Seatoun School values open, effective and regular communication

Dear All

We welcome the following new students to our school:

Autumn Taylor, Jessica Dempsey, Stirling Taylor-Ramsay and Oliver Vanston. Their big buddies are Emily Brooke, Elena Revelant, Rene Sharma and Louie Hardy.

The following students were awarded awards at our last hui. They are to be congratulated on their effort and attitude:

Issue 255, 29 May 2014

Rm Year Rm Year

1 7&8 Connie Newton-Rencen. Rising to the chal-lenges of Y8 with grace and enthusiasm

10 3 & 4 Lucia Fenwick-Croft. Listening to other points of view, leading discussion, asking thoughtful ques-tions.

2 7&8 Sinead Gregan. Working hard to be, “The Best She Can Be.”

11 3 & 4 Lucy Stewart. For always being a positive role model in class.

3 7&8 Paul Sasse - For focus and drive in maths. The practise is paying off and you are achieving more each week.

12 3 & 4 Lulu Davies. Outstanding self control. Always ready to listen and go!

4 1&2 Sienna Rovers. Fantastic reading, using lots of strategies and trying your best

13 3 & 4 Olivia Hay -for becoming more confident in con-tributing her thoughtful comments to class and group discussions, and for showing increasing leadership in the classroom

5 1&2 Laura Withell - for focus in class and produc-ing beautiful work.

14 5 & 6 Rhian Beauchamp-Hughes. Living the “So What?” from our last unit and putting it into action.

6 1&2 Ellie Pirotta. Being a motivated learner who always strives her best.

15 5 & 6 Zach Purcell. Always being a respectful and thoughtful classmate

7 0 Class yet to be formed 16 5 & 6 Bella Hay, for perseverance and courage during cross country with a fantastic result. Well done!

8 1 Anabella Woodbury. Amazing writing-working so carefully

17 5 & 6 Lucy Prentice

Taking responsibility for helping herself in her learning, and for determined efforts to do well in cross-country (3rd)

9 1 Lucy Kidd - Consistently being an amazing role-model in class and for working so hard on your story writing.

Principal Awards

Seatoun School values a positive partnership with the community

School and Community Communications

The Board wanted to take the opportunity to update you all on some of the new initiatives we are undertaking around our communications strategy.

One of the priority areas arising from the November planning day was an increased focus on effective school and community communication, including a review of emergency communication options. In term one this year, a small working group was established to review the school’s approach to the broad topic of communication and to propose recommendations to the Principal and the Board where changes or improvements were suggested. The working group includes representatives from the school - Tim Kong (Review Chair), Anne McLellan, Rebecca Power, FoSS (Kendra Ross) and the Board (Dave Farrelly).

A number of quick wins were identified by the working group as a result of the meetings in term one and some actions have already been taken, including extending the skills of some teachers to support the school’s communications through various medium. Specifically, staff will aim to provide a wider range of relevant information about school and student activities displayed on the LCD panels. These panels are located in the atrium and the reception areas.

Hopscotch Competition:

Over the last couple of weeks I was running a very informal lunchtime hopscotch competition for Y5&6 children. Many were unsure of the rules of this ‘old school’ traditional game. Once introduced, and after a few practise throws and hops, it was neat to see the im-provement and enjoyment the children got from such a simple game…not a smartphone or ipad in sight! Children were each given 4 minutes to see how far around the grid they could get. Wynn Skinner & Henry Pickering both did the whole 8 squares and were on square 2 second time round when the clock stopped-which is a great effort. Tom King made the most progress and Cade Watson and Kate Burnham displayed great sportsmanship. Games such as hopscotch, ‘elastics’ and skipping are fantastic for developing balance, co-ordination and all-round fitness-maybe they are something families might pick up on?

Mid-Year Conferences:

A reminder that these are scheduled for Tuesday 24 June (conferences run throughout the day; school is closed) and after 3.00pm on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26. We are unable to schedule conferences outside of these 3 days. Bookings can be made on-line from Monday 16 June when agendas come home.

Eastern Zone Cross Country:

Yesterday morning, along with a huge contingent of Seatoun parents, 60 Seatoun athletes, Chris McLean and Aaron Wright , I braved the biting wind at McAlister Park at this year’s event; and what an event it was. Gosh and kids ran well. They showed determination and grit over this testing course in really testing conditions. Around 30 of our runners qualified to represent the Eastern Zone at the regional competition. Congratulations to everyone concerned – the blue T shirt with ‘To Be the Best You Can Be’ was prominent.

Extra-Curricular and Different Learning Programmes:

There are a huge range of programmes operating in our school, some during actual class time and others before school, at lunchtime or after school. We don’t use these activities as a marketing or advertising ploy to attract students to grow our roll – these are simply activ-ities made available to the kids currently at Seatoun School. They often change depending upon teacher/parent interest or because they support a particular focus. Over the next few Steeple Rocks I thought I would briefly share some of what is happening around our place.

Kapa Haka: For the last couple of years Kapa haka has been included in the Y7&8 afternoon enrichment programme. This year things got a bit wobbly when the provider (and then replacement tutor) where unable to deliver the programme. Last week Ms Rachel France took over the job and the programme is now back in full swing, with the added bonus that a lunchtime op-tion has been made available to Y4-6 children. Marion Hair will be assisting Rachel with the lunchtime programme which will kick off tomorrow.

Accelerated Learning in Mathematics (ALiM): This term Sam Broadmore and Lorraine Boennic started a supplementary maths programme for around 11 Y7&8 students. The programme runs Monday – Thursday afternoon for 15 weeks. The students involved participate in this programme on top of their ‘normal’ programme. The teacher/pupil ratio is 1:2 for each 30 minute session. This initiative has got off to a flying start and I’m pretty sure it is something that will continue next year.

