Strategic Planning Day- Planning for our future

On Saturday we had a great session with the BOT and the leadership team as we reflected on the progress we have made over the last three years and planned for the next three to five years. This was the first time that the new leadership team for 2010 had an opportunity to work with the BOT. the new look team includes the existing leadership team of myself two Deputy Principals and an Associate principal plus five new team leaders.

It was fantastic to look back at the strategic goals and direction set by the BOT and leadership team in '06 and '07 and see just how much has been achieved.

Over that time the school has developed a strong sense of identity through the filter of "Learning together with PRIDE" It was very evident to all that our motto is not just writing on the walls but rather living and breathing at Windsor. Over the last three years much has been achieved in improving outcomes for learners in and through reading, ICT, integrated learning (called Pai Modules at Windsor), and maths. 

Curriculum leaders have worked very hard to ensure that best practice is evident in all classrooms and that targeted support is provided to teachers and children who are yet to met expectations. In addition they have closely analysed data to identify trends, needs and future direction.

Staff are more clear about what is expected in the key areas of learning and are also clear on their next steps for learning. This has been achieved through the development of our "Matrix"- Guidelines for Quality teaching and learning at Windsor.

Much has been done to encourage "CHILL Factor" (CHildren Leading their Learning) through three way learning conferences, goal setting, co constructed success criteria, reflecting on progress through reports,PRIDE Challenges, and involvement in decision making across the school. This continues to be an ongoing focus and interest for us.

One of the most exciting aspects about Saturday was the collective consensus on 'less is more' as the team planned for 2010 as well as a decision to be responsive to emerging needs each year when deciding the annual goals for the following year.

We are all looking forward to an exciting 2010 where we can focus on improving outcomes in writing and embed the progress made over the last three years.- Full report to follow!

Time to Pause

Time to pause and think about what we are all about. It is not just about outcomes, nor standards, not even reports and report writing, not tests, assessment tasks, learning outcomes or co constructed success criteria. 

It is about children. May our politicians and we remember that we are working with children each day. they want to play, have fun, be engaged, run, jump, laugh, interact, read, write (well at least some of them) yes do maths but ultimately they do these things because they enjoy them. Maths is in there in primary school as a thing children enjoy because they are still (or at least were) "getting it", they are successful, challenged but successful, they know they were right! Play, fun and games are fun because the child is having a great time with friends and usually they are experiencing success. 

Time to pause and consider how important play, fun, and success are to the child. Are we to keen to create "mini me's"?, mini adults who are consumed with achievement outcomes and goal setting (dare I say it) and all sorts of grown up notions.

Lets celebrate the child, who they are and should be. Lets not rush them to the finish post. Pause and let the children be children!

Welcome to our new families

We are about to welcome 60 new families to Windsor to start in Term 1 2010. These parents will see their children start school in 2010 and finish in 2023! If they go on to tertiary studies it may be 2027 before they enter the workforce... Ponder that, what will the world be like? How will we communicate, how will we shop, be entertained, travel, learn? I have no idea but I do know that positive values, a strong work ethic and positive relationships will be important. 

I know that throughout time we have looked for and will continue to seek people who relate well with others, show initiative, can problem solve and are resourceful. We value those who show perseverance and aim for excellence in whatever they do. 

It is a real buzz to be involved with families as we start the journey with their children. Our Powhiri (Thursday 26 November 9:00am) is the first step- a chance for families to get a taste of our learning place, a feel for the culture of Windsor and to see our older children in action! 

National Standards con't...

and for a bit more (well really a lot more) reading for those who are truly interested try this . There is to much to summarize but I believe that those who are really interested in the best for their children should have a read.

National Standards Why the Big Fuss?

The National Standards have been release in school and we are to start using them in 2010. They were and are a political agenda- an election promise. They set out some guidelines for achievement expectations for all children. They have been rushed into schools (for staff a three month lead in as opposed to 3 years for the Revised Curriculum) and they promise much.

Why the fuss?

