2016 term 2 week 2

View online: Thursday 12 May 2016 - Term 2 Week 2	Visit website

Care for

* Ourselves

* Others

* Our community

Learn to be

* Curious

* Creative

* Collaborative

* Critical and Reflective

Grow by

* Dreaming

* Daring

* Doing

Woodhill School staff are very dedicated to the teaching profession and creating innovative and purposeful teaching and learning programmes. During the first week of the term one break Kaye, Bronwyn and I all attended the International Google Summit at Hobsonville Point Secondary School, along with more than 1000 other passionate educators.

This high-intensity event focused on deploying, integrating, and using Google Apps for Education (and other Google tools) to promote student learning from pre school to secondary school, and featured Google for Education Innovative Educators, Google for Education Certified Trainers, practicing administrators, and other solution providers from all over the world.

We have returned to school full of new ideas and innovations to implement with our children. One thing we found out was that Woodhill School children are extremely lucky to have 1:1 access to devices everyday. Many schools are still experiencing many challenges with funding and managing devices.

Last term I completed the first year of the three years of study needed for a Masters in Education Degree, through the MindLab by Unitec. The MindLab by Unitec is a unique education collaboration between a public education provider and a specialist education lab dedicated to enhancing digital literacy capability and the implementation of contemporary practice in the teaching profession.

The MindLab is a pioneer in digital and collaborative learning, reflecting the new theoretical and practical frameworks of contemporary education. Unitec is a leader in applied vocational education with a long history in education from preschool teacher training through to postgraduate education leadership.

My thinking about the future of education has been challenged, my leadership style identified and improved, and throughout it all I have been introduced to new teaching methodologies. I able to introduce some of these methods with our staff and children last year, and have continued to build on these this year. Through active class engagement, practical knowledge of digital tools and exposure to emerging pedagogical practices, we are developing and enhancing the learning experience for our children today.

This year, Mrs C was accepted to participate in the National Aspiring Principals Programme. She spent the second week of the term break attending a two day work shop. This year she will be participating in a variety of rich and engaging leadership learning covering:

a leadership for learning inquiry, focused on her own leadership of colleagues in raising the achievement of students in the school, with a particular focus on Māori and Pasifika students, and students with special needs.
an online reflective blog journal and active participation in the NAPP online community throughout the year
a national hui
four online modules of work based on the role of the principal
three personalised inquiry coaching sessions with an experienced facilitator
peer coaching
contributing to a professional learning group located in the 'My Portfolio’ tool, and four regional meetings
shadowing leaders in another school.

Mrs C has met lots of other dedicated professionals, including Sue Caltaux, the Parakai School DP.

Term One Holiday Teaching @ Apii Te Uki Ou

During the second week of the holiday I visited a public partnership school in the Cook Islands named, Apii Te Uki Ou. This school has just employed the previous principal of Waitoki School, Mr Brendon Fiebig, as their new school principal.

Apii Te Uki Ou is a small school of just over 100 students from Year 1 - 8. Their school uniform is a frangipani floral shirt, and even the staff wear this. Most public schools in the Cook Islands have a total immersion component for all children in Year 1 - 3, which means that they must learn Cook Island Maori. The staff and children appear to embrace their Cook Island culture with gusto, confidence, music and waiata.

Although the setting may seem idyllic and tropical, it isn’t without challenge. For most Cook Island Schools some of these challenges are finding quality trained teachers, providing new resources for children and funding internet access, which is extremely expensive and also very slow. Therefore, I am in the process of working with Mr Fiebig, to establish a network programme which will provide Kiwi teachers with a holiday teaching experience in the Cook Islands. This is in the early planning stage but I am feeling excited and passionate with the opportunity to pay it forward and collaborate with like minded teaching professionals internationally. Hopefully this will expand and others will be encouraged to also donate time and resources to a much needed school.

Woodhill School Fun Run

Woodhill School will be holding an Adidas School Fun-Run as our fundraising event this year.

We are extremely lucky to be holding this event at The Trusts Arena athletics track. The Trusts Arena has very kindly and generously decided that we can use the track at no cost, the usual fee being $280.00.

This event will be held on Friday 10 June, 9.30 am - 11.00 am, Central Park Drive, Henderson.

We will be visiting Glen Tui Park for lunch, before ending the day with a swim at West Wave Pool.

Please fill in the reply form below giving your permission and indicating your willingness to help if you are available.

To make this trip possible, will need four parent helpers to volunteer with transport.

Leaving Woodhill School: 8.45 am

Begin Fun Run: 9.30 am

Lunch at Tui Glen: 11.30 am

West Wave Pool: 12.30 pm

Leave venue by: 2.00 pm

Cost: NA

Transport: Parent vehicles

Please support your child in our fund raising venture. All funds will go toward purchasing PE equipment. Thanks.

Board of Trustee Election News

Triennial School Trustee Elections are being held this year, and we need you to get involved.

Our school is governed by a democratically selected group of people called the Board of Trustees. These trustees make important decisions about our school's strategic direction, student progress, management policies, school culture and more.

We are looking for parents who have the necessary skills, and are genuinely interested in supporting the school at a governance level - people who believe in making a positive difference to our children’s learning.

If you're interested in standing for election or nominating someone you know, please contact our school at: principal@woodhill.school.nz or (09) 420 8108

Call for nominations and campaign notices opens - 10 May
Nominations and campaigning close - 20 May
Voting papers sent out - May 25
National Election Day - 3 June
Votes counted - 9 June
New Board of Trustees take office - 10 June
First Board of Trustees meeting - 16 August

Make sure your vote counts – vote for the candidates who bring the best skills to the table. All parents of full-time students can and should vote in the elections. Look for your voting papers in your letterbox and post them or bring them into school by noon, 3 June 2016.

NB: Election Notice Retraction - Our school is calling for nominations for three parent positions in this election. The forms issued last week mistakenly called for four parent positions. This is incorrect and we sincerely apologise on behalf of our Returning Officer.