Term 2 ‘Learning for the Future ‘ 10th June 2015

Dear Parents & Caregivers, Tena koutou katoa

You will have heard in the media lately a lot of talk about the way mathematics is taught in New Zealand schools. So in light of this I thought I would give you the opinion of our professional body, the New Zealand Principals Federation.

‘The latest research on the state of mathematics teaching and learning released by the business group NZ Initiative, may have reached quite different conclusions had it sought critical input from education’s academic and professional sector,’ said Denise Torrey, President of the New Zealand Principals’ Federation (NZPF). The author of the report, Rose Patterson, who is qualified in marketing and psychology, used international student achievement league tables, Trends in International Maths and Sciences (TIMSS) and Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) as measures by which she concluded that New Zealand children were slipping in maths performance, that the Ministry’s numeracy project had failed and we needed to return to teaching basics. She further concluded that teachers lacked the capacity to teach mathematics and recommended that a teachers’ certificate in mathematical competence be developed by the new education council, EDUCANZ. ‘It’s a huge leap to conclude that there is a causal link between an international league table ranking and the failure of a numeracy project, decline in the standards of mathematical teaching competence and decline in children’s knowledge of basics,’ said Torrey, ‘It’s an even greater stretch of credibility to suggest that New Zealand’s TIMSS and PISA rankings can be lifted by introducing a certificate of mathematical competence for teachers,’ she said. ‘NZPF would welcome a robust study conducted by qualified professionals and academics in mathematics, to identify the benefits of on-going professional learning development opportunities for mathematics teachers,’ said Torrey. ‘It is much more likely that the removal of specialist expert maths advisors has impacted on students’ maths results, not the removal of learning basics by rote,’ she said.

I can assure you that our teachers have had ongoing professional development over a number of years, and we are always looking at ways of improving student achievement in mathematics. In recent times we have also placed a heavy emphasis on teachers own knowledge of mathematics and the mathematics curriculum. Teachers in our school are always engaged in an ongoing cycle of self-review, reflection and inquiry in to their own practice. We share our student achievement data and practices across the school and with the Board of Trustees so we know where to target resources and professional development plans. If you have any questions about your child’s learning in mathematics please see your child’s teacher in the first instance, where they can explain progress, next learning steps and how you can help at home.

Ken Ward - Principal

SCHOOL NOTICESStationery - Reminder Activities contributions/School Donation are now due please pay ASAP.Bank a/c number is 12 3093 0156736 01 - Please put child’s name and a reference: eg activities contribution/donation Contribution Fee $14.00 per childSchool Donations are now due 1 child $60.00 Family $90.00Invoices will be sent out this term.

Magazines - We are doing collage in the Rimu and Kauri syndicates. We would love more magazines. Please take to Room 4, Mrs Trimmer.

Scholastic Books due back Wednesday 24th June

Private lessons for rhythm guitar and song. Ed Archibald will be taking this on Thursday mornings at Kamo Primary School. $20 per 20 minute lesson. Must have own suitable guitar. Minimum age 7 years old. Enquiries to Ed 4352252 or 0212152098.

Headlice - Please check your child’s hair as headlice is prevalent at the moment.

Welcome to the new Children/Families who have started at Kamo Primary this week.Nico Van Dyk Rose Taipari Taika Mataira

Basic Facts-athonTo be held: Wednesday 24 June 2015

Tomorrow your child/ren will be bringing home a sponsorship form to raise money for a Basic Facts-athon. This will be held within their classroom and run by their teacher.

Once they have gathered their sponsors, please return the form by Monday 22 June. The forms will be stamped with the official Kamo Primary School stamp and will be returned home after the

Basic Facts-athon with their results attached.

Money raised by this event will go towards funding the new Junior Playground.

Twilight Gala NightHelpers Meeting

19 June 2015 at 3pm in the staffroom

If you weren’t able to make our previous meeting, please know you’re more than welcome to attend this one. If you can spare a little time over the coming months to help organise events, we’d really appreciate it. Come and be a part of the planning; it really is a lot of fun and you’ll

enjoy being involved in an exciting school event.

Congratulations to all the Rippa Rugby children who represented our school on

Monday. You did a great job! Both teams made it to the finals. The year 3 & 4 team

went through unbeaten. Also a huge thanks from all the

students to Mr Burke for your wonderful effort and skill teaching and organising our

Rippa Rugby. You Rock!

