Starting School 2008

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22065755.post-64934332662799046522008-01-24T15:00:00.000-08:002008-01-23T20:54:10.792-08:00Starting School 2008<o:p></o:p>Welcome back<o:p></o:p> It is great to see all of the children returning to school. Schools are really dull and boring when there are no children. Welcome to all new children to Korobosea, I know the staff will be working hard to make your education of the highest quality and memorable.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Sharron and I had a great holiday in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">New Zealand</st1:place></st1:country-region> catching up with family and friends. Our Dads are now in their late 80’s and are already pleased to see us. We spent time in <st1:city st="on">Auckland</st1:city> and on the farm in <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Hawkes</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Bay</st1:placetype></st1:place>, south of Napier. One son was married and another visited from Wales so it was a whole family time. This year the weather was wonderful.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The teachers have all returned looking fresh and ready to start. We welcome the new teachers to the school for 2008. Every year we have been adding talented and committed teachers and each year I believe we are getting stronger. A special welcome to Aisa Mahia who returns from two years at Flinders with a very good Masters Degree in Special Education. It is great to have Aisa back. We also welcome Loah Tamarua (Primary) from Kimbe International, Faasoo Kuama (Science) , Lornah Karvop (Maths) and Upu Ravu (Primary) from Gordon International. These four teachers are extremely experienced and bring many great skills to our school. Brother Lester a teacher from Popondetta International who is extremely talented musician and visual artist will teach with our Arts Team. Alan Evera joins us from Port Moresby International School. Alan is a writer and a talented teacher who will run a new programme for us in the Middle School. We want to add to our English programme so that children spent more time on this subject. Alan will introduce a Literature/Drama Programme in the Middle School which we think will help children understand English Literature to a higher level and also become even more confident with speaking and presentation.This year all classes will have specialist teachers for visual arts, music, dance, physical education and swimming.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The ancillary staff have been working hard over the holidays. A whirlwind swept through the school uprooting some trees during the holidays and this has now all been cleared away. The usual holiday painting and cleaning has been finished and the school is now ready for the start of the school year.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Communication<o:p></o:p> No matter how hard we try we still have not achieved effective communication with all parents. We will keep working on this over the year. The following is a reminder of the forms of communication that we use:<o:p></o:p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal">All students have a KORO STUDENT PLANNER which should go back and forth from home to school on a daily basis. This has a section for parents and teachers to communicate with each other.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal">A NEWSLETTER FROM THE OFFICE goes home approximately every two weeks.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal">Each Monday (unless the system is down) we update our BOLGSITE. The information on the blogsite relates to what is happening in the school during the next week and it provides help for parents wanting to help their children with the question in the school planner. <a href="http://koroboronews.blogspot.com/">http://koroboronews.blogspot.com/</a><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal">We have established a set of email groups of parents based on classes. Last year the IEA Firewall did not allow us to use the email group but we think we now have the problem solved. Each Monday we will send those parents who have provided their email address a note similar to what is on the blogsite. Teachers will also use these lists to keep you up-to-date with the happening in the classroom. I have included in this newsletter a list of all teacher emails.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal">Our web page is at <a href="http://www.koroboro.ac.pg/">www.koroboro.ac.pg</a>. This web page has a lot of information about the school including:<o:p></o:p></li></ul> · The direction of the school.<o:p></o:p> · Information about our ‘WORLD CLASS’ strategy.<o:p></o:p> · The reports from the 2006 School Review.<o:p></o:p> · Helpful articles for parents.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Meet the teacher Evening<o:p></o:p> We invite all parents to a meeting to start in the Library with tea and coffee on Thursday 5th February at 5.30pm. There will be a general welcome and then parents are invited to meet with their child’s teacher to learn about the general programme for the year and the routines of the classroom. The meeting will cover such things as school home communication, homework, reading and spelling programmes, expectations for the year, assessments and any other topics parents may want to raise. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Walking Passes<o:p></o:p> We make every effort to keep your children safe. The Korobosea Walking Pass is part of our safety programme.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> All children who are required to walk home unaccompanied need a walking pass.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Walking passes should be visibly attached to the school bag.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Children without walking passes will be stopped by the security at the school gate and asked to return to the office to contact their parents for permission to walk. The school will remind children about safety when walking home but we do not talk any further responsibility for these children beyond the school gate.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> A walking pass will be withdrawn if children are:<o:p></o:p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;">Walking in rowdy groups.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;">Behaving in a way that brings the good name of the school into question.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;">Chewing buae. <o:p></o:p></li></ul> <o:p> </o:p> If you would like your child to have a walking pass please complete the form that is available from the Office and return it to the office as soon as possible.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Buses<o:p></o:p> The bus service started on Tuesday. All parents wishing to use the bus service for their children must complete a bus enrolment form for 2008. Spaces on the buses will be allocated as we receive these enrolments. Bus passes will be issued on the payment of the bus fee which is due at the end of the second week.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Planner<o:p></o:p> The Student Planner is currently with the printer and should be issued to all children within two weeks. The Planner is part of our ‘Learning to Learn Programme’ where children will be taught skills to make them on-going learners. Each week children will set goals, prioritise the tasks they have to do, manage homework tasks, manage study, look after their diet and exercise, reflect on their learning and apply thinking skills. Where the Planner was used well in 2007 it made a significant difference to the way children approach their work. We are sorry the diary is late but We have photocopied the first three weeks so that all children can start immediately.