Term 1
The weeks just been.....
Southland Stags
This week, Southland Stags Matt Saunders (“I’m the oldest winger in the NPC, apparently”) and Braydon Mitchell (“He’s just a young fella - still learning to talk”) visited…and they brought the Ranfurly Shield with them. The NPC’s oldest winger spoke about what it felt like to win the shield and gave a potted history of the log o’ wood in the process. The “young fella” also put in his two-bobs’ worth and then they posed with the kids. Certainly, Connor (with shield) and Brodie will remember the day they escorted the Ranfurly Shield into the school hall.
Unsurprisingly, the Shield looks a little battered (as it might, having been refurbished only once in 110 years). In being set up for the photo, it fell over. This prompted Matt Saunders to highlight the marks made when it was dropped at Wyndham and then again in Winton….and that it is currently insured at half-a-million dollars! Before leaving, our visitors presented certificates and prizes won by our Phoenix team members at the recent Southland Primary Schools Athletics Championships. Excellent!
THANK YOU!!
OMG was that an awesome night or what?!! On behalf of the Tuinga-Tahi Performance Group we would like to send out a GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all the wonderful folks who made last night’s disco so incredible…
The helpers. - thumps up!!
The parent support..- pat on the back!!
The kids themselves...big high fives!!
The biggest THANK YOU goes to the one and only DJ BIG DADDY (aka Mr Johnson.- J's hubby). What a winner!! the kids think he ROCKS and we totally agree.
Thank you all again and looking forward to seeing you all again in term 3 at our next rocking good time!!
Partnership invitation…
Our Board of Trustees is actively seeking practical support from a select group of businesses willing to be associated with Waverley Park School in a mutually supportive partnership. The type of support offered by such a business obviously needs to be on terms that best fit with its requirements.
If your business might be interested in joining with us, please let us know and our highly efficient team will make contact. Many thanks for your consideration.
Waverley Park Parents Association
(formerly the ‘Friends of Waverley’)
Hello and welcome to another wonderful year at a wonderful school. Have you ever wondered how you could meet more people, lend a helping hand, support your school or just be a good old good sort? Then this could be just the group for you.
The WPPA is a small friendly bunch of parents who undertake two or three fundraising ventures a year and look after the second hand uniform shop. Very easy no hassle events which make a reasonable amount of money to help purchase equipment for our lovely children to use.
If you are interested we are holding our first meeting on Monday 26 April at 7.30 in our school staffroom. Any questions feel free to contact me at school. Looking forward to seeing you there. Cheers Vanessa Young WPPA
Please, please make sure that we have got your current family contact information. In the event of an emergency; it is imperative that we are able to contact you quickly. We have had a couple of recent situations where none of the phone numbers we had on file were accurate. That same information is included in the details asked for if we need to take your child to hospital.
PLEASE RETURN THE CONTACT INFORMATION UPDATE FORM that arrived with your school accounts and BOT election information – EVEN IF THERE IS NOTHING TO BE CHANGED. That is the only way we are able to confirm that what we have on file is accurate. Thanks – it is important.
Farewell Maureen
At morning tea today, we formally acknowledged our immediate past board chair Maureen Deuchrass. Maureen is not standing for re-election in the current round of Board of Trustees elections. Maureen has very ably served our school as a trustee for ten years; seven of them as board chair; and three of those years as a member of the New Zealand School Trustees Association Southland Executive.
Maureen’s leadership was tested early on as the city went through the rigours of the now infamous ‘Invercargill Network Review’. During the upheaval of those eighteen months, as Board Chair and principal, we attended something in excess of sixty meetings as we fought to save the school from closure. In a couple of particularly intense weeks, we almost saw more of each other than our own families. To appropriate an old saying: “Cometh the hour, cometh the woman.” Our woman proved to be one of strength, endurance and style. Maureen’s superbly written submission “Waverley Park – Lighthouse School” played no small part in our final success.
Thank you, Maureen for your service, wisdom, calm leadership, and friendship. You have certainly earned the right to “ride off into the sunset”: all the best for the future.
Congratulations and thank-you…
This week’s interviews saw a 93% strike rate with both our new online booking system and your interview participation – an excellent outcome! Thank you.
The key to kids succeeding and achieving at school is to make sure the learning involves a three-way partnership: kid - parent/caregiver - teacher. Your willing involvement through the years of your children’s schooling greatly increases their levels of achievement. Your encouragement is vital – never underestimate the power and influence of your positive support and role-modelling.
Southland Athletics…
Congratulations to the Phoenix athletes who competed at the Southland Championships last Saturday. Team Manager Janelle Shaw: “Please pass on my congratulations and thanks to all athletes involved. It was a pleasure to deal with them on the day and they were on the whole, well-organised and they looked awesome in their uniforms!”
