Monthly message from Mrs Newton

Kia ora e te whānau

It seems like forever since I sat down to write a full newsletter to the community. I know that July & August were full of regular communication about our site, changes, celebrations and consultation. In addition you have been updated regularly by the teams with their informative fortnightly newsletters.

Welcome to Spring and the refreshment of all things Isleworth. The site has been a happening place. We warmly invite you to check out the learning environments, contribute to the consultation that is taking place & connect further with your student’s mahi.

Since the last formal newsletter we’ve enjoyed many successes & celebrations:

• UC Plus students - we’ve welcomed five new teacher trainees to work alongside Isleworth staff at different levels of the school, being in school is the best way to learn how to be a teacher

• Explicit Science teaching - students are learning about different elements of the physical world in which we live

• Gymnastics - Matatiki has been turned into a makeshift gymnasium where movement skills are taught daily using our bodies & equipment

• PTA Calendar, Pie Fundraisers & Spring Fling Non Uniform day- great fundraising initiatives to put back into Isleworth

• Miss Bruce returned - after the Commonwealth Games & COVID we hosted a special Isleworth’s welcome back for our Bronze medalist & her whānau

• Kahui Ako & North West Sports Tournament - Year ⅚ netballers, footballers & hockey players have been active, thanks to our parent volunteers who supported teams at school & Hagley

• Friday Sport - our junior & senior students have been able to enjoy regular rotations of winter sport ball skills

• PB4L SET analysis - the MOE have evaluated our PB4L practices at Isleworth after viewing our environments, talking with students, staff & stakeholders

• Persuasive Writing - topics have been varied as our students express themselves writing of arguments

• Better Start Literacy Approach - we are into Week 4 under Miss Smith’s guidance, thanks to those parents who attended the whānau meetings

• Whanaungatanga hui - we had a 64% turnout of caregivers & students in Week 3 and the days that followed

Consultation with Community

Next week, Week 7, Block 1 will be open from 8.30-9.10am and again from 2.30-3.10pm for open consultation discussion. Please feel free to come along to share your constructive comments, insights & thoughts on the draft Health Statement, strategic/annual direction & engagement for Māori & Pasifika.

We would like to offer a specific session on Wednesday 7 September at 8.30am and again at 2.30pm for our Māori & Pasifika whānau.

1. What are your desires for your son or daughter?

2. What does success look like for you, your family, your community?

3. How can we improve relationships & show respect for their individual diversity?

4. What would you like them to learn at Isleworth?

5. How do you believe staff should deliver learning to improve outcomes?

Please note that these consultation discussions are NOT sessions on the content of the Relationship & Sexuality Education curriculum that will be taught in Term 4. A whānau hui on the actual lesson sequence & content of this aspect of Health will occur in Week 10.

Mid Year Data Report to BOT

We report on our progress towards annual student achievement targets twice a year. The data once reported to the board is then added to the newsletter for the community.

Our targets for 2022 are: to increase the whole school progression in Mathematics & Writing with 80% of students achieving at or above the expected level.

At the mid way point of 2022:

Mathematics - a large majority 159/262 students (61%) are achieving at or above the expected level. A few 61/262 students (23%) are working towards and 42/262 students (16%) are working with support towards their expected level.

Supports include: DMIC (Developing Mathematical Inquiry Communities) embedded daily by all teaching staff. Board funded teacher aide time to implement programmes across teams to improve students' basic number knowledge. Numicon is still being used from Year 2 to 6 as a multi-sensory approach to improve students’ mathematical learning. DMIC mentors from Massey University are continuing to provide PLD working alongside our staff in class support. Six new staff are in their first year of DMIC.

Writing - a majority 148/262 students (56%) are achieving at or above the expected level. 80/262 students (31%) are working towards and 34/262 students (13%) are working with support towards their expected level.

NZ European - a large majority 83/138 students (60%) are achieving at or above the expected level. 55/138 students (40%) are working towards or working towards, with support.

NZ Māori - less than half 26/56 students (46%) are achieving at or above the expected level. 30/56 students (54%) are working towards or working towards, with support.

Pasifika - a large majority 14/25 students (66%) are achieving at or above the expected level. 11/25 students (44%) are working towards or working towards, with support.

Supports include: explicit teaching of writing through an integrated approach by all teaching staff. Board funded teacher aide time to implement programmes across teams to improve students phonics, structural & surface features in writing. Better Start Literacy Approach has begun in NE - Year 2.

