April 2015 Anzac Edition UPDATE: Term 4 2014 & Term 1 2015 The EXCEL Rotorua suite of 15 projects are designed to be a comprehensive package to contribute to raising educational achievement of learners in Rotorua. Of these projects, nine have been completed and new opportunities have come about, as a result of collaborative partnerships. Two of these are: 1. Virtual Youth Team and 2. Animation College. These will be discussed in full in the new initiatives segment. All schools within the Rotorua TLA have engaged in one or more of the EXCEL Rotorua projects, resulting in: • Over 30 graduates, mainly Principals, from a collaborative leadership programme. • Over 106 tamariki (and their whānau) engaged in ECE and/or supported to successfully transition to school. • Over 100 learners received additional support in Mathematics. • Over 360 learners received additional support in Literacy. • 96% NCEA L2 achievement from students who attended ‘Ka Hao Te Rangatahi’ Wānanga. In addition to this activity, the EXCEL Rotorua project management, project leads, and project teams have met regularly to monitor and plan projects. The Rotorua In this issue: Combined Advisory Group (CAG - Pā Harakeke) which comprises representatives from Government agencies, the Children’s Team and Whānau Ora, met monthly; the Introduction 1 Excel Rotorua Community Leadership Group (CLG), chaired by the Mayor of Rotorua, 2 Hon. Steve Chadwick, which has an open door policy for all members of the Project Updates: community, continues to meet quarterly. As a result of Project 5 moving forward as 1. Vision & Hearing 2. Literacy & Numeracy Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru (NPeW), the Principal’s Advisory Board (PAB) and the Excel 3. Transitions Rotorua Education Trust meet monthly to assist with the implementation of this 4. High Trust transformational project. Members of the PAB and their respective cluster schools, 3 will be disclosed on Pg 4. Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru 5. e-Learning Community A highlight is always having opportunities to meet and talk directly with Ministers. Recently we’ve had the opportunity to host both Minister Tolley and Minister Project Updates – cont. 5 6. Attendance & Engagement Parata. The are interested in and supportive of the Rotorua Social Sector Trial – 7. Cultural Responsiveness EXCEL Rotorua. Minister Tolley’s final words to us were “you have lived up to your 8. Teacher Support reputation”. 9. Learner Wellbeing 10. Data Accuracy Meetings have also been held with senior managers of the Ministry of Education (Jill New Initiatives 8 Bond, Ezra Shuster and Cheryl Bunker), Ministry of Social Development (Mike 1. Virtual Youth Team Bryant), and the Lakes DHB (Marita Ranclaud) to discuss project specifics as well as 2. Animation College general Social Sector Trials influence matters. Photo Board 9 We are extremely pleased to announce that EXCEL Rotorua will be extended through to June 2016. As a result we have consolidated our final projects Dates to Save 10 concluding in June 2015. We are scoping collective priorities for the 2015-2016 year. 1 EXCEL Rotorua Newsletter APRIL 2015 2 PROJECT UPDATE Project 11: Educational Leadership – some of the Cohort 1 Graduates & Special Guests. Lft – Rt: Grant Henderson, Lanea Strickland, Linda Woon, Lorraine Taylor, Rob Johnson (VFNZ), Mayor Steve Chadwick, Bill Kermode (CEO NEXT Foundation), Sue Bewley, Sue Winters (EXCEL), Ally Gibbons, Chris Grinter. 1: Vision & Hearing 2: Literacy & Numeracy 3: Transitions Two Literacy & Numeracy workshops for Supporting and empowering learners and Over 100 students teachers and whānau will be held on: 30 their families to experience a seamless were screened in the April and 27 May 2015. The 27 May 2015 is transition to school is the priority of this B4 School Check an open wānanga. An e-invitation will be project. The team will bring together best visits last year. sent out to all Rotorua schools shortly. evidence transition practice with a practical These students were knowledge of supporting whānau and already in school and For more information please contact: empowering whānau to engage. for a variety of Hinemoa Anaru on 027 353 5245 or reasons were not [email protected]. The focus will be on providing resources to screened before whānau, ECE teachers and reception starting school. Literacy: teachers; creating forums and systems for Schools engaged 2014: Aorangi, Malfroy, reception teachers to build relationships with This project was completed in 2014. There Westbrook and Western Heights Primary. ECE teachers of feeder services; promoting a was still anecdotal evidence that some shared understanding of Te Whāriki (the Early learners were disengaged due to possible Status: Completed Childhood Curriculum); and developing a vision and hearing issues. In March we were common agenda within our community of approved for a project extension to ensure Mathematics: what “seamless transition” should look like that follow-up occurred