It is

important that you make alternative arrangements for the care of your child/children on this

day. Student safety is our main concern. Thank you for your understanding.

STUDENT/PARENT/TEACHER LEARNING CONVERSATIONS This year we have made some changes to the timeline of reporting and meeting with

parents. These changes reflect the parent voice we collected last year, the removal of

national standards and guidelines from the Ministry of Education.

We invite you to book a time to come and meet with your child’s teacher(s) next

week. These meetings which we have called “Learning Conversations” are a chance for

your child to share what they have been learning so far this year, as well as talking about

what their next steps are.

These learning conversations will not contain feedback to you about achievement levels or

recent assessments. This information will be presented to you in the first of two formal written

reports that will be sent home in Week 3 of Term 3. You may choose to wait until then to

make a time to meet with your child’s teacher to discuss achievement levels, or make a

separate time sooner if you wish to.

We look forward to seeing you over the next two weeks. To book your child’s

parent/teacher interview please visit www.schoolinterviews.co.nz. The event code is f45yt. There you will be guided through three simple steps, and a few moments later, you will get

an email confirming your interview time(s).

If you do not have access to a computer to make your bookings, or have any problems,

please contact either Kathy or Jo in the school office and we can sort this out for you - 478

7074 or office@westpark.school.nz.

SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY Our annual school Cross Country event is being run on Tuesday the 21st of May

(Postponement date Thursday 23rd of May). This year the event will again be at Alex Moore

Park. Please keep your eye out for more information from Barry Clarke and Alisha Mullen

regarding starting times, course details and team colours.

MODERN COLLABORATIVE TEACHING SPACES The modern collaborative teaching and learning spaces that we have established in several

of our year 4 to 6 classrooms provide teachers with the opportunity to implement their

programmes through a variety of co-teaching strategies. Through the rest of our term 2

newsletters I will expand on the range of strategies being used. They include:

Team Teaching

Alternative Teaching

One Teach, One Observe

One Teach, One Assist

Targeted Teaching

Station Teaching, and

Parallel Teaching

Team Teaching: In team teaching, both teachers are delivering the same instruction at

the same time. Some teachers refer to this as having one brain in two bodies. Others

call it tag team teaching. Most co-teachers consider this approach the most complex

but satisfying way to co-teach, but the approach that is most dependent on teachers'

styles. This approach gives children multiple perspectives on the curriculum (each

teacher interprets the curriculum and presents it in a slightly different way).

As teachers step into team teaching debriefs are needed with honest communication

about talk time, value of contributions, amount of time the children had to sit and

listen, repetitions etc.

Alternative Teaching: In most class groups, occasions arise in which several students

need specialized attention. In alternative teaching, one teacher takes responsibility for

the large group while the other works with a smaller group.

This is a very powerful use of co-teaching time. It could be as simple as one teacher

reading a shared novel or book for 15minutes while the co-teaching partner has a

session with a group struggling with a learning area. This strategy has proven to have

huge benefits for priority learners.

This strategy is simply not possible

in a traditional classroom.

ROOM 18 Next Monday will see our latest Year 1 role growth classroom (Room 18) open. The class will

be based in what has been our library, and be taught by Sally Rowe (Monday/ Tuesday) and

Sandra Hansen (Wednesday/ Thursday/ Friday). Sally has been part of the school for many

years having taught across all year levels in the school, and Sandra comes with over 20 years

of New Entrants/ Year 1 teaching experience.

WEST PARK SCHOOL LIBRARY The library will temporarily be closed as a result of needing the space to be used as a

classroom. We should be without a library for no longer than the balance of this term, as

there are currently plans in place to bring onsite either late this term or early term 3, a small

temporary building in which to house the library. The structure will be located nearby room

15 and will allow normal library visits to continue for the rest of the year.

Teacher ‘A’ might

have 45 children while

teachers ‘B’ has 5

STUDENT VOICE Name: Samantha Team: Kahikatea

What are the two best things about West Park School?

“The creative ways in which my teachers teach me.”

How could we improve our school?

“Have more environmental clubs around the school.”

What do you do to make our school a better place for everyone?

“I collaborate well with everyone.”

What do you want to be when you grow up?

“I’d like to be a doctor so that I could help people around the world.”

What are the two best things about being you?

“I like that I can collaborate with everyone and that I’m thoughtful.”

Name: Jessica Team: Rimu

What are the two best things about West Park School?

“I really like having lots of good friends and that we have special days at school.”

How could we improve our school?

“I would have lessons to teach kids that it’s not good to bully others.”

What do you do to make our school a better place for everyone?

“I like to stand up for things that aren’t right.”

What do you want to be when you grow up?

“I want to be a vet because I like animals.”

What are the two best things about being you?

“I like that I go on trips with my family every year.”

Name: Kahukura Team: Miro

What are the two best things about West Park School?

“Classroom free time and class iPads.”

How could we improve our school?

“I would give kids early lunches if they behaved.”

What do you do to make our school a better place for everyone?

“I look after friends if they get hurt.”

What do you want to be when you grow up?

“A horse rider.”

What are the two best things about being you?

“My family and that I like to do art.”

Name: Quinn Team: Totara

What are the two best things about West Park School?

“Lunchtimes and doing handwriting.”

How could we improve our school?

“I would make there was no homework.”

What do you do to make our school a better place for everyone?

“I’m kind.”

What do you want to be when you grow up?

“A firefighter.”

What are the two best things about being you?

“The friends I have and my hair.”

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTIONS

Kia ora koutou

The election for all School Board of Trustees is coming up, and

you may have already received information about the process,

including nomination forms. But what exactly does a Board of

Trustees do?