At Isleworth we have included students with special needs in our overall data as they are easily identifiable as a group, we believe this protects their privacy and dignity.

Attendance

A nationwide push on attendance is in full swing, Every School Day is a Big Day, advertisements are being widely publicised across a range of media.

“This Government has laser sharp vision on the issue of improving attendance at school and that is why we are taking action,” Jan Tinetti said.

School attendance is a long term challenge, gradually declining across-the-board since 2015. That trend has been further accelerated by COVID-19. Only three in five kids attend regularly – or just 60 per cent. And even more of a concern was that only five percent of kiwis considered attendance a top-of-mind issue.

“I launched the Attendance and Engagement Strategy in June which set some pretty tough targets. I want to see the number of kids attending school regularly increase from 59.7 per cent in 2021 to 70 per cent in 2024 and 75 per cent in 2026,” said Tinetti.

Yesterday I had a discussion with ERO about students who have chronic non-attendance and who have not committed to a return post COVID. We discussed options available to school and highlighted the work we have done with MOE this year. Our overall aim is to support all learners to achieve their full potential. Academic learning is important as well as social, cultural, physical and emotional wellbeing.

We are still averaging 20% of our current roll with regular absence. Monday, Tuesday & Fridays are core days where absence peaks. We are required to record all absences using a range of standardised Ministry codes. Please feel free to check out the Ministry website Parent portal. As the MOE is saying ‘Every School Day is a Big Day’. Thanks to those people who are advising the office of their son or daughter’s absence.

Changes to broader COVID rules

We are aware that the government is reviewing the COVID traffic light system and making changes in approximately two weeks. Any updates will follow the previous process using information from MOH & MOE.

In the meantime due to ongoing winter ills we are highly recommending that our students in Year 3-6 continue to wear masks to protect themselves, peers and staff. There is no mandate for mask wearing however in the interest of the wellbeing of all we ask for your support with this. There is an ample supply of masks available in the learning spaces and office for those students who are willing & able to wear one.

Painting & Maintenance

The Board of Trustees have been fortunate to secure CARUS’s services to update the exterior of our buildings with paint, new panelling and where required maintenance work. This work has really lifted the ‘look and feel’ of our place, it has been a sound investment that complements the interior of the Canterbury blocks refurbished by the MOE. Visitors to Isleworth are extremely complementary and we hope that you will continue to enjoy the developments as they are completed.
We are hopeful that the seasonal good weather will continue to allow the grass to grow where the old haul road & hall once lived. All going well we aim to have the fences removed before the end of Term 3. Over the upcoming holidays work on the roof will take place.

We do ask that you support all development by showing our school values when coming to the site after hours or at the weekend. It is important that any damage is notified to authorities as soon as possible.

Enrolments 2023

Mid to late September is an uneasy time in schools when we anticipate our staffing entitlement for the year ahead. The current board is aware that our 2022 school roll has been lower than anticipated and than what we are currently staffed for.

This year is the first year that we have not had to transition our Waipuna students. Many areas of the school have been lucky to experience smaller than usual class sizes.

Ways you can help:

1. Notify the school office if your son or daughter will not be returning to Isleworth in 2023 (current Year 6’s excluded)

2. If you have a preschooler that is turning five later this year or anytime in 2023 phone Karyn or Julie for an enrolment pack

3. Share your experiences of Isleworth positively with neighbours or community members to promote our school

4. If you currently live out of the Isleworth zone and have a sibling of current student wishing to attend Isleworth, get your OOZ application for 2023 in as soon as possible, applications MUST be in before Wednesday 12 October 2022

Elections close Wednesday

The 2022 Board of Trustees Elections are underway and close on Wednesday 7 September. If you have not returned your voting paper please feel free to place it in the box in the office. These will be sent away for official processing after the closing date. Good luck to all nominees.

Save the Date - Rescheduled Teacher Only Day

This year we were due to have a Teacher Only Day on Friday 16 September. The purpose of this day was for Isleworth Staff & the board to engage in Strategic Planning for the 2023-2025 period. Due to the timing of the board elections the current board have opted to push this date back into Term 4 2022. One of the first decisions made by the new board will be the rescheduled date and publication of this to the community. CASPA will be informed.

Friday 16 September will therefore be a normal school day, Every School Day is a Big Day.

Here’s hoping September brings more productivity, positivity and possible connections for all.

Nga mihi

Suzanne