for these students - In the previous six months three schools here in Rotorua. Phase 2. We have employed a 0.5FTE: trialled Maths Whizz, an online maths tutor Carolyne Hall, who will work alongside Lakes software programme designed to assist The Excel Transitions team includes Taumata DHB, our schools and whānau to assist with students with mathematics. The tool is team members Rangitiaria Tibble and this. designed for any age group and was being Jasmine Waerea. trialed with two year 3 and 4 classes and two Schools engaged: Aorangi, Chapman year 7 and 8 classes (approximately 100 Status: On Track College, Glenholme, Horohoro, Kaharoa, students). The software allows students to Kaingaroa Forest, Kawaha Point, Lake do an initial assessment so the programme Rerewhakaitu, Lake Rotoma, Lynmore, can identify their maths level. The software Malfroy, Mamaku, Ngakuru, Ngongotahā, then creates a programme for the student 4: High Trust Ōtonga, Ōwhata, Rotorua Primary, Reporoa that develops and extends their maths In March 2015, the local Ministry of Education Primary, Rotokawa, Rotorua SDA, Sunset, literacy. The student can work on the (MoE) provided EXCEL Rotorua with an Selwyn, St Mary’s, St Michael’s, TKKM o programme independently each day. Results updated list of functions and services Hurungaterangi, TKKM o Te Koutu, TKKM o made available at the end of Term 4 have provided by the MoE. An online survey will be Rotoiti, Te Wharekura o Ngāti Rongomai, been positive. As a result the pilot has been sent out to all schools by the end of April Waikite Valley, Westbrook, Western Heights, extended to over 500 students through to 2015, as an opportunity for the sector to Whangamarino and Whakarewarewa. June 30 2015. provide feedback. They will need to be completed prior to 11 May 2015. Status: Phase 1 - Completed Rotorua Intermediate: Phase 2 – On Track 7 classes / 239 learners A workshop will be held 14 May 2015, with a St Mary’s School: 4 classes / 124 learners group of Principals or designated staff, to Western Heights Primary: analyse and provide a report back to the For further information please contact: 5 classes / 158 learners MoE, with the survey results. Roana Bennett on 027 353 5360 or [email protected] If you are interested in being a part of this Mercia-Dawn Yates on 027 353 5262 or Schools engaged: Numeracy – Horohoro and workshop group, please contact: [email protected] St Michael’s. MathsWhizz Pilot: RIS, St Mercia-Dawn Yates on 027 353 5262 or Mary’s and Western Heights Primary. [email protected] Status: On Track Status: On Track 12 EXCEL Rotorua Newsletter APRIL 2015 3 5: e-Learning Community . introduces . Ngā Pūmanawa Waru Initiative Our vision is for Rotorua to be a great first 6-12 months, with the other 35-40 place to learn, where all learners are schools/kura being engaged later. engaged and excelling in their education, supported by great teachers All schools/kura will have the and their whānau. Their education is opportunity to be supported by the enhanced by the provision of a personal NPeW Team, to ensure that all Rotorua device with assured connectivity at learners and their whānau have access school, at home and within the to ubiquitous learning environments. community. This is an opportunity to transform the Rotorua education We are mindful that this initial roll-out sector. is inclusive of the compulsory education sector, and will be strategising a way Ngā Pūmanawa e Waru (NPeW) is the forward to include the full pipeline vehicle to achieve this. from ECE settings, Kōhanga Reo through to local Tertiary providers. EXCEL has developed a robust business proposal for presentation to the NEXT The Cheeky … Foundation in May 2015. This will be the determining meeting on the level of investment NEXT is willing to contribute to this initiative. The NPeW business proposal suggests that over time all Rotorua schools will For further information please contact: have developed and implemented e- Mercia-Dawn Yates on 027 353 5262 or Learning plans. It is proposed that 10- [email protected]. 15 schools/kura will be engaged in the st ROTORUA 1 e-City The whakatauākī “Ngā pūmanawa e waru o Te Arawa” describes the eight children of Rangitihi, one of Te Arawa’s illustrious 1 The symbol that will be used to ancestral leaders, as being the eight characterise ‘Ngā Pūmanawa e beating hearts of Te Arawa. It is from Waru’ will be the Cheeky E. Rangitihi that Te Arawa tribes trace their descent and are brought together through It will be awarded to people, a common ancestor over the wider 2 Rotorua district landscape. places and organisations, which excel in the kaupapa. This whakatauākī, which embraces all of the hapū and iwi of Te Arawa, underpins The Mayor of Rotorua, Hon the inclusive approach taken by Ngā 3 Pūmanawa Waru. This initiative will Steve Chadwick, is the first bring all schools, learners, iwi, recipient of the Cheeky E and communities and whānau of Rotorua is determined to make Rotorua together to share a common kaupapa – an E -City.