The current West Park School Board of Trustees invites all

interested parents and caregivers to a meeting on Monday 20

May at 7pm, in Room 15, to find out more about what the

Board is responsible for. Questions we’ll hope to answer include:

What does a board do?

What skills do trustees need?

How does a parent or caregiver become a trustee?

What roles are there on a board?

What is the difference between the board and the school?

What help do school boards of trustees get?

How does a school board of trustees work?

Further information is also available at https://www.trustee-

election.co.nz/becoming-a-trustee/ but we’d love to see you in

person where you can ask us about being a trustee.

Ngā mihi,

West Park School Board of Trustees Kia ora koutou

SCHOOL DONATIONS The 2019 donation being requested is as follows.

One child: $220 Two children: $440 Three children: $660

NEW STUDENTS

Since our last newsletter we have welcomed Declan to Room 1. A warm welcome

to you and your family. We hope that this is a great year for you!

Have a lovely upcoming weekend.

Luis Echegaray

Principal

UPCOMING EVENTS

Monday, 20 May - BoT elections information evening

Tuesday, 21 May - School Cross Country

- Parent/ Teacher/ Student interviews (3-8pm)

Wednesday, 22 May - ASB Centre (Years 1 and 2)

- Tough Guy/ Girl Challenge

Thursday, 23 May - PP Date for School Cross Country

- Parent/ Teacher/ Student interviews (3-8pm)

Friday, 24 May - ASB Centre (Years 5 and 6)

BOT nominations close 12pm

Monday, 27 May - Year 6 students visiting Raroa Intermediate

- BoT meeting (6pm in Room 15)

Wednesday. 29 May - TEACHER’S STRIKE DAY

Thursday. 30 May - Parent/ Teacher/ Student interviews (3-8pm)

- Team Miro visiting the Carter Observatory

Monday, 3 June - Queen’s Birthday – School closed

Wednesday, 19 June - School Photos

Thursday, 20 June - School Photos

Monday, 1 July - BoT meeting (6pm in Room 15)

Friday, 5 July - Last day of Term 2

SCHOOL NOTICES

Entertainment Books Entertainment Books are now available for 2019-2020! Books or digital memberships are $65 and

$13 from every one sold goes back to West Park School. Note that if ordering online there is a 1.25% administrative fee applied which does not apply to cash orders. If you wish to pay by cash please drop it to the school office in an envelope with your name,

phone number, email and indication of whether you are ordering a book or digital membership. To order online go to www.entbook.co.nz/10412n2

West Park School is fundraising with Entertainment!

SUPPORT US NOW!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! West Park School

Asuka Milne 0223144610

asukam@westpark.school.nz

Raroa Intermediate New Parent Information Evening is Thursday 20 June at 6:00pm in the School hall. · Open Days for parents are Wednesday 19 June and Thursday 20 June · Raroa Intermediate Enrolments are now open via the school website www.raroa.school.nz or this link - form

COMMUNITY NOTICES

BOOK FAIR - Ngaio Town Hall - Saturday 25 May 2019 - 9am to

4pm. Do join us. We would love you to come and buy books, DVDs and CDs. Children’s books are $1, adult

books are $3 ($2 each, after the first five books purchased).

All proceeds (about $14,000 last year) will go to the Blue Dragon Children's Foundation, which helps to

break the poverty cycle for Vietnam's poorest children. This includes street kids, children with disabilities,

children from rural families living in extreme poverty, and victims of human trafficking and slavery.

If you have books, DVDs or CDs to donate, please contact Dinah Dobson, trustee, on 475 7371 or 027

686 4554. Blue Dragon New Zealand www.bluedragonnz.wordpress.com

SPRINGBOARD & PLATFORM DIVING AT KILBIRNIE POOL Wellington Diving Club runs diving classes for kids aged 5 years and up (plus separate Adult training sessions). Try something new - visit our website and come along for a 30min Trial Lesson! After-school sessions available on Tues/Wed/Thurs/Fridays and we cater for kids of any level from beginners to competitive. Casual “drop-in” sessions also on (most) Sundays. For more information, please visit our website www.wellingtondiving.org.nz or call/text Barbara on 027 485 8888.

RAROA COMEDY NIGHT – PAUL EGO Raroa want to bring the community in to share the best medicine for winter... laughter! Nick Rado who is an unprecedented four time winner of New Zealand's best MC at our nations Comedy Awards will host an evening of hilarity. Thursday June 27, doors will open at 6:30 pm for an exciting and funny comedy evening headlined by Paul Ego. Paul Ego is a Billy T Award winning New Zealand comedian. He is best known for his current role as leader of Team One on the New Zealand comedy current affairs panel show 7 Days. Paul and Nick will be supported by another brilliant comedian Tarun Mohanbhai from TV 3s A Thousand Apologies. There are a limited amount of tickets so please complete this Google Form to confirm your purchase for this great night out! (google form can also be found on the school website)

TE MĀHURI - WHĀNAU LEARNING TE REO MĀORI TOGETHER Te Māhuri is an after school group for tamariki and their whānau to learn and practise te reo Māori in a relaxed and fun environment, learning through games, waiata and other activities. Everyone is welcome, from complete beginners to fluent speakers, and we'd love to see you there! When: Tuesdays 3.30-4.30pm at Newlands Community Centre; or Wednesdays 3.30-4.30pm at Linden Social Centre (During school term time only.) For more information or to join, please email meganmvant@gmail.com.

NEIGHBOUR’S DAY The Johnsonville Community Centre, Keith Spry Pool and Johnsonville Library are hosting a Neighbour's Day event on this Saturday 30th May from 1.00pm to 3.00pm. There will be food and entertainment for children and adults provided in the parking area between the Community Centre and the swimming pool.

PLEASE NOTE: We generally advertise in Community Notices activities that are local

and child oriented. We cannot however guarantee the quality of these activities