Parnell
Intermediate Year 7 & 8 2016 Term
1 No.1
Dear whanau of students
for 2016
Welcome to new families
who are joining the intermediate community for 2016 and welcome back to those
returning either for year 8 or as a year 7 student. We appreciate the way
children have started school last week, to have so many children with their
stationery and being well prepared has made the transition to school a
pleasure.
We would also like to
acknowledge the students who have contributed by doing patrols and office duty
in the first week, while rosters were being prepared.
This is a
long newsletter but with a lot of vital information – please read this.
Curriculum focus for 2016. CHANGE
Over
the year we will be developing understandings about recognising and managing change.
· Because it is important for Parnell students to recognise
and be discerning about how to interpret change
· Because it is
important for Parnell students to be resilient and adaptable in the face of
change.
· It is also important
for students to learn to care for their world so that it can continue to meet
their needs.
· Change will have implications
· Change is constant
· Change can be defined
· Change can be micro to macro
· Change brings about
adaptation
The following whakatauki exemplify these areas of understanding.
Ka pu te ruha,
ka hao te rangatahi – The old net
lies in a heap while a new net goes fishing.’
Ko te whenua te waiu mo
nga uri whakatipu - The land will provide sustenance for future generations
We welcome parent input into this.
Organisation.
The department this year
consists of 3 classes of 28-30 pupils, containing both year 7 & 8 students.
Ms Parkinson is in room
23, Ms Barr in room 24, and Ms Crowther in room 25. Ms Lyons works in the tech
room and you are welcome to pop in and chat to her about her programme: tech,
science and art. We stream classes for maths and, depending on the need of the
cohort, provide support teaching and extension in English and Maths. Over the
year our topic studies rotation will be organised in a variety of ways changing
each term: in year groups, with their house groups and in male and female
cohorts so that students get to work with a variety of people and groups over
the year. This also allows for a variation in teaching style and content
depending on the needs of the groups.
We have Ms Marra working
with us on Tuesdays and she will be running a PE programme to train students
with team game skills and prepare teams for Eastern zone events.
Our programmes runs along
the lines outlined below.
Term
1: Base timetable-
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Monday
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Tuesday
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
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8.50
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Roll/
Diary Writing
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9.10
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Science / Maths
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Maths
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Science / Maths
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Science / Maths
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Homeroom
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10. 30
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Spelling/ Homework in Homerooms
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PE/Health
Maori
Enviro
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PE/Health
Maori
Enviro
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PE/Health
Maori
Enviro
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10.00 Mandarin
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11.00
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Morning
tea
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11.30
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Waterwise /Tech Ms B- Waterwise theory
& Art
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Break outs
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Tech for one group
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11.30 PE – Rm 25
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Literature
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Literature
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Literature
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12.15PE - Rm 24
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1.00
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Lunch
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1.45
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SSR-
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SSR/ Tech for one group
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2.00
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Waterwise/
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PE – Rm 23
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Social studies-Govt
Drama/Music
Social studies- NZ
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SS -Govt
Drama
SS/ Music- NZ
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SS -Govt
Drama
SS- NZ
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BREAK OUTS: On Tuesdays we will be running a break out and options programme where
children will design a project that they will take on over a 4/5 week span -
these can be in small groups or as individuals. In the first half of this term
we will be assisting with preparation for the gala: creating resources for a
haunted house and a fairy room, making fairy costumes and throws as well as
ideas that students bring. Some children will work in the gardens. Ideas could
include garden design, sign language, composing a song and recording it, science
badges, learning about…, designing a website for..., recipes, drama, etc. We are sure that our children have lots of
ideas about areas that they would like to learn more about. If
you have an interest or passion that you are keen to share or could be a
motivator for the students we would love to hear from you.
Term
1 Curriculum focuses.
Literature:
Shakespeare- Globe theatre.
We have made the most of the Globe theatre being set up in Auckland city
this term and will be looking at the works of William Shaksepeare – and attending
Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night at the theatre in March.
Topic
Studies: Learning in social studies will have a NZ focus: NZ
government, geography and the changing.
Maths:
Number – decimals, adding, subtraction, multiplication and division,
statistics, interpreting graphs.
PE
& Health: Waterwise- watersafety. Sailing and kayaking,
Softball, Sunsafe, swimming sports.
Technology:
We are starting the term cooking in the solar ovens which
were designed and constructed last year but were unable to be used due to cloud
and rain. We move quickly to designing and constructing bags using sewing
machines. If you are able to assist any Wed, Thurs. or Friday afternoon please
contact Suel@parnell.school.nz.
Roles
and Responsibilities in the school.
We have been pleased to see many students offer to take on roles
and responsibilities within the school; office duty, patrols, wet day lunch
support in junior classes, assisting with a club at lunchtimes, gardening,
assembly set up etc. If your child did
not get the opportunities they wanted in term 1 these rosters will be revisited
again during the year.
Badges
System
Children can earn points towards badges in Sport, Service, The
Arts and Academic badges. There is a 3 level system with a Blue (500 points) ,
Gold (1000 points) and platinum (2000
points) badges.
Exams
Each year we have exams in early term
4.
We set and prepare students for exams
for the following reasons
1. To prepare students for the exams
they will sit on entry to high school and the systems they will meet in year 9.
2. To show that regular work, focus, recording
and systematic book work enables success.
