Elm Park School Newsletter - 8th June 2012 - Term 2 - Week 7
Friday 8th June –
Term 2 Week 7
Value Focus for next week: Responsibility / Tolerance
From The Principal
Kia
ora tatou katoa, Talofa, Malo e lelei, Bula vi naka, Kia orana Nga mihi nui ki
a koutou, Namaste, Nihao, Greetings to you all.
Welcome to Week 7, Term 2 Newsletter. Winter is
here with a vengeance! Thank you to all
those wonderful people who paid their activity / resource money so quickly this
term. This money helps support all our learners in so many ways within the
classroom as well as for trips and cultural activities. We want Elm Park to be
a wonderful, exciting place for everyone to enjoy learning. Our Student Led conferences are coming up.
· Wednesday 20 June - Years 1, 2 & 3
· Thursday 21 June - Years 4, 5 & 6
Go to www.schoolinterviews.co.nz and
log on with the school code (C38X6) and book your own interview time that suits
you. Mrs Commins and Mrs Nunes will also
be available so if your children attend one of these classes you can also book
a time to see these teachers as well. Mrs Russell and Mrs Choi will send a
letter to their students regarding their arrangements.
Student Led conferences - Elm Park School has been involved in a number of
initiatives over the past few years, all focused on improving student
achievement. We believe that Student Led conferences promote learning and
help strengthen the partnership between the learner, teacher and
parent/caregiver.
What is a student led conference? Student-led conferences provide students with an
opportunity to talk with significant adults about their educational progress.
A student led conference is a
meeting run by the student for parents/caregivers, entirely focused on the
student’s recent learning. The meeting is facilitated by the student and
follows a format that has been developed and practised before the
meeting. The major focus will be on reading, writing and mathematics at
this stage, but the student will share other curriculum areas as well. The
student will analyse their strengths and reflect on the progress they have made
in achieving their learning goals.
e-Portfolios - What is an ePortfolio? “An e-portfolio is an electronic format for
learners to record their work, their achievements and their goals, to reflect
on their learning, and to share and be supported in this. It enables learners
to represent the information in different formats and to take the information
with them as they move between institutions.”
(Banks, 2004. p.3)
With e-Portfolios being web-based, learning becomes a
reality-anytime/anywhere. Students have the opportunity to access their work
from school, home or from any computer when they have their passwords that
enable them to do so. E-portfolios are
‘three dimensional’ which means that the students can present their work
through images, still and movie, audio (voice thread or vocaroo) and a host of
Web 2.0 tools as well as the traditional written records that can be scanned or
a snapshot taken of the work and uploaded into the e-portfolio.
Questions to be answered.
What is the purpose of an ePortfolio?
The main
purpose of the ePortfolio at Elm Park is to track a learning journey.
What do schools want it to be
used for?
•
Capturing and storing evidence
•
Reflecting
•
Giving and receiving feedback
•
Planning and setting goals
•
Presenting to an audience
•
Celebrating learning
How does it fit with the
school’s pedagogical vision and values?
• Supports formative assessment
to improve future learning outcomes rather than summative assessment statement
• Aligns with the new curriculum
• Students become self
regulated/self directed life long learners
• Extending on what students have
achieved, what is the next learning step
• An interactive process of
sharing learning and inviting people in (formative approach to learning)
• Allows students to think
critically about their work in a secure environment
• Critical reflection helps the students to review their work, identify strengths and
weaknesses and help determine future learning pathways
• E-portfolios are not about
technology they are about pedagogy and life-long learning
Communication - All parents/caregivers have login / passwords so that they have access to
their child’s e-Portfolio at anytime and are able to view what is on the
e-portfolios and comment on the work in progress.
Students develop their self-assessment ability as they reflect on the work
that they have on their e-portfolios. Teachers and parents provide ongoing
feedback to students, which is the most powerful influence on student
achievement. Students reflect on what they have done, what they have learnt and
what they are going to focus on. The goal setting allows students to reflect on
what they are learning to do and feedback in order to set the next learning
step. e-Portfolios are our method of
reporting to parents and not a summative report, it is an on-going
formative assessment of where your child is at at a given time.
Have a lovely weekend.
Trish Plowright
Principal
Key
Events For Your Diary
Mon 11 June..... Photolife
Wed 20 June.... Student Led Conference Y1-3
Thur 21 June..... Student Led Conference Y4-6
Thur 28 June..... Principals Award Assembly
Fri 29 June....... Term 2 ends
Mon 16 July...... Term 3 commences
Looking
Ahead
URGENT - SOCCER - Parents interested in
helping with the soccer team can do so by refereeing the game in Week 9. Please contact Nick Fitzgerald at school or nick@elmpark.school.nz
This Week
in Review
SCHOOL
TRAVELWISE SURVEY - The school is currently participating in a Travelwise
School Survey in conjunction with Auckland Transport, which will be sent home
to you today. We would encourage all
parents to complete and return their survey by next Friday 22nd
June. Students will also be completing a
survey with their classroom teachers.
The information gained from the survey will help to identify what should
be included in a safe school travel plan that addresses the needs and concerns
of our school community. Thank you for
putting the safety of our students first.
GRANDPARENT / ADULT
ASSISTANCE REQUIRED - We would like to run a Literacy Support programme
in the classrooms, for the year 1 children who need a little extra assistance.
There will be a little workshop to give you ideas and strategies of
how to support the children. You would be working with 1 or 2 children at
a time. If you are interested in finding out more about this please
contact Karen Allen.