Against what is always tough competition, Phoenix results included: Te Kaanu Te Huia 3rd 9 boys discus; Aiden Brown 3rd 10 boys discuss; and members of the relay teams to gain placings: Talyah Sweney 9 girls; and Hughan Sharp and Dorian Mitchell in the winning 10 boys team.
A few of the guys from the Sharks came and ran some of the kids through some drills. The kids weren’t the problem though. Good job Martin Iti is a reasonable bloke…
From our Board …
What an action packed, fun-filled, adventurous term it has been at Waverley Park School! On behalf of the BOT, I would like to thank the staff and pupils of our school for all the hard work they have put into making term one of 2010 a stunner!
Staff: we have appreciated the opportunities and experiences you have provided our children-both big and small.
Children: thank you as always for your wonderfully inclusive, accepting and inquiring minds - you are amazing.
Friends and whanau:-education is a partnership; we thank you for your willingness to partner with us as a BOT and staff to foster the innovative and forward-thinking school that Waverley is.
The BOT will continue to support the school in advancing excellence in education and providing an environment that is conducive to this. "2010 is shaping up to be a fantastic year!"
Have a well deserved Easter and extended holiday break.
- Lisa Tou Chairperson WPS BOT
Waverley Park School
Board of Trustees Election
Nominations are invited for the election of three parent representatives to the Board of Trustees. A nomination form and a copy of this notice has been posted to all eligible voters.
Additional nomination forms can be obtained from the school office. Nominations will close at noon on Friday 23 April 2010 and, may be accompanied by a signed candidate’s statement.
There will also be a list of candidates’ names, as they come to hand, for inspection at the school. The poll will close at noon on Friday 7 May 2010.
Signed: Denise Findlater (Returning Officer)
Year 6 Camp
Our year six troops celebrated the end of their camp experience with last night’s “CAMP LA BAFTA” night. (Local Artist’s Black-As Fancy Timber-Awards). Dressed to the nines for the gala occasion, the kids - and their equally well-dressed parents - entered via the red carpet; watched the camp DVD; watched the awards ceremony; all at candle lit tables. Later, there were refreshments and dancing to music from “Midnight Cruise”.
Congratulations to the big award winners on the night: Imogen Peterson (Never-Say-Die Iron Woman); Kingston Otene (Affirmative Team Player); Kate Laurie (Fear Factor Survivor); Harrison Lindsay (Positivity Gets You Everywhere); and Storm McLean (Never Quit Warrior).
The evening was a huge success – one the kids are sure to remember and this success was due in no small measure to the contributions of many: Helen Kennedy, Sharon Witheford, Janelle Shaw and Raiha Johnson; James and Tania Clive; Lisa Tou; Michelle and Grant Barraclough; Bruce Berg and Alan Dawkes on the executive team at the Ascot Park Hotel; Stefan Fabre manager at Windsor Wines; my band-mates and good friends Les Findlater, Sharon Officer, Greg Findlater and Shane Mitchell; and last but not least; the year six kids and the adults responsible for the way everyone looked and participated last night. Their behaviour and obvious enjoyment was a credit to their families. Judging from some of the faces around here today, as they had at camp – the kids gave it everything they had last night.
Sharon Witheford’s impressive camp DVD is available at the office ($10); as is the ($5) CD containing approximately 2000 camp photos.
Go to the photo gallery page to view a slideshow of the night.
Despite an early nervous moment or two brought on by the weather, Monday’s Phoenix athletics sports was a great day out for all and sundry. The organization at both the Salford and Waverley Park was excellent; both venues running like well-oiled machines. A huge vote of thanks goes to the parents and caregivers who willingly assisted with the various events; and for the support and encouragement provided to the kids. (Go to the sports page to view a slideshow of the day)
Well-deserved congratulations go to all kids; we are very proud of you. An extra dose of congratulations goes to all who’ve qualified for the Southland Championships to be staged Saturday 20 March:
Georgia Nicholson (7) 60 m
Matthew Larsen (8) relay
Leighton White (8) long jump
Madison Burke (8) long jump
Kingston Otene (9) 200m, long jump, shot put
Te Kaanu Te Huia (9) relay, discus, shot put
Liam Miller (9) high jump, long jump
Ethan Yeo (9) high jump
Talyah Sweney (9) 100m, relay, discus
Samantha Barraclough (9) high jump
Hughan Sharp (10) 100m, 200m, 800m, high jump, relay
Dorian Mitchell (10) relay
Aidan Brown (10) high jump, shot put
Imogen Peterson (10) 100m, 200m, relay, long jump
Aliesha Guttery-Edwards (10) 200m, relay, high jump, shot-put, long jump
The day’s programme can be downloaded from http://www.sportsouthland.co.nz/files/docs/sport%20southland/primaryathletics_prog2010.pdf Give it all you’ve got and enjoy the day, kids.
