Balmoral School Newsletter - 29 November 2024

Upcoming Events

No Upcoming Events

Te Tumuaki / Principal

Kia ora e te whānau

In an age of helicopter parenting, many well-intentioned parents constantly hover over their children, eager to shield them from every potential pitfall. But could this overprotective approach be doing more harm than good? Recent research from Yale University suggests that by empowering children to learn and grow independently, we can foster resilience, self-confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.

Celia Lashlie, a renowned New Zealander and criminal justice expert, used the term "overparenting" decades ago. She famously advised parents to "stay off the bridge" and let their children navigate life's challenges independently by walking on "the other side of the bridge."

But what does the science say?

A groundbreaking study from Yale University reveals that framing everyday tasks as learning opportunities can significantly reduce overparenting. By emphasising the educational value of activities like getting dressed or tying shoes, parents can empower their children to take ownership of their development.

The secret to raising independent kids is letting them learn independently. This does not mean abandoning them. The study demonstrated that when researchers emphasise the educational value of everyday tasks, it promotes children’s independence and resilience by reducing overparenting. "Parents are twice as likely to let their children tackle challenges on their own." 

"Every time we swoop in to rescue our kids from a challenge and do it for them, we miss a chance to build their confidence and competence. By framing everyday tasks as learning experiences, we can help our children become more independent and resilient." said lead author Reut Shachnai.

By recognising the potential pitfalls of overparenting and embracing a more hands-off approach, adults can empower tamariki to become independent, resilient, and confident individuals. By fostering this sense of autonomy and responsibility, adults can equip them with the tools to navigate life's challenges and embrace its opportunities.

Over the holidays, I would encourage you to try this mindset and maybe consider it school homework. Let the tamariki make breakfast, clean the car, go shopping, plan a menu, or read a book with them or set time aside for them to read by themselves. This might make a difference to their lifelong independence, resilience and achievement. 

Adults must be supportive yet mindful and watchful and encourage children to explore, experiment, and learn from their mistakes. This does take time and most often a pause or breath by the adults!

Ngā mihi

Malcolm

Homework in the School Holidays 'Read for Pleasure'

Recent research highlights the numerous benefits of reading for pleasure, including:

• Improved mental health: Reading together and discussing books can positively impact adolescent mental health.
• Enhanced social skills: Engaging with texts and sharing thoughts can foster pro-social behaviours and help children connect with others.
• More robust academic performance: Children who read for pleasure often have advanced vocabulary, better school performance, and more developed brain function.
• Healthier choices: Reading for pleasure can even influence children to make healthier choices regarding diet and lifestyle.

Encourage Your Child to Read This Summer

As the summer holidays approach, we encourage you to provide plenty of opportunities for your child to read for pleasure. Here are some tips:

• Visit the library: Explore the local library's vast collection of books and magazines.
• Read aloud together: Share stories and discuss them with your child.
• Set a good example: Let your child see you reading for pleasure.
• Create a cosy reading nook: Designate a quiet space for reading and set a time for daily reading.

By prioritising reading for pleasure this summer, you can help your child develop a lifelong love of learning and reap the many benefits of reading.

Medicines at School Policy

The Board, in consultation with our Health and Safety Committee, has written a new Medicine in School Policy. This can be found on our school website @ www.balmoral.school.nz  in the A-Z drop-down menu.

The key points of this policy are; 

1. The school is committed to maintaining a safe environment for all children and staff that is in compliance with relevant legislation.
2. All medications are stored securely in the school office and refrigerated if needed. 
3. Parental Responsibility: Parents/guardians must inform the school of any changes in their child's medical circumstances and provide medication in its original, labelled container
4. Consent and Documentation: Written parental consent is required for all medicine administration. A specific form must be completed in person for medications other than basic pain relief. The office has this form available. Sometimes, you may have to meet with a staff member formally.
5. Administration and Record-Keeping: Designated staff members administer medications, keeping detailed records of each dose given. 
   
