Term two - week three

2021 Student Leaders  

After a term of leadership development, 19 students were shortlisted for the ten student leadership roles. All of these students went through an interview process and decisions were made around these and consideration of their leadership growth and potential demonstrated during the term. The ten student leaders are: 

• Freddie Paterson

• Ryan Patel

• James Seaman

• Oscar Wilson

• Noah Crossan

• Cleo Newman

• Iris Ussher

• Jessica Gearry

• Lucy Reynolds

• Ziva Bull

We look forward to watching these students use their initiative and leadership strengths as they continue to contribute to our school culture. 

Sweating the 'small stuff'

While wearing the correct school uniform is not the most important part of belonging at school, we do have a school uniform and as such, It is an expectation that all children wear it correctly.  I call this 'sweating the small stuff' as when there is a general laxity around these smaller issues we know from experience that it is easy for a general disregard around bigger issues like inclusivity, respect, and acting in safe ways towards others to occur. There are two things that I want to draw attention to; the prevalence of non-uniform socks and non-uniform sweatshirts. There seems to be a lot of pressure amongst the boys to wear branded socks and this is causing parents some distress. Socks are to be either plain black, blue or white. This is also the rule for shoes (black or blue), and while there are many options within these colours students are still wearing pink, orange, red, or green and a variety of different highlighted shoes. Every year we remind parents to buy shoes in the correct colours and while the majority do there is still a high level of disregard for school uniform guidelines. We are also seeing an increase in children wearing non-school sweatshirts, especially on Fridays. While teachers remind children about wearing the correct school uniform we do need parents to reinforce this at home as wearing our school uniform is part of belonging to our school. 

Kahukura Community of Practice

Last week (Mon the 10th) our school alongside our six other Kahukura Schools celebrated the launch of two ERO (Education Review Office) publications that provide a case study of our Kahukura Community of Practice.

In late 2019 ERO visited all of our Kahukura schools and met with staff, trustees, school leaders, and students of all Kahukura schools as part of their review/case study. The two publications share findings and insights into our collaborative 'community of practice' model that we are both part of and proud of.

These reports are intended to provide schools and the wider education sector (across Aotearoa) with further evidence that schools who work together are more effective in improving the quality of teaching and learning and therefore improving outcomes for learners.

Please find here the links to both the full report (Exploring Collaboration in Action : Kahukura Community of Practice) and the summary document (Collaboration in Action: Lessons from a Community of Practice).

Policy review in term 2 - Reporting to parents on student achievement.

Parents can read and review the policy following these steps:

1. Visit the website https://thorrington.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
2. Enter the username (thorrington) and password (learning).
3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
4. Read the policy.
5. Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
6. Select the reviewer type "Parent".
7. Enter your name (optional).
8. Submit your ratings and comments.
9. If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.

Ngā mihi,

Dr Christine Harris 

Tumuaki Te Kura o Huriawa Thorrington