Homework
After putting the NZ Curriculum on Trade Me, the intention was to keep my head down and just get on with things for a bit. So when Karori Normal School in Wellington came to the attention of national media for its view on homework, I was contacted by the Invercargill Eye for an opinion. Seeing as the research the Karori was influenced by is the same research I used for “HOMEWORK: an open letter to Waverley Park School Parents & Caregivers” back in 2001 (still available as a download from http://www.waverleypark.school.nz): actually – I did have something to say. So that’s how Draysharn and I got to be in the “Eye” today.
And over the nine years since, I have yet to see any evidence that would make me change my “homework mind”.
[Just so you know: the word “normal’ in a school’s name (as in Karori Normal) means that the school is associated with a nearby college of education and is frequently used by that college to assist with the training of new teachers].
Despite that The Parent Petition and NZEI petitions are both available at the office to sign. While the Ministry of Education has it’s spin on the standards, I invite readers to go to Kelvin Smythe’s (www.networkonnet.co.nz – click on “Latest”).
Rather inconveniently for the promoters of national’s standards, Kelvin is a well-respected educator and a well-informed critic of national standards with a very good understanding of what people really need to know about this issue. Neither is he a lone voice…
More information and links are also available from www.nzei.org.nz/ and www.nzpf.ac.nz/
You don’t need to take my word for it - feel free to do your own research – there’s plenty of well-informed evidence available.
Goal-setting interviews…
This annual exercise is coming up: 24 March from 1-00pm and 25 March from 3-30pm. Each interview is ten minutes long and involves you, your child, and your child’s teacher looking ahead for the year.
This year, we have invested in an online booking system that allows you to directly book your own interview time: http://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/
Bookings open at 5.00pm on Monday 8 March
Just type in our school’s code [DY88W] then follow the simple instructions to book your interview(s). Confirmation will be e-mailed directly to you. If you don’t have online access available at home, ask a friend who does.
Alternatively, we will make a computer available for you to use in every classroom (Tuesday – Friday) for the next two weeks.
Get in early. It’s cheaper than Grab-a-Seat (‘cos it’s free) but it is similar in that interview timeslots get taken on a first-come-first-served basis. Book yours next week.
Bookings close at 9.00am on Monday 22 March.
Despite the soggiest of starts, the year six students clambered onto the bus and headed off to camp. Two very full-on days (only one thirty minute of break of ‘free’ time in the two days); so they’ll all sleep well tonight. Our sincere thanks to the parents and staff who committed themselves to ensuring the kids had an enjoyable and safe time. A slideshow is uploaded in the photo gallery page. Enjoy.
Enrich@ILT
Today, all of our year five students spent the day at enrich@ilt centre in Don St. The kids have spent the day learning the rudiments of power point using the Apple keynote technology.
Members of the North Rotary Club gave each Year 4 pupil a free dictionary to use in their learning. The children got to sign their name at the front. The children are thrilled with their dictionaries. Thanks Invercargill North Rotary.
National Standards…
While the standards are now a legislated requirement, the debate about their merit (or otherwise) is likely to continue for a while yet.
I would like to acknowledge, and express my appreciation of, the support that I have received from the Waverley Park BOT and our wider parent community over the past couple of weeks. Approximately 90% of the 200 or so responses to the Trade Me auction were on our side of the coin. Whether or not you agree with me; thank you to everyone who has put “pen to paper” to express their views to the politicians.
Despite all the hype and controversy that currently abounds, no actions likely to be detrimental to our kids or school community will be taken. No point in doing to ourselves what’s already being done by others is there?
The first e-mail said…
“The Auckland Primary Principals’ Association and New Zealand Principals Federation have compiled a short survey and are seeking your help in gathering data from the wider primary and intermediate school parent community around reporting and National Standards…It is requested that the questionnaire go in the school newsletter and either be completed online or the form returned to the school. We ask that the school collate the paper returns and either fax to 04 471 2339 or email to
It was signed Ernie Buutveld; National President NZPF.
The second e-mail said…
“I represent parents nationwide who have significant concerns about National Standards. We are today launching a petition to call for the government to delay the implementation of National Standards…This petition has independent of the NZEI petition. It endeavours to give parents a voice in the current debate.
I respectfully request that you print both of these documents and attach them to the next edition of your school newsletter. The closing date of the petition is Monday 22nd March…
Yours faithfully
Monique Watson
PO Box 22283; Khandallah; Wellington 6441”
