Within the time I have been at Swannanoa School I have spoken with several parents in regard to playground incidents and events at school. I would like to on behalf of the BOT get an accurate picture from our wider community about how safe you feel our playground and classroom environment is. It is important that we get a good response to this survey as it will inform our resourcing and priorities for next year. To complete the survey click on the link below.
Survey Now Closed
Music Lessons 2010
I have been approached by KBB music who are offering to run specialist music (a range of brass and string instruments) tuition and a regional orchestra at our school next year. Lessons are in groups of 4 at a cost of $16 per lesson, per student. Hireage of instruments can also be done through KBB for around $220-$450 per instrument (price varies according to the instrument). Lessons take place before school, after school and at times during school.
I am wanting some feedback on this. Please let me know what you think.
"One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child." -- Carl Jung
"Every time you wake up and ask yourself, "What good things am I going to do today?," remember that when the sun goes down at sunset, it takes a part of your life with it." --Indian proverb
"Education would be much more effective if its purpose was to ensure that by the time they leave school every boy and girl should know how much they do not know and be imbued with a lifelong desire to know it." -- William Haley
o Self respect and respect for others
o Responsibility and accountability
o Achievement through team-work
o We have a strong sense of virtues, values and culture
o Diversity is accepted
o Friendship is valued
Teaching and learning is our focus
o Learning is meaningful
o We develop habits for life
o Children are extended and their strengths are built on
o Assessment and reporting is focused and meaningful
o Achievements and contributions are recognised and rewarded
o Exploration, and innovation are encouraged
o Teaching is responsive to the needs of the individual
Our children thrive in a school supported by a caring community
o The contribution of the Community is valued and recognised
o We are actively inclusive and welcoming
o We are open, honest communicators
o Past Pupils and Community Members are our role models
o We care for the people and places in our district
The new curriculum and 21st century learning are no doubt terms you have heard before but need more clarification of. Over the coming term I am going to hold afternoon coffee groups in Room 8 on a Wednesday afternoon from 2.20pm until 3pm. This will be an opportunity for you to come in and learn about how education has changed and will continue to change for your children.
The sessions will be informal, I will aim to start discussion and hopefully gauge some of the things you think are important for your child in their education. My aim will be to provoke discussion so we may look at some of the more controversial issues facing education at the moment. I will also present any information requested whether it be about reading, technology, mathematics or anything else. We may also sample some of the technology being used in the classrooms (including web 2.0 tools such as blogs and wikis) so you are familiar with it. The content of sessions will be very much guided by the wants of the group.
Attendance is open to any parent/caregiver and we will do our best to cater for pre-schoolers if you have them with you. You don’t have to come every week, just when you can make it. I have chosen this time to work in with after-school pick up. Coming along to these sessions can and will make a difference to what happens at Swannanoa School so come along and learn more about what we do and where we want to head.
Sarah (R10) and Alex (R8) achieved Distinctions in the ICAS Science exam as Hayley did in the Computing exam. This places them in the top 5% of all students who sat the exam.
On the night at the Town Hall
Shannon from R1 shared this little project with me today. Last year she did an enrichment task with her class teacher involving a range of self directed activities about shoes. This holidays she took it upon herself to create her very own original elf shoes. Well done Shannon for being a committed learner that can successfully apply what you have learned.