6. Special Considerations: Students with specific health conditions may have unique requirements for accessing their medication. 
   1. Asthma inhalers are an exception and can be kept in a child's school bag for self-administration

Reminder: School Gate Access and Safety Information

This is a reminder that the school gate on Brixton Road is open until 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Families are welcome to use our grounds respectfully. Dogs must be on a lead at all times.

We ask that parents be mindful of construction vehicles related to the sports shed and pool project in the coming months.

Please also be aware of our tamariki in after-school care, as they will also use our facilities.

Additionally, all children must leave the school grounds at the 3:10 p.m. bell unless an adult or parent supervises them or they are at after-school care.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Year 8 Legacy Project: A Work of Art

At our school, we value leaving a legacy—what you leave behind for others to follow. 

Our Year 8 students have created a stunning public sculpture, now gracing the top of our school's main steps. This collaborative project by every Year 8 student, guided by high school art teacher and renowned artist Frank Woodward, is a testament to their creativity and Frank's ability to draw this creativity out of them.

The six-piece design is visually striking. While Creative in Schools has previously supported our art projects through funding, this year's initiative required school funding following the cancellation of the Creative in Schools program. We welcome donations from any person or business to support this 2024 legacy project.

If you or your business would like to support future student-led initiatives, please get in touch with Malcolm. All donations are tax-deductible.

To advocate for reinstating the 'Creative in Schools Project', please sign the online petition: [Link to Petition]. You will see a Balmoral School collaborative artwork fronting this campaign.

Intermediate Orientation Day

We were excited to welcome over 160 tamariki from 21 primary schools to our Intermediate Orientation Day on Wednesday. The day was a day of discovery as our visitors experienced what a typical intermediate day looks like, including a taste of our specialist classes. The tamariki were an enthusiastic, kind, and interested group, and we thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them.

We’re looking forward to welcoming them back as ākonga in 2025!

We would also like to thank our current Year 7 and 8 students. They played an important role in making our visitors feel welcome, interacting with them with kindness and respect. Their support and positive attitude helped make the day enjoyable for everyone.

Congratulations to our Highly Qualified Staff

• Congratulations to Jacqui Bailey, who has been awarded a Complex Education Needs Post Graduate Study Award  in 2025 and 2026
• Congratulations to Kylie Hogg, who completed her post-grad Cert in Tessol last week.

Having highly skilled staff with these advanced specialist qualifications certainly strengthens what we can deliver at our school to both support learners and teachers. 

• Congratulations to Heidi Mokhtari, Lily Pearce, Emma Salmon and Amy Pennington, who all gained their Fully Registered Teacher Certification.

This Fully Registered Teacher qualification is obtained after at least four years at university and a minimum of two years of mentoring in the classroom. We all acknowledge and celebrate their hard work and dedication to our tamariki and profession. They are all highly skilled in their roles. 

Congratulations to Michelle Cooke, who has begun her Te Reo journey and got 100% in her most recent course. Her whānau and our school are proud of her achievements.

Property Update

Pool And Sports Shed

Our first site meeting for the new Pool Surrounds and Sports Shed development was held this week. Health and Safety requirements have required us to build a fence along the northern boundary of our field to separate construction vehicles from children. The fence and site sheds will be installed from Monday.

Saint Albans Gate Closure
Starting on Monday, December 2nd, the Saint Albans gate will be closed until Friday, April 11th, the end of Term 1, 2025. This measure is essential to keep construction traffic separate from the school playground during the day. The builder has also confirmed that the central bollard in this walkway will be removed, so access for prams will be enabled from the end of Term 1, 2025. 

Eldon Road Gate Retaining Wall and Fencing Project
We’ve encountered an issue with the Eldon Road gate and retaining wall. Due to the soft ground, the piles for the retaining wall had to be driven deeper than planned, resulting in delays. The fence is expected to go up late next week. We are working with the contractor's health and safety team to open this gate before the end of this year and keep it open for access before and after school during the pool and sports shed construction in Term 1 2025. 

Underpinning of Resource Room 
The ESOL Room will be closed on 16 December to enable this repair. The floor above has developed a bow due to the weight of the Lundia Shelving in our Resource Room. 

