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Newsletter Term 2 No 2 - 12 May 2011 |
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Term 2 No 2 - 12 May 2011
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Dear Parents
This term our staff is looking at our Thinking Skills curriculum during our weekly professional development sessions. Last year many of you joined us at our Thinking Maps workshop, where we discussed not only the introduction of Thinking Maps at VAS but also the research and pedagogy behind a real revolution in educational thinking.
Over the past 20 years our knowledge and understanding of how individuals learn best has been transformed. This in turn impacts us all, as parents and teachers, as we try to prepare our children for life in a rapidly changing world.
As part of the evening we looked at two video clips. The first one Shift Happens sets the scene for the “exponential times” in which we are living. At the end of the evening we watched a famous TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson. He discusses Creativity in Schools and, in addition to being a very entertaining speaker, makes a strong and moving case for re-evaluating our concept of what is important in education. I believe it is a piece that every parent and teacher should watch.
In his book, "The Element", Sir Ken Robinson discusses the concept of natural talent meeting personal passion. He echoes the subject matter of his video, insisting that we are all born with tremendous natural capabilities but somehow many people never connect with their true talents.
Picasso is quoted as stating that, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up." The quality of our children’s wonderful imagination and personal confidence is beautifully captured by Robinson’s opening paragraph relating a story from a primary school classroom.
‘A teacher was giving a drawing class to a group of six-year-old children. At the back of the classroom sat a little girl who normally didn’t pay much attention in school. In the drawing class she did. For more than twenty minutes, the girl sat with her arms curled around her paper totally absorbed in what she was doing. The teacher found this fascinating. Eventually she asked the girl what she was drawing. Without looking up the girl said, “I’m drawing a picture of God.” Surprised the teacher said, “But nobody knows what God looks like.” The little girl said, “They will in a minute.”
- The Element by Sir Ken Robinson
I never tire of the unique perspective that children give us. Their views of the world might seem simplistic, unrealistic or ill-informed to an adult's eyes and ears but are they any less valid or valuable? That is why I love my job as a teacher and parent - day after day the children bring smiles, surprise and wonder to my world, long may they continue to do so.
Kind regards
Allan Short
Principal |
The Week Ahead:
Friday 13 May:
Chess club commences - meeting in ICT suite just after 3.00pm
Tuesday 17 May:
Winter Exchange at Cormwall Park
Tuesday 17 May: Bubbledome commences at 3.15 in the ICT suite
Thursday 19 May: Young Leaders Day for the School Councillors
School calendar is
on:
http://victoriaave.com/school-calendar
IMPORTANT DATES AND TIMES
School Times
School starts: 8.50am
Interval: 10.40-11.00am
Lunch: 12.30-1.30pm
School finishes: 3.00pm
Stationery Sales
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 8.30-8.45am
Uniform Shop
Fridays only: 8.30-9.00am
Orders and payments for uniform can be made online on our website http://victoriaave.com/school-shop
Lunch Orders
French Lunches: Tues only
Subway: Wed and Fri
Sushi: Thurs only
Order forms/Instructions
http://victoriaave.com/our-school/lunch-orders
School Banking Wednesdays before school in Room 4
Term Dates 2011
Term 2 Mon 2 May to Fri 15 July 2011
Term 3 Mon 1 Aug to Fri 7 Oct 2011
Term 4 Tues 25 Oct to Fri 16 Dec.
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OUTLINE OF GRANDAPARENT'S DAY ~ TO BE HELD ON 7 JUNE 2011
Grandparents of Senior Syndicate pupils and those in Rooms 19-21 will be invited to our morning session and those with grandchildren in the Junior School and Rooms 16-18 will be invited to our afternoon session, of course some may qualify for, and wish to attend, both sessions! (Please note to even up numbers the Middle Syndicate has been split with three classes in the morning and three in the afternoon)
The day will begin with an assembly, lead by the Principal, followed by a small concert where the children will perform a number of items for grandparents. After this grandparents will accompany their grandchildren back to their classrooms to meet their teachers and look at their work. Children will then give their grandparents a tour of the school, finally arriving back at the hall where we will have morning/afternoon tea together.
Programme times are as follows:
- 9.15am Welcome and Assembly (Year 4-6)
- 9.55am Grandparents to visit classrooms and tour the school with their grandchildren
- 10.30am Morning tea for grandparents in the hall
- Early Lunch 12.00-1.00pm
- 1.15pm Welcome and Assembly (Year 1-3)
- 2.00pm Grandparents to visit classrooms and tour the school with their grandchildren
- 2.30pm Afternoon tea for grandparents in the hall
Thank you to those who have already sent in the RSVP for Grandparents' Day. If you have not done so could you please email the office directly using this link
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or print out and complete the form attached.
Please return to school office.
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GRANDPARENTS DAY ~ Tuesday 7 June 2011
In order to arrange adequate seating for the Grandparents Day and also to assist with catering arrangements, can all families please return this slip indicating numbers of grandparents who will be attending.
Child’s name(s) and class (es) ……………………………………………..
We will/will not (delete as appropriate) have Grandparents attending on Tuesday 7th June.
If Grandparents are attending:
Number of Grandparents attending morning session (Rooms 1-6 and 19-21) ……………..
Number of Grandparents attending afternoon session (Rooms 8-18) ……………..
Or you can email the office directly using this link
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
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SKIING COMPETITION ~ August 29 - September 2 at Whakapapa
Every year the North Island Primary schools Ski Championship takes place with around 400 children representing their school's from around the North Island. Anyone who's children are interested in competing in this event please contact Alana at
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. This year the championships are held from August 29 thru to September 2 at Whakapapa and would involve some ski training at Snow Planet in Silverdale prior. As this is slalom racing it is expected the children involved would be competent skiers although prior experience with gates is not a necessity.
Click here for Miniball Games
Please note: If you have any contacts that you think would be willing to get involved with the Rippa Rugby World Cup Event could you please email me with your name and who you know that is keen to support us, from Spot Prize Giving to helping coach a class team.
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