Newsletter - WE 21/08/20

Janine Jack

— Aug 21, 2020

Tēnā Koutou

Week Five!

Another week comes to a close as our thoughts go to those in Auckland who are once again in lockdown. We were busy this time last week preparing the final touches for Level 3 and were so pleased to be able to come to school as normal on Monday and put such plans aside for a while longer. There have been some great questions around alert Level 2 over the past week so I will once again summarise them below for your reference.

Should I still send my child to school in alert Level 2?

YES! Unless they are sick or someone in your household is sick with COVID symptoms or awaiting results of a Covid test. If a family member has a regular cold and you have been advised they do not need to get a test and your child is healthy, they can come to school as they normally would. We are not Doctors so we cannot make these decisions for you so please seek Medical advice for clarification on this specific to your circumstances. Healthline 0800 611 116.

Will children be social distancing at school?

NO. This is not required in schools at alert Level 2. We will enforce good handwashing, hygiene and sanitising practices and children will be encouraged to not come within 'breathing distance' as recommended by the Ministry of Health.

Can a parent come into school grounds?

YES. However, you must complete the contact tracing register in the office or in Te Kooti. You can also scan your tracing app at the office window or at the gate. If you do not need to come onto school grounds, please drop your child off at the gate.

Should my child wear a mask at school?

This is not compulsory at this stage and is a matter of personal choice.

Year 9 Bring Your Own Device

A reminder that in 2021 we will have compulsory BYOD for Year 9 and above. You should have received a letter with the minimum recommended specifications earlier this year. If you need another copy please contact the office or check the notices section of the app. With the world situation around COVID it is more important than ever that students from Year 9 have access to a personal device to support learning if we once again have to close.

125th Organizing Committee

This is still on at this stage next Thursday 27th at 5.30pm in the Community Room. Please RSVP tomelanie@amuri.schoool.nzif you are coming. Currently we have had no replies so the meeting will be cancelled if there is no interest.

Key Points to Note:

1) 7-Aside tournament scheduled for next Tuesday is at this stage POSTPONED to Thursday 27th August.

2) The fate of the CASA Kapa Haka Event and the upcoming Senior Netball tournament in Nelson are still to be decided and we should know more on this early next week.

Amuri Area School Board Strategy

Earlier this year our Board took time out to work on our high level strategy for the school moving forward. We focused on the three areas we believed could make the greatest impact to our students and this will be the basis for our annual and long term strategic planning moving forward. This strategic vision is presented in the chart in the newsletter, at attached.

The thinking behind this Strategy is that we know that the quality of the teacher is the single most powerful school controlled factor to educational success. Therefore, this is the starting point and in the current climate of teacher shortages the most challenging to achieve. Finding, developing and retaining the very best teachers for your children is critically important to their success. Next, we have the concept of community wellbeing where our students, families and staff are well supported within a positive learning environment. Last, but certainly not least, we have the will and expertise to provide robust evidence-based learning programmes that support students to success in ways that are unique to them as individuals.

These three key areas will help us as a Board and a staff team to focus our energy on things that we know make the most difference and not be side-tracked by things that have a lesser or no impact.

We are looking forward to a great weekend. Sadly our dance has been postponed but we are determined this will go ahead on the new date of the 30th of October.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Kia Kitea Toikaka.

James Griggs

Principal

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SENIOR SCHOOL NEWS

Senior course selection

This process for our 2021 Year 11-13 students has been largely completed this week. After information sessions given by subject teachers and our new successful ‘speed dating’ session which happened on Wednesday, students have made their selections for 2021. Underpinning selection are the following principles:

· It is essential to choose subjects carefully based on sound advice – this is available from subject teachers, careers adviser or other staff.

· Subjects should be suited to interests, abilities and aspirations.

· Subjects should be challenging and achievable for the student.

· Subjects should be relevant to possible career aspirations.

· Should provide pathways for further study at higher levels (where that is appropriate).

· Not chosen as a result of peer pressure.

In summary, the best advice is to plan for the long term to keep your options open and select a balanced course. Specialising too early in one curriculum area has the disadvantage that if your career plans change, your course selection may make this difficult.

This and other advice is given in the Senior Course Booklet the students can access on line.

In addition to our school classes, there are opportunities for a limited number of students to be involved in one or two day trades or vocational courses at the Ara Institute of Technology. Priority is given to Year 12-13 students. However, we do have some Year 11 students involved where it is believed to be relevant to their future direction and timely for them to be involved at Year 11. All Ara course credits count towards NCEA. Students still have until early next week to make changes before we lock access to get a timetable option underway. Please contact me at school if you have any concerns or queries about your child’s course selection.

Year 9 will complete option selection for Year 10 later in the term.

As Auckland students face another period of remote learning, it is timely to reflect on the fortunate position we are currently in. This highlights more than ever that every day at school in class and prepared to learn is valuable - who knows how the rest of the year may play out. The time students will regret lost opportunities most, is as they discover they cannot progress to or through courses and levels that their peer group are and that options beyond school become extremely limited. Attendance, attitude and application are basic prerequisites to success, anything less is self-sabotaging a promising future.

It has been a pleasure to work with our Year 10-12 students on course selections. Every one of them has shown the curiosity and enthusiasm required to make good and relevant selections.

Penny Mossman

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ICAS 2020

The assessments are now full online and sittings will be in October. The following subjects are available this year:ICAS Science – Years 5-11

ICAS Digital Technologies – Years 5-11
ICAS English – Years 5-11
ICAS Mathematics – Years 5-11
ICAS Spelling Bee – Years 5-11

The cost for each assessment is $17.00. Supervised practice sessions and the assessments themselves will take place during the school day.

Should you wish to enrol your child in one or more assessments, please e-mail susan@amuri.school.nz. Entries must be received and paid for by 4th September 2020. For more information see unsw.global/icas.

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Reading Together

We have only had three expressions of interest for the Reading Together Course. This is possibly because of calving and everyone is busy. I will try early on again in Term 4 to see if there is any more interest.

Many thanks.

Alison Nimmo

Reading Together Co-ordinator

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Roll of Honour

Fergus Davison

Kadmiel Delos Santos

Maria Lim

Gwen Manifold

Willow Quigley-Macadam

Alex Shaw

Charlie Smith