St Clair School Bulletin

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No 4, Week 7, Term 1 ~ MArch 20, 2009.

Dear Parents/Caregivers,
Kia Ora Koutou

On Wednesday and Thursday of this week all families were offered the opportunity to attend goal-setting conferences with class teachers. We would like to sincerely thank all of those who attended. Your questions, reflections and aspirations are all valued, and provide practical feedback for teachers as they refine children’s individual learning goals for the remainder of this semester. The goals set this week will provide a useful point of reference for the three-way conferences scheduled for the middle of the year.

Ongoing communication and a positive relationship are essential elements of an effective home-school relationship. Overwhelmingly, the feedback to our school is positive, but when concerns do arise, they are resolved quickly and simply. To ensure that all parents are aware of how to lodge a formal complaint (if this is required), the following policy statement is published as a quick reference for families.

Complaint and Concerns Procedure
The Board of Trustees recognises that a clear set of guidelines will help to ensure that any concern or complaint about the school, or the conduct of any individual associated with the school, is addressed appropriately.
Guidelines
In the event of a concern / complaint arising, the complainant is expected to:
· discuss the concern/complaint with the person at the school most closely related to the issue. If the concern/complaint has not been fairly heard or responded to, within a reasonable period of time ...
· arrange an appropriate time to discuss the concern with the Principal. If after this discussion the concern/complaint has not been "fairly" heard, responded to or resolved …
· contact the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees to arrange an informal meeting with the Principal and Chairperson to discuss the matter. Initially the chairperson will undertake a liaison roll with all parties. If, following the informal discussion, the complaint has still not been resolved …
· refer the complaint to the Board of Trustees in writing at least four (4) days before a monthly Board meeting. If after consideration by the Board the complaint has still not been resolved independent arbitration should be considered.

Today’s newsletter contains a variety of school and community notices. For further information in regard to any item, please contact the school's Executive Officer, Mrs. Bev Mulconroy.

We wish you all a pleasant and restful Anniversary Weekend and look forward to seeing all children again on Tuesday 24 March.

Regards

Richard Newton
Principal

School Fair
This year’s school fair was once again an outstanding success and demonstrates the widespread support within the community for the school and its programmes. The gross total of just over $27,000.00 (some costs to be deducted) is particularly pleasing given the current economic uncertainty that influences everybody’s thinking and spending priorities. We would like to extend our warmest congratulations to all those involved, with special thanks to our fair convener Kristy Booth and her hard-working and dedicated committee. Also, many thanks to our committed and energetic group of stall and event convenors.

The PTA/Fair committee will meet early next term to consider spending options and Board priorities. Our thanks to the many families who supported the fair through various donations and active assistance on the day. This year’s ‘Chocolate Fish Competition’ was won by Room 14.

New Faces
This week we welcome Maisie Kingham. We trust that you settle in quickly Maisie, and enjoy your time at St Clair School.

‘KCM’ School Values

Our value focus for weeks seven and eight of this term is KINDNESS. During this fortnight classes will discuss ways in which showing kindness towards others can enhance everyone’s lives.

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” (Mother Theresa)

Our school values are promoted, modelled and supported by staff and children. Parents/caregivers are asked to reinforce school-based discussions by talking about ways in which kindness can enhance life at home and in the wider community.

School Burglary
On Sunday night, a person (or persons) entered our school after breaking through a laminated glass window. Following this forced entry a number of items were stolen including two MacBook laptops, a CD player and a remote control for one of our data projectors. Both children and staff were very disturbed by this destructive and thoughtless crime, which has deprived our school of valuable learning resources. Anyone with any information relating to this matter is urged to either contact the school office (in strictest confidence) or the South Dunedin Police at 455-1199.
The Revised New Zealand Curriculum
In 2007, the Ministry of Education published a revised New Zealand Curriculum. This curriculum is currently being implemented across the country and will be a key document in educational planning in all schools from 2010.
As part of our school’s implementation process parents and children were asked to complete a homework task in late 2008, which asked them to identify the most important social and academic outcomes for children during their time at St Clair School.
This term, that information has been further analysed and statements relating to our school’s ‘values’ and school’s ‘vision’ drafted. These values and vision statements were drawn from student, parent and teacher feedback, and will be considered by the Board at its next meeting.
Our School’s Vision:
St Clair School aims to develop confident, capable, caring learners able to contribute to our community.
Our School’s Values:
St Clair School is a whanau-centred community that promotes tolerance, acceptance and respect within a caring, cooperative and creative learning environment.

Our school particularly values; Excellence, Innovation, Inquiry / Curiosity / Diversity, Equity, Community and Participation, Ecological Sustainability, Integrity and Respect for self and others.

These values will be explored, modelled and encouraged through class and school programmes, including the use of ‘KCM’ – our social values programme.