PAKURANGA INTERMEDIATE – Parents of year 6
children are invited to attend a meeting on Tuesday 19th June at 7pm
in the Elm Park School Auditorium. The meeting will outline the opportunities
available for your child’s education at Pakuranga Intermediate School. Supper will be provided, with an opportunity
to meet personally with school management.
Looking
Ahead
INVITATION TO SILVER PRESENTATION ASSEMBLY - Last year you will
recall we became a Silver Enviroschool. On Friday June 22 at 9.15
we are having an assembly for the year 4, 5 and 6 students to officially
receive our Silver Enviroschool sign from the Council. All parents are
cordially invited to attend this celebration.
ELM PARK SCHOOL
FACEBOOK PAGE – Elm Park School have a Facebook page.
If you ’LIKE’ the page, you will receive updates of all activities
taking place as well as newsletters and reminders. This is a good way to keep up to date with
what is happening at Elm Park School
Focus on Children
R16 worked together to write a story
inspired by a famous fairy tale… they analysed the structure of the original
story, agreed on some basic ideas and brainstormed in groups to flesh out each
part of the story. They piggy-backed on each other’s ideas to write an engaging
tale - all in one hour! Now that’s collaborative writing.
The Story of
Little Blue Hoodie Boy - By Rm 16
Little
Blue Hoodie Boy was used to his nickname. He often got teased at school but
that wasn’t the reason he was so sad. His mother had died suddenly and he was
still full of grief. Every day he put on his warm, snuggly, blue hoodie that
his mother had sewed for him. When he wore it, he felt his mother beside him.
He lived in a quiet little suburb in a large city quite near to his school but
he wasn’t happy about school since his mother died. He loved his father but he
worked very long hours, and he was a little sad also. He remembered how his
mother took him to school and looked through his books and read with him. The
thought of school annoyed him. He thought it was boring now. His spark for
learning had gone out.
One morning after he had
eaten his Weetbix breakfast, he made a decision. He decided not to go to
school. He would go down and spend his money at the Arcade in the local
shopping centre. He might even run away.
“Here
is your lunch money,” his father said in a quiet voice, “Buy one of those
healthy filled rolls. See you later son. Don’t forget to lock the door.”
“I
won’t Dad,” he replied, eager to start on his journey. Soon Little Blue Hoodie
boy was walking briskly down the road, the opposite way to school. They won’t
miss me at school, he said to himself. None of my friends has even asked me why
I’m sad, and I couldn’t tell the teacher even when she asked me gently.
In
no time at all Little Blue Hoodie Boy reached the Arcade. He gazed through the
window and saw shadowy shapes of the teenagers crazily banging the keys.
Suddenly, he didn’t feel so brave. They looked much older and a little scary.
Then he noticed a thin, girl about 12 years old with long, shiny red hair. She
noticed him at the same time and wandered over in his direction. “Have you got
some money I could borrow?” she said in a silky, friendly voice. “I haven’t
eaten in a long time and I am SO hungry”. Without any hesitation Little Blue
Hoodie Boy gave over his lunch money and $20 of his piggy-bank money. She then
said slyly, hugging herself and shivering, “I am so so cold. Could I have a
little turn in your toasty hoodie? It looks beautifully warm.” Again, the
kind-hearted boy pulled off his precious hoodie and handed it over. “It’ll have
you warm in no time but I need it back, please.” Once she had put on the hoodie
she dashed along the pavement and, in a twinkling of an eye, she was gone. Poor
boy. He sat alone, hunched over on the pavement feeling miserable.
Meanwhile, at school, the
teacher informed the office who quickly phoned the boy’s father. In no time at
all the Police were notified and a truancy officer was in his car, driving
around the streets looking for Little Blue Hoodie Boy. After half an hour the
Officer spotted the forlorn boy and stopped to pick him up. Little Blue Hoodie
Boy was pleased at being rescued but he still sobbed and sobbed. Suddenly
school seemed a very inviting place and he wanted to get back to his normal
life.
The
next day Little Blue Hoodie Boy retold the story of his mistake to his teacher
and classmates. “I should never have ditched school,” he said, “It was a pretty
silly thing I did. Thank goodness the Truancy Officer found me. I’ll never do
this again and worry so many people.”
His
hoodie was never found, but curiously… Little Blue Hoodie boy didn’t need the
real one anymore.
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COMMUNITY NOTICES
THE
ADVENTURE FARM CAMP SPECIALISTS - www.lakewoodlodge.co.nz JULY 2012 SCHOOL HOLIDAY ADVENTURE CAMPS
Monday 2nd – Friday 6th July, 8 – 14 year olds
Monday 9th – Friday 13th July, 8 – 14 year olds 5 days, 4
nights $380 Here at Lakewood Lodge, we offer a safe, caring, family atmosphere
with an opportunity to experience farm life and make new friends. We have great country cooking, 1 Horse trek
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Frisbee Golf, waterslide, disco, a concert, Spotlight, Burma Trail, pool &
table tennis competitions, BBQs, Volleyball, games, Firepit with toasted
marshmallows, pet animal interaction & excellent supervision. Pick up from Auckland if wanted, Monday at
8.45am in our bus EXTRA
$40. Phone us now with your registration - 07-826-3344 Or book on through
our website www.lakewoodlodge.co.nz **Specialist Horse Camp running at the same time.
OSCAR Approved. If you would like to be on our mailing list please email Jeff – jeff@lakewoodlodge.co.nz
Skate School & Ice Hockey School Holiday Programme starting soon! Auckland
needs new young Ice Hockey Players & Figure Skaters. Enjoy the exhilaration
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Enrol at Paradice, Cnr Ti Rakau Dr & Botany Rd, Botany Downs. Ph:
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