Rugby World Cup and Bluestone

The Rugby World Cup creates a focus for learning.

Students in each class have been given a competing country to adopt. Each class has created that country's flag to display in our hall. Under each flag are 5 facts about that country that the class think are interesting.

Students have been given the option to create a poster promoting either the Rugby World Cup or the All Blacks. The most popular poster will win the creator a new All Black Junior jersey in their size!

On Tuesday 16 August we will be selling RWC clothing and merchandise in our Hall. All parents, students and members of the public are welcome. A small commission will be given to the school allowing us to replenish our PE sheds with balls and equipment.

To raise further funds we are having a raffle for a RWC Supporters kit. Tickets are just $2 and available from our Office.

Ultranet update

Bluestone is currently adopting Ultranet for communicating with parents about what is happening for students at school.

By logging onto http://bluestone.ultranet.school.nz/Home/

parents can view daily notices and newsletters and the latest school news updates.

Ultranet will very soon become our school website allowing a one stop shop for info on Bluestone.

In the near future parents will be given passwords that will allow them to see further in. They will be able to see their child's class site and their child's work on line.

So visit our new site and see what you think so far.

We welcome your feedback

Lego Olympics

On the last Thursday and Friday of the holidays we are holding Lego Olympics in our Hall.

Teams of three students compete in making models on a given subject within a limited timeframe. It is terrific to see the originality of design and the different approaches. It is also interesting to see the way students can work together.

In addition to this students can also enter in an individual competition where they make a model from either a kitset or a creative, original design. These are made in advance can be viewed over the 2 days of the group competition.

Finally on the final Saturday of the holidays there is a Lego vehicle competition at Mega Mitre 10. Students take along a vehicle they have made within certain specifications. These are launched from a ramp incline and the winner is decided by the vehicle that travels the furtherest.

Whether competing or just observing the Lego Olympics are a great way to spend a day or two of the holidays

New notice boards

Parents and students will now be able to view sports draws and team results via a new dedicated notice board. What is happening each week in music (and a lot happens each week!) is on another new noticeboard. These are viewable 24/7 on the wall outside the hall entry (close to the library) So if you want to keep right up to date visit the new boards! Lots of relevant photos will be put up on these boards too.

Ultranet at Bluestone

At Bluestone we have decided to use Ultranet as our Learning Management System.

This will provide us with many new opportunities including for improved communication between home and school, digital portfolios of students work, and for virtual classrooms that can challenge and extend students.

Next term a group of lead teachers will learn how to use key aspects of Ultranet. Their virtual classroom will be established. Students in these classes will be set up with passwords that give them levels of appropriate access. Homework will be able to be set on line. Student work will be able to be viewed on line by their parents. Parents with passwords will be able to provide feedback for their child.

In the following term this will be extended to all students. The term after this will see passwords provided for all parents and for interested extended family members. The passwords will give levels of appropriate access.

A virtual classroom will be established to provide enrichment and extension activities for interested students.

Students will be able to use Ultranet as a social network, that is controlled and monitored. It is important that children learn how to use this sort of communication responsibly and that they realise the dangers of social networking when it is not controlled. This is the way our children now communicate, it is the world they live in so we need to give them good advice about how to use it wisely and effectively.

Ultranet will allow us to post notices and newsletters and articles of interest so that parents can easily access them 24/7. They will be able to provide feedback easily and instantly.

In time a students achievement data will be available for viewing by their parent online so that they do not need to wait for a 3 way conference or for a meeting with their child's teacher. Ultranet will ensure that parents can keep right up to date with their child's progress and achievement.

Ultranet is an exciting development at Bluestone and we look forward to keeping parents well informed of its evolution and implementation at Bluestone.

Student Achievement in Writing

Bluestone School has been invited by the Ministry to be involved in a Pilot Literacy Programme.

This gives us funding to release key teachers to work with students to accelerate student achievement in writing. We will be using approaches that motivate and engage the students.

We will be working initially with target groups of students identified as achieving below the National Standards for writing.

The success of our programme will be monitored by researchers from Waikato University.

The approaches we use will benefit all students and teachers.

We are excited by this opportunity and look forward to involving parents in the programme and ways that they can help at home.

Great inspiration from visit to Melbourne

I have just returned from a week in Melbourne visiting 5 schools and meeting with the heads of the Eastern District of the Department of Education in Metropolitan, Victoria.

I travelled with 35 others from approx 20 schools. I was accompanied by two of our Board members and my three Associate Principals.

Our trip was a wonderful experience. It is fantastic to see other schools and to listen to those passionate about educating young people. We have had the chance to discuss what we have seen amongst ourselves and we are keen to let others know back here of our observations.

