eTAN - Twizel Area News

eTAN - Twizel Area News Edition: No 16 , Thursday 6 August 2020

Tēnā koutou and Welcome

Thank you to everyone for making Alex feel welcome in Room 7.

This week we have messages from: ● Madeleine Hawkesby (Commissioner) ● Head students ● Acting Principal

We have messages about:

● Learning Support Survey ● Junior Assembly ● Student Activities ● Twizel Junior Rugby Club AGM ● No Junior Rock climbing this week ● Health Consultation Reminder

RETIREMENT OF MR BILL FEASEY, OUR LONGSTANDING PRINCIPAL As you know Mr Feasey has been on sick leave for several months. I am writing to let you know that he has now retired from the principal role. Mr Feasey has been the principal of Twizel Area School for more than 20 years, and was prior to that a teacher at the school, starting in 1981.

He has made an enormous contribution to the school over the years both as a teacher and a principal. The School takes this opportunity to thank him for everything he has done and wish him well.

I will be working with the SLT to ensure that Mr Feasey has a fitting farewell. We will keep the school community posted on our plans.

On a personal note, I have enjoyed getting to know Mr Feasey and I wish him all the best in his retirement. May there be lots of snow and some adventure!

Madeleine Hawkesby, Commissioner

Dear Readers of TAN,

I hope you have all had a good week and have been enjoying the nice weather. Congratulations to everyone who competed in the cross country, some great results were produced. Next week we have the senior badminton players heading away to a competition so good luck to them. I hope you enjoy the rest of your week and have a nice weekend.

Sarah Aronsen, Deputy Head Student

FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL

Haerenga to Hokitika

Seven students and two staff left for the West Coast last Thursday to attend a Wānanga in Hokitika.

The students joined with other students from West Coast school and faced some challenging experiences. Reports back from the staff said our students acquitted themselves well.

Our students are still assimilating all the information and thought-provoking conversations they had over the three days. More information to follow.

New Build

Staff met with representatives from the Ministry of Education Infrastructure Team on Tuesday. The information session centred on three main areas: Where, What and When.

Where? This answer is set in stone. The new school will be built on the current school grounds. Where exactly the buildings will go in the area surrounded by the Market Place, Mt Cook Street and Mackenzie Drive will

eTAN - Twizel Area News Edition: No 16 , Thursday 6 August 2020 reflect the school’s deliberations and architect’s brief.

What? Rectangular shells will go up, with the internal fit-out up to the school.

When? Planning will commence in 2021, detailed pricing and consents will be completed by 2022, construction will take place during 2023/24, and our opening will be no later than 2025.

We have, by submitting the Education Brief, made a solid start to the process and now we look to the bureaucratic wheels to gain further momentum.

TAS Cross Country

What a fabulous day for the TAS Cross Country on Tuesday. Students from Years 1 to 10 completed the various courses on a cracking good afternoon.

I was particularly delighted with the students’ enthusiasm at the start and the additional speed as they came back to the crowds and finishing lane.

Also pleasing was seeing the nearly 80 parents and supporters who came along to witness the event.

I would like to thank Chris Longbottom and Mark Frost for organising and leading the team of teachers and students running such a smooth event. Results are further through the Etan..

Safety at School

I was disappointed with the actions of a member of the public last week. After some unacceptable actions and unsolicited comments from the individual to a few of our middle and senior students and teachers I contacted the local police. The matter is now with them.

I spoke to students and staff on Monday to remind everyone that if we do not know who or why a person is on our school grounds, we must show caution. Students are told to let a duty teacher know. Staff have also been told to be vigilant regarding people on the fields.

I would like to remind parents and supporters of the school to come to the office if there is a need to come onto school grounds during the school day. Please respect this expectation during school days between 8:30am and 4pm. At any other times we welcome people to use our fields, playgrounds, and hoops.

It is also an opportune time to remind parents and caregivers to have conversations with their children about the responsible use of digital technology. Talk to each other about what is being watched and for how long.

Aoraki Mathematics Challenge

Our annual pilgrimage to the Aoraki Mathematics Challenge in Timaru has taken place over the last two nights. Students from Year 7 to 10 pit their mathematical skills against students from as far north as Ashburton and to the south from Oamaru.

On Tuesday night Years 7 and 8 teams both placed just outside the top 10 in fields of almost thirty teams. Then, on Wednesday, Year 9 placed 10th and Year 10 further through their competitive fields.

EPro8

Our teams of four students from Y4-Y8 have worked on their Engineering, Problem Solving and Innovation creations over the last week. Final explanations and demonstrations are being recorded to be submitted by Friday.


Kaki Release

I am looking forward to being with Mr Metcalfe and his Year 8 class working with rangers from the Department of Conservation to release Kakī (Black Stilts). I am sure this important event will generate some good writing and understanding of ecosystems in science in the next eTAN.

Ka kite anō koutou mā.

Neil Potter

From the Commissioner

Tēnā koutou whanau, parents and caregivers

I enjoyed a recent visit to the school at the beginning of the week where I attended a number of meetings. These included a meeting with the Ministry on the proposed build, a staff meeting, and a reference group meeting. I always enjoy hearing about the interesting and varied activities that our students are involved in and their achievements.

I also had a productive discussion with Mr Potter reflecting on what has been achieved regarding the action plan and the next steps. Our next focus will be on our communications strategy and the website.

Mr Potter will remain as Acting Principal until the end of the year, and I will commence a recruitment process for a permanent appointment.

