eNews – Term 1, Week 3. Have a lovely weekend :)

23.02.2024  

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Alfriston School has three Strategic Goals (Hauora-Wellbeing, Ako-Teaching and Learning and Arotake-Ongoing Internal Evaluation). These guide the direction and decision making at Alfriston School.

Educators are natural evaluators, we do it without thinking. In the classroom we ask ourselves…… what made that lesson go so well, why is this lesson not working so well, are the learners understanding this. As school leaders we are also reflecting/evaluating all the time……. looking at decisions we make and considering the impact they have or have not made, listening to learners, staff and community voice to evaluate the systems and processes we have in place and analysing data to forward plan.

As a staff we have been celebrating the way in which the learners have settled. The teachers are really enjoying the combinations of learners and the way in which the learners are showing our school values. Mrs Galvin and I have been celebrating the way in which the learners are supporting each other in the playground, adjusting to new ways (e.g. no rubbish bins) and the high level of learning engagement in the classrooms.

Another thing Mrs Galvin and I have been celebrating is the efforts of the staff. Alfriston School staff were at school well before the start of the year; preparing the classroom environments, planning, and working together to continue to learn and challenge our thinking. 

Yesterday we celebrated the huge whānau turn out to the Year 4-8 Swimming Sports. It was wonderful to see so many of you there. The other event in the first 3 weeks of school was the Setting Up for Success afternoon. We had 42 whānau represented, we thank these caregivers for coming along and for the positive feedback about the event.

At the Setting Up for Success presentation I spoke about our school vision ………..               

‘A Community of learners supporting each other to ensure everyone reaches their full potential’.

• A community of learners – this is all of us, you never stop learning.
• Supporting each other – emphasis on supporting your own child(ren) and all the other learners in our place of learning
• Ensure everyone reaches their full potential – again this is all of us. We want everyone to progress and succeed (whānau, staff and learners)

The key to achieving our school vision is home/school partnership. We shared some desired commitments from both parties:

SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP     

• To communicate regularly using multiple, easily accessible platforms.                       
• To provide opportunities for whānau to be involved and to be informed about their child’s and progress (informal and formal)   
• To communicate celebrations / concerns with whānau early on                                     
• To support whānau at all times

HOME PARTNERSHIP                                                                                                     

• To be aware of the school’s communication platforms and to check these       
• Commitment to be involved and to support all learners by attending school events and assisting with trips/events                                                                                                 
• To regularly touch base with classroom teacher                                                             
• To role model our school values                                                                                         
• To speak positively about the school at all times – concerns can be addressed with the right people

Please understand that all decisions we make have the learners at the centre. We think about what’s best for the whole school and all decisions are carefully considered. We thank the community members that respect and support our decisions. 

At Alfriston School we take pride in fostering an environment of kindness. Please know that we will not tolerate disrespectful and/or threatening emails or talk from anyone in our learning community. When speaking to an external agency this week it has come to my attention there is a lot more of this happening in schools now days. It is unacceptable to abuse anyone, let alone people that are working so very hard for your children. We are always open to listening and working with whānau however we will not be abused. As with all learners, our staff deserve to feel safe in their work place.

In regards to ‘supporting all’…….On Monday 26th February whānau that did not attend the Setting Up for Success afternoon will receive a fridge magnet. This is a new initiative which we’ve introduced to support our commitment to the home/school partnership. The magnet has our 2024 Priority Dates on it. We know that caregivers are very busy so we’ve selected the most important dates/events of the year and ask that if you can only commit to a few dates a year, that these are the ones. That these are the dates where we truly live our school vision and attend to celebrate and support all learners. Pop them in your diaries now 🙂 

LEARNING CELEBRATIONS

OTHER NEWS AND INFORMATION

JUNIOR TENNIS INFORMATION

Junior Tennis Coaching for all ages and skills at Jellicoe Park Tennis Club, Marr Road, Manurewa. Term 1 on Friday afternoons. All queries please phone Peggy on 021 201 8824 or email us on jellicoeparktennis@hotmail.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND WELCOME TO…