PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
John Goulstone
Kia ora koutou
The weather has certainly turned quickly from summer to autumn. The boiler upgrade is almost completed just in time for the cooler weather. There is even a pellet delivery scheduled for 31 March so we will be ready to go after that date if needed. The cleaning of the boiler is so much easier and it can be run off an app on the phone.
Megan G and I attended a train the trainer session run by the Ministry of Education on Wednesday to do with the curriculum refresh. We are now in a better place to run a session with the teachers on 24 April about the various components of the refreshed curriculum that differ from what is currently in place. The NZ curriculum is what underpins what children are taught in schools. Various governments have tinkered with or redeveloped it over the last 20 years. I don’t imagine this aspect will change in the future. Reading, writing and mathematics remain core to all curriculum and the teaching of these core subjects take up the majority of teaching and learning in primary schools. Curricula by their nature tend to be linear however children’s learning doesn’t necessarily follow a linear path and it depends on many factors including the child’s willingness to engage with the learning provided.
The Police Education Officer came today to talk to the children who bike to and from school about cycle safety. The main messages were:
- Be prepared to stop at intersections
- Wear a helmet
- Stay to the left on the road at all times
- Use the footpath (especially younger children) if this is safer
- Wear a hi vis vest while riding
He is going to ask the local police to monitor the biking behaviour to make sure the children are safe biking to school. Constable Jay will be back early next term to talk to each class about road safety.
The children who are going to the North Otago Rippa Tournament next Wednesday will need to be at school by 8:45. The briefing in Oamaru is at 9:45 with games starting at 10am. I do not have draw yet for the day. The strip for the day is school uniform - we don’t have enough t-shirts and jackets for the number of children going. Footwear is runners or bare feet. No sprigs.
The swimming pool is now closed for the season. Thank you once again to Donna Brook for her work with the children. It is much appreciated.
Hei kona mai I roto I nga mihi, Goodbye for now and thanks
