Newsletter 17 November 2009

17 November 2009 Term 4 Week 6 09/35

Dear Parents & Caregivers

Kia ora Koutou Katoa
This Thursday I am off to Wellington to represent the NZ Normal and Model Schools’ Association at a meeting to discuss the recently released National Standards.

As I have pointed out before, we are not concerned about National Standards - we already use data collected locally or nationally to measure how our children are achieving. I include a graph from the local Ministry of Education to illustrate this:

6-year olds NZ NEVN NEVN NEVN NEVN
Reading Levels 2008 2009 2008 2007 20006
Above 22% 77% 75% 68% 67%
Within 15% 8% 5% 11% 13%
Just Below 36% 15% 10% 21% 20%
Well Below 27% 0% 10% 0% 0%

This graph shows that while only 22% of NZ 6 year olds are above the expected reading level for that age, 77% of NEV Normal 6 years olds tested in 2009 are above this expectation!

This is remarkable but not unexpected - we have great teachers working hard to get children to these levels.

So the National Standards aren’t a concern. What is a concern is that schools will divert their attention solely to meeting these standards. This approach could result in a much more narrow education
offered our children.

John McKenzie
Principal Visit the school’s website www.nevn.school.nz

Welcome
A warm welcome to Billie who has started in Room 11. We also welcome her family to our school community.

Portfolios
Children’s portfolios which summarise their assessment work need to be returned to school by tomorrow please.

Rainbow Class
This transition to school class for 4 year olds is being held this Thursday 19 November from 1.15 to 2.45pm in R11. If you have a 4 year old who would like to join this class please contact Mrs Will or the office.

Assembly
Friday’s 2.30pm assembly will be organised by Room 3 with items by Rooms 2 &11. Assembly will be held in the Hall. Parents/caregivers are welcome to attend.

Head Lice
It is reported that a number of children have head lice. Please check you child/ren’s hair and treat for head lice if necessary.

Smart Food School Lunches
Smart Food lunches are available on Mondays & Thursdays at NEVNS. The cost is $2 or $3 for a larger lunch with two extra sandwiches. Orders & money in a named envelope need to be into the office by 9am.

Road Patrol
Many thanks to Claire Spittle who has helped with road patrol on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Claire is no longer able to assist. If anyone can help supervise the road patrollers at these times please contact Mrs Staynes or the office.

National Standards
To contribute to the debate on national standards, a
parents’ group is being formed to give parents the choice for their children not to participate in standardised tests which have as their purpose categorisation for school reports or for sending to Wellington for storage. The tentative name for the group is: SLOK – Stop Labelling Our Kids. The parent is Dellis Hunt: a Rangiora mother of two school-age children. E-mail address: delnkev@orcon.net.nz

The group has been formed entirely on the initiative of parents and will remain independent of all teacher organisations and political parties.

Sports Report
Flippaball
The senior team played a serious game and won 3 goals to 2. Jack scored 2 of the goals, Mikaire played great attack and Grace got stuck in and did her best, so all three players were joint ‘Players of the Day’.

The junior team have shown improvement but lost their game 4 goals to 1. TJ played an awesome game at defence and was ‘Player of the Day’.

Touch
Following some confusion last week our team played 2 games against boys teams and lost both games. Well done to the players who competed well. Better luck this week!

Athletics
Congratulations to Harriet, Rika, Puti and Jorja who represented our school today in the girls under 11 relay team at the Otago Championships held at the Caledonian ground. Thanks to parents who helped with transport.

Dates to Note
T4 Monday 12 October Friday 18 December

November
17 PTA Meeting 3.15pm
19 Rainbow Class 1.15pm
20 Wide Horizons Trip R8
23-27 EOTC Week for Y6
27 Orange Day Road Patrollers Parade

December
1 Senior School Golf 9.30am-12pm
3 Logan Park High School Performance 9.10-10.45
3 Rainbow Class 1.15pm
4 Helpers Morning Tea 10.30am
Wide Horizon Trip
7 BOT Meeting 6pm
8 PTA Meeting 3.15pm
10 Y6 Helpers Lunch
11 Wide Horizons Trip R11
NEV Community Christmas Party 3.30-6.30pm
17 End of Year Assembly 11am-12.30pm
18 Talent Quest 9.30-10am
School finishes 12.30pm


Community News
Footballsouth and Andrew Boyens (member of the All Whites team!) Summer Football Camps: Location 1: Sunnyvale Park, Dunedin Date: 6th, 7th and 8th of January, 2010. Location 2: John McGlashan College Date: 20th, 21st and 22nd of January, 2010. Time: 9am-3pm daily. Ages: 7-13. Cost: $110. Camps are limited to 60 children. For an enrolment form or more information please email: boyenssoccercoaching@hotmail.com

Girl Guides: Looking for something different to do this summer? Want to go camping, make friends and have fun? Try Girl Guiding! We have a group meeting weekly in the N.E.V. For more information contact Claire: womensrights@ousa.org.nz or 027 424 9711.

SONGBONG: is organising a pedestrian parade for the North East Valley Christmas Community Fiesta. The parade will bring together children and adults from the area. Bring a drum, a shaker, a squeaky toy, a saucepan, your little brother or anything that can make noise to the free public workshops in November. Learn the heartbeat of the noisy parade and decorate your mask to join the parade on Friday 11th of December! Free Public Workshops on Saturday 21th Nov, 28th Nov. and 5th Dec at 1pm at the Community Centre 248 North Road. All welcome! Contact: drums@songbong.co.nz or 473 6488 - www.songbong.co.nz

Christmas Holiday Programme: Valley OSCAR will run a holiday programme from Monday 21st – Wednesday 23rd December if there is a need in the community. To make it viable for us we need to have ten children enrolled full time. Cost per child is $30 per day or $25 for a second and subsequent child. For more information contact Janette at the office at North East Valley Baptist Church at 270 North Road or on 473 9413. We need confirmed numbers before Friday 11th December. WINZ subsidies may be available.

2010 Holiday Programme: Valley OSCAR will run a hold a holiday programme from Monday 25th – Friday 29th January. Enrolment forms will be available early December. For more information contact Janette at the office at North East Valley Baptist Church at 270 North Road or on 473 9413. WINZ subsidies are available.

Saturday Morning Music Classes Enrolments for 2010: Saturday, November 21 2010 at: George Street Normal School - 9am till 11.30am (follow the signs).

Magic Childcare Holiday Programmes: Please see the information on the noticeboard in the office.

Christian Youth Camps (Waihola): 2010 programme is on the office noticeboard.

Opoho Playcentre 50th birthday Open Afternoon on Sunday 29 November from 1.30pm – 4pm, 28A Signal Hiil Road, Opoho