Underpinning of Admin Block
The Dominion Road end of the Administration Block has developed cracks in the wall due to subsidence. our initial design for repairing this was deemed insufficient last week. We are waiting for the engineer to report back on a remedy. Hopefully, we can get this information in time for the repairs to be completed over the summer break.

Sprinkler Water Damage to Hub 14
We have struggled to get any further on the repair to this Hub before the start of 2025. We seem to be getting stuck between the MoE, their insurers, the project management team and the contractors.

Replacement of Intermediate Lift and Primary Lift
As many of you may know, the original lifts installed in these new blocks had some issues. We have been advised that talks between the contractor and the MoE have finished, and we hope to install new lifts soon. 

As you can imagine, this planning and the building work with multiple contractors over six months has caused many pressure points in our school. Hopefully, the tamariki have been oblivious to this.  We hope to complete as many of these works as possible during the school holidays when the tamariki and most school staff are away. 

Lost Property

It is that time of year again when we try and get all the lost property back to their rightful owners 🙂 

The lost property will go out on the middle courts next Wednesday, 4^th December. Make sure you encourage your child to look through and pick up their items.

Primary School News

Whānau Whetu

In Hub 12 we have been learning about the history of the Huia bird and why they became extinct. These birds were highly prized by the Māori people and wearing the feathers showed importance within their tribe. Sometimes they wore the whole bird around their neck for decoration. After the Duke of York visited New Zealand in 1901 he was gifted a feather, because of this when he returned to Britain the Huia bird feather became very fashionable to wear. This also contributed to them becoming extinct along with habitat loss and the introduction of pests and predators into NZ. This got us curious as to how and why things become fashionable and how this changes over time. We looked at a lot of pictures and designed outfits that we might have worn if we got to meet the Duke of York. We had to think about what materials would have been available, where we came from and what style of clothes were around at the time. We are now continuing to look at fashion in different eras and trying to work out if they were from olden days or more modern times. We can’t wait to design our own outfit as to what we think we will be wearing in the future.

Written by Zoey and Ahaana

Eden Albert Athletics

On Tuesday, the Year 5 and 6s went to Eden Albert athletics! It was a great day in the sun with lots of competition. Everyone gave the events their best go and displayed excellent sportsmanship. Balmoral had some great success on the day, with the results as follows:

-Year 5 Girls Relay team (Hilary Tagg, Sophie Smith, Isla Rosnell, Violet Rattenbury): 3rd place

-1st place Year 6 Boys High jump: Nathan Plumbridge 

-1st place Year 6 Boys Long jump: Josh Moates

-2nd Place Year 6 Girls Shot Put: Lucia Greet

-2nd Place Year 5 Boys Discus: Taj Singh

-1st Place Year 6 Boys 400m: Archie Stewart

-1st Place Year 5 Girls 400m: Sophie Smith

Thank you to the parents who came to support us and cheer us on from the sidelines, and the Year 7s who came to help the teachers. Well done to all of our amazing athletes!

Intermediate School News

Captain Black Success

Congratulations to Johnny Bilton who has won the Intermediate Short Film category at the recent Onscreen Film Awards for his Captain Black film. You can read more about Johnny's journey to this win in the upcoming issue of Kawepūrongo.

Band Performances

This morning at Assembly we were lucky enough to hear two of our Intermediate bands, Kaiawa and Ruru, perform. Kaiawa played an amazing version of The Cranberries Zombie and Ruru followed with an equally impressive performance of Coldplay's Yellow. We look forward to hearing both bands, along with Tiwaiwaka and the choir, perform at the Intermediate Prizegiving or the Year 8 graduation in the next few weeks.

Athletics

We have had a term full of running, jumping and throwing with our athletics programme in full swing over the last few weeks. Well done to everyone who pushed themselves to go faster or further, who learnt a new skill, or practiced an existing one, during this time. Congratulations to everyone who went on to compete at Central Zones, and a particular well done to Samara Rust and Neil Java who represented Balmoral admirably, in sprints and shot put respectively, at Inter Zones this week.

Community News