3. To teach about exam sitting skills
and methods for revision.
4. To encourage self- evaluation and
goal setting.
Community Projects
Each year we set aside a
couple of hours to help in our community. This has traditionally been to clean
up local parks and waterways. In 2016 we
will continue with this and take on a kaitiaki role in the Ayr St Reserve area.
We will be monitoring the water condition of the stream. A group of students will test the stream’s
health each term and this information will assist the Auckland City Council
with preserving with beautiful valley.
Waterwise in 2016.
The year 7 & 8 students participate in a
sailing and water safety course based out of Okahu Bay on Monday afternoons.
Children require shoes that are suitable to wear in
water to protect them from oyster
shells and other obstacles that may be in the sand, as well as togs and a rash
shirt or shirt that will protect them from the sun.
In order to facilitate
this we need parent assistance. We
need both Waterwise trained and enthusiastic hands-on parent supporters in
order to run a programme of sailing, kayaking and water safety. Can you
help for 3 hours on Mondays.
We are looking to run
training sessions for parents in preparation for the 2016 season. Training as
an instructor requires sitting a theory test- sailing and rules of the water,
and a practical test which focuses on using a motor boat to coach and provide
rescue and safety support for our students. If you are interested in learning
more about this please contact Suzannep@parnell.school.nz Thank you
Melanie Judd and Rachel Crowther who are preparing to sit these exams.
15th February: This is our first Waterwise day. All students are
expected to come prepared to participate (weather permitting) and parent
assistance would be appreciated. We will leave school at 11.30 and return
before 3 pm, travelling by bus.
Soapbox.
We have not enrolled this
year, but if there are 6 enthusiastic students and a parent who can assist we
will enrol to participate in the Eastern Zone Rotary Soapbox competition at a
venue to be confirmed. The building of the car and driving practices happen out
of school hours and during lunchtimes.
The Soap box team needs 4
drivers and from 2-4 crew in order to proceed and operate effectively. We would
also appreciate sponsorship.
Cixi Students visiting Parnell 12th – 19th February.
Next week we will have
visiting students in classes in the Intermediate department. We would like to
provide the visitors and their host students with some activities from
11.30 on Tuesday- Friday. On Monday 15th they will accompany
the syndicate to Waterwise and take part in beach activities. We would
appreciate parent assistance to help with a baking/cooking session, a session
where they find the ‘Monkey’s in Parnell Art Galleries’ accompanied by a trip
to the Chocolate Boutique and a trip to the Auckland museum.
If you are
able to assist please contact Suzanne or Anna Hedstrom.
China Trip.
We are working towards
taking a group of students to China in Term 3. We are communicating with our
sister school to confirm dates- but at present are looking at traveling on
about the 18th of
September - and returning on the 1st
or 2nd of October. The trip will include some sightseeing in Beijing
and Shanghai, visiting historical and modern sights as well as 4 days in school
at Cixi Experimental School. Children
are asked to apply for admittance to this trip. The forms are on the school
website.
The criteria for
participation is that students are conscientious, reliable and considerate, that
they work consistently in Mandarin and have an interest in the culture. The
students who attended last year were outstanding ambassadors for our school and
country and we know that current students also display these characteristics
and will be a credit to their families and the school.
Parents: There is the
opportunity for parents to accompany the trip, the cost will be similar, with a
single supplement to be paid. Emma (Millie’s mum) and Dave (Victoria’s dad)
accompanied the group last year.
Funding:
There is a cost of approximately $3000
for this trip and this is to be funded by families. The group will have one
fundraiser to raise money for our contingency fund. It is also expected that
financial commitments to the school are up to date.
Applications close on the 1st of March.
Wellington – School Camp. Monday 4- Friday 8th of April
We are planning to go to
camp in week 10 – this a big challenge both in terms of organisation and
independence for some students. We will be staying in the Hotel Waterloo –
beside the train station in Wellington and having a very busy week visiting parliament
and watching the house in session, Te
Papa, Museum of City and Sea, Katherine Mansfield House, Carter observatory,
Capital E children’s theatre, Matiu Soames Island, Zealandia. We will create
music, movies and art with Capital E, and ride the cable car.
We need an indication of
the students who will be attending this camp in order to confirm costs and
whether we are travelling by bus, plane, train or a mixture of these. At
present the cost is going to be between $550 and $600 – but this will be
determined by the number of students attending.
We appreciate that this is
a huge cost and the BOT and Adrienne in the office have agreed that this can be
paid over the next two terms via a regular automatic payment. If you have a concern about meeting the total
cost of this please come in and talk to us about this, as we can provide you
with information as to how to apply for some financial support.
We are wanting an indication of intent to participate
at this point.
Firm commitments will be requested in a further letter
in Week 3 with and $100 deposit to be paid by the end of the month. This will allow us to confirm bookings and book
tickets.
Thank you to the two
parents who have already offered to accompany us, we would ideally like 4
parents from each class, so please consider if you are able to take leave and
accompany us on this fabulous trip.
A camp meeting will be held on Monday 22nd
February at 6 pm (after the open class room/ meet the teacher afternoon).
We look forward to a great
year in 2016
Suzanne Parkinson, Sue Lyons, Melanie Barr, Rachel
Crowther, Val Marra.
The Intermediate team for 2016
Suzannep @parnell.school.nz
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