Dear Parents
Last week I began some informal research among
local year 6 students from the area about what they might consider their ideal
learning environment to be for Years 7-8.
I had a very animated group of over 80 students telling each other, and then me, about what their ideals might be. I am interested in their thoughts because at MCS we want to make learning engaging and relevant to those we teach.
Below are the responses of the children, and my responses to them:
Good relationships with teachers
Our teachers are well-liked by their students
Our teachers are well-liked by their students
Teachers who interact with kids
Our teachers listen to their students
Our teachers listen to their students
Teachers who don't just talk and are not just
'listening to the teacher'
Our students are very involved in their learning and demonstrate from the front but get the students involved
Our students are very involved in their learning and demonstrate from the front but get the students involved
An area in the classroom for computers
Our classrooms do have areas for computers,
but all our learners also have their own iPads.
A relaxing area with cushions, couches
All our classrooms have couches and cushions
and bean bags
and bean bags
Big classrooms that aren't stuffy and full
Our classrooms are large and well ventilated, and learners can choose where they work
Our classrooms are large and well ventilated, and learners can choose where they work
Trips and visits from people/ real life
We agree that this is important, learning not just learning for a test
We agree that this is important, learning not just learning for a test
A big field, a sandpit and a
waterslide
We have the first two and occasionally set up a waterslide
We have the first two and occasionally set up a waterslide
Exciting learning
Because we allow choice within our investigations, and our Year 5-8 learners have their own timetables, they tend to be interested in their learning and also develop self management skills. They don't have to sit and listen to a teacher talking for a long time to the whole class very often
Because we allow choice within our investigations, and our Year 5-8 learners have their own timetables, they tend to be interested in their learning and also develop self management skills. They don't have to sit and listen to a teacher talking for a long time to the whole class very often
Sport and Music and Art, and Science
experiments that everyone can do rather than just watch
These are areas that we have as a focus for our
2014
Annual Plan. We are joining the North Harbour Intermediate Sports Organisation so that we can compete in interschool sports, we will be contracting a sports teacher regularly, we will have a stronger Music focus with individual instruments being taught, we plan an Art exhibition at the end of the year, and we have requested Professional Development in Science education. We just need more students at this level to make a stronger cohort.
Annual Plan. We are joining the North Harbour Intermediate Sports Organisation so that we can compete in interschool sports, we will be contracting a sports teacher regularly, we will have a stronger Music focus with individual instruments being taught, we plan an Art exhibition at the end of the year, and we have requested Professional Development in Science education. We just need more students at this level to make a stronger cohort.
The
students were very animated as they listened to what we are providing and plan
to provide at MCS, and we have already had some enrolment enquiries. I am
continuing to speak with year 6 students in the next few weeks, and it is my
hope that we will have a strong group of older learners keen to start with us
next year.
Please let your friends know that MCS is a positive option for them to consider.
Thanks
Helen Pearson
Welcome
Please let your friends know that MCS is a positive option for them to consider.
Thanks
Helen Pearson
Welcome
We are very pleased to welcome to our school
the Jensen family. John and Peter have joined our school and David and
Jeannette are the new Ministers at Mahurangi Baptist Church. The family has moved
up from Ashburton and we are rapt to have them here with us. Ashburton’s loss
is certainly our gain.
MCS Athletics
Date: 31st October 2013
We are preparing our learners for this
Athletics Day, and for the Interschool Athletics Day on 12th
November 2013.
Please encourage your child to run, practice
sprints and long distance running so they are fit for the Sports Day.
If you are keen to help our children prepare,
or to be involved in being a parent helper on our Athletics Day, please
complete the online form here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19_Hr9vp1UkRnVTVPMZfHgyC0K73C6_O7JAyfruZTzHw/viewform
Important Changes in Child Restraint Laws
Please note that from 1 November (two weeks away),
the law says that you must:
-correctly secure your child in an approved restraint until their 7th birthday
-correctly secure your child in an approved child restraint if one is
available in the vehicle (and if not, in any child restraint or safety belt
that is available) from their 7th birthday until their 8th birthday
To find out more about the law and what a suitable child restraint is under the new law, please click on the link below:
Please note that for school trips we need appropriate car seats to be
provided by parents for the day. Please also note that the police will be enforcing
this law.
Marae Visit
We are visiting Te Hana Marae on November
20th, all details are in the separate letter you have received. We would love
as many of you as possible to join us on this trip please try to clear the day
so you can attend.
Wanted: photos from Celebration Prizegiving
We would like to send photos to the newspaper of learners receiving certificates at our celebration assembly at the end of last term. If you have one, please send it to Helen asap.
We would like to send photos to the newspaper of learners receiving certificates at our celebration assembly at the end of last term. If you have one, please send it to Helen asap.
Honouring Assemblies
See your child get a special honour
Our End of Term Celebration Assemblies this year have focused on
those learners who have made the most outstanding Progress during that term.
Our End of Year Prizegivings focus on those learners who have had
the most outstanding Achievement.
This term we are holding special Honouring Assemblies in which we
will honour people within our school community.
