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.

National Standards and Plain Language Reports

Nationwide there are very real concerns about National Standards.
The National Party campaigned on these and so when they came to power they claimed they had a responsibility to introduce the Standards, indeed they claimed they had a mandate to push through the introduction.

Schools were not consulted. The National Standards were presented to schools with the instructions that they were to be implemented.

Having been a school that went through a District Education Review we appreciated the importance of full consultation, of listening to all groups involved when introducing change. We understand the importance of giving people a voice in the change process so that they gain a sense of ownership and grow to support the changes introduced.

National Standards were introduced in a hurry and without the government taking heed of the above change process. Why then has the Minister been so surprised that many in the education sector have not supported her demands to implement the Standards? In fact the Minister who has told schools that they must consider the best evidence synthesis when change and improvement is considered by schools, totally ignored her own advice. The leading assessment researchers told the Minister that there was no evidence that the introduction of these National Standards would result in an improvement to the tail of underachievement. Indeed overseas experience highlighted the waste of money and the lack of success in countries overseas when similar initiatives had been introduced.

Still the Minister has pushed ahead, and accused teacher groups of opposing the Standards for all the wrong reasons. Principals want the very best for their students. They want their students to succeed. I do not know of any Principals who are not constantly seeking for their students and their schools to be the very best! It is hard to credit that the Minister has not been prepared to listen to the reasoned concerns of the NZ Principals Federation and the NZ Educational Institute. These people are the ones who work with the children of our nation every day. If these National Standards were guaranteed to lift student achievement Principals would be whole heartedly behind them. The Standards represent the hopes and aspirations of the government. They are certainly not realistic! Many students who have been achieving at the National average will now be reported as being below the National Standards. This will confuse students and their parents. Yes it is a great ideal to aim high and yes we all want students to do better BUT lets us be sensible and realistic! National Standards need to be achievable or they will have a negative effect as learners become disheartened and disillusioned.

The public have been sold the rhetoric that student achievement will be lifted to new heights by the introduction of the National Standards. And of course when time proves concerned educationalists right the government will then be able to blame schools for the failure!

At Bluestone we will implement the Standards as we are required by law to do BUT had we been consulted, had the standards been developed in liaison with the education sector, had the supporting documents been in place BEFORE we received the instruction to proceed with implementation, had ALL teachers received meaningful professional development provided by people who ACTUALLY understood and believed in the Standards, had funding been provided to support the introduction of the standards (not after the event), and if the tools to measure and monitor the Standards were properly aligned, had staff had the time to hold moderation discussions, then MAYBE just MAYBE there might have been some benefit.

I have no problem with high expectations and high standards but if you have worked with these National Standards you will understand that these standards are not the solution that is needed!

Opportunities Abound

Term 4 is well underway. During this term students will be provided with many opportunities and I can only hope that students will make the most of these.

Already we have had a kapahaka performance group at the Polytech. This group was supported by Room 19 presenting a haka. All of this was done to support Dan deHar as he welcomed a number of visitors from France to the Polytech. Our groups did us proud and it shows the value of time put in. It also reflected the wonderful value of having quality music specialists at Bluestone. Jannette Aldridge accompanied students and her enthusiasm and expertise has brought us so far.

Two of our bands (one also having some of our past students) performed at a local Battle of the Bands with one taking first place and being rewarded with $1000. What a terrific recognition of the students growth in skills and abilities. These groups have been nurtured and supported by our music staff. Daniel Edmonds has been in bands himself and his knowledge and experience have been well passed on. Jannette and Daniel have taken many hours outside of school time to ensure the success of our budding musicians. Several of our bands are now proficient enough to now organise and drive themselves. What a wonderful gift they have been given. How great it is to see the enthusiasm and dedication of these young people. With such drive and attitude they deserve to succeed.

Dale McKay, a music specialist at Bluestone has written and produced a song for Christchurch, following the horrors of the earthquake. Then accompanied by Dale, Daniel and Jannette, a group of our students sang the song and a CD was produced. This has been presented to Bob Parker the mayor of Christchurch. Bob was delighted and presented our school with a lovely book full of amazing photos of Christchurch. Dale sent copies of the CD to schools in the area affected by the earthquake and we have had an amazing response from these schools who have appreciated the originality of the idea and support. You can hear this CD on our website.

Coming up this term is our Wearable Arts Awards. This showcases the amazing creativity that is nurtured at Bluestone. The quality of the garments and costumes equals those made by people many years their senior. Kate Vaughan Blackstock has driven the event and it is now an annual highlight for students and parents to look forward to.

There are many more musical and performance highlights to prepare for this term. I hope students and parents get in behind these opportunities and make the most of them. The rewrds are tremendous.

West School Reunion

In the holidays I had the real pleasure of being at the reunion of West School students who had left the school before 1946. Those in attendance ranged in age from 73 to 86. It was wonderful to listen to the stories of school the way it used to be. Many great tales were told. The thing that impressed me was how proud those in attendance remained of their school, and how positive they were about life. Young people today could learn a thing or two from them!

