Dear Parents
This year has seen the introduction of the National Standards into New Zealand schools. The media publicity surrounding the introduction has been huge. Unfortunately much of what you will have heard and read has been extremely negative. The Minister has suggested that the Principals’ Association and others are taking an unprofessional approach to these matters, whilst the education community have criticised the standards as being poorly researched, flawed in their implementation and unworkable.
I wish to assure parents that throughout this time our Board and Staff have remained committed to ‘best practice’ for our teaching and learning programmes and that raising our students’ achievement has remained at the heart of what we do. To this end VAS and other local schools have worked collaboratively over the past few months discussing the ‘Standards’ and sharing our understanding and our models of assessing and reporting.
As you will have noticed on the school calendar we have a Parents’ Meeting scheduled for 7.00pm in the school hall on Tuesday 17th August. The purpose of this meeting is to both inform you about issues surrounding Assessment and National Standards and to consult you about the current and future reporting schedules. This consultation process is important for us so that we can ensure that we are providing the formal and informal reporting that meets the needs of our school community.
It would be helpful to have an idea of numbers of attendees that evening. Please could you email Linley if you intend coming, or phone her on 5200602.
2011 School Gala – Volunteers RequiredThe date is set for our 2011 school gala, Sunday 3rd April. The event in 2009 was a huge success, school families and many others from our local community enjoyed a wonderful day, which had the additional benefit of raising the PTS over $50000.
We do have a small number of members of the 2009 Gala Committee who have agreed to help once again but new people are urgently required. The more who offer to help the less everyone has to do!
The Gala itself is a stand-alone event and it would be asking too much to expect the current PTS committee to organise this in addition to all of their other commitments and therefore we are asking for volunteers to help take responsibility for this one event. If you have the enthusiasm and energy to be part of the organisation of our biggest community event of the year please reply to the request. Previous experience of event organisation welcome but not essential!
Let’s make the 2011 Gala an event to remember for all our children.
PTS Quiz NightThe Quiz Night is on Saturday evening. If you have been wavering make a commitment now! You do not need to have a whole table or team organised, as there is plenty of space for everyone. If you are going on Saturday have a great time, this a fantastic social event and is always heaps of fun.
Mexico Representatives
During last term’s World Cup celebrations Room 17 received generous support and encouragement from the Mexican Embassy, particularly special was the loan of a beautiful Mexico flag.
Following the event we received a letter of congratulations from the Mexican Cultural Attaché and a request to recognise Room 17’s efforts by placing some photos on their website. Click here to see the results.
School Field
The heavy rain has meant that we have closed the field this week. One area of particular concern has been the bank from Dragon Drive down on to the field. Parents and children have been using this as a shortcut to classrooms, even in the bad weather, and it is getting very worn and damaged. Please encourage your children to walk up and down Dragon Drive when arriving and leaving school.
Cross-Country
We have our fingers crossed for a repeat of last year’s fine weather, rather than the current constant rain, and look forward to a real celebration next Tuesday. Despite the weather my office window has displayed a virtual constant vista of children running over the last week, all madly practicing for their big day.
Some children are natural athletes and will be competing at the front of the pack, for the others just getting around the course without stopping will be a major achievement. All however are competing for their house teams and are equally worthy of our support, so hopefully as many of you as possible will be able to attend and cheer on each and every runner.
Kind regards
Allan Short
Principal
