#5 - Week 9, Term 1, 2008

Kia ora Parents, Caregivers and Friends of the school,

Press Release

The Sturges Road Bridge will not be taken down this year. We will get details via a flier in the near future. We love to celebrate the achievement of past pupils and so we were very excited to hear that Benjamin Spick who was here at Western Heights two years ago has been made head boy at Rangeview Intermediate School. Congratulations Benjamin from the staff and pupils of Western Heights. 

Teaching and Learning is always being enhanced by new innovations. Class space 19 have a room full of state of the art chairs and tables. This furniture was developed to help children learn as each child is measured for their chair and desk so it ‘fits them’. The chairs are strong, stable and very comfortable. Children can not lean back on them but have extra general movement safety. The expense is huge so we will endeavour to change the furniture in a senior room each year.

Four classrooms have had interactive white boards installed and a big thank you must go to the Waitakere Licensing Trust for the grant we received during last year. The teachers are having training and are very excited about the capabilities of the boards and the way they support learning in the classroom.  As with all new technology we do have daily wee glitches but these should be eliminated by next term as teachers and our IT staff becomes more familiar with the programme. The children are very keen to use them. We  will get extra support through our EWest cluster ‘experts’. 

A vision that all children and young people in Waitakere City are engaged in education

Yesterday, I was at the launch of Waitakere City’s ‘Zero Tolerance to Truancy’. The Council and associated groups including the Waitakere Area Principals Association feel very strongly about children being at school and this initiative is to promote the importance of attending a school. The Waitakere Area Improving School Attendance Officers will support schools with non attenders.The leave passes introduced last year are proving very successful especially with the Malls and police playing an active part in the process. Youth crime during school hours has dropped and more children are at school. ‘Missing school often leads to our kids getting left behind somewhere along the road.’ 

Board of Trustees Meeting

The main item on the agenda at last week’s meeting was the school’s strategic plan. The staff and BOT all contribute to this plan along with any survey feedback received during the year. The health survey results from last year also supported this year’s plan. The building programme is a major project and it is still in the planning and design phase.

Teaching and learning is a prime feature of the plan and a section is devoted to the EWest contract with a cluster of schools in Henderson. The aim of this professional development contract is to develop a professional learning culture within schools across the cluster which is based on evidence that is maintained though action research and external evaluation. (The testing discussed in last week’s newsletter)The cluster includes Western Heights, Henderson North, St Pauls, Holy Cross and St Dominics College. 

Achievement

The Henderson Cluster has had two field days over the last month and we were very successful in both.Our school swimming team was third overall at West Wave, with some of our small team swimming in seven + events.The softball and T ball Event at Starling Park was a fantastic day with nine schools competing.Most of our teams had wins during the day with the senior girls’ softball team winning their competition.All our teams spent lunchtimes over the last three weeks practicing with their coaches which certainly paid off. Thankyou to those parents who were able to help and support on those sports days.

Harness Racing: Hayden Saxon in CS1 gained 1^st and 3^rd place in the novice section of the Harness racing for juniors: ‘Kumeu Kids Karts.’

Netball: The Panthers, our most senior team, won a tournament at Howick  last weekend. This team is very serious about the game and have been in training for the term. A full report written by the students can be found on our website. 

Dates to Note

End of Term One: Friday 18 April.  School will be closed for two weeks.  We reopen Monday 5 May. 

Principal Awards

Olly Rennie Amy Matheson Kaitlin HansenSophie Matich Kirat Kaur Kaitlyn ElliotDevon Merchant Victor Zhang Breanna KellyElijah Gilbert Jason Lin Lutricia FecovaTrent Samuels Nicol Biharyova Logan BowersJessie Ye Tiffany Chen Lydia CowanKristian Larsen Maria’e Ulutui Sam HoganJanith Premathilaka Daniel Seng Madison CurranSarah-Jayne Martin Trinity Kay Alyesha SchusterLaura Garner Woojin Wang Elaine JungKeenan Matthes Jenee Wilson Samantha ParkerCaitlyn Carter-Johnson Stephan Teacu-Jucan Chris Garner 

Entertainment Books

The 2008/2009 Entertainments Books will be available from the school office from tomorrow. They cost $65, of which the school receives $13.

 Krypton Factor

A team from the school will be competing at Green Bay School on Sunday 6 April from 9a.m.—2p.m.   

Liston College Open Evening

Monday 7 April, 7 - 9p.m.  Commences in the Gymnasium. 

DON’T FORGET SAUSAGE SIZZLE AND WORLD VISION COLLECTION TOMORROW