KouraKoura is a small creature. Their tail is shaped like a fan and they live in the fresh water. People like to eat them. They have 10 legs. When they get too big their shell cracks. They eat worms and other dead things. If you pick them up the wrong way you will get a nasty nip. When their shell falls off they have to hide in the dirt. I think they are amazing creatures.

Noah Mataira Room 13

The Kamo Primary School PlaygroundKamo Primary School has an amazing playground. It has a slippery slide. It has monkey bars as red as blood. It has a tyre as black as the night sky. It has a tunnel as green as grass. It has a ladder slide as blue as the sea. It has a

bridge as wobbly as a broken table. I think it is spectacular.

Alex Jones Room 13

Contact details - It’s very important that we have the correct contact details in case of an emergency. Please can you let the school office know if you have an change of address, landline number or cellphone number or any other details.You can phone the school office or email d.batten@kamoprimary.school.nz to update the details.

Sports NoticesHockeyHockey fees are overdue. Please pay to the school office asap.Year 5/6 $80 Year 3/4 $70 Year 2 $60.Black lost 4-1 POD Kiana BrownGold won 3-0 POD Journey Lum

Netball - Netball practices are on Thursdays. Netball Fees are now overdue. Students playing netball on Saturdays can go to www.whangareinetball.co.nz for the weekly game times.

Starship Mobile Phone Schools Campaign

Three Good Reasons to Support This Campaign!

• Phones collected help raise funds to keep the Starship National Air Ambulance Service flying.

• Phones collected are counted towards our schools chosen rewards from the Starship Mobile Phone Schools Campaign i.e. cameras, sports packs, i-pads and book vouchers.

• Campaign helps to ensure NZ landfills are free of an array of hazardous toxic substances.

In just five years the Starship Mobile Phone Appeal has raised close to two and half million dollars to keep the Starship National Air Ambulance Service flying. Schools have participated by collecting unwanted mobile phones and swapping them for a wide range of rewards whilst at the same time raising funds for this worthy cause.

The campaign works like this: Most of us have old mobile phones lying around at home somewhere. We ask that each family in our school come on board and donate any unwanted old mobile phones.

Not only does every phone count towards our school’s preferred reward but they also help fund the Starship National Air Ambulance whilst also serving as a valuable recycling initiative.

Please drop phones in the collection box in the school office foyer.

For SaleeMac G4 1.42GHz

768MB RAM75 GB Hard DriveMac OS X 10.5.8

In good condition. Come loaded with Pages, Keynote, iPhoto, etc

$40 eachSee Mr Leathley if you are interested.

Kowhai Syndicate - Merit CertificatesRm 3 - Austin Taylor - using his letter sounds to spell lots of tricky wordsRm 3 - Hanae Swanson - Fabulous readingRm13 - Nikau Bercic - Effort in storywritingRm 13 - Nathan Pene - Awesome illustrationsRm 15 - Charlotte Ballantine - Working out maths problemsRm 15 - Makayla Hanley - Excellent writingRm 15 - Van Marsh - Great readingRm 16 - Hayden Knapp - Awesome effort in all areas. A great role modelRm 16 - David Wihongi - A super start to schoolRm 17 - Samantha Nicholson - For fabulous reading skillsRm 17 - Mateio Jones - For fabulous classroom manners and for being such a helpful class member Rm 18 - Stella McConachie - Excellent storywriting and all round effortRm 18 - Jennifer Soper - Great work in mathematicsRm 19 - McKay Rapana - Focusing closely with your reading and making great progressRm 19 - Dane Severinsen - For wonderful progress with your readingRm 14 - Penny Klink - For being an excellent role model in Room 14. Keep up the great work.

Pop in and see the friendly staff at Davids Pharmacy.

Right next door to Savemart.

Julies Advanced Skincare

13 Parkland Crescent Whau Valley, Whangarei

Phone 437 6079 Mobile 027 2474869

Treatments include waxing, tinting, microdermabrasion, skin peels, and IPL.

Julie is a fully qualified beauty therapist with 16 years experience. Call or text today for a free consultation. Bookings by appointment - weekends and late nights

available.

KAMO RADIATORSSpecialist

KAMO RADIATORSSpecialising in all your RADIATOR

Repairs09 4351160

11 CLARK ROAD KAMO

(directly behind McDonalds)CRAFTY PEOPLE MARKET!!ART, CRAFT,MUSIC,COFFEE, FOOD!!

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9am - 1pm 6th Jun, 11th Jul, 1st Aug, 5th Sep, 3rd Oct

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