Dear parents,
We are continuing to encourage our wonderful children to use their PRIDE values in all aspects of school life. Our PRIDE values of Perseverance, Respect, Initiative, Diligence and Excellence are very important to us at school and are displayed on the posts by our main entrance. The children are reminded about what these values look like in many contexts around our school both on the sports field and when learning in the classroom. In the last two weeks, the children who have gained these awards are: Claire Tan, Elijah Jonas, Elijah Yang, Feli Zhu, Zane Barabate, Hana Wongthepwanit and Patrick Hooper.
Term Break
The term break is time for us to get maintenance jobs completed around the school. These holidays we are having the hall repainted. This will mean some painters, ladders and scaffolding will be onsite during the holidays. If you or your children use the playgrounds and facilities over the break, please be mindful of the work going on. Maeke will be onsite during the break, working on many jobs. As always he will be working hard and keeping our school looking great and safe for our kids. We are very lucky to have Maeke at our school!
Enrolments
It’s lovely to see the children visiting and starting school with us. We are filling our existing classes rapidly! If you have a child who will start with us during term 3 or 4 this year, or even in 2025, please contact the school. Enrolment forms are available on the school website. If you have friends who may also have children starting with us, please encourage them to get in touch (09-4139838 or [email protected]). The earlier we have the information about who is joining us, the easier recruiting the best teachers for our school is.
Ministry of Education announcements
We are certainly in a time of change. As a school, we are carefully looking through each of the multitude of announcements that could have an impact on our school. For example this week we heard some initial details regarding assessment and how that may change. The good news is we have been using, analysing and applying the data to inform our teaching for some time now. We have been utilising the tools mentioned (E-Asttle and PAT) for our children for many years. Our dedicated teachers have been upskilled on analysing the information to create timely and responsive learning goals for your children. We have also been using phonics checks in our junior department for the last few years as well. We will definitely be carefully reviewing, honing what we do and, as always, continue to look for ways we can improve what we do, using the latest educational research.
We will, as any specific changes to our programmes become clear, look to give you, our community, an opportunity to come and chat to us and where we can share these changes with you.
Thank you for your continuing support of our school. We look forward to seeing you after the term break. The teachers are planning some wonderful learning experiences for your children for next term.
Ngā mihi
Stephen Grady
Tumuaki/Principal
Greenhithe School