This is where you’ll find a selection of news from our latest newsletter, as well as an archive of our past and current newsletters in PDF format.
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April 2010
Full newsletter (PDF)
Thanks to everyone who supported our Easter fun night and the Superhero Plunket Fundraiser Day. The
children loved dressing up as their favourite superhero as well as trying out all of the new
dress-ups recently purchased for Preschool and Junior School.
With the colder mornings and the leaves changing colour it's easy to see that autumn is setting in (and the sunhats can be stored away). Even when the days are cooler the children are being offered
opportunities to explore the outside environment.
Please ensure you pack clearly named warm weatherproof clothing for your child so that they can
participate - jacket, hat, scarf, gloves, gumboots! Extra clothing is also appreciated (trousers,
jerseys, long sleeved tops) as the children still get wet (often in puddles).
On Monday 15th February we were very fortunate to host Gota Matui and Yuki Lino from a university in Japan; and Lia de Vocht - van Alphen (from Canterbury University). Yuki, a doctoral student had been investigating our NZ curriculum (particularly assessment) at Canterbury University. Gota, an associate professor was interested in seeing how our socio-cultural approach to children's learning and development works. Exchanges of information from international academics are extremely important as they offer the visitors with experiences and ideas that ultimately influence their approaches when they return. During their time with us they looked at our environment, children's profile books and daily programmes.
STAFF:
The James St Preschool & Junior School currently operate on two licences for Ministry of Education purposes. Both preschools comply independently with all legislation and both are reviewed independently by ERO. We would prefer to be licenced as one preschool however this is not possible under current regulations. We have recently undertaken a review of administrative and leadership functions across both preschools and have decided to centralise some of the roles that are common to both preschools and in particular the tasks that require consistency across both areas.
We have decided to maintain three team leaders as is presently the case, Nursery, Junior School and Preschool. The Team Leaders are responsible for the day to day management of their learning area, including children, staff, curriculum, health and safety, regulatory compliance and most importantly parent liaison. The Team Leader is the person parents should see regarding the daily running of the preschools.
We have created a new position of Person Responsible for Performance and Review. This position encompasses all areas of the preschools and involves responsibility for Staff Appraisal and Development, Teacher Registration, Teachers in Training, Internal Review Systems and External Review Systems (ERO). The three Team Leaders and the Person Responsible for Performance and Review also have a large teaching component in their job description.
Tracy Summerton has been appointed to the position of Person Responsible for Performance and Review. Tracy was a natural choice for this position given her significant experience in Early Childhood Education, her exceptional skills in managing people and her thorough grasp of the links between legislation, policy and practice. Tracy will also spend one day per week undertaking further study in Early Childhood Education. Tracy is one of those rare (some would say unusual) people that gets extremely excited about reading a new Ministry publication or writing a 60 page Crisis Management Plan.
Kirsty Jones will take over the position of Team Leader of the Preschool learning area from 19th April. Kirsty has worked in Early Childhood Education for seven years and has considerable experience across all age groups, especially the 2-5 year olds. Kirsty has the unanimous support of all staff in undertaking this role and we wish her the best in this position.
On a sadder note we have accepted Sonia's resignation. Sonia, who travels a considerable distance each day, has been appointed to a teaching position at a preschool much closer to her home. We would like to thank Sonia for her contributions over the last seven years. Sonia has been extremely adaptable and has been a valuable teacher in all three areas of the preschool. Sonia finishes on the 30th April. We wish her well in her new job.
NURSERY NEWS:
The children in the nursery have shown an interest in the teacher's camera. As a result they have been offered one of the children's digital cameras to take images. A significant amount of children have also been developing themselves physically - by walking, and manipulating sensory/messy play.
JUNIOR SCHOOL NEWS:
March has been a busy month here at Junior School with our staff changes.
It has been nice for the children and staff getting to know Chloe and for Chloe to learn all about us. We have also had some new children start who have settled in very well and are having a great time exploring all of the fun things to do here. Some of our older children are moving over to preschool in the new school term and some nursery children our heading over here. The children have been very interested in the monkey bars that we borrowed from preschool at the beginning of March, there has been lots of challenging of our balancing skills, climbing and jumping skills. We are sad that the weather is changing and becoming very cold already, so we would just like to remind parents about keeping a couple of changes of clothing for warm or cold weather in children's bags or cubbies.
We would also be very grateful for any plastic bags or newspapers that you may have spare.
PRESCHOOL NEWS:
Over the last month we supported two students Jayne and Emily on practicum. Throughout each of the teaching years, staff mentor various students from Canterbury University, Te Tari Puna Ora o Aotearoa/New Zealand Childcare Association and New Zealand College of Early Childhood Education. These opportunities allow both the students and staff to develop professionally. India Ward will be on practicum during the second school term.
After showing an interest the children have been offered experiences to extend their knowledge on - dinosaurs, volcanoes, puppets/masks, caterpillars/butterflies, and gone on spontaneous trips within the community.
See the full newsletter