Please note that all individuals in our school will be specially
honoured in an assembly that focuses on their particular Room. Please do
try to come along to the Room 1, 2, or 3 assembly on the dates below to see
your child presented with a special certificate that honours the things
that we appreciate about them. This will enable us to celebrate those things
that impress us about each person, and will ensure that all our learners will
know how much we value them regardless of progress or achievement.
Please book in the dates now, and invite friends
and grandparents and prepare to bring a plate to share for a class
party/morning tea for all learners
and guests celebrating with us. If there are extra curricula skills developed,
or you have noticed significant improvement in your child at home in some way,
feel free to let us know.
Honouring Assemblies: Honour our helpers and
volunteers
On 22 November, we will have an assembly to honour our volunteers.
Please keep this date free if possible.
Assembly Roster for Term 4
2013
|
Term 4
|
2013
|
Assembly
host
|
|
Week 1
|
19 Oct
|
Principal’s
Assembly
|
|
Week 2
|
25 Oct
|
Colin
Shilston
|
|
Week 3
|
1 Nov
|
Pre-
school Tabloids- no assembly
|
|
Week 4
|
8 Nov
|
Honouring
Assembly Room 1
and class party afterwards
|
|
Week 5
|
15 Nov
|
Honouring
Assembly Room 2
and class party afterwards
|
|
Week 6
|
22 Nov
|
Honouring
Assembly Room 3
and class party afterwards
|
|
Week 7
|
29 Nov
|
No
assembly due to Production
|
|
Week 8
|
6 Dec
|
Honouring
Assembly for friends of the school
|
|
Week 9
|
13 Dec
|
Prize
Giving
|
Parent Group Santa Parade Committee
The Parent Group of MCS is seeking additional help in
planning, organising and preparing for MCS's spot in the Warkworth Santa
Parade, Saturday,
December 7. The initial planning meeting is Tuesday, October 29th,
3:00pm(just after school, in the teacher's lounge). Everyone is
welcome to come and contribute what you can. Call Cathy with any
questions(422-5801 or 021-257-1230).
Hats
Please
send your children with hats and sunscreen from now on. Any hat that protects
your child from the sun is acceptable.
Guy Fawkes Family, Fun, Fireworks Fundraiser!
(Don't say that too quickly!) ;)
MCS Parent Group is hosting a fun
community event on Friday November 1
BYO picnic or a sausage sizzle is available at 6:00pm with tea,coffee,orange
drink and sweets/biscuits to buy. A few fundraising(gold coin) games to
play and fireworks at dusk (you can bring your own to share too). So start
saving your gold coins for a fun family night!
Production
We
will be producing a school musical
performance at the end of the year on 29th November.
If
you would like to help with musical, dance or dramatic aspects of the
performance preparation, prop development or costumes, or lighting and sound,
please click here https://docs.google.com/a/mahu.school.nz/forms/d/1BepJG6Ejhfoai4XLgwl08mlwWDbEc8iA4VC0Md6C7go/viewform
Video being made about MCS for professional development of NZ
Teachers
On 18 November,, we will be visited by a professional video team
so that a short movie can be made about our school and the progress we have
made in e-learning during the last 18 months. The facilitator is excited by
what is happening here and thinks that other schools throughout the country
need to know about it to help them in their own journeys!
If you don’t want your child to be filmed please advise the
office.
Camp 2014
This will be a great way to start the year, and to get to know
all our new students.
When: 25-27 February 2014
Where:
Marsden Bay Christian Camp
Who:
All our learners (Year 0-8), with younger children only coming for one night.
Parents are welcome to come along and join in the fun.
Cost:
$110 per student. $80 per parent. (A family room can be booked for $62 per
night if preferred, food costs additional.
Payment: If you would prefer to set up an automatic payment to our
account so that you relieve the financial burden in the New Year our account
number is: 123105 0014453 000. Please make sure you include in the particulars
what it is for.
Upcoming Events:
29
October Board Meeting
Initial
planning meeting for Santa Parade
31
October MCS
Atheletics Day
1 November Early Childhood Education Tabloid
Sports Day
New
Child Restraint Laws are operational
Guy
Fawkes Family Fun
18
November Visiting
20
November Te Hana Marae Visit
29
November School Production
7
December Santa
Parade
18
December Last day of school for the year
 |
|
|
Iconz
– Building kiwi boys into kiwi icons
Faith
- Blood - Mud - Fire - Water - Speed - Smash and Build...Boys Being Boys
Where: Springboard, Hamatana Road
When: Starts
23rd October 6.30 – 8.00
Who: 8yrs – 11 yrs
Teamwork
- adventure - skills - fun - confidence - leadership - outdoor action
Kaipara Flats School - Country Show Day
Saturday November 2 10.00am-2.00pm
Come along and be part of a good old fashion Country Show Day. There will be lambs, calves, food, drink, face painting, raffles, auction, cake stall, Devonshire teas, woodchoppers and much more. Our major auction item is a signed framed 2013 All Blacks Jersey. Phone 4225819 for more details.
Saturday November 2 10.00am-2.00pm
Come along and be part of a good old fashion Country Show Day. There will be lambs, calves, food, drink, face painting, raffles, auction, cake stall, Devonshire teas, woodchoppers and much more. Our major auction item is a signed framed 2013 All Blacks Jersey. Phone 4225819 for more details.
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