Internationally they have failed to deliver. The UK is now moving away from National Standards as they have created winner and looser schools, schools where children come from homes where rest, nutrition, literature, love and kindness are not important typically achieve very poorly on National Standards- this should not be a surprise to us. 70% of the achievement outcomes of a child is determine by "home" factors. National standards (and this means testing) will not change that.

National Standards lead to league tables- these help no one.

League tables and national standards do not take into account "value added" that is what the teacher is able to do to improve outcomes for a child who comes to school with little or no language, little or no support at home and special behavioural or learning needs.

We are told:

Parents want accountability- we have ERO!

Parents want plain language - most schools have been offering it

Parents want to see where their child sits compared to national standards- I disagree if we gave parents what they want most say where does my child sit in relation to the class! Regardless schools (including Windsor) already do this with asttle , star, NZ exemplars...

If National standards are so important why not allow the time to upskill teachers, consider the research and feedback internationally and trial a system in NZ?

We have a world class Curriculum- it is at risk- schools and teachers may well start teaching to the test so that they perform well in national standards and in the media- a sad day for our nation.

 

A Community Fair

Six hundred children, sixty staff, hundreds of community members, a beautiful day and up to 10 000 visitors all created a fantastic Windsor School Community Fair. Together with our community the PTA Fair Committee raised nearly $25 000 to go towards our new school entrance and a senior basketball court.

The day indicated to me how communities really learn and work together and also the sense of PRIDE that this community has in it's school, staff and children.

Special thanks to Kim and Megan for their organisation and energy in making the day possible.

Skills and Attitudes of a Lead Learner- Our Community speak!

    It was fantastic to have over 200 people participating in our Parent Consultation evenings in terms 2 and 3 this year. The parents and staff discussed the vision, values and principles of the NZ Curriculum, the Key Competencies and recently the learning areas. Their feedback and input is critical to the development of the Windsor Way Curriculum as a vibrant, meaningful and effective curriculum for our children. You can see the skills an attitudes that we as community (but especially our parents and grand parents) believe are "top of the list" for a lead learner at Windsor. 

These concepts will be weaved into our curriculum for 2010 onward! 

Thank you to the many who contributed to this. We would also love our parents to remember to contribute to our online survey as we continue to "Learn together with PRIDE"

Parent Survey

Our Parent survey is now online (See "Our Learning")

Please go and have your see re learning, behaviour, communication and much more. This survey also follows up on the parent consultation nights so we need you to have your say.

Be part of the "Windsor Way" Curriculum that is emerging!

Parent Consultation Evening

It was fantastic to have another 50 parents and grandparents turn out for our curriculum consultation and information evening on Wednesday night.

These community members added to the 130 that attended in term 2 giving us nearly 200 people who have contributed to the Windsor School Curriculum and the definition of a lead learner at Windsor. They also had the opportunity to update their knowledge and skills regarding 21 Century reading and mathematics practices and develop their understanding of what Integrated Learning is all about.

Our online survey will be up and running next week- please join them in developing our school curriculum.

Learning Conferences

Thank you to all the parents who took the time to meet with your children at our learning conferences. It was wonderful to hear the feedback from staff and to see them buzzing about the experience. Thank you also to the children who voted on the learning conferences. It is great to see 86% saying that the experience was either somewhat or totally enjoyable.

We look forward to seeing many of you at our parent consultation night on Wednesday 2nd September.

A new way of working!

At the beginning of this term I made the decision to get into classrooms more. The plain and simple reason is that as the instructional leader of the school I need to se the teaching and learning in action. This allows me to sharpen my pencil and see where the needs are, the interactions that are happening between teacher and child as well as child to child and I can also see the learning that is taking place.

So two days a week I will be in the classrooms. This will mean if you need to meet with me or talk on the phone you will need to speak with Kim Hillson and she will ensure I set aside time for you.

So far I have seen some fantastic interactions as well as some that I have explored further. I have seen classrooms full of PRIDE and exciting learning and children who are really motivated to lead their learning (CHILL Factor- CHIldren Leading their Learning).

Watch this space as I share about the exciting things going on at Windsor School!

