Wairau Valley School

Dear all,

I am so sorry I had to cancel the family ski trip, but as there is still no snow I feel it was a good decision. The November picnic to Lake Rotoiti will be such fun and much less cost.

This week the students are all presenting their prepared speeches, and although I have to wait and hear only the finalists, as I am a judge, the teachers have said the quality this year is great. We have changed the time for the finals to 1.30pm on Thursday 4th September, and letters will go home Friday if your child is in the final.

Next week, our senior learners are all involved in the regional Maths Quiz day, so let's hope we show Marlborough that not only are we good at sports, but we are great at academics as well.

On that note, PAT (Progress and Achievement testing), that we do twice a year, is well underway for year 4-8 learners. The students complete 6 tests in reading, vocabulary, listening, grammar and a new test in writing. Parents/caregivers will get the results at parent interviews in week 3 of Term 4.

A reminder that we are running one early bus this Thursday, so that we can set up for the Board to interview our prospective new principal. It is very exciting!!

Next week we have our last Board meeting for this current Board. I know the community would like to thank them for their last 3 year's service to the school. Our election is well underway, so please do get your votes in.

Ngā mihi ki a koe

Dr Anne Malcolm

Acting Principal

0274926060

The frames in the foyer showcase student writing and art work. This week they feature some junior art from Caia, Eva, Cadence and Harry. Next week, we will showcase some senior writing. So if you are in the school, do pop in and see the lovely work your children do.

New Zealand teachers use a variety of tests to determine what level students are at, what progress they are making, and where they may need extra help. Progressive Achievement Tests, commonly known as PATs, are one of the main sets of tests schools use.

PATs are multiple-choice tests designed to help teachers determine achievement levels of students in Writing, Mathematics, Reading Comprehension, Reading Vocabulary, and Listening Comprehension. The test results are individual to students and to the year level. They help teachers decide what kinds of teaching materials are needed and which methods or programmes are most suitable for their students. PATs are also important because they identify the progress a student is making from year to year.

All PATs are online tests. Year 4 data can be a bit more variable as this is the first time the children see the tests. We ask parents not to compare student stanines, as tests are about indivuiduals and really are one snapshot of ability on one day. The PAT is not a definitive diagnostic test but just one test of many that will build a picture of your child for the teacher.

To explain some of the term used in assessment

PAT is the acronym for Progressive Achievement Test

Curriculum is the set of courses and their content offered at schools and in New Zealand, there is a national curriculum – it is not prescriptive but offers guidelines for schools to follow. Stanines are used to compare an individual student’s achievement with the results obtained by a national reference sample representing a certain year level.

Literacy is the ability to use language to read, write, speak and listen.

Numeracy is the ability to understand mathematics, numbers and measurement.

Every week they turned up to run practices and were there supporting our team over the winter. A big thanks to Burnella Wright and Tash Dean. Our girls were so lucky to have you supporting them. It was also so fabulous to be able to have our own Wairau team competing and you both made that happen.

Next Board meeting 4 September 4.30pm.

Where are we up to?

Last week three Board members, one being Katie Herbert, our newly elected staff representative on the School Board, visited four principal applicants in their schools and talked with children and staff.

This week, three of those candidates will be interviewed by our panel of five, with Anne in an advisory capacity. Following the interviews, a new principal will be appointed and a start date negotiated.

We have entered an all-comers choir into the Marlbrough music festival, which is held on 29th/30th October. We have most of the seniors and about 8 juniors in our choir. The school website has all the songs and music tracks available, so children can practice the lyrics at home.

https://www.wairauvalley.school.nz/choir/ -it is under learning and then in the drop down- choir.

The festival is all about singing for the love of singing and there is nothing better than singing with a massed choir. The organisers will be looking for soloists for some of the songs, and we have some great voices here at wairau valley School.