wellesley principal's pen 1

the principal’s penissue 1 Tuesday, February 16th 2016

wellesley college

Thank you for a wonderful smooth start to Term 1 2016!

It was heart-warming for all staff to see the boys return and begin classes in earnest. In particular, I would like to thank the administration team for all their hard-work behind the scenes in getting the grounds and administration organised to commence the school year. It was seamless this year with all staff working diligently to prepare for the boys’ return. I would also like to commend the teachers and boys for a great start to classes and their engagement in the many extra-curricular and school activities.

Thank you to all the families who attended the Information Evening, especially to our new families. I look forward to seeing you all at the barbeque on Friday evening.

Thank you to all those families who updated their contact details using the emailed link last week or via the school office. We need to be sure that the school holds accurate information in case we

need to contact parents and so we can produce the Wellesley Class Directory. It is very important for us to update your son’s emergency and medical details. If your son has a chronic condition and may need Wellesley College to administer medication, please contact the school office for the relevant form. It is a parental responsibility to ensure medication is current and not past its use by date.

At the first school assembly this week I will be speaking to the staff and boys about some important things to remember. This will include what it means to be a Wellesley boy, taking pride in themselves, the school and most importantly – remembering the common courtesies such as please, thank you and be respectful in all situations. Most importantly this year I want the boys to engage in their learning and have fun with their schooling.

Continued on page 2...

i n s i D e : Personalised Learning Artbourne 2016 Art Exhibition Key Dates in 2016

issue 1 Tuesday, February 16th 2016the principals pen

Continued from page 1...

Personalised Learning

Over the past few decades, the staff at Wellesley have created a warm, engaging and positive culture that the boys enjoy each day. As we move towards blending this unique culture with a future focussed learning paradigm, we embark on a journey with parents, to ensure that each boy’s passions and interests are known and that we are making incremental steps in developing mind, body and spirit.

This journey will take a number of years. It will include maintaining some of the great aspects of what Wellesley does well, modifying or improving in areas that require attention and embedding new initiatives that allow teachers to be empowered without being bogged down with paperwork or bureaucratic processes. This must be done by enhancing and refining some aspects of the school in an effective and manageable way, to have the boys, parents and teachers all focus on developing well-rounded young men.

Our lines of communication are key in ensuring this occurs. This year our syndicate leaders have re-read and commented on the survey collated last year. The survey results will be published to parents in the coming weeks with comments and foci that we have identified and will be addressing. This will give the community a good gauge of what we see as areas we excel in, where we can make modification and where we can improve. As a guide, we will be using the percentage levels of satisfaction of parents to influence the comments, aligned with teacher experience to ensure we are communicating effectively.

One aspect of communication that we will be looking at this year is how we report on a boy’s progress. When writing a report teachers use a variety of assessment tools to measure progress. One of the tools used between years 3-8 is the Progressive Achievement Tests (PATs). This year, we had Cathie Johnson from New Zealand Council for Educational Research (NZCER), come and present to staff around the use of these tests to guide student development. By no means are we looking at adding any more testing of this nature, however, it opened the eyes of staff regarding information we receive about students which I will try and summarise for you.

PATs – What’s their use and how are we personalising them for our boys?

Boys sit a variety of PATs in Years 1-3. In the past we have reported on the stanine a boy has achieved which is ranked from 1-9. However, after our professional

development from NZCER we have learnt that using the scaled score that accompanies the stanine gives a more accurate picture of each student’s progress. We also learnt that the tests can inform us of gaps in knowledge and therefore can influence the teaching and learning for each boy.

For more information from the source, you can visit http://www.nzcer.org.nz/tests/understanding-pats-parents-and-community

Our professional development for staff over the coming weeks is to use the scaled score metric more effectively, and to influence how we are personalising the journey for each boy with this one piece of assessment data. We will be undertaking the following:

1. Wewillbeusingandcommunicatingthescaledscoretoinformourteachingpracticeforeachindividualboy.

2. Wewillbetailoringthetestsmoreeffectivelytotheboy’scurrentprogress.Thatis,ifthecurrentstanineisbelowathree,wewillusethepreviousyear’stestandaboveastanineeight,wewillusethefollowingyear’stest.

3. Wewillusetheonlinefacilitytoexaminedataforeachclass,andindividualstudents,tomakeinformeddecisionsaboutaboy’snextlearningsteps.

In essence, the staff and I are excited by the prospect of using this tool more effectively to give relevant and authentic data to the teachers, parents and boys to personalise their journey.

