Balmoral School Newsletter - 1 November 2024

Upcoming Events

Te Tumuaki / Principal

Kia ora e te whānau

Embracing a Balanced Approach to Learning

Last Friday, our staff engaged with the Revised Literacy Curriculum and the educational theories of Professor Guy Claxton. Later in the day, we discussed how important it is to have a balanced way of teaching that mixes explicit instruction with hands-on exploration. Claxton emphasised that learning goes beyond just gaining knowledge; it's also about building skills, values, and character, and he challenged us not to lose sight of this.

Here's how our school puts some of these educational theories into practice:

Like Claxton, we believe that learning transforms experiences into lasting improvements in abilities, character, and understanding.

Literacy Education: Structured Learning: We use precise methods for teaching reading, writing and spelling to give students a strong foundation, ensuring we incorporate all the components outlined in the Scarborough Reading Rope in our instructional literacy programme. For example, tamariki participate in shared reading, instructional reading, reading workshops, spelling workshops and book discussions to develop a love for reading and sharpen their critical thinking skills while accessing a high-quality library.

Mathematics DMIC Approach: DMIC incorporates an advanced form of complex instruction, initially developed by Professors Elizabeth Cohen and Rachel Lotan at Stanford University and adapted for mathematics education by Professor Jo Boaler. Massey University in NZ, under the guidance of Prof Bobby Hunter, developed it further here in Auckland to reflect our place. DMIC is founded on equity and incorporates an advanced form of complex instruction. It is designed to integrate the best teaching of mathematics practices within culturally responsive teaching. We blend direct teaching with chances for students to explore and ask questions in maths, helping them grasp concepts deeply.

Productive Play and Inquiry-Based Learning: Through productive, purposely designed play, students discover and learn with expert teacher intervention, sparking curiosity, creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Inquiry-based learning encourages students to deeply engage with subjects like science, social studies, NZ Histories, drama, and physical education, connecting mind and body in their learning.

Claxton also highlighted the theory of 'Embodied Cognition', stressing that our minds and bodies work together to learn. The theory of Embodied Cognition identifies the need to see the brain as a cognitive and emotional organ. Recent research concludes that you cannot separate the mind from the body. We include physical education, drama, art, technology, and other hands-on activities to make learning enjoyable and well-rounded; sometimes, you will hear us talk about the hundred languages as a way of presenting learning.

We recognise that different subjects, parts of subjects, and situations require different teaching methods. What works for mathematics or food technology may not be suitable for drama or physical education.

Our approach ensures that learning is accessible to everyone, recognising the importance of children's emotions, relationships, and cultural backgrounds in education. By balancing structure with exploration, we prepare students for real-life situations where they must apply what they've learned in different contexts.

We are dedicated to offering a balanced and well-rounded education, using exploration and explanation, ensuring our students are ready for all aspects of life and are all winners.

Ngā mihi Malcolm

Learning is about failure as well as recovery from failure (Prof Roger Schank)

Changes to Literacy Support for 2025

For many years, our school has received government funding for Reading Recovery, which has helped numerous students develop their literacy skills. We've also been fortunate to have additional support from our School Board, which has allowed us to provide targeted assistance to students who need it.

Unfortunately, the government has decided not to renew funding for this literacy intervention program (Reading Recovery) next year. As a result, the school has been told to rely on classroom teachers to implement structured literacy approaches.

The school Board is committed to maintaining a strong focus on literacy and has proposed to meet the 2024 allocation by allocating $80,000 in the 2025 budget for literacy support expenses. However, this funding must be sourced from other areas, which may involve adjustments to specific school programs or increased voluntary contributions (the school donation) from parents.

We understand that this change may affect some students, and we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition and continued support for children's literacy development.

If you haven't paid your school donation, please ensure you pay it now so we can continue supporting our tamariki. Thanks also to all those parents who have paid this donation. 

Important Notice: Temporary Closure of Eldon Road Gate

Please be advised that the Eldon Road gate will be temporarily closed from Monday, 4th November to Friday, 29th November. This closure is necessary due to damage to the retaining wall and our neighbour's property, which requires urgent repairs.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Please use the St Alban's Road or the Brixton Road gates as alternative access points during this period.

We understand that this closure may increase traffic on Brixton Road. 

Edge App Fixed

We sincerely apologise to everyone who experienced difficulties with the Edge App. 

We are pleased to announce that the Edge App is fully operational for financial transactions. Before you begin using it, please ensure that you update to the latest version of the app, which may require a forced update.

For your convenience, we have provided instructions on accessing the app below.

