AWARDS

Tiana Williams

Congratulations to Tiana, The Upper South Awards Champion for Mid Term 1 (Week 1-5).  Tiana is pictured here receiving her award from Mr Paul Kennedy.

Bella Fisher

Congratulations to Bella, she was a random selection from the 98 students who have got 100% attendance so far this year.

Bella is picture receiving her certificate from Mr Rogers, with her class.

It is MAP Growth testing time again. This test was introduced to all OneSchool Global schools in 2018 and for us, in New Zealand, we began our 2019 testing this week. This testing will continue for the next two weeks, with the possibility of some catch-ups being run the week beginning the 4^th March.   

This year we will be able to really see and appreciate the incredible value of MAP Growth and the information which all stakeholders receive. During the first two weeks in March we will be sending you information that will show how your child has progressed from June/July 2018 to February/March 2019. Teachers will also be having 1-1 learning conversations with your children about this information and helping them write goals for both growth and achievement. We encourage you to discuss the information with your children, asking them to explain in their words what this information means for their learning.

Over the next two weeks there will be MAP videos shared with you all. These focus on reminding us all of the importance of MAP, how it works and how to read the information you will be sent. We also encourage you to speak to your child’s teacher, Whanau teacher and/or Campus Principal if you have any questions. At the end of this term we have student learning conferences scheduled which will include discussions on MAP data.

MAP Growth as a tool has the potential to dramatically improve academic growth for all students. We use the test three times a year providing a reliable and consistent way of tracking student progress, setting goals for improvement and helping teachers adjust instruction to improve student outcomes.

We look forward to us all ensuring the tool is used to its full potential.

This year our Upper South Campus Athletics Day is on Friday 15th March at Saxton Field Athletics Track. Planning is underway with staff and our year 13s and students' training is well underway in PE classes. 

As with previous years we require a team of volunteers to support the running of the athletics events to ensure everything goes smoothly and safely over the course of the day. 

If you have helped before you will know that this can be a busy day, but it does get you close to the action and to be part of celebrating students' successes on the day.  If you would like to get involved please email rebecca.james@westmount.school.nz with your name and if you have a preference for an event you can help with over the day. 

We will get back in touch with volunteers during week 5 to let you know how things will be running on the day. 

Senior event timetable - confirmed

Life Education Visit

In Week 4, the Year 3 – 6 students visited Harold the Giraffe at the Life Education Mobile Classroom.  The focus of our visit was about Change; how our brains control the feelings we have when we experience a change, and how we can best deal with those emotions.  This related perfectly to our inquiry unit this term, and the students are able to relate a lot of what they learnt to the things that we have been talking about in class.  As always, the students loved visiting Harold, and are looking forward to returning again in 2020.

One Minute Timers

As part of our measurement unit for Maths, the Year 3 – 6 students in Marlborough were given the task of creating a timing device that could measure exactly one minute.  They were given a range of resources to choose from, including plastic cups and bowls, sand, water, Sellotape, and hot glue guns.  This task proved more challenging than originally anticipated, but the students showed perseverance, even when faced with a failure!  In the end, only one group managed to create a working device.  Despite this however, the activity proved to be an excellent way to learn about time, collaboration and perseverance.

Physical Education Task - Golf Ball drop.

Students were to use PVC pipe or rolled paper to see how far they can get their golf ball to go without dropping it. They were to work out how to best line up, in what order and how to tilt their section to keep the ball moving along.

This is Chad Fishers successful attempt with 8 newspapers.

Introduction to Banqer

This term Marlborough and West Coast Year 7 - 8 classes have begun using Banqer which is an online economy site. Students have created their own bank account where they will earn income and interest. Throughout the year new financial literacy concepts will be introduced and the students will work towards buying Banqer property. The class have been set a task to create a shopping mall. To do this they had to survey as many people as they could to find out the most popular shops to put into their mall. Students created scale drawings of their mall to work out how big each shop can be with the money they are able to borrow from the "bank". They have budgeted on how much it will cost to build the shops and Miss Robinson (West Coast Year 7 - 8 teacher) has given them a loan to begin building their shopping mall. Students have started to make their 3D shopping mall using cardboard. These are photos of students working on their budgets, scale drawings and constructions of their malls. We will have an update on students' shopping malls in the next newsletter.

I have worked with Gianni for the past few years at South school. When it was decided Gianni was coming to Westmount I was asked to come as well. I have a 10 year old son and we enjoy getting out and about and making memories with lots of camping adventures. I look forward to all my new adventures here and getting to know you all. Thanks for all making me feel so welcome. 

Jody Collins, Teacher Aide 

Mollie: I have liked school so far this year because I have got to meet the Westport kids. I’m looking forward to playing games with them.

Pera: My year has been good so far because I’m with all my friends. I’m looking forward to athletics.

Gianni: Gianni’s year has been great so far, it has been lots of fun. He has settled into his new school well. Gianni loves athletics and PE so he is looking forward to going to Nelson for athletics and any other outings coming up.

Topaz: I have liked it. We do lots of fun stuff here. I am looking forward to learning more stuff and going to Nelson for athletics.

Rillah: It’s been good. When I need help the kids help me out. I’m looking forward to swimming.

Zillah: It’s been good that all my friends are here. I am having a great time. I am looking forward to swimming.

Bruno: It’s been real good just because it’s quite fun. I like it way better than my last school. I am looking forward to athletics and cross country.

Delbert: Yes we have been doing different and harder stuff than Grey Main. I am looking forward to athletics and cross country.

Greymouth Y3-6 students are the authors and illustrators of a ¨changed¨ book. This is a reading of the new version, fiction only. Can you work out which book it might be based on? If you would like to check out the facts, you will just have to come and visit them.

If your child has an appointment during the day can you please let the office know prior to coming and collecting your child.