From the Principal

Principal: Donna Donnelly Admin: Kate Grey [email protected] [email protected] Cellphone: 021 594 637 03 7826717 Website: www.karameaschool.com 105 Waverley Street School App: School Stream Karamea Term 2: Week 8, 18th June 2018 _______________________________________________________________________________________________ An interesting initiative that they are operating is a straight Year 8 class (10 students). This is being trialled as a FROM THE PRINCIPAL transition class between Primary and Secondary as they felt SCHOOL STREAM APP – the details of how to access our that the students were not as well prepared for the new communication app is in the body of this newsletter. Secondary programmes as they could be. This dominated our “van discussion” on the journey back over the Hill! New Families Although they have a roll of 140 in order to accommodate It is a pleasure to welcome new families to Karamea. It is for this specialist class, other classes primary classes had to wonderful to have some new students joining our school. make up for this with larger classes – NE-Y1 (17 going to 22 Welcome to: students); Year 2-3 (26 students); Year 4-5 (28 students) May who has joined Tōtara as a Year 6 student and Year 6-7 (26 students). The classroom spaces were Otis wo has joined Kōwhai as a Year 4 student relatively small and we were able to see first-hand the Elias who has joined Nikau as a Year 1 student realities of teaching large groups in small spaces. Teacher Only Week 5-8 June 2018 On the journey home we stopped in at Pupu Springs and We had a busy week and managed to fit a lot into the 4 then back to base camp at Kaiteriteri (Eco-Lodge). days. Tuesday – all Area Schools in our “Community of Learning” Thursday – At this point I stayed at the Lodge as I had a (Rai Valley, South Westland, Murchison, Reefton, KAS) held conference with the Top of the South Principals – a teacher only day. This was hosted at Reefton Area Secondary and Area Schools. The focus was around School. We had an early start and a late finish by the time “Leadership in a Collaborative Era”. It was heartening to we arrived that night up at Kaiteriteri. The TOD enabled staff hear that the research is showing that schools need to be to strengthen conversations around student learning and more conscious about the realities of how much they can curriculum expectations with colleagues who understand the implement – as there is a high burnout of people at the complexities and challenges faced by staff in Area Schools. present time across schools in NZ, who are expected to implement all of these changes and to cope with unlimited Wednesday – We travelled to Collingwood Area School. challenges. There is a huge amount of Education reform The Takaka Hill was a sight to behold. We were surprised and review currently underway. Primary schools are with the level of damage to the road due to the cyclone concentrating on their sector, Secondary are concentrating earlier in the year. We also drove through light snow at the on their sector – and Area Schools have both sectors to top. At Collingwood we had a scout around the area to contend with‼ Principals and teachers in single sector familiarise ourselves with the district, as many staff had not groups are feeling overwhelmed so you can just imagine been there. The 2019 TOSI tournament is being hosted at how the Area Schools sector feels, especially when you Collingwood so we have a greater appreciation and have less staff and reduced levels of resourcing to support understanding of the travel demands and the layout of the you. area. I think it is important to bring this to your attention as the We were warmly welcomed by the principal and the staff Government is wanting to hear from parents as well as the and we had an opportunity to look around the school. As staff, so that future decision making can reflect the always, it is fabulous to see schools in action and to have aspirations of all. the chance to talk with students and their teachers about their learning programmes. It was a delight to catch up with It was a pleasure to hear Nigel Latta speak to our small some ex-students and seeing the delight on their faces as group. He was emphasising the Age of REVOLUTION – and they were reunited with their KAS teachers with great joy how algorithms are changing how we as humans interact and hugs! with each other and our world. He reiterated that schools are there to prepare students for the next thing – but what is that A theme that resonated with us all at CAS was the emphasis when the rate of change is so great?! on holistic learning – through direct learning about things of the Head, Heart and Hands. They reflect on their curriculum He shared the skill set that he believes students require to to ensure all these components are strengthened. They face their next stage: have some challenges around their old