Finally, best wishes to all the students playing in this weekend’s netball tournament.

Seatoun School values open, effective and regular communication

Rob Waddell Evening Postponed

If you haven't seen or heard through class reps, we have had to postpone The Evening with Rob Waddell due to unforeseen circumstances. This event will run again either before or after the Commonwealth Games.

Thanks to those who bought tickets. If you have not heard from us regarding a refund please email us at FoSS.seatoun@gmail.com.

Thanks also to the many who offered their time as volunteers!

Thanks,

Kendra Ross, Chair - FoSS

Cross Country

School Cross Country was held on Tuesday, 13th May in testing conditions. Once again everyone showed commitment and perseverance. Fickle weather meant we were in and out of the hall, and the students reacted well to this. The new course was well received, and we thank the residents of Burnham Street for allowing us the use of the ‘hill’.

Year 1 Year 2

Boys Girls Boys Girls

1st – Flynn Rapson 1st – Mia Hewson 1st –Toby Boennic 1st – Maja McGee

2nd – Archie Swain 2nd – Isabella Carter 2nd – Carter Hook-Jennings 2nd – Rebecca Sainsbury

3rd – Zar Wolf 3rd – Ruby Dacombe-Bird 3rd – William Groombridge 3rd – Summer Taylor-Ramsay

Year 3 Year 4

Boys Girls Boys Girls

1st – Zac Young-Holdsworth 1st – Charlotte Dacombe-Bird 1st – Lachlan Stefanidis 1st – Ilaria Stefanidis

2nd – Tom Hunt 2nd – Lily Davies 2nd – Jake Davies 2nd – Mia Moon

3rd – Bruno Hague-Smith 3rd – Summer Lousley 3rd – Ollie Watt 3rd – Georgia Lambie

Year 5 Year 6

Boys Girls Boys Girls

1st – Ned Bacon 1st – Maddie Pickering 1st – Tom Clarkson 1st – Mackenzie Morgan

2nd – Max Boennic 2nd – Cara Boothby 2nd – Henry Beliveau 2nd – Maleah Abbott-Newland

3rd – Davide Lubich 3rd – Lucy Prentice 3rd – Wynn Skinner 3rd – Isabella Hay

Year 7 Year 8

Boys Girls Boys Girls

1st – Mason Waterworth 1st – Grace Mellsop 1st – Billy Bouzoukis 1st – Kirstie Rae

2nd – Curtis Mellsop 2nd – Pip Crowley 2nd – Hew Kerrison 2nd – Petra Clarkson

3rd – Lucas Boennic 3rd – Ella Blakely 3rd – Matt Carter 3rd – Caitlin Gregan

On behalf of the working group, we value your input and feedback as recipients of information and communication from the school. There are a number of activities being planned to gather input and ideas from a cross section of the school and community. This will include but not be solely limited to:

- Opportunities to participate in focus groups so we can better understand communication preferences across a broad spectrum of the community;

- A small number of survey questions to be included in the annual community survey (currently planned to be on-line in the second week of term three);

- A dedicated email address - feedback@seatoun.school.nz - for you to share your thoughts with the working group. Please feel free to comment on any area of the communication spectrum, from frequency, types of information being provided, the medium being used, or if you would like to participate in one of the focus groups. Please include "Communications Review" in the subject line of your email.

There will be more information coming out over the coming months, and we would encourage you to get involved and contribute your views and help us shape the future.

Dave, Jo, Tina, Pete, Sarah, Susan and Will

Seatoun School values a positive partnership with the community

2014 Dates

June Tues 24 School closed for mid-year

conferences!

Term 2 Monday 05 May—Friday 04 July

Term 3 Monday 21 July—Friday 26 September

Term 4 Monday 13 October to Friday 19 December

For the full calendar, please check:

www.seatoun.school.nz/calendar

Other information can be found on the screens in the foyer.

Cancellations and postponements are put up on the website as

soon as we are notified.

How to Contact Us

Answerphone

School Absences 388 7600 x1 absences@seatoun.school.nz

School Office admin@seatoun.school.nz 388 7600

Principal

Peter Pointon 388 7600 peter.pointon@seatoun.school.nz

F0SS

Kendra Ross 021 459882 sunnyseatoun@gmail.com

Board of Trustees

Sarah Bacon H 388 4487 jandsbacon@xtra.co.nz

Tina Hepworth 0272391992 griffin_tina@hotmail.com

Jo Dundon H. 973 5775 Jo.dundon@theRgroup.co.nz

Dave Farrelly H 388 8794 dafarrelly@deloitte.co.nz

William Peet H. 388-8034 william.peet@gmail.com

Susan Kliffen W 388 7600 susan.kliffen@seatoun.school.nz

Newsletter contributions

Newsletter contributions and feedback to Anne McLellan at

admin@seatoun.school.nz. Contributions for next issue by

3.00pm Monday, 9 June 2014

Notices

Nanny Share

After school sharing care with our daughter, Mon-Friday, 3pm- 6pm. After school activities can be discussed. Care can be at both homes. Call Andrea 027 388 7509 / home 388 7508.

Kids Cross Country Series

Athletics Wellington is running the Kids Cross Country Series over the winter months at various venues around the Wellington region for year 1 to year 8 students. Next event is Sunday 8 June at Trentham Memorial Park. Get a few friends together and form a team. Team and individual awards.

For more information or to enter go to www.athleticshub.co.nz or email jo@athleticswellington.org.nz or phone 021 976116.