Kia Ora Tatou, Greetings to all
Dear Parents
OVERVIEW
It has been a very sad time for the Samoan people, losing so many of their loved ones in the recent tsunami. Tragically one of our children, Nekyta Letiu, lost her father. Her teacher, Sandy Sitters, and myself attended the family service last Sunday night on behalf of our school community. Our thoughts are with Nekyta’s family, mother Nele and the extended whanau during their time of mourning.
We also would like to send our sympathy to other families in the school who have been affected by the tsunami and have lost relatives during the holidays or were visiting Samoa on holiday and experienced some frightening times.
Part of the money raised at our Save the Children Fair in December will go to Samoa to help them rebuild villages that have been affected by the tsunami.
Strategic Learning Area Enhancing Potential
Professional Development for Staff
Gaye Byers will be observing each teacher taking a writing lesson in November and will deliver a follow-up professional development session in the same week.
Shelley Quinlivan presented a paper at the ULearning Conference in Christchurch. She received excellent feedback from course participants who attended her session.
Kay Wight and Therese Bakker attended an educational leadership conference last week in Rotorua and are sharing with staff some of the latest research in the field of education.
Strategic Learning Area Empowering Learning
Presently staff are working very hard to ensure that we are ready to implement the revised curriculum in 2010.
The vision of the school will determine our guiding principles for curriculum development in the school.
Our principles of curriculum design are as follows:
• Learning to learn
• Creative and critical learning
• Rich, authentic, negotiated learning tasks
• Enhancing potential (strength-based)
• Thinking taxonomy framework
• Partnership with community mentors
School-wide Yearly Theme
Each year we will plan our learning programmes around a central school-wide theme. For example, in 2009 the theme was Guardianship.
Programme Delivery Document
Presently staff are preparing a programme delivery document which will include subject philosophy statements, curriculum priorities and content coverage. Some modifications will be made so that learning programmes and assessment requirements are better aligned. Epsom Normal’s achievement targets will be aligned to the national standards.
Strategic Learning Area Enriching the Learning Environment
Health and Safety
Polices to be approved by the BOT at October’s meeting.
ENPS Swimming Pool
The Board of Trustees is considering opening the school pool to the school community during the Christmas holidays. The pool
would be available to those families who hire a key for approximately $120 from the school and sign a contract accepting the rules and responsibilities of the hire. Any families who would be interested in using the pool over this period, are asked to complete the slip on the red notice that is attached to this newsletter and return it to the school office as soon as possible.
Property
The staffroom has been fully refurbished and carpet has been laid in senior and middle classrooms.
Warmest regards
Jane Cavanagh-Eyre
Principal