One school we visited, Mountview, is seeking International accreditation. This is of interest to us as the criteria of what is considered to make a good school run is something we can reflect upon and measure ourselves against.

We were interested in what the Victorian Education Department considers is quality self improvement and accountability. This is well worth us reflecting on when we self review.

It was very obvious to us that effective schools clearly show their values and attitudes in visual displays that leave the students in no doubt as to what is expected if they attend the school. Setting high expectations seems to bring positive rewards in student behaviour and expectation (therefore achievement)

Having a week to reflect on where we are going as a school is a great luxury, and essential if we are to lead Bluestone into a positive future.

Taking opportunities offered

There are so many opportunities offered at Bluestone.

Students who get involved experience so much and learn so much along the way.

Our musical gave so many students an opportunity to perform. Others were involved in producing the musical (lighting, sound, audio visual). All developed their skills and proved themselves!

12 Netball teams have proven a great focus for many students. Increased ball skills result and thanks to the work of Julie (PE Specialist) our students have developed a great games sense so that strategies learned can now be put to advantage.

Our Radio Station and our Filming Room allow many students to get involved in and beyond the classroom. Learning can be fun!

Digital photography is now a common thing for children. This year we are holding our first Photographic Exhibition (in November). The creative flair of our students never fails to amaze!

Our Wearable Arts competition is now calling for entries. The final costumes will impress as they do every year. I hope lots of students will put their hand up and get involved!

Our Art Exhibition will give all students the opportunity to display their work. It will also give our students the opportunity to view the work of adult artists. A wide variety of art will be on show so that our students will appreciate that art can take many forms. This year all staff and members of our Board will also display a piece of art work.

These are just some of the opportunities offered. I hope parents will encourage students to explore new opportunities. It is great to try new things. It is OK to risk take. We have to get stuck if we are to learn. If we never get stuck then we maybe things are too easy.

Consider the following poster being displayed at school, and reflect on how we learn.

STUCK?

Good then it was worth you coming to school today!

School Musical

How wonderful it has been to witness the level of student participation and the quality of performance displayed in our school musical!

Fantastic singing, great acting and wonderful entertainment.

It was terrific to see the adult audiences respond so positively to the show.

Students showed a real love of music and a genuine pleasure in performing.

Huge thanks to the adults involved for their support, guidance and their strong passion for the musical.

The children 's efforts certainly fully repaid us - with interest!

Learning Hubs in Christchurch

Last week I was in Christchurch helping to establish a Learning Hub (one of 11 on the east side of Christchurch). These hubs are designed to cater for the needs of the students in Christchurch who still do not have a school to attend.

Listening to the students talk about their experiences was a humbling experience.

Back at Bluestone we continue to have enrolments from Christchurch. It has been great to see how the Bluestone students welcome the Christchurch students. There is healing in human kindness. I have also been amazed at the wonderful generosity of people who have made generous donations to support the students displaced. A group of friends in Australia sent an amazing $850 to help put the Christchurch students in uniforms. A school in Wellington gave 75% of their school gala fundraiser (Some $58,000!) How amazing are these stories of human generosity.

Even though there has been real sadness in Christchurch there have also been great acts of kindness. It gives us faith in the human race!

Earthquakes and reality

The reality of the past week is setting in.

We are only 2 hours away from ChCh and yet it is so hard to fathom the extent of the tragedy.

In Timaru we have been so lucky to escape the direct damage.

Over the past week we have enrolled more than 20 children from schools that have been affected in ChCh. The students that have arrived have received a warm welcome and I am very impressed with the resilience they are showing.

Today I felt very proud of our students. A mufti day with a Canterbury theme was well supported and raised $1200 to contribute to the relief fund.

We paid tribute to those who have lost lives by holding a two minute silence at 12.51 (exactly a week after the quake). This was a powerful and humbling experience.

We can only hope that those in Christchurch are able to get the basics back ASAP and start to rebuild their shattered lives.

It certain puts life into perspective!

Makes you reconsider what is really important.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families as they face the realities ahead.

Kia Kaha

2011 School Year

The 2011 school year will soon be underway.

Teachers are preparing their classrooms for the arrival of the students.

Several new staff to Bluestone will bring a range of new skills, knowledge and enthusiasm to the team.

Teachers will have two days of professional development prior to the students starting on Monday 31 January.

We will have a number of new students and new families at the start of the school year and I look forward to them being made to feel welcome at Bluestone.

It will be great to watch our senior students grow into their leadership roles.

Here is to a fabulous year at Bluestone in 2011.