Before starting the recruitment process I will undertake some consultation with staff, students and the school community about the skills, attributes and experience you would like the new Principal to bring to the role. This will be used to assist me in formulating a position description and person

specification. I will be looking to make a permanent appointment starting in 2021.

I will keep you appropriately informed on the process.

Kind regards

Madeleine Hawkesby

(Commissioner)

Manaakitia te tangata

Ahakoa ko wai

Ahakoa no hea

Treat people respectfully irrespective of who they are and where they come from

Learning Support

As part of an internal evaluation to improve student outcomes, we are seeking feedback from the school community about Learning Support.

What is Learning Support at TAS?

Learning Support is used to assist students with specific learning needs.

Specific learning needs include students who are over a year below the national expectations for their year level, or who need learning support to master a necessary skill. It also includes students at our school who have been designated ORS by the Ministry of Education or ICS (in class support) by the RTLB.

Learning support for these students is provided through the Special Education Grant, TAS Board of Trustees funds, ORS funding, High Health Needs support, and ESOL and Reading Recovery allocation from the MOE. Occasionally funding is provided through the RTLB service of Group Special Education for a specific purpose (e.g. transition).

eTAN - Twizel Area News Edition: No 16 , Thursday 6 August 2020 If you would like to comment, please complete the short survey (8 questions) through the following link by Friday 21st August .

Survey link: https://forms.gle/Nc5uRX4GWm8m8a4R6

Many thanks Alison Holden and Rochelle Francis-Hunt

Junior Assembly!

Room 7 - Ruby for being an enthusiastic learner.

Room 8 - Mali for great self-monitoring during our “ Daily Five Time”

Room 9 - Oisin for putting a more positive effort into completing his tasks well.

Room 13 - Dominic for being a role model for cross country training.

Room 4 - Sophie for Positive and consistent attitude toward her learning.

Room 5 - Melinda for perseverance especially in ALIM (maths).

Room 7

Murphy is reading her part in the play about “monkeys skateboard.”

Room 8

Carter is learning his colours and shapes.

Junior Ski Club

The children were ready to leave last Thursday.

https://forms.gle/Nc5uRX4GWm8m8a4R6


EPRo8 Challenge

Here are the Y5 and M1 students working on their EPRo8 challenge. Their brief is to design a robotic animal for a zoo, within 6 hours.The challenge is to be submitted this Friday and our school is taking place in the competition alongside other South Canterbury Schools. EPRo8 challenges maths, science , and engineering skills as well as problem solving , perseverance and collaboration skills.

Firewise

Junior classes spent two afternoons with some of our local ‘Fire-ies’ learning about fire safety. They used virtual goggles to make their way out of a burning house as part of their learning.

ALiM Sharing Morning Tea

Last week the students who are taking part in ALiM sessions (Accelerating Learning in Mathematics), invited their whānau into

school to share more information about ALiM and also enjoy some morning tea together.

The students planned the morning tea kai on a budget as part of their Maths learning. They

compared prices, weighed fruit/vegetables, rounded amounts as part of an addition

strategy, worked out change, and negotiated their desired items based on best value for money or amount their item could feed!.

The students also enjoyed teaching their family some different Maths games which

they have taken home with them to continue challenging each other and use as a practise

tool for their acceleration.

Thank you to all whānau members who came, and for your on-going support. Also thanks to Mackenzie Frost (one of our Head Students) who came and spoke about her

past involvement in ALiM and how it helped


her to progress and gain further achievements in the area of Mathematics.

Options

Fred is learning Mandarin through an online

class as his chosen Options subject.

Lily and Taylah practising their guitar skills

with Mrs Sweney during Music Options.

Twizel Junior Rugby Club AGM

Monday 10th August 6:00pm at the Twizel Community Care Centre

All welcome

No Junior Rock climbing this week!! Back

again next week.

Reminder about the health consultation that was put out last week - this is the last week for people to provide their input via the survey regarding the health curriculum content.


Cross Country 2020

Cross Country Placegetters

Girls 1st 2nd 3rd

NE/1 Riley Easthope Georgie Bradbury Tui Hurst

Y2 Audra Davis Harriet Kyd Olivia Steyn

Y3 Aoi Iljima Aaliyah Heremaia Emilie Ward

Y4 Sophie Scarlett Zoe Wilson Danielle Lloyd

Y5 Greer Pratt Emma Gardiner Paige Firman

Y6 Lexi Brough Indie Thyne Jessica Williamson

Y7 Sakura Iljima Stella Coles-Toki Sue Ozaki

Y8 Annabel Gardiner Amelia Aldridge-Marshall Kiara Thyne

Y9 Tuulianna Laukkanen

Y10 Emily Schaar Jessica Lennon


Cross Country Placegetters

Boys 1st 2nd 3rd

YNE/1 Henry Scarlett Sebastian Irving Theo Brown

Y2 Joe Perniskie Alakai Fox Henry Waldie 3= Jacob Trezise 3=

Y3 Dom Newlands Baxter Turner Noah Sheridan

Y4 Felix Jones Louis Mason Andre Davis

Y5 Ben Williamson Noah Ward William Newlands

Y6 Dejay Parata Sonny Ennis Billy Ennis

Y7 Max Brough James Honeybone Kobie Sole

Y8 Jackson Parata Gawain Smit Luka Mains-Upson

Y9 Ralph Henderson Jotaro Ozaki Jack McLellan

Y10 Fred Grant Billy Garbutt Corey Jones

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eTAN - Twizel Area News