Please read the following parent notices for the Junior Campus.

A Note from Jordan Barley

Kia ora Koutou,

It was so good to see so many come out last Thursday evening to our annual Primary Parent Meeting. With your partnership, we will continue to be able to support our learners meaningfully. On Thursday, we introduced the new mid-year progress report format.

At the end of this term, you will receive your child's progress report. Last year, the reports indicated where your child was at in relation to the National Standards. We are no longer reporting against National Standards. The reports you receive will indicate where your child is at in relation the Curriculum Level they should be working in. The NZ Curriculum has always been a basis for the National Standards.

It takes a year, sometimes two for students to master a Curriculum Level. This report will indicate your child’s current level along the continuum of the Curriculum.

This change in reporting impacts how students are indicated as ‘above’. Students must be working comfortably one year above the Curriculum Level if they are deemed to be above. Under the National Standards system, your child's report indicated that they were achieving ‘above' if they had achieved the standard and were working within the next standard (as opposed to Curriculum Level).

The achievement objectives in each of the Curriculum Levels are broad statements. To measure their Levels we use specific tests in reading, writing and maths that support a teacher to make a judgement of a student’s Curriculum Level (e.g. success at Reading Curriculum Level 3 is at 11 – 12 year olds based on a Probe reading test with a comprehension score of over 75%). The teacher judgements are shared with parents on the Progress Graphs.

A change that our Year 1 to 3 parents will notice is that we no longer refer to the “end of one year” or “end of two years” or “end of three years” of schooling. The reports are based on the cohort level the children are in, therefore, regardless of the length of time a child has been at school, they are either Year 1, 2 or 3.

Below please find a diagram that indicates the expectations for progress in year levels, based on the Curriculum and year levels.

We hope that when you receive your child’s report at the end of term it will be clear for you. You may want to refer back to this newsletter item to help you. If you need further clarity after receiving your child’s report their classroom teacher will be able to explain it to you.

Please CLICK HERE for some relevant ideas on how to support your child at home from year to year.

Ka kite anō,

Jordan Barley
Assistant Head of Primary

World Vision 40 Hour Famine 

Our awareness and fundraising campaign will occur over 5 weeks from Monday 27 May –Monday 17 June. Over this time period some Senior School students may join the assemblies or devotions class to share some information which highlights the plight of the refugees of South Sudan and our responsibility as Christians to respond to peoples’ needs.

The situation in Uganda and neighbouring countries is the biggest humanitarian crisis of our time. More than half of those affected are children – more than 5 million young lives are at risk of becoming a lost generation. This year the famine funds raised will once again support child-friendly spaces: safe, supportive learning environments where children can play again with other children, participate in art and sport, receive counselling to help them recover from the trauma of war and continue their education.

Students can raise money in two ways:

1. Chores for Change:
 We are suggesting that students find some ways of doing chores to earn pocket money by doing “chores for change”, so if you could help them by either “hiring them” to do a chore or finding a family member or friend prepared to do so it would be greatly appreciated. Each week the students will add to the coin collection for their class. Once all famine funds are collected, the senior students will run a “special event’ for the winning class during a lunchtime.

2. Join the Famine:
Students are able to register online by following the link: https://my.worldvision.org.nz/ss/4V7MCD/kingsway-school.
Please ensure students join the KingsWay group so that their funds can be counted towards their class total. Online payment will generate online receipts. The famine weekend runs from 7-9th June. All money should be collected by Monday 17 June, please. If students have registered for the famine could they please tell their home base teacher or Miss Hillman and we will issue a wristband which they can wear over the 5 weeks.

Thank you so much for your support of this initiative. Your support is crucial to the success of the campaign.

Bronte Coombridge
World Vision Organiser 

Perceptual Motor Programme - requires 6 volunteers

The Perceptual Motor Programme is a combination of Physical Education, Music, Fitness, Dance AND Gymnastics. Combining facets of each of these enables our children to develop their perceptions of themselves. Specifically designed in this way it ensures our children are given the maximum time to prepare for learning in the classroom. We closely follow the teachings of Nathan Wallis, renowned Neuro-Science educator.

The programme also gives our Teachers the opportunity to observe and gain valuable insights about each child and their individual stage of development. For example, eye–tracking (important for reading); fine-motor skills (for writing); core strength (for sitting up and maintaining balance on a chair); self-control (for safety & improved focus).

We require the help and support of SIX adults at our Equipment Sessions straight after lunch on MONDAYS and TUESDAYS for the remainder of Term 2.

Parent Voice:

I love the PMP programme that is offered to our children at KingsWay Primary as part of their curriculum. The programme is fantastic at teaching children things like balance, hand-eye co-ordination, language and spatial concepts. What I enjoy the most as a parent helper is seeing the pure joy only play can give. Being a helper also allows me an opportunity to meet with other parents and my child’s classmates. Movement is so important for brain development and preparing the brain for formal learning. If you are considering being a helper for your child’s class, I would highly recommend it.
C. Hurst

Please email Monica at monica.coetzee@kingsway.school.nz if you are available to help. 

Primary Sharing Assemblies Term 2:

All Primary students will attend a Sharing Assembly in the Junior Campus hall fortnightly, on Friday afternoons from 2.25pm - 3pm. Parents are welcome to attend these assemblies.

Dates:

• Week 6: Friday 7 June – Lead by Mrs Nikki Buys
  

• Week 8: Friday 21 June – Lead by Miss Angela Hillman
  

• Week 10: Friday 5 July – No Assembly (Teacher Only Day)
  

Activity Costs

A big reminder about outstanding Activity Costs please! 

The activities the children take part in are an important aspect of their education and are carefully chosen to make their learning experiences interesting and fun. Please appreciate that there are costs involved in ensuring these activities are successfully run.

Please make payment for the outstanding amounts as soon as possible, either by cheque (Kingsway School), cash, Eftpos at the Junior School office or by paying directly into the Junior School account: 12 3084 0192348 53 (clearly stating ‘student’s name’ and ‘Activity Cost’).

God's Closet

God's Closet offers a ‘free of charge’ kid's clothing and shoe service for Christian families who are financially struggling. The kid’s ages included at God’s Closet is: 0–16 years and is limited to clothing and shoes as these costs are a major financial strain on families when money is already stretched.

To donate very good quality kids clothes and shoes, please either drop them off in the God’s Closet drop-off box at the Junior Campus foyer, or click the email button on the God’s Closet Facebook page.

If your, or another Christian family you know is struggling to make ends meet, please contact Meg on the Facebook page for support: CLICK HERE

KUMON

Please open the pdf attached below.