This week we cover the changes being made in reporting to parents, discuss the Beyblade craze, share the upcoming workshop for parents related to cyber safety at home and communicate the road safety improvements planned for the Mt Pleasant area.

Selamat tengah hari

Moving on from National Standards...

At the end of 2017 schools were informed that the National Standards were to be removed and that schools are no longer required to report against them. With the removal of National Standards, our reporting will change slightly this year. The focus in Years 1-8 is still numeracy and literacy as it has always been and we will still report to parents two times during the year. The Ministry of Education has said they will be working throughout 2018 and 2019 with parents, whanau and schools to develop tools that support schools to collect progress information for students. We have always used a range of different assessments to make any judgments about children’s progress and we will continue to do this in relation to the levels the children should be working at within the New Zealand Curriculum.

This links closely with our policy review for this term around the Reporting to Parents policy (you will find an article later in this newsletter on how you can provide feedback on this policy). Next week we will send home a link to a consultation survey where you can provide us with specific feedback about how we provide information regarding your child’s progress in their learning and character development at MPS. The responses we receive will have a direct influence on any changes we make to our assessment and reporting systems. This is your chance to have a say so we really encourage you to complete the survey.

This is not a quick fix and we envisage that over the remainder of 2018, we will be working to develop new systems for the 2019 school year. In the meantime, we have made slight adjustments to our reporting for this year that we believe will provide quality feedback to students, parents and whanau over the next three terms. A summary of the reporting cycle for 2018 is below:

Term 1

• Three-way conferences - 30 minute conferences between parents, students and the teacher.

• A written summary of the 2018 Goals is completed and sent home to parents

Term 3

• Three-way conferences - 30 minute conferences between parents, students and the teacher.

• A review of the Term 1 conference goals and resetting of goals for the remainder of the year. This summary is sent home after it has been completed.

Term 4

• End of year written report against in Numeracy, Literacy, Inquiry Learning and the Learner Profile attributes.

• This also includes a general comment regarding the student as a learner and a self-reflection from each student.

Let it RIP!

This year we have the Beyblade phenomenon happening. As with many children's toys, these have returned to popularity again. We have been observing their return, and how the students have been enjoying them. This started predominately with our Year 5 & 6 team but it is now spreading across the lower two teams. This has brought about some challenges as students engage with each other and while we are happy for their use to continue, we have worked with students to create an essential agreement around how they can ensure fairness to all students involved. This has necessitated the students analysing the positives and challenges faced, and then writing a shared understanding and agreement of their use at MPS. This is a really positive way to engage the students and have them take ownership so they can continue to engage with each other with their Beyblades.

Cyber Safety

We have had quite a few requests from parents related to cyber safety and the measures parents can use to manage their children while on devices at home. We have been recommended a presenter and are setting up a workshop for parents.

Topics covered include:

• Identifying the specific challenges children face when using ICT

• Informing parents and giving them the tools to support their children in how to use ICT safely and ethically at home and at school

• Guidance on behaviour management processes for parents in the practical situations they will face

• Empowering parents to take responsibility for safeguarding their children

We will send out an invitation for you to attend in the upcoming weeks.

Road Safety

Finally, we are able to update to some of the work that has been or is about to be completed following our meeting with the CCC last term regarding road safety. The embankment for the downhill approach on Mount Pleasant Road towards Billy’s Track is to be cut back and will be replaced with a species or product that does not grow back which should improve forward visibility. A new chevron/speed warning sign is to be installed at the intersection, to slow drivers down at the bend itself (see attachment). 

It is hoped this will encourage more drivers to decelerate in good time before the bend. This will also allow for enforcement of drivers who do not slow in this area. In addition to this, there are consultation plans to improve road safety around Mt Pleasant by relocating some bus stops and by having no stopping restrictions on Major Hornbrook Road (further information can be found in the Linwood-Central-Heathcote Community Board minutes HERE). I will be attending the community board meeting next Wednesday. If you have any feedback regarding these initiatives, please feel free to come and talk to me or send an email to chris@mtpleasant.school.nz.

I hope you enjoy the weekend and make the most of the weather while it lasts.

Mengenai jenis

Chris Nord