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Earthmoving equipment swung into operation at Christchurch South Intermediate School this week as work began digging the foundations for the first of four new classroom blocks. Each block (or pods as they are affectionately referred to) contains four classrooms, a break out space, teacher offices, toilets and a conference room. The existing classrooms, which are over 60 years old, will be demolished in stages throughout the year and as the "pods" are completed classes will move into them. The timeframe provided by the contractor, CBD, anticipates work, including an extensive upgrade of the hall, to be completed by the end of January 2011. This 4 million dollar project is being achieved with funding from the Ministry of Education's building replacement scheme, some of the school's maintenance funding and community raised funds accumulated over a number of years. The facilities will see students working in some of the most up to date, cutting edge, 21st Century learning environments in Canterbury! Pictured are the school’s Head Girl and Head Boy, Sarah Rm19 and Cameron Rm8, with the first scoop of earth moved from the site.
Room 17 recently celebrated their movie makinig talents with the Premier showing of their "24 Hour Film Festival". The students had been working on their movies for 24 hours spread out over a 2 week period. They chose a variety of genres ranging from comedy through to documentaries. The audience, made up of parents and invited guests, were rolling in the aisles over the students' take on the wilder side of life at South while a movie on the horrors of Child Soldiers tugged at everyone's heart strings. The students arranged, as part of admission, to collect food items and cash donations to give to the City Mission. Two enormous baskets of food and over $130 were collected. Well done Room 17. It was a fantastic night's entertainment and the City Mission will certainly benefit from your efforts.
The Government have introduced National Standards in Numeracy and Literacy for all students in Years 1 - 8 in New Zealand schools. Schools are required to report student achievement against the standards from 2010. This move has caused widespread controversy.
A collaborative letter, written by academics Professor John Hattie, Professor Martin Thrupp, Emeritus Professor Lester Flockton and Professor Terry Crooks, was sent to the Minister warning her of the potential risks from a number of angles. This letter challenged Minister Anne Tolley’s claims that these National Standards will add value to the work that schools are doing to raise student achievement in literacy and numeracy.
Key statements in the letter (a full copy can be accessed via the link below) are:
“Minister, in our view the flaws in the new system are so serious that full implementation of the intended National Standards system over the next three years is unlikely to be successful. It will not achieve intended goals and is likely to lead to dangerous side effects.”
“Minister, you are aware the international record on the effects of national testing is damning. We recognise the intended National Standards are not national tests, but our understanding of why national testing has such adverse effects convinces us that the intended National Standards system will suffer most of the same problems.”
As parents you need to be reassured that at South we will continue to;
• provide you with clear information about the progress your child makes.
• have an open door policy inviting communication with parents at any stage during the year.
• ensure students benefit from a broad curriculum.
• prioritise Numeracy and Literacy in our school’s curriculum.
• use assessment to inform quality teaching and learning
While we will use National Standards as a tool, we will actively oppose the use of our data in league tables.
For more information please click the following links;
Open Letter to Hon Anne Tolley
National Standards Fact Sheet (Lester Flockton)
National Standards - What's the Fuss? (Denise Torrey)
National Standards (Kelvin Squire)
A stinker by any other name is still a stinker (Kelvin Smythe)
Will National Standards put Learning at Risk? (NZEI)
www.networkonnet.co.nz (Kelvin Smythe's Website)
www.minedu.govt.nz (Ministry of Education website)
www.nzei.org.nz/National+Standards.html (NZEI website)
Congratulations to the 2009 Year 7 & Year 8 speech finalists. This year, the six students were asked to deliver a speech that contained either the word celebrate or celebration, and all contestants kept the audience interested and entertained. Topics ranged from the real identity of the 'Easter Bunny' (Ninja Bunny!) to 'Little Brothers' to 'Exclamation Marks'. Only a few marks separated our eventual winners:
April (Year 8) and Cameron (Year 7).
Year 7 Finalists: Jared, Sarah.
Year 8 Finalists: Astrid, Ruby.
Last week 2 South pupils: Kate and Tessa along with Mrs Johnston, Mrs Baldwin and Mr McLeod attended the 16th Annual Keep Christchurch Beautiful celebrations at the South Learning Centre.
The Keep Christchurch Beautiful organisers are a group of Canterbury citizens (through the Lion’s Club and CCC) who recognise various Christchurch schools' efforts at keeping their grounds beautiful, local areas cared-for, and also the great work done by (sometimes overlooked) school caretakers. Some 50 schools take part in the programme. This equates to 1000s of children keeping their schools' environments in tip-top condition.
South was recognized with 2 certificates:
2009 School Environment Award: “Highly Commended” for our waste minimization scheme including the beautification of our environment with our murals and Organic gardens.
The second certificate was awarded to our caretaker Mr McLeod for his sterling working around our school.
The following students are to be congratulated on their successful applications for scholarships for 2010;
- Astrid is the recipient of an Academic Scholarship from Rangi Ruru Girls’ School.
- Chelsea is the recipient of an Academic Scholarship from Cashmere High School.
- Ruth is the recipient of a Sports Scholarship from Cashmere High School.
- April is the recipient of a Leadership Scholarship from Cashmere High School.
Well done and all the best for 2010. We will follow your progress with interest.
Our participation in this prestigious annual musical festival did not disappoint the students performing or the parents viewing. The quality of the performance was amazing with both choral and instrumental sections. Goose bumps for the fantastic last item with both orchestra and choir combining to thrill the audience with their rendition of Dance Song of the Slaves from the opera Prince Igor by Borodin.
Congratulations to the following students who successfully applied for and were in special senior choir, concert band and orchestra. Ella (Rm 10), Sakura (Rm 10), Robert (Rm 15), Jonty (Rm 17), Benny (Rm 5), Ella (Rm 16), Megan (Rm4) and Poppy (Rm 4). Our Special choir performed with the massed choir on Thursday evening.
On Monday morning, the first day of the new term, the school welcomed two reviewers from the Education Review Office (ERO) with a powhiri. Wha spoke superbly on behalf of the students and Mr Hastings said he looked forward to having the reviewers at school and to their thoughts about our progress and possible future directions.
"We look forward to having you at our school this week. We look forward to meeting with you, to talking with you about our wonderful school and the many opportunities students have to develop and succeed, and to giving you a taste of this place and this amazing community of people which we are all proud to call our school.
The school motto of “Aim High” is as relevant today as it was 70 years ago when the school opened in 1939. It reminds us to constantly set high standards and to achieve excellence as we go about our business of developing a passion for learning, building independence, celebrating diversity and embracing challenge.
So we welcome the part you have to play in no doubt recognising and celebrating the successes and progress of the students and school since the last review and in ensuring that we have a good understanding of the things that need to be in place as the future unfolds."
Students and staff were very impressed with the response from the two ERO reviewers who sang their own waita unaccompanied. Great role modelling of "Embracing Challenge"
Congratulations to Pia who swam personal best times to take two second places at the recent NZAIMS Games. The national event for New Zealand Intermediate and Middle schools is held annually in Tauranga. Pia and Ruth, who also swam personal best times on her way to a forth place, were members of the school netball team that travelled to compete in the NZAIMS Games. Pia and Ruth managed to squeeze swimming events in between netball games during the week long event. Their achievements are outstanding and clearly demonstrate their superior levels of fitness!
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