Newsletter 12 June 2012

12 June 2012 Term 2 Week 8 12/17

Dear Parents and Caregivers
Kia ora koutou katoa

Class Size Turnaround
Thanks to overwhelming parent and teacher protest the Government has reversed the class size issue. This is great news for us as a school. It also shows the power parents have to overturn government policy.

There have been a number of changes in education policy in recent years and there will be more to come.

What is the problem that needs constant fixing? I include in this newsletter a press release from the NZ Teachers’ Council boss, Peter Lind, as an answer to this question.

NEV Community Project
Please find attached a membership form for the NEV Community Project. Did you know the Project has recently attracted considerable Government funding?

To participate in this project, please complete the attached membership and return to school. Only residents or people who work in the Valley may become members.

Kia kaha tatou katoa ki te tautoko o tatou tamariki, mokopuna hoki.

John McKenzie
Principal

Welcome
Welcome to Adef, George and Lucia who have all started in R11. We welcome their families to our school community. Ms Charlotte Wilson will be helping Mrs Cleland in R11 till the end of the term.

Rainbow Class
This Thursday is the final transition to school class for the term. It will be held in R11 from 1.15 to 2.45pm. If you have a 4 year old who would like to join this class, please contact Mrs Cleland or Sara at the office.

Wheels Days
This Friday lunchtime is the turn of the junior classes to ride their bikes, scooters, skateboards etc. Children who bring their bikes will need to wear a helmet. It is recommended that children wear a helmet when riding their scooters or skateboards.

Assembly
Assembly will be held in the hall this Friday at 2.20pm. It will be led by R8 with items by Rooms 2 & 11. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

Wonky Donkey Show
This Wednesday the Wonky Donkey Show will be performed at 1.30pm. The cost for this show is $2 per child. Please send $2 to school if your child’s donation has not been paid up to the end of T2 at least.

Extra Spelling Quiz
3 teams from NEV Normal competed in the Extra Spelling Quiz at Tahuna Normal Intermediate School last night. Congratulations to all the children who participated and worked together really well in their teams.

Thanks to Mrs Staynes for preparing the teams.

Sports Results
Netball
The senior teams played last Tuesday. The Gold team won 6 goals to 2 against Waikouaiti and the Bronze team lost 2 goals to 6 against GSNS.

The junior Silver team played last night and won 2 goals to 0 against Warrington.

Smart Food School Lunches
Cold lunches are available on Mondays & Thursdays.
The lunches consist of 2 sandwiches/pizza bun, fruit, a cookie or muffin and a dessert. The cost is $3.50 or $4.50 for a larger lunch with two extra sandwiches.

Hot lunches are available on Tuesdays.
The menu is: Macaroni & Cheese, Spaghetti Bolognese, Shepherds Pie, or Mince Chow Mein. The cost is $4.50.

PTA Hot Lunches
This Friday the menu is 1 slice of pizza and 1 sausage roll for $2, and a cup of Milo for .50c. Please bring a cup for Milo.

Orders and money in a envelope with your child’s name and room number to the office by 9am please.

Dates to Note

June
13  Wonky Donkey Show 1.30pm
14  Rainbow Class 1.15-2.45pm
16 Jack’n’Jill Portraits
29  Term 2 ends

July
16 Term 3 commences

Learning Power Tip of the Week
'Reading Rules’


PTA News
Jack’n’Jill Portraits: Saturday 16th June

Late orders for portrait sittings will be taken until the end of Wednesday – BE IN QUICK! You will be contacted a couple of days before the shoot to confirm where it will be and the appointment time. Portraits can then be viewed and purchased on the viewing day, which will be about 10 days after the shoot. Places are limited so get in early and tell friends and family about this exciting fundraising event.

PTA Meeting
The next meeting will be held on Thursday 21 June at 3.20pm in the staff room. Everyone is welcome to attend.

MEDIA RELEASE: Dr Peter Lind

Director of the NZ Teachers Council

"New Zealand parents should be assured that our education system is high performing", according to Dr Peter Lind, the Director of the Teachers Council.

The latest OECD Report (2012): OECD Reviews of Evaluation and Assessment in Education: New Zealand has confirmed this view.

Emeritus Professor Warwick Elley was reported recently as saying, "the reason it should provide us assurance is because the authors of this report are top experts from other OECD countries... Using a set of rich data, they are able to provide an independent, comparative perspective and are ideally placed to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the New Zealand education system".

This view is confirmed by our rankings on The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). It is a worldwide study by the OECD of 15-year-old school pupils' scholastic performance on mathematics, science, and reading. New Zealand consistently scores in the top half dozen OECD countries, even though, according to the evidence gathered by the OECD, we spend far less per student than nearly all of the other 34 OECD nations.

The great majority of our students are repeatedly up with the best in the world. In the latest survey, New Zealand students were ranked fourth in reading literacy, fourth in scientific literacy and seventh in mathematical literacy.

"It is not easy to maintain these rankings and New Zealand has consistently maintained its overall ranking on these measures since they were first introduced in 2000," said Dr Lind.

Three examples illustrate the significance of New Zealand's achievement. Australia has recorded a significant decline since 2000 on all the skills measured. England has slipped from seventh in 2000 to 25th in reading, eighth to 28th in maths and fourth to 16th in science. The United States only rates around the average of all OECD countries.

"This reflects very favourably on the quality of New Zealand teachers."

However, it is true that the latest PISA survey still shows a wide dispersion of scores among New Zealand students.

"Lifting the performance of those New Zealand students that are underachieving must be a priority for our education system, but without allowing the slippage in our overall rankings as has recently occurred in Australia.

"To achieve this requires a strong commitment from the teaching profession and the Government in partnership. There are no silver bullets and a focus on a single variable will not achieve the goal intended. It will require dialogue and detailed consideration of any initiatives proposed," said Dr Lind.

Community News
Weight Loss: Don't lose weight and put all back on. Lose it and keep it off! Affordable weight loss that really works. Free Wellness Evaluation and sample. PH Kathy 0800 401 828 or go to wwwsupershapeupnz.com

Lantern making Workshops: Light up the longest night by making a lantern for the 2012 Dunedin Midwinter Carnival. This is a fantastic and creative family activity for all ages. All materials are provided and trained instructors are on hand. Children must be accompanied by an adult and bookings are essential. Sessions run between 10am – 4pm and take approximately two hours. The Midwinter Carnival is a nonprofit event to celebrate the middle of winter and is part of the Puaka Matariki Festival. WORKSHOP #3 Snowball lanterns Date: 16th & 17th June 2012. Venue: DNI Intermediate School, North Rd.

School Holiday Programme July: 8am until 6pm. Full and part time care available. Oscar approved for WINZ subsidies. Heaps of fun to be had both within Chipmunks and out and about. Enrol today phone 4776762.

NEV Normal School Banking is Proudly Sponsored by Credit Union South

NZCU SOUTH
26 Filleul Street
Dunedin 9059
Ph 03 4771473
www.nzcusouth.co.nz
email enquiries@nzcusouth.co.nz

Remember School Banking Day is Wednesday
Application forms are available at the school office