Primary School News

Whānau Koru

Inquiry

Pollination

Spring is continuing to bring changes to the orchard. The tamariki have been observing the transformation that has taken place over the holidays. The trees that were in bloom last term are now full of lush green leaves. Others are still full of blossoms. Looking closely the children are seeing some “baby fruit" starting to form. They have also noticed the bees visiting the blossoms. The tamariki have been sharing their theories about the reciprocal relationship between bees and flowers, through discussions, writing, drawings, models and role play. Ideas of pollination that were abstract for them, can now be seen in the world around them, when they take this learning out to the orchard they see it in action.

The tamariki relationship to this place continues to deepen. By slowing down and observing the changes in one place over the year they have experienced the constant change of the seasons. As the fruit begins to grow again they have experienced a full cycle. By spending time in this place and being encouraged to look closely like scientists and share their ideas and observations the orchard has become a place they know well and care about. They have become the school experts on this place and also its guardians.

“The bees make the flowers happy and the flowers make the bees happy” 

Auckland Botanic Gardens Trip

To support the development of the children’s scientific theories and observation skills, Koru joined the Pollination Power educators at the Auckland Botanic Gardens. This programme is all about the reciprocal relationships between bees and flowers. The children shared their knowledge, looked closely at the parts of a flower, learning their names and their purpose. Some children dressed up as flowers covered in pollen waiting for their friends, the bees and butterflies to fly past and begin the pollination process. It's all about seeds! To finish,  the children made seed bombs to bring back to school to plant in our gardens.

Thank you to our wonderful parent helpers. You were amazing and we loved having you join us as teachers on the day. Ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.

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Intermediate School News

What if they were your pets? Would you do something then?

You go to sleep and wake up to commotion. The sky is falling. Sharp sounds pierce your ears. You hear people screaming, running. Where are your owners? You find yourself trapped under a piece of iron. You whimper, but nobody comes to your rescue. Everything goes dark.

This is the harsh reality that animals in Gaza face everyday. Many animals are injured, stranded by the war and left to die. Which they would, if it wasn’t for the work of charities like Sulala Animal Rescue.

By providing food, water, and medicine to these four legged victims of war, Sulala Animal Rescue is giving them another chance. But their main shelter, which currently houses about 150 cats, dogs and other animals, doesn’t even have four solid walls.

They need your support. The animals, the charity. They need your support.

While there are many charities dedicated to helping children in conflict, Sulala Animal Rescue is the only local charity for animals in Gaza. So I have decided to help them by fundraising for my rich challenge. Donate to my Givealittle page to give innocent animals a better future.

Basketball

Last Tuesday, some of the boys from Balmoral formed a team for the CZ Basketball tournament. The tournament took place at Eventfinda Stadium on the North Shore. The tournament was packed with really skilled players from all around Central Auckland. Even though we didn’t win many games, we played to our highest level and toward the end were really starting to look like a proper team.  Thank you to Alex who coached us on the day!

By Neil Java

Bike Skills

This term a company called Bigfoot came to our Balmoral and taught us bike skills and road safety. They ranged through year levels years 5 to 8 and ranged through different skill sets too. 

They taught kids how to ride bikes for the first time and taught confident riders new skills. They also taught us how to ride on the road safely, while also including many fun games to keep it entertaining. The staff were very kind and caring towards all the students and the ride was enjoyable for everyone !

THANKS BIGFOOT !🦶

( PS: We love your big feet )

By Samara Rust and Holly Brown

Community News

Auckland Orienteering Club Inc

SummerNav 2024-25 begins this THURSDAY

This year entries and payment will be done through EnterO. There is a link to this under each event on the club webpage, Coming Events.

Please pre-register and pay online; unlike our forest events, entries won’t close before the event. You can register on-site if needed, but early registration helps us estimate map numbers. 

We are offering a Seasons Pass for all 18 events at the price of 10, which is great value if you plan to attend most events. It simplifies the process since you won't need to register weekly; we’ll assume most pass holders will attend for map printing purposes.

There’s a slight increase in entry fees this year; check the SummerNav page on our website for details.

If you haven’t joined an orienteering club, now is a great time to join Auckland Orienteering Club. Your membership will last until the end of SummerNav 2026, covering two seasons and winter events at club rates. Joining the club and purchasing a SummerNav season ticket is cheaper than buying a non-member pass. A full program is available on the website, and you can pick up flyers at registration to distribute.

We look forward to an exciting SummerNav season!

P.S. An email will be sent after each event with details about the next, upcoming orienteering events, and results. Unsubscribe if you prefer not to receive these emails.