Phone : 04 939 1725 Fax: 04 939 1724 School email: [email protected] Website: www.stteresas.ac.nz Principal : [email protected] Report Absences: [email protected] Wednesday 13th March 2019 Dear families We are now into the second week of Lent: a six-week preparation for Jesus’ death and resurrection, for Christians around the world. We teach the children to work on being the best person they can be. Once again, our children shared what we value with our community—when they shared these prayers at our Ash Wednesday Mass last week: When we fail to wear the coat of compassion, we do not see the needs of others. Forgive us Lord, help us to be clothed in Christ. When we fail to wear the coat of kindness, we neglect to help others when they need us. Forgive us Lord, help us to be clothed in Christ. When we fail to wear the coat of humility, we put ourselves above others. Forgive us Lord, help us to be clothed in Christ. When we fail to wear the coat of gentleness, we do not show tenderness and warmth to others. Forgive us Lord, help us to be clothed in Christ. When we fail to wear the coat of patience, we do not show a willingness to understand others. Forgive us Lord, help us to be clothed in Christ. When we fail to wear the coat of tolerance, we judge others and don’t accept and appreciate their differ- ences. Forgive us Lord, help us to be clothed in Christ. When we fail to wear the coat of forgiveness, we are not looking after our relationships. Forgive us Lord, help us to be clothed in Christ. When we fail to wear the coat of love, we are not being true and faithful followers of Jesus. Forgive us Lord, help us to be clothed in Christ Measles Outbreak in Christchurch While we have NOT been notified of any cases of measles in our community, I thought it was timely to let you know what we would do if we were notified of a case:. From the information you provided to us on enrolment, we keep a register of which children have been immunized, which have not, and which children we have not received information about. In the case of a measles outbreak, we would inform you, and we would contact individual families whose children are not (or may not be) immunised. We would ask those families to keep their child home until after the outbreak. Tomorrow’s Schools Independent Review: Currently, there is an extensive review happening around the country in relation to our education system. The current system, “Tomorrow’s Schools”, was introduced in 1989 including the introduction of autonomous, self-governing schools across New Zealand. An independent task-force was set up to review this system. After consulting widely, they have published a report on their findings and a set of recommendations. Their report addresses eight key issue that they have identified: Key Issue 1: Governance Key Issue 2: Schooling Provision Key Issue 3: Choice and Competition Key Issue 4: Disability and Learning Support Key Issue 5: Teaching Key Issue 6: School Leadership Key Issue 7: Resourcing Key Issue 8: Central Agencies As Principal, I am involved with several school networks that have discussed and questioned the report, and we have prepared submissions from various perspectives. Our school’s Board of Trustees have also discussed the report in brief, and a working group is planning to meet to review more deeply and send in a submission. Yesterday, I attended a task-force consultation with Principals from around Wellington. The task-force group presented several reasons for significant change in the NZ Education system, including these key reasons: New Zealand’s current national education system is heavily bureaucratic and restrictive—a one size fits all approach, which is driven by compliance. This has led to a lack of responsiveness to school issues by the Ministry of Education, an erosion of trust between schools and in the Ministry of Education, and ultimately not making a difference for learners; New Zealand’s current national education system is not solving the problems associated with inequitable access to education, which are strongly associated with income, opportunity and ethnicity in New Zealand as a nation. It is difficult for schools to make a difference for children’s learning within the current funding constraints (especially in relation to children with additional learning needs, and those who don’t fit the norm); Boards of Trustees, Teachers and Principals around the country have reported that there is too much to do and not enough time to do it. This has meant that Principals and Boards of Trustees are not able to fully focus on what is important for learning, and what is important for their community. There are several areas that the task-force acknowledge have not been addressed or communicated effectively in their recommendations in the report. The task-force have received feedback about these at the various meetings around the country, including: How State Integrated schools (like St Teresa’s, and all other Catholc schools) fit within the recommendations. Our special character, our appointments processes, governance structure, proprietory structures, etc are very different to other schools; The details are thin about what the proposed “hubs” would actually look like, their exact size and geographical challenges, how these would work exactly, and how they would be governed; The proprosed five-year contracts of principals are currently not explained clearly in the report It is important that as many people as possible engage in this country-wide conversation as it will have a significant impact on the future of education in New Zealand. Please take time to read the report, and have your say before 7 April 2019. Full Report: https://conversation.education.govt.nz/assets/TSR/Tomorrows-Schools-Review-Report- 13Dec2018.PDF Have your say: https://conversation.education.govt.nz/conversations/tomorrows-schools-review/ Property Update Toilets: Over the past couple of weeks we have had problems with the senior girls ’ toilets. Due to the age of the building, one plumbing component needs to be replaced. In the meantime, we have carried out remedial work each time the problem has occurred, but more extensive work is needed. This will be carried out by the Archdiocese of Wellington. Retaining wall and Stairs: The Archdiocese have now given us a start date for the replacement of the retaining wall and stairs to the top field. Work will start in the April holidays—and is likely to continue through the first two-three weeks of Term Two. Adult Learning for 2019 Each year, our teachers and support staff learn alongside the children. This year, our focus areas are: Accelerated Literacy Learning—supporting chil- dren who have fallen behind to progress faster than their peers to catch up. This is our second year, and is a Wellington Catholic Schools Kāhui Ako ~ Com- munity of Learning initiative—alongside other schools; Mahitahi—also a Literacy Support, but involving only specific children who have been identified as needing more intensive support. A facilitator is working 1:1 with the teacher so that they now know how to support each child within the classroom programme; Incredible Years programme—this programme supports teachers (and parents) to support children’s behaviour at home and at school; Wellbeing Toolkit—this programme guides the teachers through different methods for protecting their own wellbeing so that they can do their job effectively. We also have a well being seminar planned for parents; New Teachers in Catholic Schools - for teachers who have just joined us. This PLD is supported by Archdiocese of Wellington; In-Service & Targeted Professional Learning — guiding our teachers through effective practice, related to planning, assessment, reporting, and teaching and Learner Agency, special needs, school leadership; Innovative Practice - a group of teachers hope to attend the U-Learn Confer- ence, in Rotorua during the October school holidays. Teacher Professional Inquiry Deputy Principal, Pip Cook, is carrying out a professional inquiry into strengthening learning pathways into school, and from school to college. This investigation will evaluate practice in transitions, and in Intermediate Learning programmes, and working with the teachers and students to try some new ideas—once again, evaluating effectiveness. Pip’s professional inquiry is supported by the work we are doing with other schools in the Wellington Catholic Schools Kāhui Ako ~ Community of Learning. Kind regards and God bless, Mary-Angela Tombs Kia ora koutou Here is some up-to–date information by some Year Seven and Eight Students. Cricket—Wellington Cup This year, St Teresa’s School has entered three teams in the Wellington Cup: Boys Year 7/ 8 team, Girls Year7/8 (with some Year 6 girls) and a Boys Year 5/6 team. This is for very serious cricketers and is a knock out competition, after the first round. The team is selected within the school and run with the support of parents. St Teresa's School is very lucky to have some great cricketers and very keen parents. The Year 5/6 Boys have had one game against Karori Normal School and just lost, they play Thorndon on Friday. The girls also play this Friday and play two games in one day. For the last 3 years Paul Bishop has taken the Year 7/8 Boys teams, this is his recount of a great win against Karori Normal School. They also played Wadestown on Monday, and won, however got knocked out by Wellesly. Missing is George (Year 8) “ Firstly the game on Monday was pretty special.