I'm back!

It is about time that I started back up on the blog.

There is so much happening in our school and also everywhere in Christchurch educationally.

There is so much change!

But while change is evident all around us this is certainly not a bad thing. For us here at Wairakei, we have had a big change over the last year introducing Hauora Wairakei, our positive behaviour and relationship programme into our school.

Having a focus on restorative practice has meant a mind shift has had to be had by not only staff, but our children and their parents. As a community of learners, we are all engaged in learning about how Hauora Wairakei works and what it means.

Next term, we are planning to hold two parent meetings / workshops to help with the understanding of restorative practise in our school. I am excited about engaging with our awesome community around this. We have made great progress o our journey here in school and want to share it.

Actually we are sharing it. Mike Lynch and Sue Williams are presenting our journey at the International Restorative Practise conference in Melbourne next week.

 All the best Sue and Mike!

Listen to the Children

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.

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).

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

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

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.

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 with his family to start the next chapter in their life. This Friday will be Paul’s last day teaching at Wairakei School, and we will miss his professionalism, enthusiasm, fun and commitment to education.

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 will be made easier by knowing that family will be close enough to visit every week.

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.”

Henry Miller

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.