Farewells, End of Year Celebrations, Reports & National Standards.

Kia ora e ngā whānau,

End of Year Staff Farewells: With a combined staff of over 50 people we are extremely lucky to be only farewelling a small number at the end of this year. I have already mentioned our caretaker, Mr. Graeme Fryer officially retires at the end of this year although we will be seeing Graeme in and around the school in 2017 as he has kindly agreed to stay on until our new caretaker, Mr. Murray Hall, arrives in town (mid-January) and is inducted into his new role.  Mrs. Erin Mintrom will be leaving us at the end of this year as her fixed term contract covering maternity leave comes to an end. Erin joined the teaching team part way through the year as the teacher in Room 6 after Mr. Darrin Sundbye resigned. Thanks Erin for all of your hard work and dedication to the students in Room 6 and all the best for 2017.   Mrs. Hannah Bibby will be returning from maternity leave in the new year. Mrs. Anna Chitty, who has been teaching a Year 8 class in Room 1 this year, will be sharing her time in 2017 between home and school when she starts her part time role in another school as a Year 5/6 teacher and the important role of mum to her three children.  Thanks Anna for your work and energy you bring to the role.  All the best for 2017 and your teaching career. Miss Claire MacInnes, who is currently teaching a Year 7 class in Room 19, will be starting new adventures abroad. Claire has spent the last two years at WIS and is looking forward to adding to her teaching experiences in New Zealand by heading overseas to work. Thanks Claire for your first two years of teaching with us - safe travels!   And last, but not least, Mr. Nigel Tyer who has been at WIS for eleven years will be taking on the Deputy Principal position at St Marys Primary School in Hokitika next year. Nigel started at WIS as a class room teacher, moving through to a syndicate leader and then more recently to Deputy Principal. Nigel has also been the elected staff member on the Board of Trustees for a number of years. Nigel has been lured back into a full time teaching role after having two years fully released from the classroom. We wish Nigel all the very best for his new adventure and thank him for his dedication to WIS and the students during his time with us. The Deputy Principal vacancy will be advertised in the near future with a Term 2, 2017 start date. A full list of the teaching staff will be published in the new year.

National Standards and Reports: Over the last part of this term teachers have been drawing on a range of assessment opportunities in order to make overall teacher judgements about your child’s progress and achievements this year. You will receive your child’s end of year report with this information included next Monday 12th December.   A summary of school wide progress and achievement was presented at the last Board of Trustees meeting and this information will inform what we will focus on as a school in 2017.   As you are no doubt aware teachers are required to interpret the National Standards for Reading, Writing and Mathematics and make an overall teacher judgement (OTJ) as to every student’s achievement against the National Standard.  Teachers all around the country make overall teacher judgements from their interpretation of each National Standard.  Our moderation processes within the school help to build a more consistent interpretation of the standards between our teachers and we are hoping that working with our neighbouring schools as part of the Community of Learners (CoL) will provide opportunities for across school moderation in the future.  The table attached at the bottom of this page provides a summary of this year’s school wide data.  A more detailed document summarising our 2016 Annual Plan and school wide achievement targets will be available in the new year.

End of Year Celebrations: With the school year drawing to a close, end of year celebrations are well underway.  Last night the students who participated in the 2016 Raroa Performing Arts Exchange entertained their friends and family with the final 2016 Raroa performance.  Once again the students did themselves proud and pulled off an energised and polished performance – despite stressing the teachers out in the afternoon dress rehearsal when they looked like they all needed to go home and have a long sleep!  Well done to everyone involved; the talented students, the parents for supporting the event and especially to Genny Sanders and her team of dedicated arts specialists who made this event possible.

 This week we have had groups of students out each day sailing and paddle-boarding. The students have had a great time participating in this event.  They have gained new skills, confidence and some have even found new friends. Unfortunately, the paddle-boarders who were all geared up to have a fun day out yesterday had to deal with the disappointment of their day being cancelled due to too much wind.  Thanks to Patrick White and Mike Hardinge for making this event possible.

Looking ahead we have Pets Day this Friday, Syndicate Big Day Out spread over next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and then the last event for 2016, the WIS Prize Giving on Thursday evening.  Parents will have received notification via email for those students who are receiving an award this year.

 As this is the last newsletter for 2016 I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continued support during the year. It is important that the school and home work together and share information to ensure all students are able to experience a positive and successful year.  I look forward to our Year 7 students returning in the new year to be the new leaders at WIS and to hear how our Year 8 students are going as they make their transition from intermediate through to college. 

Wishing you all a happy and safe festive season.

Meri Kirihimete me te Hape Nū Ia  

Justine McDonald