here - Stuff.co.nz

Have they failed our
students?
THIS IS NOT A
PROPOSAL - IT’S A
REALITY
The government has drastically reduced
the staffing and resourcing to Year 7
and 8 learners as announced today.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
Looking at it from our situation we will
lose 4 front line teachers. That means 4
less teachers to teach students on a
daily basis.
2012 FRONT
LINE STAFF
23.6
2013
FRONT LINE
STAFF
19.8
I’m going to
improve learning for
Maori and Pacifica by
slashing the staffing to
Year 7 and 8 students.
This means resources
targeting Maori and
Pacifica can be cut!
Hekia Parata
Based on 545 students
For us to maintain our current Teaching
Q: Which of the following options is best for your kids?
and Learning Programmes and Support
programmes for students we would
OPTION ONE
OPTION TWO
OPTION THREE
need to increase our class size from 29
- 36. That’s 7 extra students per class.
CLASS SIZES
29
36
29
Support Classes include the following
programmes:
SUPPORT
All remain (refer
All remain (refer
All are cut (refer
★Te Reo Maori Programme
CLASSES
list)
list
list)
★Kapa Haka
COST TO
S$284,000
S$0.00
S$0.00
★Dance Academy
SCHOOL /
★Sports Academy
PARENTS
★Wood Technology
A: Easy, none of them. All reduce resourcing and limit success.
★Food Technology
★Literacy Booster Classes
What can we do?
★Numeracy Booster Classes
Email politicians and express your concerns to them directly:
★Visual Arts
Joh Key: john.key@national.org.nz
★Music
Hekia Parata: hekia.parata@national.org.nz
★Science
★Extension Art
★Orchestra
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The government is trying to silence principals
from being able to make public statements
against policy. In 10 years as a principal I have
never used a school newsletter to make any
strong political statement. Today I have no
choice. What the government has decided will
not only affect your kids but the flow on
effect will be huge. Please read this
information carefully and if you are
concerned check out the What Next section.
DISCLAIMER:
School Funds or time were not used to print
this newsletter. The Speech comments
included are not direct quotes but
paraphrased outcomes. The purpose of this is
to inform you our community.
This takes over 60
I’m going to
improve learning at
Ross Intermediate
by slashing their
resourcing by over
10 percent. That
means each teacher
will have 36+ kids in
their room.
Million dollars away
from our Year 7 and
8 students across
the country. My
question is : How
does that improve
Teaching and
LATEST NEWS and INFORMATION
CONFERENCES
Reminder that Parent-Teacher
Conferences are on next week
on Tuesday and Thursday. On
Tuesday, school will finish at
12pm. There is free supervision
available at school but you must
contact the school in order to
arrange this. If you haven’t
already booked your conference
time, please be aware that
bookings will close at 3pm on
Monday 28th.
HEAD LICE
Just a reminder, please check
your child's hair on a regular
basis for nits and head lice. We
have a few cases at school, and
regular checks will hopefully
keep it at bay.
PAPER REDUCTION
Are you receiving too much
paper from us? You can sign up
at any time to receive
newsletters and account
statements via email by sending
through a message to
eprier@rossint.school.nz. Not
only will you be helping us
reduce our paper consumption,
you will also receive important
information faster.
FROM THE SNAPTV STUDIO
This year on Snap TV, we are
celebrating students' writing in
the regular 'IN THE BEGINNING'
feature. The challenge for each
student is to create an opening
scene of the book they would
like to write. This week's story is
by the Room 7, Year 8 student,
Caitlynn Entwisle:
IT WAS ONLY MEANT TO BE A
STORY
CHAPTER ONE
I called her Pauline and she was
my best friend. It was the night
of the storm when a bolt of
lightning struck the roofing iron.
Right, class, for homework
Pauline and I were trapped as
today, I would like you to write a fire surrounded my bedroom.
mysterious story.'
The only protection I had was
my bed. I closed my eyes and
The class groaned. 'Oh, Miss,
held Pauline tightly, terrified at
not another story. We wrote one what might happen next...'
on Monday.'
Paula felt the hairs on the back
Miss Harrison glared at her
of her neck prickle, and as she
unhappy students. 'So, you're
turned her head, she saw a doll;
going to write another today!'
a porcelain doll, propped
against her pillow. The crackle
Paula chuckled as she
of flames seemed to be licking
remembered her class that
against her skin. Fear gripped
afternoon. She didn't mind
her heart. Was history about to
writing stories about Siamese
repeat itself?.........
cats, Jupiter's moons or even V8
supercars, but mysteries, well,
ABSENCES
they were a mystery! Reminder that ALL absences
must be reported to the office
The empty page on her laptop
otherwise your student will be
stared back, inviting her to
marked Truant and may receive
begin the adventure, but words
a visit from the Truancy officer.
failed even her imagination.
