LAWRENCE AREA SCHOOL

Community Newsletter
14th February 2013 No 1

Welcome to the 2013 school year. We are all enjoying the hot summer - this will be one to remember. Students have returned to school well rested and keen to get into their studies. The big change for 2013 is Junior School Uniform. It was quite amazing on Day 1 to see these students Yr 0-6 in uniform. They look really good and are all happy to be in uniform. We welcome quite a number of new pupils and new families to our school and district this term. Alesana Iona Liam Homer Taylor Homer Jacob Wallis Harmony Cameron-Tukaka Brittany Smith Josh Wyber Arnika Wilson-Rae Danielle Bain Taylor Whitehead Olly Budgen Logan Wither As a consequence our school roll is looking very good. We also welcome two new teachers. Mrs Sara McTavish who takes over in our Science department; and Miss Anna Hyslop who takes over both the Mathematics and Physical Education department. As a school last year we adopted a Strategic Plan 2012-2014 which focused on improving student achievement. We did this by concentrating our efforts, staff, pupil, parent, on five big picture goals: Raise student achievement and engagement Continue the development of our school curriculum Promote the place of Te Reo and Tikanga Maori in our school Develop and strengthen self review practices within the school Develop and strengthen IT capabilities across the school We have been tracking achievement in Mathematics, Writing and Reading for Yr 0-10 students in relation to National Standards since mid 2011. Through putting our strategic plan into practice we have achieved some very pleasing results. December 2011 December 2012 Improvement
(at or above national standard) (at or above national standard)

Reading 74% 88% +14% Writing 52% 71% +19% Mathematics 58% 69% +11% Please go to your school website at http://lawrenceareaschool.edublogs.org/ to see the report in full. Progress is pleasing, but we still have someway to go to reach our overall goal of 90% reading, 85% in writring and mathematics of students being at or above.

Holly Watt

Dear Parents and Friends of the School

Holly Wilson

Our Schools Annual Plan for 2013 in all big picture goals picks up off where we got to last year and extends targets. We have added a sixth big picture goal: Develop and strengthen practices that recognise and provide for gifted and talented students. The Annual Report for 2012 and the Annual Plan for 2013 can be viewed on the school website http://lawrenceareaschool.edublogs.org/ Our senior students likewise had a very good year, capped of by success in NCEA exams. We will share their story in our next newsletter. Kind Regards
John Auld

CRICKET....
We are back underway with games being played in the sun last Friday. Our Yr 7-11 team had a really good win over Rosebank (essentially now SOHS). This is a girls team who we especially enjoy playing against as our team also has a good mix of girls. In a local derby Gold played Blue in the Yr 4-7 cricket. This game was really close with Gold effected three run outs (well done Toby for taking two of these). Following this Blue could not match Golds great score of 113 runs.

SWIMMING
We hope to make the most of the hot summer days by having daily swimming lessons for all students Yr 0-8. New Zealands drowning record is appalling. Being taught to swim properly and being able to swim is essential to enjoying the many aquatic activities available to kiwis. To be able to swim to save yourself you need to be confident in your ability eg. not panic. NZ Swimmings goal is to have all children being able to swim 200 metres, unassisted, by the end of Year 8. We are also working towards this goals as an essential part of our school curriculum. Please help us out and ensure your child comes to school with their swimming gear every day.

WEBSITE - Instructions
How to find Lawrence Area School Website: Step 1: Type in www.lawrencearea.school.edublogs.org Step 2: Save to your favourites This website is updated regularly with important dates and information for parents. It has a live calendar which is updated when ever new events come to hand. Newsletters are saved and archived so you can always look back on older copies if you need to.

PTA - MAJOR FUNDRAISER This weekend we are catering for the Lions Trail Bike Ride. We need as many parent helpers us possible. Please contact Christine Young 4859123 Donna Osborne 4859426 Wendy Haywood 4859456 PTA generally hosts one meeting per term. This term teachers would like to share: accessing the schools website - how to - whats on the site. Health curriculum - using PTA as a parent forum to gain understanding and approval for the schools health curriculum.

From the Board of Trustees. Welcome back to the new school year. The Board would like to make a special welcome to new families and to our two new teachers; Sara McTavish (HOD Science) and Anna Hyslop (HOD Mathematics and Physical Education.
The Board has been busy with a number of important tasks. During the break a major building project has been underway. Both the Home Economics Room and the Materials Technology Room have been significantly upgraded by Dave Barkman and sub contractors. The job is almost finished and we look forward to opening these rooms. The Board is working on our school charter, notably the Annual Plan for 2013. This document sets the strategic direction of our school. A draft of this document will be available shortly. The Board has met with ERO personnel to discuss a review to be conducted February 25th to February 28th. This is a full review which will be based around how effectively is our schools curriculum promoting student learning, engagement, progress and achievement. Teaching staff have been very busy preparing for the new year and the upcoming review. We want all the very positive things about the school, to be shown in the best light and to gain a very positive report. This year is also Board of Trustees election year. Our election date is set for 30 May 2013. At that time parents will be asked to vote to elect a Board. We encourage parents and friends of the school to consider the possibility of becoming a trustee. For further information about what being a Board member entails please feel welcome to speak with current board members or go to the following website for further information.

www.trustee-election.co.nz

Kind Regards Russell Dickey Board Chairperson

Workshop

Home Ec Dave and Steve

Lawrence Area School Term Planner Term 1 2013

WEEK
Week 1 4-10

Monday TOD/PD

Tuesday TOD Course

Wednesda y Waitangi Day Kate Away

Thursday Start of Year

Friday

Weeke nd

Feb
Week 2 11-17

Otago Net at NCEA to Kate Trail Bike

Feb
Week 3 18 24 Kate Accountant

Kiwi Golf

Cricket
games in

Feb
Week 4 25-3

Lawrence ERO
ERO Roxburgh

ERO

ERO Kate Mal

March
Week 5 4-10

Athletics
Drive to Survive Sports Activator

9.30am

Swimming Sports

March
Week 6 11-17 NZQA PN Meeting

Sports Activator

March
Week 7 18-24

Jeff away
Otago Polytech

Sexwise Kate away

March
Week 8 25-31

Liaison Anniversary Day Jumbo Day Good Friday

March

Easter Week 9 Monday 1-7 April

Week 10

Easter Tuesday Berwick Camp Sports Activator Berwick Camp

8-14 April
Week 11

Berwick Camp

15-19 April