I am passionate about seeing the teachers work in an efficient manner to ensure that all pieces of assessment, whether it be teacher based judgement, tests or assessments for learning, in a manner that improves the development of each boy.

If you have any further questions or concerns please contact your son’s teacher, Steve Girvan or myself.

Further developments at the beginning of this year have been the successful ground work completed by Glen Jorna (Head of the Arts) and Mary-Anne Morgan (Head of Learning Support) in their new roles. Each of them started in earnest; Glen focussing on linking the curriculum covered in class to Art making and Mary-Anne developing a snap shot of the boys’ learning needs and starting the process of allocating the right resources, in consultation with teachers, to enhance student outcomes.

Brendan Principal

AdministrationTeam

KarenReid EA to the Principal

AnneIrwin School Administrator – Facility Hiare

MargieBeattie Development Manager

ColleendeBoer Accounts

RachelSeymour Catering Manager

TeresaDavidson Catering Assistant

GerardMaarhuis Caretaker

ResourceTeachers

SteveGirvan (D.P. Maths, Curriculum Co-ordinator, Thinking Skills and Pastoral Care)

RossHampton (Head of e-Learning, Senior Maths)

Mary-AnneMorgan (Head of Learning Support

AnneFamilton (Reading Recovery and Literacy Resource Teacher)

RuthHooke (Performing Arts)

GlenJorna (Art)

JaneKent (Library)

RussellBrodie (PE/Sport/Outdoor Education)

KateSinclair (Science and Technology)

GerardMaarhuis Caretaker

TeacherSupport

KateCole

JackieGray

SueJones

JaniceMeo

BrendaNisbet

HarryPegg(GAPTutor)

YearGroup Teacher

Year 1 YvonneOdinot

Year 2 EmmaFavel

Year 3 AlisonGarland

Junior synDicate

Leader and Associate Principal:MrsAlisonGarland

YearGroup Teacher

Year7N MichelleNorton

Year 7C DavidCarr

Year 7/8S NickieSlater

Year 7/8T AndrewTait

Year 8B MurrayBlandford

Year 8P AnandRanchod

senior synDicate

Leader: MrMurrayBlandford

YearGroup Teacher

Year4C MichelleColley

Year 4CO NicoleCooper

Year 5P ChrisParker

Year 5S VeronicaStevens

Year 5C CarolynCurrington

Year 6L ChevonO’Leary

Year 6O TonyOrbell

MiDDle synDicate

Leader: MrTonyOrbell

Details of class teachers are listed below. For those of you who are new to Wellesley, the school is divided into three Syndicates;

Staff details

the principals pen issue 1 Tuesday, February 16th 2016

Staff Email Addresses and Extension Numbers

We have a direct dial option for your convenience. The number is 562 8030 followed by the extension number of the person you wish to contact. (see page 11 for extensions and email addresses) Staff and I request that you make contact with your son or his teacher for important calls only.

For obvious reasons, staff do not wish to be interrupted whilst teaching but will endeavor to return your call as soon as possible. It is not appropriate to call a boy to the phone during class time unless circumstances permit.

Please, where possible, organise transport arrangements with your son prior to arriving at school in the mornings. We realise that in some cases, change of transport must be made it is absolutely critical that you don’t rely on leaving a phone message as in the busyness of a teaching day, we can’t guarantee the messages will be cleared before 3.30pm.

Calls that require immediate attention are best handled by the office (562 8030). As always we are here to help but I appreciate your co-operation in this regard.

Cancellation Line

This line is updated if an event is cancelled or postponed.

562 8030 ext 810

Absentees

If your son is absent please notify us before 9.00am by ringing the absentee line.

562 8030 and press 2.

Transport

Steve Girvan is in charge of transport operations. If you have any queries or concerns please contact him on 562 8030 ext 805 or email [email protected]

If your son will be catching the bus and you have not notified the office, please do so as soon as possible. It is important that the school is aware of your son’s travel arrangements for the term and we appreciate your co-operation in this regard.

A copy of the Bus and Ferry Code will be sent out to all families. Please read through the Code with your son(s), sign in the appropriate place and return the form to your son’s teacher.

Gap Tutor

A big thank you to the Cook family (Xandi Y6) who hosted Harry our GAP Tutor throughout Term 4. In Term 1 of 2016 Seb will be hosted by the Adamson family (Judd 7/8T).

As usual we are seeking host families for later this year and next so please consider this experience.

If you would like to find out more about being involved in this hosting programme, please give Steve Girvan a call.