buildings and • Critical Thinking learning spaces and they are currently exploring options • Communication with the Ministry of Education. • Collaboration • Creativity Obviously, there are skill sets within each of these, and All children will participate in these activities. Reading, Writing and Maths are still needed but without the On Thursday, we will be hosting a Matariki celebration 4c’s then in isolation, the 3 Rs will have limited use for student futures. at 2.15pm in the library. On Friday, we will be cooking a hangi to share at lunch. The rest of team headed off on Thursday morning to Motueka and visited Motueka South School. They have had Suggested koha for the hangi ranges from $2 (Nikau some new buildings in recent times so staff were able to see how different spaces were being used to support students children) to $5 for other students and adults. Please and staff. Primary then visited Parklands School. The drop your Koha to the school office. principal Mr Jacques Munro taught at Karamea Area School 20 years ago and he was delighted to be able to share his We will be asking for parent help on Thursday, 11.30am- school with us. The Secondary team undertook a planning 12.30pm to help prepare the food. On Friday afternoon, and reflection meeting. we will be running Matariki based games. The team visited Whenua Iti Outdoors Centre at Lower Moutere in the afternoon. We are in the early stages of Now is the time to view the constellation, so please get scoping for end of year camps and the staff undertook a site outdoors (usually between midnight and 4am) and look visit to ascertain the suitability of the Whenua Iti programmes and venue for our students. The staff were skyward. Let's hope Ranginui keeps the skies clear for us very impressed and are continuing to look at this option. all! Matariki! Reminder – Celebration Assembly 2.15 Thursday Friday – My morning was spent learning about some updates from the Ministry around Trades funding, Sport Tasman programmes, NCEA review, Education NZ updates, STUDENT AWARDS Secondary Sports student eligibility to compete and sponsor Congratulations to the following students for their presentations. outstanding work attitudes and effort. 24th May 2018 Primary staff had a 3 hour professional development Nikau Mrs Blackburn session on maths with our University of Canterbury Hunter Manning For learning 3 new words this facilitator Sarah Cobb. This was hosted at Parklands week. What an amazing learner School. The Secondary team visited Motueka High School you are! and caught up with colleagues around moderation and NCEA programmes. Mikah Leckey For having some great ideas to share during ‘ Life Education’ this We valued spending this time together and this enabled us week. to all see and participate in some new learning. Staff made new connections with colleagues, had an opportunity to see schools in action and to explore innovative ways that Kowhai Matua Leighton schools are engaging with students and their learning Poppy Walton For great perseverance in Maths! programmes. Cooper Hansen- Excellence with novel reading! I appreciate that taking all of our Teacher Only Days in a Higgs block can present challenges for some families, however this enables us to get further a-field as a group so that we Tōtara Mr Mawson can strengthen our relationships and our professional Sam Pahl For improving his ability to knowledge. participate and contribute Other items: Kyran Guppy For responding to feedback by 2018 Awards Assembly date change: applying effort to provide deeper th Tuesday 27 November 11.30am thinking in his writing BIKES – A reminder that students are not to ride their bikes on the footpaths. Constable Allan Kees is keen for Kahikatea (Yrs 9-10) us to be reminded about this. Stanley Dey For taking more responsibility for his own self-management FOUND PROPERTY We have a large amount of clothing in the office area. Any and being ACCOUNTABLE unclaimed clothing at the end of this week will be disposed Nina Tavinor For showing GRIT and giving of. things a go! CANOPY (Yrs 11 - 13) PRIMARY NEWS Willow Howley For showing RESILIENCE and grit and taking responsibility for her This week Primary will be celebrating Matariki. own learning. We will be running activities in LB3 (1.45pm - LJ Howley For showing grit and getting 2.45pm) on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. fully involved in his first Science The activities are: Co-operation ropes, Billy Nilly Internal Assessment. (campfire cooking), Pet Rocks and Orienteering. HoopDance with Abby - ages 9-17, Gold Coin Donation THURSDAY 28th JUNE 3.15 - 4.15 School Hall In this workshop I will teach you some basic hoop moves such as waist and chest hooping, spiraling This Photo by CAUGHT BEING GOOD AWARDS the hoop up and down the body, and fun ways to take the hoop on and off the body.

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