As a parent, it is important to reflect on my own parenting and my own relationship with my boys.
The following video made by S.K.I.P gives us a good reminder, all said in the children's voice.
Shane Buckner's Principal Blog
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
New Year, New start
Ok
I've never been good at keeping diaries, but I really thought that this would keep me motivated.
I think I may have to dedicate one day a week to update this, so that means that any more would be a bonus!
What a fantastic start to 2011. What a great team I work with, great parents and of course absolutely brilliant kids. What more could a Principal want!
I started this year's newsletters with little snippets that I think may help the overall hauora of both kids and adults in the Wairakei family alike! We started the year with a great PD session with Nathan Mikaere Wallis, who helped us understand a little of the human brain and how it works.
This got me thinking ... and so I put a wee piece in the newsletter about sleep patterns and the benefits of having regular routines and times etc.
This is what I wrote (from Principal's Digest).
I've never been good at keeping diaries, but I really thought that this would keep me motivated.
I think I may have to dedicate one day a week to update this, so that means that any more would be a bonus!
What a fantastic start to 2011. What a great team I work with, great parents and of course absolutely brilliant kids. What more could a Principal want!
I started this year's newsletters with little snippets that I think may help the overall hauora of both kids and adults in the Wairakei family alike! We started the year with a great PD session with Nathan Mikaere Wallis, who helped us understand a little of the human brain and how it works.
This got me thinking ... and so I put a wee piece in the newsletter about sleep patterns and the benefits of having regular routines and times etc.
This is what I wrote (from Principal's Digest).
Getting a good night’s sleep often comes down to routines. Any factor that decreased the quality or quantity of sleep will lead to difficulty with school performance and poor behaviour problems. When children stay up late at night texting in bed or playing computer games, they are increasing their risk for neurocognitive problems. According to research, having a regular bedtime was the most consistent predictor of positive developmental outcomes in four year olds. In this 8000 person sample, language, reading and maths scores were higher in children whose parents reported enforcing regular bedtimes.
The number of nightly sleep hours required by children varies by age. In general, five year olds should get 11 hours of sleep, nine year olds need 10 hours and 14 year olds require at least 9 hours. If the child is not alert and functioning properly during the day, sleep length should be gradually increased or decreased, or the bedtime routine should be adjusted.
Right ... now I have to put into action the above for myself!
Til next time
Keep smiling
Friday, October 15, 2010
What makes a school ...
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!
My first blog since being away for a holiday in the States, and I have come back to a large number of applications for the teaching positions we have here for next year.
Looking through the applications, it becomes very real, that all these people have extraordinary skills and talents and quite a large number would be able to fit in and make an absolutely brilliant contribution to the learning environment here at Wairakei School.
Not only that, but being able to fit in socially and professionally with the staff and the parent community is of great importance.
The people here at Wairakei are "Absolutely Brilliant"! I love working here, having the support of such wonderfully dedicated professionals all with the main goal of providing awesome learning experiences for children and helping them to develop into happy, confident and adaptable people.
Keep smiling
My first blog since being away for a holiday in the States, and I have come back to a large number of applications for the teaching positions we have here for next year.
Looking through the applications, it becomes very real, that all these people have extraordinary skills and talents and quite a large number would be able to fit in and make an absolutely brilliant contribution to the learning environment here at Wairakei School.
Not only that, but being able to fit in socially and professionally with the staff and the parent community is of great importance.
The people here at Wairakei are "Absolutely Brilliant"! I love working here, having the support of such wonderfully dedicated professionals all with the main goal of providing awesome learning experiences for children and helping them to develop into happy, confident and adaptable people.
Keep smiling
Monday, September 6, 2010
Christchurch Earthquake
What a start to the week!
Yesterday was my birthday - one day after the September 4 earthquake. Obviously there was a bit of cleanup to do at home, so the birthday was a bit strange.
I spent about 3 hours at school also, checking that everything was OK and talking a great deal with Alan Grey, the Board Chairperson about the state of the school, what the next steps were to be and how we were going to support the community.
Fortunately, our school has not had any significant damage to the buildings. This doesn't mean that the community is not affected in other ways and the staff will be working to support our school community as well as supporting one another.
The Ministry website has some very useful information regarding traumatic response as well.
Canterbury Earthquake MoE link
School will remain closed until Wednesday September 8.
Yesterday was my birthday - one day after the September 4 earthquake. Obviously there was a bit of cleanup to do at home, so the birthday was a bit strange.
I spent about 3 hours at school also, checking that everything was OK and talking a great deal with Alan Grey, the Board Chairperson about the state of the school, what the next steps were to be and how we were going to support the community.
Fortunately, our school has not had any significant damage to the buildings. This doesn't mean that the community is not affected in other ways and the staff will be working to support our school community as well as supporting one another.
The Ministry website has some very useful information regarding traumatic response as well.
Canterbury Earthquake MoE link
School will remain closed until Wednesday September 8.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Auf Wiedersehen Paul
The end of an era is nearly upon us. Mr Paul Browne after 10 years teaching at Wairakei School , and 19 years living in New Zealand , is heading for Germany Wairakei School
Paul has been a valuable member of the teaching staff, and has been instrumental in the development of the EOTC and sporting programmes we offer. He has always been keen to develop his professional learning in different curriculum and educational initiatives including the Assess to Learn programme, Numeracy Project and ICTPD, to name but a few. He has ably taken on the role of Acting Deputy Principal recently and latterly that of Learning Team Leader, responsible for the day to day pastoral care of the students, learning and assessment, and leadership in the Wairere Learning Team.
Paul will be missed by the Wairakei School community, but we know that being with family is very important and the new life in Germany
We wish you, Sabine, Sam, Lucas and Oliver all the best for the future and all that it brings.
“One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”
Back again ...
It's been a while since I have been here.
I have a new toy!
Let me tell you about the amazing Flip Video!!!
My New Toy
I hope to use this around school and at home!
Each of the Learning Teams now have a Flip Video to use.
I have a new toy!
Let me tell you about the amazing Flip Video!!!
My New Toy
I hope to use this around school and at home!
Each of the Learning Teams now have a Flip Video to use.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Dr Tom Mulholland - Healthy Thinking
As indicated in a previous post, reflecting on Work Life Balance was one of the themes of the NZPF conference I attended in the last week of the term. Being a person who regularly promotes the need for quality family time to school families and staff, but who only recently has begun to adhere to this himself, I found this a great theme.
Dr Tom Mulholland talked about Emotional Algebra and Healthy Thinking - "a technique that can be applied whenever they feel an alarm emotion, to identify the trigger, and then the thought that they generated in response to it. They are taught techniques for reworking this thought to a more helpful one, and given a ‘language' to do it with."
Dr Tom Mulholland talked about Emotional Algebra and Healthy Thinking - "a technique that can be applied whenever they feel an alarm emotion, to identify the trigger, and then the thought that they generated in response to it. They are taught techniques for reworking this thought to a more helpful one, and given a ‘language' to do it with."
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