Middle Learning Team Swimming
This week, children from across our Middle Learning Team enjoyed five days of swimming at Moana Pool utilizing the skills of the professional Swimsation tutors. Teachers have been delighted with the behaviour of children and Swimsation tutors report that our children were attentive and focused in the pool. Our thanks to the many parents who assisted with supervision during the week. Without your support (both financial and practical) the delivery of such programmes would be almost impossible.


Live Theatre – Ananse Stories
On Monday our children enjoyed a visit from Sam Derchie, a Ghanian musician and storyteller, who performed a collection of his own Ashanti stories. These stories demonstrated the use of drums for rhythm and communication, the distinctive Ashanti storytelling, and the power of imagination.

This special cultural opportunity was paid for by a combination of school fee donations and school funds.


School Fees
Last week, school fee invoices were forwarded to all families. Our school fees have remained unchanged for almost ten years and provide much needed financial support for aspects of the school programme not covered by the basic government grant such as costs associated with visiting performances or expenses related to school trips and excursions. Parents and caregivers are reminded that the fee is tax deductible and can be claimed this year if paid before March 31st.
Parents wishing to pay by EFTPOS can make use of a terminal supplied by EFTPOS Specialists, which is located in the school office until 31st March. Alternatively, cheques can be forwarded to the school office or payments made directly to our school bank account – St Clair School, ASB Bank, 123150 0144484 00. Please use your child’s full name as reference if paying by direct credit.

Anniversary Day – Please remember that we are closed
All families are remined that NZ schools are required to be closed on their respective provincial Anniversary Day. In acknowledging this requirement our school will be closed on Monday 23rd March. We trust that families enjoy the extended weekend. We look forward to seeing your children again on Tuesday 24th March.
Cello Lessons Add To Musical Options
Six senior students have recently commenced school-based cello lessons with Saturday Morning Music Classes. Many thanks to their tutor Aart Brusse and the SMMC committee for making this possible.
Lessons in a wide range of instruments are also available at the Macandrew Intermediate and George Street centres on Saturday mornings and at the Mosgiel centre on Wednesday afternoons, all at a very reasonable cost. Please see our music teacher Mrs. Caldwell for more details.

A Special Visitor
On Thursday of this week we were privileged to have renowned educationalist Eric Frangenheim working with children at our school. Eric is based in Australia and works throughout Australia, New Zealand and Asia, speaking to teachers about ways in which they can promote higher-order thinking within their classrooms. Eric spent half a day working with children in Room 12, enabling our entire teaching team to observe him at work for parts of the session, and to learn more about his specific tools, strategies and techniques. Our grateful thanks to Eric for his time, enthusiasm and expertise.

Dunedin Blue Light Ventures and Train Trip to Middlemarch
In conjunction with the Middlemarch Singles Ball, Dunedin Blue Light Ventures are holding a ‘Country Capers Dance’ with a train trip on the Taieri Gorge Railway to Middlemarch and return on Thursday 9 April 2009. This excursion is only available for children in Year 3 – Year 8.

Entry is $10 per child. This includes the train trip, disco and BBQ tea. Drinks, food and confectionary are available for purchase.

The train departs from the Dunedin Railway Station at 4pm, and at the end of the evening all children MUST be picked up from the railway station by a parent or caregiver. The event will be fully supervised and parents are welcome to attend the event if they make their own way to Middlemarch.
For more info please contact Constable Helen Fincham-Putter at Dunedin Police.

Board of Trustees Bi-Election – A Note from the Returning Officer

The following candidates have been nominated for the vacant position on the Board.

Simon Chu
Vivienne Gillan
Glyn Howell
Deborah Nicolson

Voting papers and candidate statements will be distributed shortly.

Community Noticeboard

Kid Station (based at St Clair School)
Quality before and after school care for your child/ren. Casual bookings welcome.
Please contact Carmel or Kevin by email Carmel@kidstation.co.nz <mailto:Carmel@kidstation.co.nz> or by phone 0274 492 102 and 4559344. Based in the Tech Room 7.15am to 8.30am and again 3pm to 5.45 pm.

School Holidays Programme
Holiday Seminars Charitable Trust has again organized school holiday workshops for Bright Sparks, Tall Poppies, Odd Bods, Creative Thinkers, High Flyers and Gifted & Talented Students 8-15 years old. 15th to 22nd April 2009 at Selwyn College, Kohimarama, Auckland.
Workshops include: Word Wizardry, Monsters & Tyrants, Plaque & Pestilence, Cartoons & Animation Comic Books, Fantasy Graphics, Maths Magic, Mind Reading, Visual Perception, Chance & Destiny, Spy School Imagination Challenge, Strategy Symposium, Movie Making, Crime Scene Investigation.
www.holidayseminars.co.nz/next_seminar <http://www.holidayseminars.co.nz/next_seminar> for full workshop descriptions.

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