For the children!

What do you think about the Learning Conferences? Do you enjoy sharing your learning with your parents?

Mr O'Reilly

Reports , Reports, Reports...

Last week we sent home our written reports for Term 1 & 2. These reflect the learning in numeracy and literacy and the Key Competencies (through our PRIDE Programme) so far this year. Critical to us is the discussion that follows at the Learning Conference. The report is such a small snap shot in time and is simply part of the process that we have to communicate a child's learning. 

Learning conferences were seen as a wee bit of PC nonsense by some in the past. As the years have progressed and more and more families are involved very few would return to the practice of excluding children from discussion regarding their learning. You certainly want them to practice talking about their learning because once they hit those magic teenage years getting you son or daughter to talk about their learning at school can be like getting water from a stone!

Do these conferences really help? 

What do you think?

Neill

Consultation with our Maori Community

We had the pleasure of speaking with a small group of parents regarding achievement and well being of Maori children at Windsor school this morning. While Windsor only has 3.6% of children who are identified as "Maori" we have over 40% who choose to participate in our Kapa Haka programme! 

The interest and enthusiasm shown by our children is in large part due to the positive attitude to Te Reo Maori (the language) and Tikanga Maori (the culture) at Windsor. Our Maori community members play a vital role in the success of our Kapa Haka programme as well as offering support for our Te Reo (in class language). As our motto says we are "Learning together with PRIDE"- “Whakãko Pehapeha Tahi Tãtou”. 

The participants at todays meeting were able to add more suggestions for our programmes and contacts that may be useful for the future. If you have any suggestions for our Maori programmes please contact me.

The Team from "Panto Pantonime" with the golden goose line up for a photo prior to their first performance. This production was one of the five options available to Team Takahe on Friday afternoons in Terms 1 & 2. The children performed for two nights to over 250 friends and family members to rave reviews. 

This is another way that we are able to encourage "CHILL Factor" (Children Leading Their Learning) at Windsor. The children in the senior school have been involved in a wide range of authentic, real time learning contexts over the last two terms.

Future Focus

Our school wide focus for terms 2 & 3 is the Future. Each team took a different context (ranging from organising a camp, to school in the future and future transport) and each team also had a different deep understanding they were developing. 

There were a wide range of stimulating activities to get our children into the "Ponder" stage of this PAI (Ponder, Activate, Innovate) learning module. Above you can see an award winning solar powdered car that has raced against the best in the world and here it is in our back field!

WOW Fridays in Team Takahe

For the last two terms Team Takahe have been involved in Wow Fridays. The learning experiences that were available to the children included:

- Tool time

- WOW TV

- Pai Kai Cafe

- Mural Mahem

- Kids Congress

- Production team

The children had the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities and presented dance, drama, food, art, conferences, bird feeders, mountain bike jumps and much more for our community and the wider canterbury community.

Parent Consultation Night

It was wonderful to have over 100 parents come to school for a information and consultation night.

Teams of Windsor Staff provided workshops in numeracy, literacy, PRIDE Challenges and our Integrated learning "PAI" Modules. We received a lot of very positive feedback from parents following the evening as well as many fantastic suggestions and ideas around what a successful leader and learner looks like at Windsor. 

We watched a provocative clip called "Did you know" This clip put us in a good frame of mind to consider the real need for educational content and purpose for 21C learners.

This evening will be followed by another on Wednesday 2nd September at 7:00pm in the school hall- please join us!

Children leading learning

I was challenged recently by the notion of children leading learning (something I call CHILL Factor). Is this is real concept for 21 C learning or just another PC idea?

The reality appears to be that for a child to actually lead his or her learning then someone else- the teacher- must be prepared to follow! I wonder how many teachers are prepared to do this. To listen to the voice (questions, comments, ideas) of the child and then create learning experiences that will allow the child to have an authentic role ion leading their learning. I do see it at Windsor but it takes a very intuitive teacher, one who can seek out those things that will inspire a child and then provide pathways for learning.

What are your thoughts?