I was so impressed with the friendship of those present on the day and of the interest shown in what was happening at school today. I have promised that I will help to get the West School 100 year reunion organised. I can only hope that those who attend will be as passionate about their schooling and get together as this group were!

Mark Bang standing down as BOT Chairman

Mark Bang has announced that due to the realities of his current job he is standing down as Chairman of our Board of Trustees. Mark will remain a valued Board member.

We owe Mark so much!

He has been an inspirational and visionary leader and has lead Bluestone so well during its establishment.

Mark has encouraged us all to focus on our vision for our students. He has been a great listener, and been a very reflective thinker encouraging us to think before we act.

I have been very grateful for Mark's wisdom and support.

Mark has encouraged board members to grow professionally in their role. Thanks to this we have a highly competent board ready to lead Bluestone confidently and competently into the future.

I hope those of you involved in the life of Bluestone will take time to thank Mark for all that he has done in his role as Chairman of our Board over many years.

Art Exhibition at Bluestone

At our Art Exhibition we have had 18 exhibitors who are parents or who have close connections to our school. In addition we have had work on display that has been completed by our students.

The Exhibition has given students the opportunity to see artists in action and the questions asked have reflected their level of curiosity and interest.

It has been humbling to realise the depth of artistic talent that exists in our school community.

What an awesome and worthwhile event on our school calendar!

Helping and supporting children affected by the earthquakes

We have been thinking about what we can do for the children affected by the earthquakes in the Canterbury district.

We are exploring the possibility of running a camp in Timaru. There are members of Rotary and a good number of teachers who are keen to organise a camp with fun activities to give some of the children affected by the earthquakes a break from the realities they are facing. We will be looking to our community to rally around with ideas and support to make this idea a reality. We may be able to bring a bus load or two from areas like Kaiapoi.

We could look at providing some counselling sessions for those who want to talk and de stress.

I think our community will rally round and donate experiences and time and goods to make sure that the children we work with will have a great time with happy memories.

I have emailed local schools to see if they might consider sponsoring a child. Already several have replied to the affirmative which is great!

If anyone reading this blog can help or has some useful, creative ideas then please let me know

Events and visitors to Bluestone

The remainder of this term is shaping up to be very busy. Just look on our website calendar to see the range of activity.

The Minister of Education will tour our school on Tuesday 31 August. We look forward to showing her around and giving her the opportunity to see children in a range of exciting learning activities.

Danyon Loader our Olympic and Commonwealth Games medallist, who was born here in Timaru, will be visiting us on Friday 2 September. He will be promoting the exciting new Caroline Bay Aquatic Centre. We are having a mufti Day on Thursday 1 September so we can make a donation to the new Centre.

We are having visitors from Hartwell School in Melbourne who are keen to see the great things happening here at Bluestone. We look forward to sharing ideas about student learning.

Several staff and Board members are attending a seminar by Joseph Driessen a world authority on Boys Education. This will help us to reflect on what we are doing and on what we could do better.

Our Year 5-8 students are having a school Disco on Thursday 9 September from 6 - 8.30pm.

Our Year 3/4 students are visiting the Rocky Shore and doing a beach clean up on Tuesday 7 September.

Four of our staff are visiting several schools in the South Island over 4 days to look at how Interactive Whiteboards are being used to promote quality teaching and learning. As we have these boards in everyone of our classrooms we want to continually reflect on how we are using them and how we might use them even better.

On Wednesday 15 September TV6 will be at Bluestone to do some filming with Jim Mora. They are looking specifically at the Year 4 students who were presented with super new dictionaries by Rotary. They want to show how these have helped students in writing. Rotary has won a major regional award for their project.

A travelling show called Oceans Alive will be presenting 4 shows to our students on Tuesday 14 September. It is an important link to our studies on sustainability and links to our caring and respect for the environment.

On Friday 17 and Sat 18 September we will have our school community Art and Craft Exhibition which will show children a range of arts and crafts that will interest them.

School photos will be taken on Monday 20 September.

There certainly is a lot happening at Bluestone for your child!

New school vision phrase

Instilling the desire to excel in a challenging ever changing world.

This sums up the intent of our school vision and strategic plan. The word instilling is deliberate as it implies that the values and efforts to excel are embedded and not just something that is aimed for at school alone. If values and attitudes and a desire to learn are to have real value then they need to be part of the students life and extend into all they do both at school and beyond for life.

Parents, students and staff have shaped Bluestone values, attitudes and intentions. It is clear from parents that they want students to excel and to aim high.

Our world is challenging and we want students to be excited and positive about challenges and about taking risks so that they might find solutions to the challenges and changes met in life. We accept that technology has made the world the children interact with global. Social networking sites can be wonderful ways of communicating with a global audience. messages can be spread very quickly. Our students need to appreciate the inherent dangers in such networking as well as the potential.

Our students live in exciting times with huge challenges and constant change. We (parents, teachers, school community, wider community) have a big responsibility to prepare and equip our students for their part. We must encourage great citizenship so that students offer back as well as expect to take and receive. So let's all get behind Bluestone School and give our students the best support and opportunities we can. Let's do our bit to give them the skills and attitudes and values that will help them to excel in a challenging and ever changing world!