Text, Call or Email your absence
Sighing, she bent over the
through.
keyboard, to write the date,
when her fingers started to
dance across the keys. Before
her very eyes, paragraph after
paragraph appeared in no time
at all!
Exhausted, she leant back in the
chair, her arms hanging limply
beside her. She scrolled to the
beginning of the story, eager to
find out what she had written. It
was then that her life changed
forever.
'My name is Lucy and I was
eleven when my mother gave me
a porcelain doll for my birthday.
THE TOP THREE…
Room 7
8
Room 1
7
Rooms 4, 15, 19
Mr Codyre’s Trivia Challenge 2012: LEADERBOARD
6
ACHIEVEMENTS
Postcards awarded this week - congratulations!
Rm 1
Zara Matson (Wk 3),
Rm 13
Dontae Stanshall
Rm 7
Keeley Johnson
Rm 14
Danielle Small
Thomas McKnight (Wk 4)
Rm 2
Joshua Gill
Rm 8
Cyril Hodge
Rm 15
Devon Morris
Rm 3
Josh Claridge
Rm 9
Noah McPhail
Rm 16
Tahlia Crocker-Reo
Rm 4
Shardai McKinnon-Taylor
Rm 10
Ethan Dodds
Rm 17
Connor Dunlop
Rm 5
Jenna Parsons
Rm 11
Jeremy Lloyd
Rm 18
Reagan Keen
Rm 6
Darel Lander
Rm 12
Sarah Heslin
Rm 19
Kianna Scott-Chase
We want to know about your student’s achievements outside of school, please email eprier@rossint.school.nz
to share those achievements here:
Alex Johnston
He has just completed his Bronze Scouting Award and is working towards completing his
Silver with the Te AweAwe Scout troop
SPORTS DRAWS and NEWS
Teams
Date / Time
Location
Basketball
Please check Palmerston North Basketball Association for latest draws.
Canoe Polo
Ross Squids v PNINS 88's
Thu. 24 May @ 7:30pm
Freyberg Pool
Ross Sharks v St Peters Barnacles
Thu. 24 May @ 8pm
Freyberg Pool
Ross Rays v Ross Dolphins
Thu. 24 May @ 8:30pm
Freyberg Pool
Hockey
Ross Alpha v PNINS Girls 1st
Fri. 25th May @ 4:30pm
Turf 1
PNINS The Girls v Ross Bravo
Sat. 26th May @ 8:00am
Turf 1
Ross Charlie v Ashhurst Aces
Sat. 26th May @ 11:20am
Turf 1
Netball
Ross Int 8A1 v Ross Int 7A1
Mon. 28th May @ 4pm
Ross Int 8A2 v Cornerstone Hot Shots
Mon. 28th May @ 4pm
Ross Int 8A3 v Hiwinui Hot Shots
Mon. 28th May @ 4pm
Amanda
Vautier Ct 5 / Denise
Ross Int 8B1 v Mana Tamariki Kokiri
Mon. 28th May @ 4pm
Vautier Ct 8 / Lexi
Ross Int 8B2 v St Peters
Mon. 28th May @ 4pm
Vautier Ct 9 / Satriani
Ross Rebels v St Peter Gold
Mon 28th May @ 4pm
Vautier Ct 15 / Georgia
Ross Int 7A1 v Ross Int 8A1
Mon. 28th May @ 4pm
Vautier Ct 2 / Jasmine
Ross Int 7A2 v Feilding Int B
Mon. 28th May @ 4pm
Vautier Ct 6 / Diane
Ross Int 7A3 v St Peters Black
Mon. 28th May @ 4pm
Vautier Ct 14 / Kareena
Ross Int Black v Monrad Suns
Mon. 28th May @ 4.45pm
Vautier Ct 5 / Tracey
Ross Green v Te Kawau Silver
Mon 28th May @ 6.15
Vautier Ct 5 / Cela
Ross White - bye
Vautier Ct 2 / Tracey
Vautier Ct 4 / Stephanie /
COMMUNITY NOTICES...
MILO Play is coming to your
local recreation centre these
June School holidays. Come
on down for 2 hours of free
play with MILO at YMCA
Palmerston North on 4th July
from 9.00am – 11.00am. Look for the MILO Play team
on arrival.
CLOVERLEA CHILDCARE
CENTRE
A fun learning environment for
your child.
Quality Childcare and
Education.
WINZ Subsidies + discounts
available.
A family atmosphere with meals
provided.
Qualified and professional
teachers.
