From the Principal

Welcome back to a new term and hopefully, a less disruptive term. It has been wonderful to see most of our students back this term and feeling enthusiastic about their learning.

The weather has certainly helped us to settle into term 2 and allowed us to have an outdoor assembly. It was so nice to be able to share achievements and award student of the week certificates.

All classes have a BEST book that they take between classes.

This is for the subject teachers to record how well a class has been organised for learning, has engaged in learning and has worked on task during the lesson. It has been pleasing to see so many classes consistently scoring 5/5 and getting positive comments about how well they support each other in their learning.

Ensuring that our environment is conducive to quality education starts with caring. Teachers having a passion for teaching is important but not as important as having teachers who genuinely care about the outcomes for all students. I am so proud of how much our teachers care about every student in our school. It is awesome to see this level of care being shown between students in their classes as they demonstrate manaakitangi for all.

I am looking forward to a wonderful term. I am hopeful that many of you will come into school on May 18 for our Show and Tell Day. It is always such a privilege to show off our school and our students.

Enjoy the weekend and stay well,

JoAnne Sutton

JoAnne Sutton (she/her)

Principal / Tumuaki

This week we recommenced subject teaching across the school. Students have adjusted well and seem to be loving the challenges of having a variety of teachers for all the different curriculum areas.

The focus for each curriculum is outlined briefly below.

Reading - Students will be reading at their current reading ability and relating the text to their own personal lives and experiences. They will be using their own knowledge to predict what will happen in a text and make connections to their own world. Daily reading at home is encouraged.

Writing - Students will be writing an explanation and this will be assessed to identify their next learning steps in writing. Speech writing will be happening later in the term.

Mathematics - The term will begin with a recap in addition and subtraction skills and then move into multiplication and division. Students will be working with large numbers as well as decimals. To ensure they can progress in this area, a sound knowledge of their basic facts and times tables will be needed. Revising these at home and aiming for instant recall will be an advantage.

Social Sciences and Health - Both of these subjects are looking at choices and changes. How people make choices, how we face change and challenge, how we can adapt and how our choices impact ourselves and others.

Science - Planet Earth and Beyond is the theme for the term. The skills being covered all relate to fair testing - developing a scientific question, forming a hypothesis, setting up a fair test to experiment, observing and recording results and making a conclusion based on the results.

Aotearoa Histories - Students will be learning about the Chief of Tamaki Makarau and about how Auckland was named and places in the Auckland region that have significance.

Te Reo - Whakapapa is the main focus with students learning sentence structures to use when talking about family.

PE - Students have started the term with the beep test to assess their current fitness level. The goal is for this to increase over the next two terms through regular involvement in physical activity. The skills in PE this term will be passing and receiving large balls for winter sports - netball, football, rugby and basketball.

Visual Art - Creating a collage of work using acrylic paint.

Hard Tech - Designing and building with wood to create something that improves our life.

Digital Tech - Designing tools and devices using electronics.

Food Tech - Following a recipe. Making smart food choices when snacking.

In whānau class time, students will build relationships, develop our school values, participate in block sport and complete their belonging projects. The whānau teacher oversees all of their students and should be your first point of contact if you have any questions about your child's progress or learning.

School Production will be in term 3 but the writing and auditions will begin this term.

So, it’s time we invited you back to school to have a look at our classes, watch our staff and students in action and see all the exciting programmes that your child is engaged in every day.

On Wednesday 18 May we would like to invite all whanau to come into school for a guided tour with your child.

We will be opening our doors to visitors from 9am to 1.15pm and from 2pm to 3pm. Book a time with your child and they will meet you at the office and show you around the school. Students will have their learning portfoilos to show you and will tell you about their learning.

Many of you missed out on our open evenings last year so this is a chance to see the school and see the places that your child learns in each day. Teachers will be teaching so this is not an opportunity for a parent and teacher conference. These will happen early in term 3 after the mid year report has been sent home.

The principal, deputy principals and our school counsellor will be available to chat with you and answer any questions.

This is an opportunity for our students to be tour guides and to share their learning. It is also a chance for them to show off our fantastic school facilities, our amazing teachers and some of the belonging projects that they have all been involved with.

Well done to all the teams who represented our school this week. Feedback from our staff who attended games has been very positive about the sporting skills, positive attitude and support from parents and coaches. Thank you to everyone who has been involved to ensure our students can get back into team sports.

Netball started this week, Waterpolo and Basketball will start next week.

Whaea Rachel, Matua Steve and Whaea Alicia have started the organisation for our annual sports camp. 40 students will be selected to represent us in a variety of sports for a week long camp in Matamata from 22-26 August. A note will be sent home shortly about trials.

A reminder that all students need PE gear each day. As it gets colder they can wear leggings or plain black track pants. We are encouraging students to change clothing for sport as part of good hygiene.

Wednesday 11th May - North Harbour Football Zone Day, Year 8

Monday 16th May - HPV Immunisations

Wednesday 18th May - Show and Tell day

Thursday 19th May - Photolife Class & Individual Photos

Friday 20th May - Anti Bullying, Pink Shirt Day

Tuesday 24th May - BOT Meeting at 6:30pm

Online Every Day with ADHD Parenting course starting on Tuesday 31 May 2022. This Online course is run over six Tuesday mornings, 9.30am – 11.45am. This is the first time we are trialling the morning time, as some people find it difficult to attend the evening courses, and we also thought it may be useful for stay at home parents.

This dates for this Online course are:

Tuesday 31 May 2022

Tuesday 07 June 2022

Tuesday 14 June 2022

Tuesday 21 June 2022

Tuesday 28 June 2022

Tuesday 05 July 2022

Please see the following website link for further information, or to register: https://www.adhd.org.nz/online-every-day-with-adhd-parenting-course-term2-2022.html

And the second Online Every Day with ADHD Parenting course is the one starting in Term 3 on Wednesday 24 August 2022. This Online course also a six week course, run on Wednesday evenings, 7.30pm – 9.45pm.

The dates for this Online course are:

Wednesday 24 August 2022

Wednesday 31 August 2022

Wednesday 07 September 2022

Wednesday 14 September 2022

Wednesday 21 September 2022

Wednesday 28 September 2022

Please see the following website link for further information, or to register: https://www.adhd.org.nz/online-every-day-with-adhd-parenting-course-term3-2022.html.

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