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LAWRENCE AREA SCHOOLCommunity Newsletter 14th February 2013No 1

Dear Parents and Friends of the School

Holly

Wilson

Ho

lly

Wa

ttWelcome to the 2013 school year. We are all enjoying the hot summer - this will be one to

remember.Students have returned to school well rested and keen to get into their studies.The big change for 2013 is Junior School Uniform. It was quite amazing on Day 1 to seethese students Yr 0-6 in uniform. They look really good and are all happy to be in uniform.

We welcome quite a number of new pupils and new families to our school and district thisterm. Alesana Iona

Liam HomerTaylor HomerJacob WallisHarmony Cameron-Tukaka

Brittany SmithJosh WyberArnika Wilson-RaeDanielle BainTaylor WhiteheadOlly BudgenLogan Wither

As a consequence our school roll is looking very good.We also welcome two new teachers.

Mrs Sara McTavishwho takes over in

our Science department;and Miss Anna Hyslop

who takes over both theMathematics andPhysical Education

department.

As a school last year we adopted a Strategic Plan 2012-2014 which focused on improvingstudent achievement. We did this by concentrating our efforts, staff, pupil, parent, on fivebig picture goals:

Raise student achievement and engagementContinue the development of our school curriculumPromote the place of Te Reo and Tikanga Maori in our schoolDevelop and strengthen self review practices within the schoolDevelop and strengthen IT capabilities across the school

We have been tracking achievement in Mathematics, Writing and Reading for Yr 0-10students in relation to National Standards since mid 2011. Through putting our strategic planinto practice we have achieved some very pleasing results.

December 2011 December 2012 Improvement (at or above national standard) (at or above national standard)Reading 74% 88% +14%Writing 52% 71% +19%

Mathematics 58% 69% +11%Please go to your school website at http://lawrenceareaschool.edublogs.org/ to see thereport in full. Progress is pleasing, but we still have someway to go to reach our overall goalof 90% reading, 85% in writring and mathematics of students being at or above.

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Kind RegardsJohn Auld

Our Schools Annual Plan for 2013 in all big picture goals picks up off where we got to lastyear and extends targets. We have added a sixth big picture goal:Develop and strengthen practices that recognise and provide for gifted and talentedstudents.

The Annual Report for 2012 and the Annual Plan for 2013 can be viewed on the schoolwebsite http://lawrenceareaschool.edublogs.org/

Our senior students likewise had a very good year, capped of by success in NCEA exams.We will share their story in our next newsletter.

CRICKET.... We are back underway with games being played in the sun last Friday.

Our Yr 7-11 team had a really good win over Rosebank (essentially nowSOHS). This is a girls team who we especially enjoy playing against as our

team also has a good mix of girls.In a local derby Gold played Blue in the Yr 4-7 cricket. This game was really close with Goldeffected three run outs (well done Toby for taking two of these). Following this Blue couldnot match Golds great score of 113 runs.

SWIMMINGWe hope to make the most of the hot summer days byhaving daily swimming lessons for all students Yr 0-8.New Zealands drowning record is appalling.Being taught to swim properly and being able to

swim is essential to enjoying the many aquatic activitiesavailable to kiwis. To be able to swim to save yourself you need tobe confident in your ability eg. not panic. NZ Swimmings goal is to have all children beingable to swim 200 metres, unassisted, by the end of Year 8. We are also working towards thisgoals as an essential part of our school curriculum. Please help us out and ensure your childcomes to school with their swimming gear every day.

WEBSITE - InstructionsHow to find Lawrence Area School Website:Step 1: Type in www.lawrencearea.school.edublogs.org

Step 2: Save to your favouritesThis website is updated regularly with important dates and information for parents. It has alive calendar which is updated when ever new events come to hand. Newsletters aresaved and archived so you can always look back on older copies if you need to.

PTA - MAJOR FUNDRAISER -This weekend we are catering for the Lions Trail Bike Ride.

We need as many parent helpers us possible.Please contact Christine Young 4859123

Donna Osborne 4859426Wendy Haywood 4859456

PTA generally hosts one meeting per term. This term teachers would like to share:accessing the schools website - how to - whats on the site.

Health curriculum - using PTA as a parent forum to gain understanding and approval for theschools health curriculum.

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From the Board of Trustees.

Welcome back to the new school year. The Board would like to make a special welcometo new families and to our two new teachers; Sara McTavish (HOD Science) and AnnaHyslop (HOD Mathematics and Physical Education.

The Board has been busy with a number of important tasks.During the break a major building project has been underway. Both the Home Economics

Room and the Materials Technology Room have been significantly upgraded by DaveBarkman and sub contractors. The job is almost finished and we look forward to openingthese rooms.

The Board is working on our school charter, notably the Annual Plan for 2013. Thisdocument sets the strategic direction of our school. A draft of this document will beavailable shortly.

The Board has met with ERO personnel to discuss a review to be conducted February 25th

to February 28th. This is a full review which will be based around how effectively is our

schools curriculum promoting student learning, engagement, progress and achievement.

Teaching staff have been very busy preparing for the new year and the upcoming review.We want all the very positive things about the school, to be shown in the best light and togain a very positive report.

This year is also Board of Trustees election year. Our election date is set for 30 May 2013. Atthat time parents will be asked to vote to elect a Board. We encourage parents andfriends of the school to consider the possibility of becoming a trustee.

For further information about what being a Board member entails please feel welcome tospeak with current board members or go to the following website for further information.

www.trustee-election.co.nz Kind Regards

Russell DickeyBoard Chairperson

Dave

and

Steve

Workshop Home Ec

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WEEKMonday Tuesday Wednesda

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Week 14-10

Feb

TOD/PD TODCourse

WaitangiDay

Start ofYear

Otago Netat

Week 211-17

Feb

Kate Away NCEA toKate

TrailBike

Week 318 24

Feb

Kate

AccountantKiwi Golf Cricket

games in

Lawrence

Week 425-3

March

ERO ERORoxburgh

Athletics

ERO EROKate Mal

9.30am

SwimmingSports

Week 5

4-10

March

Drive to SurviveSportsActivator

Week 611-17

March

NZQA PNMeeting

Jeff away

Sports

Activator

Week 718-24

March

OtagoPolytech

Liaison

SexwiseKate away

Week 825-31

March

Anniversary

Day

Jumbo

Day

Good

Friday

Week 91-7 April

EasterMonday

EasterTuesday

Week 10

8-14April

BerwickCamp

BerwickCamp

BerwickCamp

Week 11

15-19April

SportsActivator

Lawrence Area SchoolTerm Planner

Term 1

2013