Lost Property

Lost property at school is always a time and money waster. A large proportion of lost property is usually unnamed. If property, especially clothing, is not named it does make our job of finding the owner almost impossible. To help your child and us please ensure all property is clearly named.

Monitors will be in charge of all lost property and will ensure that named property is returned to the owner. All unnamed property will be displayed at performing assemblies and any items left unclaimed will be donated to charity or disposed of.

We do not carry Personal Effects Insurance for boys’ possessions. This is the responsibility of families. Valuable or precious items should not be brought to school. We cannot take responsibility for these items. Of course, we will always do our best to ensure the children care for their and others’ property.

Uniform/Presentation Standards

• Footwear-blackschoolshoesorblacksandals.• Allchildrenrequireanoldshirt(Mum’sorDad’s)

towearovertheiruniformsforart.• BlackshortsarecompulsoryforPE.

(Years4-8only).• Hats-thereareonlytwotypesavailablefrom

theUniformShopandtheyaretheLegionnairestyleandthecricketfloppystyle.

• Boxershortsarenotregulationschoolwear.• AllchildrenneedsunhatsinTerms1and4.

We also expect the boys to wear their school uniform with pride, in school and out, but particularly during formal occasions such as Chapel services and in the public arena including when travelling to and from school.

Hair should be kept tidy, of a reasonable length and the boy’s natural colour.

We encourage the boys’ exercise books to be durasealed and for them to take pride in their books.

The Arts

What’s happening this year?

2016 is a big year for Wellesley in the Arts, with lots of internal and external events already on the calendar – Syndicate Productions, Choir and Music performances, Artsplash, and Artbourne….just to name a few.

One of the highlights on the Arts calendar this year is the New Zealand Festival, running from 26 Feb – 20 March. SCHOOLFEST, which is the learning programme of the festival, gives students the chance to experience the best theatre, dance, music, literature and visual arts from NZ and around the world, as well as the opportunity to engage with and learn from artists at the peak of their profession.

We will be providing an opportunity for some of our older school students to attend some of these performances during school time. The Arts committee will be selecting a few events for your sons to attend. This will not be compulsory attendance – it is purely optional, and depending on the number of tickets we can get, it will be on a first in, first served basis. Letters will be sent home soon, and if you would like your son to attend, please return the signed letter to school with payment.


Music

Music lessons start in week 2! Interest is music lessons is high, as usual. If your son has not got the instrument of his choice or is on a waitlist, we encourage you to try the cello! We have spaces, it’s a beautiful instrument, our cello teacher is amazing, and your son will learn to read music as well as play beautifully. Cello is available for Y1-8 students. Please enrol via the school website. Visit https://goo.gl/0e2wHF and fill in the online form.

Once you have enrolled you will be contacted directly by the teacher of the instrument you have selected, who will let you know lesson times, costs and hireage where applicable.

Important: Please direct all communication about music lessons to your son’s music teacher and not your son’s class teacher. This includes information about lesson times, missed lessons and absentees. Thank you

[email protected]

Art

The Year 7 boys have been discussing the symbols and patterns in John Pule’s work and various Pacific Island Tapa, identifying similarities and differences. They will be designing their own composition, using personal symbols that reflect their identity, inspired by the Tapa patterns that they have been looking at.


Science and Technology

This term and next I am out of school and Kate Sinclair will be taking our Science and Technology sessions with the boys.

As part of the Royal Society Science Teaching and Leadership Programme (formally fellowships) I am based for the next six months at Zealandia Ecosanctuary in Karori. This opportunity gives me the chance to work with scientists and experience science in the real world. I’ll be spending my days learning about the science going on in the ecosanctuary and joining in some research into the robins and their nesting habits. I also get a number of opportunities to visit schools around New Zealand to find out about their successful science programmes and have some professional development sessions at the Royal Society looking at our science curriculum and ways in which we can develop science further at Wellesley when I return.

My first two days at Zealandia have been magical. It’s pretty special to be able to walk along a path and have a tuatara sitting right there or having to duck down as a Kaka comes flying towards you or to be able to call out and a robin appears from nowhere and sits within 30cm of you.

This week, I’m looking forward to working with our Year 5 boys who are coming to Zealandia to experience the stream life in the sanctuary. It will be great for them to then go back to school with their new knowledge and investigate our own stream life.

On the Wellesley intranet, there’s a tab for science. Kate will be keeping a blog to share all of the exciting goings on in the science room and I will be keeping a blog of my time at Zealandia.