~ NOW OPEN ~
237 Tremaine Avenue
www.alphabetacademy.co.nz
Phone 3562586
Get involved!
www.famine.org.nz
Classes are held on Friday
11.15-12.15
at
school. Develop
your
performance
skills, your confidence and
have loads of fun. You can
start anytime this term, come
along and try a class first, we
are in the library each Friday or
to enrol 3542733 or email
office@tallpoppiesdrama.co.nz
Cost $13 per session.
BABY OF THE WEEK:
Last week was tough! It was one of our cleaners June...
Who is it this week?
iBIKE 4 KIDS
The Manawatu Mountain Bike Club and Sport Manawatu present iBike 4
Kids - a fun bike event for kids who just love being out on their bikes!
When: Sunday May 27, 2012 Where: Victoria Esplanade
06-357-5349 www.ibike4kids.co.nz info@sportsmanawatu.org.nz
LINTON ARMY RUGBY CLUB FUNDRAISER HANGI
Saturday 26TH MAY 2012. Uplift 3pm from Linton Camp Rugby Field or
Linton Sports Complex after the games. Cost $10 each. Includes
chicken, pork, mutton, veggies, steam pudding and custard. To
purchase tickets email duncan.biss@nzdf.mil.nz or
teariki.tepuni@nzdf.mil.nz or txt 021 891 607 or see Linton Army
Rugby Club Team Members – Snr A, Snr B, Snr 3rds, Colts, Prezzies,
Woman’s and Junior Team members or Team Management.
IGNITE CONCERT
Saturday 26th May at Queen Elizabeth College, Palmerston North. The
purpose of this event is to fundraise monies to assist our youth
groups’ excursion to the nationally renowned Get Smart Youth
conference in Auckland. We have a line up of current entertainment
that will be promoting positive messages for youth throughout the
evening. This event is a Doors only Sale, we will have eftpos available
and refreshments for purchase.
TERM CALENDAR
Item
Date
Term 2: Monday
23rd
April – Friday
29th
Contact…
June
Parent Conferences (School Finishes at 12pm)
Tue. 29th May 1pm - 7:45pm Classroom Teacher
Parent Conferences
Thu. 31st May 3pm - 5:15pm Classroom Teacher
Wheels Day
Fri. 1st June
TBC
Queen’s Birthday - NO SCHOOL
Mon. 4th June
-
ICAS Science Exam
Wed. 6th June
Zayne Templeton
Supersport: Hockey
Wed. 6th June
Shiree Anderson
Board of Trustees Meeting 4
Tue. 12th June
Erica Prier
Napier Intermediate Exchange
Thu. 14th June
Zayne Templeton
Northern Cluster Arts Performance
Wed. 20th June
Robyn Peters
ICAS Writing Exam
Wed. 20th June
Zayne Templeton
Supersport: Badminton
Wed. 20th June
Shiree Anderson
2nd dose for HPV
Thu. 21st June
Zayne Templeton
SuperArts: Dance
Wed. 27th June
Lorna Beauchamp
Date To Be Announced
Sharyn Loveridge
School Science Fair
Term 3: Monday
16th
ICAS English Exam
Board of Trustees Meeting 5
ICAS Maths Exam
Manawatu Science & Technology Fair
Board of Trustees Meeting 6
Term 4: Monday
15th
Board of Trustees Meeting 7
3rd
dose for HPV
Manawatu Digi Awards
Prizegiving
Board of Trustees Meeting 8
July – Friday
28th
September
Tue.
31st
July
Zayne Templeton
Tue.
31st
July
Erica Prier
Tue.
14th
August
Thu.
23rd
Tue.
4th
– Sun.
Zayne Templeton
26th
August
September
October – Tuesday
18th
Sharyn Loveridge
Erica Prier
December
Tue.
30th
October
Erica Prier
Tue.
30th
October
Zayne Templeton
Monday
15th
Monday
3rd
Tue.
4th
November
December
December
Wayne Codyre
Office
Erica Prier
Think our calendar is missing something? Please email eprier@rossint.school.nz and let us know.
YEAR 8 HIGH SCHOOL
As these details are shared with us we will publish them here. The High Schools start visiting around this time
to talk to students. It is vital that you enrol within the enrolment period and most schools have Enrolment
SCHOOL
Palmerston North Boys High School
Freyberg High School
Awatapu College
Palmerston North Girls High School
St Peters College
Queen Elizabeth College
OPEN EVENING /
DAY
ENROLMENTS
CLOSE
SCHOOL WEBSITE
Wed. July 25th
Fri. 24th August
www.pnbhs.school.nz
Wed. August 1st
www.freyberg.ac.nz
Tues. July 24th
www.awatapu.school.nz
www.pnghs.school.nz
www.st-peters.school.nz
www.qec.school.nz