Our Vision…
Creating a love of learning within a safe, caring, respectful, sustainable environment where individual excellence and diversity is valued.
Term 2, Week 3, 2013
Kia ora Parents, Whānau, Caregivers and Friends of the School
With a steady stream of enrolments in all year levels throughout the school and our roll expected to reach it highest ever number, nearing 230 by the end of the year, we have decided to start our tenth class, in room 11 at the beginning of term 3. The Board has approved the restructuring of four of our classes, to set up a Year 4 class for the last 2 terms of the year. The parents of all children who will be affected by class changes, will receive a letter this week. (Please refer to “School Happenings” for further details.) We have received confirmation from the Ministry of Education, that we have funding for a new classroom, which we hope to be completed before the end of term 4.
All families should receive voting papers for the Board of Trustees Elections today or tomorrow. I urge you to exercise your right to vote. With a very strong field of candidates, I am confident that our new Board will continue to provide the strategic vision, that has been a strength of the Goldfields School Board since my time as Principal. I would like to acknowledge the contribution made by two current Board members, who are standing down after the elections: Sean Guildford, Chairman, who has been a Board member for six years; and Jason Clark, who has been a board member for ten years. Jason, who was on the Board when I was appointed as Principal, is involved in many community roles, and decided that it is time to move on, as Kelsey, his youngest daughter, will be going to College next year. I have valued Jason’s honesty, his willingness to question, his loyalty to the school and the many hours he has spent on school projects over the years. Sean, who has been Board chair for the past four years, and a key member of our property committee for the six years he has served on the board, has applied his business and marketing expertise and his knowledge of financial, personnel and property matters, to ensure our vision has become a reality and our school has moved from strength to strength. Sean leaves the Goldfields School Board for the Cromwell College Board – to support his son, who left Goldfields in 2012. Sean and Jason – thank you for the many hours you have given for our school, to ensure our children get the best deal possible, for your wisdom and support, and for the sense of fun you have brought to our Board Meetings.
Leanne Devon, another key member of our school community has resigned from her role as liaison person for our Whānau group. Thanks Leanne for your passion and enthusiasm to ensure our tamariki continue to develop their knowledge of Te Reo and Tikanga Maori, for your leadership of the Whānau Hui, and for the work you have done with our Kapakaha group and in setting up our Noho Marae visits. You are a very special lady.
We have decided to trial an new format for this term’s three way (Parent, Student, Teacher) conferences to schedule 20 minutes for each conference. The focus will be on the progress each child has made, what children are doing well and the emphasis for learning over the next term. With some children changing teachers, it is vital that achievement information is passed to the next teacher in a timely manner, so children can continue their learning without interruption. A written summary of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, generated through our Student Management System, will be sent home on Friday 5 July, with children’s books, to enable parents to have a good look at these before the conferences. If parents would like to talk to teachers, without children being present, an alternative time should be arranged for this with the teacher.
Ka kite, Kia pai tou wiki, Sharon.
Key Links:
Fonterra Milk for Schools Consent
Bring Your Own Device Agreement
Congratulations to our Kapahaka group for their performance at the CO Kapahaka festival. We think you are all stars. (More pics in photo gallery)