Jo Hawthorne

Learning Needs

First day nerves maybe in the past for most boys now, but for many boys the anxiety lingers due to particular challenges they may have. This can be particularly nerve-wracking at the beginning of the year.

Teachers and students are now getting to know each other, establishing routines and settling in. Teachers are gathering information on the learning needs of their students by forming relationships and communicating with parents, boys and other teachers, as well as gathering data from tests, work samples and specialist assessments.

The data will inform our provision of support for the boys, within the resources available.

When prioritising our resources, we look at a variety of information that includes; specialist reports or diagnosis, teacher based observations, parent meetings, data collected through a variety of assessment tools and past support provided.

If you have any reports, assessments or specialist advice that may assist us in the coming weeks, please contact me at [email protected]


EOTC, PE and Sport

The PE focus this term is on swimming and fitness. The Junior and Middle School boys will be swimming at least twice a week in the school pool, the Eastbourne Pool or the sea, so they will need to have the appropriate “togs” at school on their designated swimming days. Boys can wear swim shirts and any other appropriate gear like caps and goggles. Wharf jumping is set aside for the Year 6, 7 and 8 boys where mufti togs are acceptable. This allows these boys to have the appropriate school togs for PE sessions. Later in the month the boys will be readying themselves for our School Swimming Sports which are to be held on Friday 4th March.

Boys in Y7 and Y8 have started trialing for the Softball, Tennis VIII, 1st and 2nd XI Cricket teams. A 3rd XI Cricket team and a 2nd Tennis VIII may also be chosen for fixtures if opposing schools have enough players. The tennis ladder will also commence at this time and the Tuesday after school tennis for the top 16 boys (‘A’ ladder) will start next week. The boys will be told in advance what days their trials will be. They will be conducted on a class by class basis. Text in brown could be deleted because it’s happened.

The Middle Syndicate started their first sport session on the first Tuesday of the term. Year 6 boys have cricket as an option. Basically, this is a development year where they

develop their skills and the top players are selected for any fixtures that can be arranged. The boys involved will be given all the relevant infor mation. Year 6 boys have the opportunity to enjoy tennis at breaks, lunch times and sport sessions during the first term.

The school has safety concerns with the size and number of cricket bags that have come to school on the buses and ferry in the past. Therefore, the boys are allowed to bring their own cricket bats, box and gloves on practice and trial days but not the cricket bags and bulky items. The school will provide any other gear required. An exception is made for inter-school fixtures but it is hoped the majority of gear can go

with any parents watching. Large tennis bags are also not to come in on the buses and ferry.

The boys not involved in sports teams will participate in a range of different sporting activities. The coaches aim to give the boys every opportunity to show their skills when trialling for teams. Selecting teams is a difficult job and there will always be disappointed boys when teams are named. We are fortunate to have so many talented sporting boys at Wellesley so competition for places is strong. We have tried, with some success, to increase the number of teams and sporting opportunities over recent years to cater for the demand. We will endeavour to do this, where possible, during the year ahead.

Just a reminder that boys are expected to wear sunhats every day up to Easter. Boys without sunhats will not be able to go outside and play at lunch time, nor partake in outside PE (Physical Education) or sport sessions. We would also ask that parents ensure that their son has his correct PE gear and that on days that they have PE or sport that they do not wear boxer shorts to school. Plain black tennis shorts are available from the uniform shop and can be used for PE and sport. Wellesley caps are available for tennis players and the senior softball team. Outside of these two activities white floppy hats (Year 4 – 8) or blue legionnaire’s hats (juniors) are required.

The majority of the school will be involved in some form of camping experience over the first half of the term. The camps are designed to gradually expose the boys to new and challenging activities while building confidence and relationships with their peers. Camp information will come via your son’s classroom teacher.

I recommend new parents go to the Sport Admin link and read the general information which provides an overview. Any changes to dates will be changed on the Intranet? calendar if known prior to the event. Postponements and cancellations can be accessed through the phone line (576 2279 or ext. 810). If you have any other queries I recommend you email the teacher/coach or me.


ARTBOURNE 2016 - Visual identity

Hopefully you had a chance to visit a previous ARTBOURNE exhibition at Wellesley or came to our third Artist in Resident- Sam Duckor-Jones residency last year.

For those new to the school ARTBOURNE is an arts initiative which runs in a two year cycle. Year 1 which is this year, ARTBOURNE exhibition is held in the later part of the year where the hall is transformed into a contemporary art gallery where artworks (painting, prints, & sculpture) by professional and some amateur artists (including Old Boys and staff) are exhibited and sold to raise funds for the Foundations scholarship campaign- Promising futures for boys.

