HAWERA INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL
NEWSLETTER 23 July 2020
Contact Details
Email: office@hi.school.nz
Website: hi.school.nz
Location: 245 South Road, Hawera, New Zealand
Phone: 06 278 5030
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HaweraIntermediate/
Kia ora koutou
Welcome back everyone to Term 3 - the year is certainly flying by.
The term begins with settled classes.
Our Kauri Values of Kaitiakitanga, Akonga, Unity, Respect and Independence guide all classroom interactions.
School reports recognising student success and achievement along with progress will be forwarded on Monday, please check student bags for the same.
Home School Partnership meetings then take place on Tuesday and Wednesday next week. Timetables are currently being drawn up, please ensure you get to meet with your child's teacher. These are valuable interactions for both parent and teacher.
This term we focus on "Ngaa Marae, Ngaa Taonga" heading to Pariroa Pa Marae at the beginning of September for Whanau overnight noho stays.
Tikanga and local protocol (the way we do things) will be our focus over the term.
Interschool sport exchanges begin. We visit Highlands Intermediate and Manukorihi Intermediate, Francis Douglas and Devon Intermediate visit us.
Student behaviour here at school will dictate whether students are given the privilege to represent our school at these events. If students cannot be respectful of our school values and rules they will certainly not be in a travelling or on-site school team.
Exemplary behaviour is expected from students at all times, the Board of Trustees is totally supportive of this stance.
If the most talented sportsmen or sportswomen at this school cannot show respect for themselves or others here at school their talents will not be utilised in representing the school.
Please support the school by ensuring the message is clearly shared at home.
Today we include the findings from a recent review by the Education Review Office into our response to the COVID 19 context.
The school continues to grow in strength. Recent analysis of our "Positive Behaviour for Learning" data shows a massive reduction in behavioural incidents outside the classroom. Systems are in place and monitored to ensure a safe and orderly environment exists.
Ngā mihi nui
Neryda Sullivan
Acting Principal
Education Review Office findings - Hawera Intermediate's Response to the COVID 19 context
Can you tell us about your school’s experience and response to the COVID 19 context since early March?
Key points
The school is proud of the way in which the teachers and leaders responded to the challenge that COVID-19 presented.
The school had already embarked on significant change. The lockdown provided an opportunity for teachers to concentrate on new ways of teaching without the need to manage behaviour.
How are you and your leadership team? Your people? / How are the board trustees? How is the board operating at this time?
Key points
Teachers worked tirelessly and enjoyed the opportunity to authentically collaborate as a team. Significant professional learning took place to prepare for online learning using a localised curriculum.
Parental anxiety was eased with timely, reassuring and informative communications, using a range of digital platforms.
Please tell us about how you are supporting student wellbeing? How is it going?
Key points
The principal spoke with each class prior to lockdown to provide reassurance, a consistent message and a sense of wellbeing.
Upon the return to school, school expectations were retaught to support positive behaviour. A student survey provided an opportunity for children to communicate with their teachers about their wellbeing.
A group of vulnerable students continue to be closely monitored.
Please tell us about how the school is supporting student learning. How is that going?
Key points
Teachers created online learning experiences based on a local curriculum. An engagement tracker confirmed that student engagement remained high through lockdown.
The Spotlight student portal was used to promote student agency and whānau enjoyed the improved and increased contact with their child’s teacher. As a result, whānau became more aware of how they could better support learning at home.
The majority of students had access to a connected device at home. The school equipped children with devices if required. However, a small group remained unconnected and were unable to engage in learning during lockdown.
Upon the return to school, learning and other routines were re-established quickly.
What thoughts do you have about where this might take you as a school?
Key points
The school wants to further enhance student agency and the home-school partnership through the now established digital platforms.
The school wants to improve teacher capability with the New Zealand Curriculum.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Key points
The school participated in ERO’s Student and Teacher Well-Being and Learning from Home survey. Results showed high levels of satisfaction for wellbeing from teachers and students.
The school’s ongoing review means that the lessons learned during lockdown can continue to inform next steps.
PUANGA ART WINNERS
TIME WELL SPENT
CONGRATULATIONS
We have merged our two big in school focus areas, Positive Behaviour for Learning and Relationship Based Learning, into our new and exciting KAURI WAY!
High expectations (for ourselves and each other), caring and nurturing the learner (looking out for and after ourselves and others), having a well managed environment (being organised and having all we need to succeed), or using agentic language (speaking positively) will all be focus topics.
These will be taught through our KAURI values each day - Monday a Kaitiakitanga focus, Tuesday Akonga etc.
We are looking forward to seeing our students develop their understanding across both these platforms through our matrix for expected behaviour.
Are you tired of milk bottle tops lying around and not sure what to do with them?
Help Hawera to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle by bringing your 'clean' washed lids in a 'clean' breadbag to school.
A special wheelie bin is waiting at the school office!