As we near the end of term 2, it is fitting to take time out for Matariki and reflect on our past and set goals for our future. Our students have been engaged in a variety of assessment tasks recently as teachers have been writing reports and setting future goals for teaching and learning.

Mrs Hedges has shared the school wide results from the reading assessments. It is so exciting to see that we have a large percentage of students who are achieving at or above the expected standard for their age group. We are seeing a lot of improvements in this area and a lot of students who are motivated to improve.

We are very open with our students about their attainment and about what they next need to focus on in their learning. Having an awareness of strengths and areas of needs can be a positive motivation for many students. Self managing is a key competency and this is done very well when students and teachers discuss progress and set goals.

In order to achieve, some students thrive in small groups, some work best when left alone and some need to work collaboratively with others. We are seeing progress as we meet learning needs by varying the way we teach. This is particularly evident in reading. Our teachers have spent a lot of time analysing results and setting up small groups for additional reading skills lessons throughout the day. Employing extra teachers has ensured added success. We are thrilled with the improved attitudes towards reading as well as the progress being gained.

If your child is still learning to read, I encourage you to persevere, surround them with language and books, and celebrate every success. All children learn at their own pace and it is never too late to learn a new skill. We will be having parent and teacher conferences early next term and I hope you will all be able to attend and discuss your child's next learning steps with the whanau teacher.

The holidays are almost here. Enjoy the break from the usual routine and take some time out to revitalise yourselves.

Nga mihi nui,

JoAnne Sutton

Thank you all for your support of this unexpected change to our curriculum delivery. We would prefer to be onsite but we know that deep cleaning and allowing time for wellness is a priority during an outbreak of illness. I hope that the work shared online is keeping students busy and engaged. Training for cross country is a good outside option if the weather permits. Mastering instant recall of times tables is also a great way to spend time at home. As this is not a lock down, students can still be visiting other houses and working with their friends on tasks. The public library is open and we have comics plus available to all students online.

• Friday 1st July - 40 Hour Famine begins
• Thursday 7th July - Reports Sent Home
• Tuesday 2nd August - Parent Teacher Interviews (School Finishes at 1:15 pm)

On Thursday 7th July you will receive a report on your child’s attainment across all curriculum areas and the key competencies.

On Tuesday 2nd August, we will be holding parent and teacher conferences to discuss your child’s goals for the rest of the year. School will finish at 1.15 pm on this day with bookings available between 2.00 pm and 8.00 pm.

Your child’s whānau teacher has all the information across all curriculum areas in regard to your child, so this means that you will only have to book one appointment with your child’s whānau teacher to discuss progress in all of their learning areas.

To make your booking paste the following link into your browser or click the button below: https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/admin/parents?z=vcgaL1

Use the event code: u828p

If you are unable to make a booking, please phone Whaea Jodi at our office who will be happy to help. If this day doesn’t suit, or there are no times available for you, you can contact your child’s whānau teacher directly and make an appointment on another day and time that suits you.

Week 8 was an exciting week here at BIS leading up to the first official public holiday to celebrate Matariki. We were committed to ensuring mātauranga Maori was at the heart of our Matariki celebrations, with a focus on remembrance, whanaungatanga and gratitude. We shared kai in our whānau classes, spending time together just 'being us' and chatting about life in general, sharing what we are grateful for and washing away all the stresses of wāhanga 2. We remembered loved ones by hanging cards onto 'Te Rakau Hoki Maumahara’ with the names and messages for whānau and friends we have lost since the last rising of Matariki. We celebrated the coming of the Māori New Year with our first school disco for 2022 where we mixed and mingled with our friends, strengthened whānaungatanga and danced the night away.

E pīata mai koe Matariki. Tū mai koe hei tohu aroha mō tātou katoa.

We are excited to be hosting a mini art exhibition at the beginning of Term 3.

Our hothouse is full of life. Students have been busy growing vegetables from seed and then transferring the seedlings into the hydroponic pods. We have an assortment of lettuce, bok choi, kale, spring onion and some edible flowers ready to harvest.

Kia Ora Birkdale Intermediate Whānau,

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Important Dates:

Monday-Friday, 20 June to 1 July - M/Tea $1 Ice blocks & Raro

Thursday, June 23rd - M/Tea "Orange" Bake Sale

Friday, July 1st - "Orange Day" Dress your best for a gold coin donation

World Vision 40 Hour Famine Challenge 1–3 July.

40 Hours. Choose your challenge. Let’s go!

https://my.worldvision.org.nz/d/ss/nsBHNI/birkdale-intermediate

Please contact office@bis.school.nz to advertise your community event in this space.