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> School Assembly<o:p></o:p> Each Friday of the term (except the coming Friday) we have a School Assembly at 1.00pm which will hopefully fit with many parent’s lunchtimes. Assemblies are run by each of the Grade Groups in turn and are a celebration of the work covered by that grade. This term the Assembly order is: <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> 8th February Grade 6<o:p></o:p> 15th February Grade 5<o:p></o:p> 22nd February Grade 4<o:p></o:p> 29th February Grade 3<o:p></o:p> 7th March Grade 8<o:p></o:p> 14th March Grade 7<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Uniform<o:p></o:p> All children should be wearing correct school uniform every day. Where children are wearing a hat or cap it must be a Koro Uniform cap or hat. We have a white KOROBORO T-SHIRT which children can wear as an undergarment if they need. No other undergarment that shows should be worn. If children need to wear an overgarment it should be the KOROBORO POLOFLEECE. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Naming school gear<o:p></o:p> Please make sure that you name all of your child’s possessions which will be brought to school. There are times when things get lost and when they are not named we have trouble tracking the owner.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Toys, games, jewelry, MPEG Players and other expensive items<o:p></o:p> We recommend that children do not bring these items to school. If they need to we suggest that they be handed to the teacher and the start of the day. The teacher will then put them in a secure place or will send then to the office. THE SCHOOL WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITEMS WHICH ARE NOT HANDED TO THE TEACHER.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Money at School<o:p></o:p> We urge parents not to send large sums of money with their child to school. We it is necessary for children to bring money to school we recommend that it be in an envelope and be immediately handed to the teacher. This includes money for lunches. The school will take no responsibility for money which is not handed to the teacher.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Mobile Phones<o:p></o:p> We recommend that mobile phones are not brought to school. When they are they should be handed to the teacher at the start of the day. Mobile phones which are still in the child’s possession and turned on during class time will be confiscated and returned at the end of the term. THE SCHOOL WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR MOBILE PHONES WHICH ARE NOT HANDED TO THE TEACHER.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p></o:p> KB LANYARDS ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE UNIFORM SHOP. THESE ARE IDEAL FOR MOBILE PHONES, FLASH DRIVES, WALKING PASSES. MANAGE YOUR LIFE AROUND THE LANYARD.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Flash Drives<o:p></o:p> We encourage children to have their own Flash Drive which will make easier transfer of files easier between school and home. We suggest however that the Flash Drive be attached to a lanyard and worn around the neck and that the Flash Drive be well named.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Computer Use <o:p></o:p> We think that computers and other technologies are an important part of a modern education. Our computers and the infrastructure is a precious resource and we need to use it as efficiently and effectively as possible. Most children do respect and value this resource.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> We have a strict set of rules which in 2008 will be carefully enforced:<o:p></o:p> <ol style="margin-top: 0cm; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal">The school computers will be used to enhance the learning programme of the school. They are not a recreational resource. There should be no games or other recreational programmes added to the computers, nor should games be downloaded from the Internet. Any child who is found using a computer for recreational purposes will be reported directly to the Principal and the consequence will be serious.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal">The social and emotional safety of our students is extremely important in this school. Students found teasing or abusing other children using computer technologies or mobile phones, or children downloading pornography will automatically be suspended from school.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal">When flashdrives or CD’s are used to bring files from home to school and they consistently fail the virus scan the child will be asked not to use them again.<o:p></o:p></li></ol> Again I must say that our computer and digital technologies are a wonderful educational resource and most of the time are used very effectively to enhance learning in the school.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> General Behaviour<o:p></o:p> Over the last years we have seen a significant improvement in the behaviour of our students. We expect behaviour will continue to improve over this year.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Every classroom will deliberately teach children how to prevent conflict and what appropriate behaviour at school looks like. These programmes cover such things as building trust and respect, building resilience.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The Koroboro Hi-5 programme is the basis of our teaching for resolving conflict. Each stage of the programme is carefully taught. We recognise that we are all human and at times there will be conflict. It is not the conflict itself that is a problem but the way we manage it.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Where there is no resolution, or with some destructive behaviours children are encouraged to report to either the duty teacher, the class teacher or myself. Reporting will result in a process of discipline or behaviour correction which often involves the parents.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> We do not tolerate the following behaviours and children involved will be dealt with firmly in 2008:<o:p></o:p> <ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;">Any form of name calling, teasing.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;">Initiating or responding to physical aggression.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;">Stealing.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;">Graffiti or being disrespectful of school or other student’s property.<o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;">Dis-respectful behaviour.<o:p></o:p></li></ul> <o:p> </o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Teachers Training in New Zealand<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Unfortunately Elizabeth Tako and Ethel Paine have not been present to welcome their classes during the first week of the term as they have been attending a conference in Rotorua New Zealand. The conference is about innovative teaching and thinking and includes Karen Boyes (New Zealand) and Eric Frangenheim (Australia) who have both visited and worked with us at Koroboro. The conference features Dr. Art Costa who invented the Habits of Mind programme which we successfully use. This is a lovely opportunity for Elizabeth and Ethel and they are both excited about finally meeting and working with Dr. Costa.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p>Koroboro International Schoolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15498053462232932802noreply@blogger.com