Year 9 Dean's Report
We have had a full on term with the visit to the Antarctic centre as well as Project-based Learning. We are also in the process of 2018 planning.
Our visit to the Antarctic Centre was a treat. We were the only school who have had access to the American transport plane and the Korean/Italian transport plane. We must make sure we thank Spencer's dad, Shane, for such amazing access. Our students were well-behaved, curious and engaged in the day. Several students were able to try on gear inside the planes and all were given a vast range of learning opportunities. Thank you very much to Mrs Jan Handley and Mr Albert Wilson for the organisation of the day.
Project-based Learning is quite simply real-life based problem solving, which showcases the skills you already have and will also gain throughout the learning experience. Several staff are committed to guiding our junior students through this for the last part of the year. However, it turns out that many of our student run groups are having a massively positive effect on their teachers learning and growth professionally as well. It is the most rewarding experience to see students running the classrooms, directing classmates and showing completely different sides to how you can see they will conduct themselves as adults in the not too distant future. It would seem we have more than a few CEO's and political leaders in the making.
Your tamariki will have received an email as well as had a few chats with me already, about how our 2018 classes will be structured. We have had significant roll growth over the year, leading to 5 required form classes over the 4 we have currently. We have opened the process up to include student voice. In doing this, tamariki need to think carefully about whether their friends are good for them as classmates! Sometimes it is difficult to tell at this age. Your guidance is most appreciated in this process.
If you have any queries, please give me a call or drop a line on email.Finally, can I please commend to you the Summer Learning Journey run through Manaiakalani.org. It is a summer learning programme that has shown significant learning gains for participants, and it is a fun way of learning about History this year. Please let me know if you cannot find the link and I can re send it to you.
Thank you for your warm support this year, I appreciate each opportunity I have had to speak with parents and whānau personally. Ngā mihi nui,
Rowena ClemenceYear 9 Dean 2017, e-Learning Co-ordinator & HOD Visual Art