Tēnā Koutou, Talofa Lava, Malo e Lelei, Namaste, Ni sa bula, Noaia’e mauri, Fakalofa lahi atu, Kia Orana, Ni Hao, An Nyung Ha Sai Yo, Nay Ho, Hej, Hallo, Sawat Dee, Cześć, Goeie Dag, សួស្តី, Здравствуйте, Hola, Ola, 안녕하세요, Ayubowan, Vanakkam. Greetings to our school families.
I have been reflecting lately on the many positives within and around our school community. In what often feels like a whirlwind of constant change in education, some things remain reassuringly consistent — children continue to simply be children, teachers remain deeply passionate about supporting the little humans in their classrooms, and both academic achievement and social and emotional development continue to hold equal importance.
Below, I have briefly outlined what the much-discussed changes in schooling actually mean, and the impact they are likely to have on teaching and learning in schools. I hope this provides some clarity. The constant flow of information through the media can often feel politically driven — focused on which party is doing what better — and this will likely only intensify as the election approaches. What truly matters in schools, however, is the real impact these changes have on both our students and staff. Reflecting on this has reminded me just how fortunate our children are to be surrounded by so many positives, leaving them well placed to navigate the pathways ahead.
Next week is one of the highlights of my year, every year — Year 6 Camp. Four days in the outdoors with great kids; truly living the dream! A huge thank you to everyone who takes on a little extra while so many of our staff head away to make this special event possible.
Ngā mihi nui,
Kathryn Ramel
Principal
School Diary
Week 7 Mon 1 June – Fri 5 June: Tues – Fri Year 6 Camp Tongariro, Samoan Language Week
- Mon 1/6 Kings Birthday Weekend – Public Holiday
- Fri 5/6 2:00pm Junior Kapa Haka in the hall, Year 5 Skateboard lessons.
Week 8 Mon 8 June – Fri 12 June:
- Mon 8/6 Mihi Whakatau (delayed due to camp)
- Thu 11/6 Mahu College visiting here to speak to Year 6 students
- Fri 12/6 Whole School Assembly 2:00pm Class – Puriri 1, Kingsway pre-school visit
Week 9 Mon 15 June – Fri 19 June:
- Mon 15/6 Dental van arriving at SBS – here until end of term
- Fri 19/6 Bush Babies visit, Yr 3 – 6 Kapa Haka 2:00pm, Junior Kapa Haka in the covered courtyard behind the Harakeke Room 2pm
Welcome to our New Students – we hope you enjoy your time at our school!
Oliver W
Curriculum and Reporting Changes – what does it all mean?
We shared this in more detail at our recent Junior School Curriculum Information Evening, but also thought it was well worth sharing this in a whole school capacity. You will undoubtedly have heard of the many changes that are afoot in both the curriculum that schools deliver and the way a child’s progress through that curriculum is reported to parents. The changes are significant to the way the curriculum is taught – sometimes the jargon and spin that is publicly shared, is hard to put in a context for your child in the classroom. Here’s a very brief overview of what has changed:
- Year-by-Year Learning: In the new curriculum, learning is set out in a fixed year-by-year format, with specific requirements for achievement at each year level. This is a significant philosophical shift from our previous model which acknowledged that children progress at different rates from different starting points. In essence, the expectation is that all students at each year level should be experiencing the same learning, and schools will provide data showing how our students are achieving at those levels. In reality, not all students can be taught at their current year levels, due to a need to support or extend, based on their needs. This is a hugely challenging process that schools are working through, supporting families with students with very little increased hands on funding for learning support.
- New Progress Descriptors: The Ministry has replaced broad curriculum bands with five specific progress stages: Emerging, Developing, Consolidating, Proficient, and Exceeding. These are the specific terms we are now directed to use to assess your child’s journey. Since we are required to assess using these terms we have chosen to use them within our reporting, starting with our mid year reports coming out later this term. These will replace our previous progress descriptors of well below, below, at, above or well above which apparently did not provide clarity for parents.
- Increased expectations for achievement: The new curriculum significantly raises the expectations for achievement at each age. The Minister has lifted the floor, meaning the milestones for being “Proficient” or at the expected level are higher than previously.
The increased expectations for achievement have the single biggest implications for teachers and students in our schools. To understand them, you need to look explicitly at what this looks like for a child in class.
For example, in Year 2 mathematics/pāngarau, students are now expected to:
Fluently solve addition and subtraction problems within 100 (previously, the focus was often on mastery within 20, moving toward 100 by Year 3). There is a big difference with adding and subtracting numbers such as 14+12 and 67+14.
Recall basic addition and subtraction facts to 20 with automaticity (e.g., 8 + 7 = 15 or 14 – 6 = 8 without counting on fingers).
Understand and work with fractions like thirds and quarters of a whole and of a set, a significant jump in abstract thinking for seven-year-olds. Fractions such as a third are particularly hard to conceptualise for someone that has been at school for less than 2 years – how often do you cut your pizza into thirds at home?
The home school partnership between parents and teachers will become increasingly important to student success in schools. In a few weeks, you will receive information on Parent Interviews in the final week of this term. We know everyone is busy, but please do your best to try and pop along.
Year 6 Camp Tongariro – your support has made a huge difference
Our pre fundraising camp costs for our Year 6 students was just over $600 per child. With your support we have been able to drop this price to $300 each. In these challenging financial times, we are aware that this is still a huge commitment for families, but are also proud of the way this community rallies around around to support one another to ensure our kids have the best possible opportunities.
Funds were raised through Walkathon last year (some of this money will also go to Year 5 Camp later this year), our Mini Gala, Pizza Fridays, bake sales and raffles. Huge thanks also to the Snells Beach Community Market who donated $340, which will go directly to support families in need to get their children to camp.
It takes a village, and our kids live in a good one.
Tree Planting – doing our bit for native bush regeneration in our community
Over the past few weeks our students have been busy turning the Mahurangi East a little greener. Native bush regeneration is vital for managing run off and improving the health of our waterways, including the Mahurangi River and local beaches. As the bush matures, it provides a natural corridor in which our native birds can move freely and safely around the area. It’s not just learning about these things that matters, it’s the getting your hands dirty and getting involved that allows the meaningful understanding to happen. It’s a huge source of pride for us all by to see fully mature bush in areas such as Scandrett Regional Park that were planted by SBS kids in years gone by. It’s special to know that our current tamariki will feel the same sense of pride in years to come.
Mr Sutherland’s Year 4 class planted a huge area on one of our local farms last week. Here’s a few pics – see our social media pages for more.
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Not to be outdone, our Year 6’s carried on their excellent work alongside the Te Whau Walkway, along the Mahurangi River, below the school.
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Lunch ordering at Snells Beach School
Here at Snells Beach School we have lunch-ordering through Ezlunch available every day. Follow the link below to sign up for ezlunch and check out the menu. Sushi is available and needs to be ordered the night before whilst sandwiches/baking/other lunchbox items from New World can be ordered up to 8am of the same day. Please note, the lunch order is delivered right before our 1pm lunchtime so students still need to bring morning tea with them. Please contact the school office if you have any questions.
Community Notices
Bacon butties for breakfast? Yes please! Support the fundraising of our local Snells Beach Netball club tomorrow, Saturday 30th May, outside Four Square Snells Beach.
Staying in touch with school notices