In Year 2, which will be 2017, is the artist residency. Having an artist based in the Art Room for several weeks with our new Head of Arts Glen, and working with the boys, gives them the chance to see an artist

“in action” and also to extend their own artistic endeavours. The programme culminates in the School’s Art Week with an exhibition of the artist’s works, which will take place probably during August.

The volunteer team who work with Glen and the Development office and with help from the PA to run these events are always on the lookout for extra people to help out with these initiatives.

If you have an interest in art and creativity or are just keen to get involved with a School project, please contact:

Katy Lethbridge [email protected]

or Pip Harray [email protected]

to find out what is involved. We are particularly interested in people who have marketing and comms and administration skills.


Old Boys

Many of our old boys have positions of responsibility such as prefect roles in a range of secondary schools. It was pleasing to see so many feature in the end of year Prize Giving.

Above from left:

James – Head Boy Nick – Head of Selwyn House Jules – Deputy Head Boy Sam – Head of Community Kieran – Head of Hadfield House

Term Dates

Term 1 Monday February 1st - Friday 15th AprilTerm 2 Monday May 2nd - Friday 8th JulyTerm 3 Monday August 1st - Friday 23rd SeptemberTerm 4 Monday October 10th - Friday 9th December

Key Dates in 2016

Week DayandDate Event

2 Friday 12 Feb School Picnic 6.00pm

3

Monday 15 Feb Y8 Castlepoint Camp (5 days)Y7 Outdoor Education (2 days)

4Monday 22 Feb Year 1-8 Goal Setting

Interview Week

5

Monday 29 Feb Year 6 Camp Kaitoke (3 days)

Friday 4 Mar School Swimming Sports

6 Friday 11 Mar Year 5 Trip to Zealandia

7

Monday 14 Mar Principal’s Pen #2

Tuesday 15 Mar Year 7/8 Zone Athletics

Wednesday 16 Mar New Parents’ Drinks

8

Wednesday 23 Mar Year 4-8 Zone Swimming

Friday 25 Mar Good Friday – School Closed

9

Monday 28 Mar Easter Monday – School Closed

Tuesday 29 Mar School Closed

10Tuesday 5 Apr School Photos

Friday 8 Apr Cross Country

11Monday 11 Apr Kids Lit Quiz

Friday 15 Apr Term 1 Ends


AlisonGarland 848 [email protected]

AnandRanchod 813 [email protected]

AndrewTait 816 [email protected]

AnneIrwin 800 [email protected]

AnneFamilton 853 [email protected]

BrendaNisbet 844 [email protected]

BrendanPitman 802 [email protected]

CarolynCurrington 851 [email protected]

ChevonO’Leary 837 [email protected]

ChrisParker 849 [email protected]

ColleendeBoer 803 [email protected]

DavidCarr 821 [email protected]

DeirdrevanBeynen 845 [email protected]

EmmaFavel 847 [email protected]

GarthJohnson 836 [email protected]

GerardMaarhuis 806 [email protected]

GlenJorna 852 [email protected]

GabePang 823 [email protected]

JaneKent 807 [email protected]

JaniceMeo 829 [email protected]

Direct Dial: 562 8030 followed by the extension number.Cancellations: 562 8030 ext 810Absentees: 562 8030 Press 2

Staff contact details 2016

JeremyField 832 [email protected]

KarenReid 802 [email protected]

KateSinclair 833 [email protected]

MargieBeattie 818 [email protected]

Mary-AnneMorgan 817 [email protected]

MichelleColley 842 [email protected]

MichelleNorton 850 [email protected]

MurrayBlandford 820 [email protected]

NickieSlater 843 [email protected]

NicoleCooper 841 nicole@wellesley,school.nz

RachelSeymour 811 [email protected]

RossHampton 814 [email protected]

RuthHooke 817 [email protected]

HarryPegg * [email protected]

SteveGirvan 805 [email protected]

SueJones 845 [email protected]

TeresaDavidson 811 [email protected]

TonyOrbell 822 [email protected]

VeronicaStevens 840 [email protected]

YvonneOdinot 845 [email protected]

Name Ext Email Name Ext Email

www.wellesley.school.nz

WhERE EACh BOy hAS ThE OPPORTUNiTy TO ExCEL

611a Marine Drive, Days Bay

P +64 4 562 8030E [email protected]


wellesley principal's pen 1

Documents