We have had a great two weeks back as we enter the final term of the school year.

Learning

This term there is a major focus on assessment and reporting. You will be aware that over the last two years we have been implementing the Structured Literacy Framework into our literacy programmes. This has been a major piece of change management and we are already seeing a positive impact.

This year we have also been focussed on adapting our literacy assessment practices so they better align with the Structured Literacy approach. Over recent months our staff have undertaken professional learning around the DIBELS [Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills] suite of literacy assessments. 

The DIBELS suite is a research based tool, made up to five tests which assess 

• Letter Identification;
• Reading fluency;
• Individual word reading/recognition;
• Decoding skills and
• Reading comprehension 

Four of these tests are done one on one with the teacher and the fifth test can be done in small groups or as a whole class.

Teachers are currently completing their DIBELS testing with their classes. DIBELS is designed to be completed three times during the year - this will begin in 2024. This assessment tool will allow us to gather quality data to help us identify strengths and gaps in learning, track progress and evaluate our literacy programmes.

Welcome

This term we welcome Alison Bjork teaching in Room 4. Maddie Stevenson is currently on maternity leave.

John van den Brink has also joined us and will be providing release in the predominantly in the Paerangi Team.

Native Garden Working Bee

A huge thank you to the 50+ members of the school community who joined us for our working bee in the native garden area on the 8th October. This was indeed a case of many hands make light work. 

With such an amazing (and humbling) turnout, we had all of our plants in the ground and 24 cubic meters of mulch/bark moved. 

We are really pleased with the result. This space is the final area to be completed within the redevelopment scope of works.

Thanks once again to everyone who helped us with this, Sarah Caldwell who coordinated the project and Francis for his continued mahi and preparation. Thanks also to Tim and Andrea from our PTA for feeding the workers and to the Caldwell family who donated the punga and the two additional lancewoods which were planted earlier this week.

We received great service from the following businesses:

• Jaimie and Janine from Garden Box, Lunds Road
• Southern Woods, Rolleston
• Glen from Hutch Contracting
• Canterbury Trees, Clarkville

Please support these businesses if you can!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Ngā mihi nui

Nick Gunn | Tumuaki