Key competencies

 Key Competencies

As part of a general education, the New Zealand curriculum requires the teaching, learning and practising of five key competencies. The one Mr. Bach emphasises the most to students, as the key to all learning, is Self Management. Some students aren't learning because they struggle to focus, listen, carry out instructions, work independently for periods of time or understand the concept of time and place for different activities in life. The other four key competencies are Participating and contributing,  Relating to others, Thinking and Using Language Symbols and Texts.

Above - Room 6 show good self management skills during assembly.







Right and Below -
Room One students display the key competency of Participating and Contributing by taking part in assembly.

Student Lead Conferences - Photo Gallery

A selection of photos from students sharing their learning with their parents and caregivers at Student Lead Conferences, the week before last.

Inter-house Cross Country

 St Mary's Cross Country - Redwoods

St Mary's School cross country went off exceedingly well as usual in the Redwoods. It was a wee bit nippy but the weather held out and we avoided the rain. Some splendid running, particularly by a number of room 6 boys who got high placings.

Enjoy the photos below.

Google Apps for Education

 Google Apps for Education

Room 6 children have been receiving training in using the Google Apps for Education learning management system, starting from the beginning of term one. Mrs Cato has been coming in on Monday afternoons to assist teachers in getting the middle school children up and running. At first we were focusing on simple skills, such as logging in and creating and naming documents. We are slowly moving on to more complex skills such as sharing and collaborating on documents online with other students in the class on other devices. This Monday we will be teaching more about commenting on other's work appropriately using the comments functions on Google Apps. This basically entails writing something another student has done well and something that they can improve on.

 Children seem to really enjoy learning using computer devices and Google apps and listen carefully to Mrs Cato and Mr Bach.

 Everyone wants to have their turn using a Google Chromebook or Apple laptop to use Google Apps.

Children love being allowed to use Mr Bach's super-duper cool Apple mac laptop to access Google Apps as Te Oki, Mele, Krishn and Koby.

Middle School Humble Rice Lunch

  Middle School Humble Rice Lunch

Last Wednesday March 26th the middle school staff and students had a bowl of plain cooked rice for lunch. This was in recognition of those numerous children around the world who are less fortunate than us, and who only have one bowl of rice per day to eat. We asked for a gold coin donation from families to raise money for church organisations that aid the needy in the poorest countries.

When you are hungry a plain bowl of rice is actually delicious.

 Children were allowed more than one bowl if they were still hungry, but we just asked them to remember that the poor children from needy countries don't have this option.

We got great help from the teacher aides and some parents who prepared the rice and served it.

Poppy as enthusiastic as ever about everything.