Week 1 - Term 2 - 2018

We work together for maximum impact  

Ka mahi ngātahi mō te tukinga nui tonu

Week 1 30 Paengawhāwhā -  4 Haratua International Food Day - Tues 1 (lunchtime in Gym quad) Antarctica Center Trip - Year 10 - Thurs 3 - Fri 4 Swimming - Canterbury - Thurs 3	Week 2 7 Haratua - 11 Haratua Otago University Open Day - Mon 7 Antarctica Center Trip - Year 10 - Mon 7 Year 9 DIT Paparoa Trip - Mon 7 12DVC Product Research Field trip - Tues 8 Year 12/13 Careers evening - Tues 8 Whanau Hui - Tues 8 (6.30 in staffroom) Year 13 Geo Trip - Tues 7 - Fri 11 Victoria University Visit - Wed 9 Careers Expo - Thrus 10 - Sat 12 English 2.5 Speech - Thurs 10 - Fri 11 Athletics - Canterbury Road Race - Thurs 10
Assembly - WED Year 9 - Gym Year 10 - PAC	Assembly - WED Full School Assembly
Meeting  Staff Meeting - Tues 1	Meeting  Learning and Teaching - Tues 8

Information for Staff

1. Setting goals: Term 2 is the start to the new year of Appraisal and Attestation here at CGHS. Many of you will have already determined what your goals will be for the year, but here is a little reminder of the do's and dont's of goal setting:

• Is the goal about the students or the adults (teacher). Your goal(s) should be set around what you would like the students in your classes to achieve, and not what you will be doing. What you will be doing is actually part of your action plan that will help you achieve the target set for the learners.
• Have you worked out how you will measure student progress throughout your inquiry and/or practice. For example, are you judging student performance by just a test, or will you be gathering other data that shows student learning, engagement and achievement. 
• Think about what you will be doing that is different to what you have currently done in order to improve student learning and/or engagement. Is this also part of your action plan?

2. Support International Food day on Tuesday 1 May.  The International Club will put on International Food Day, and will sell food in the gym quad at lunch to raise money for World Vision, the Rohingya Refugee Crisis.

3. Professional Development Opportunity - Google Summit on 9 and 10 July in Dunedin. More information can be found at https://events.edtechteam.com/dunedin2018/141357
See BLS if interested in attending.

Week 11 - Term 1 - 2018

We get the job done  

Ka oti i a mātou ngā mahi

Week 11 9 Paengawhāwhā - 13 Paengawhāwhā 12/13 Drama Assessments - Mon 9 - Wed 11 Noho Marae Trip - Tues 10 - Wed 11 12GAT First Aid course - Tues 10 and Thurs 12 (All Day) Blood Donor Clinic - Tues 10 Otago University Visit - Tues 10 Late Start - Tues 10 (See meetings below) LEFs Due - End of school day - Tues 10  Music Concert - Thurs 12 @ 7pm in PAC - Gold Coin Donation Year 9 DIT Paparoa visit - Thurs 12 Senior Alison Harper - Fri 13 12GAT Riccarton - Fri 13 (p 1 and 2) 12DVC Software Course - Sat 14 Last Day Term 1 - Fri 13	School Holidays 14 Paengawhāwhā - 29 Paengawhāwhā Have a good break!
Assembly - WED Junior Assembly - End of Term Merit Awards - both Levels in Gym	Assembly - WED Nil
Meeting  Pedagogical Meeting - Late start time slot - Integration of STPs in Learning Areas. Learning Area meeting after school if needed.	Meeting  Nil

Information for Staff

1. STEAM Education Summit - https://www.conferenz.co.nz/events/steam-education-summit

Information for this Education Summit is available on the website. It is held in Auckland on the 9th and 10 May. It would be great to have a couple of our staff attend these 2 days and share their knowledge within and across departments. The new digital technologies curriculum is to be integrated into teaching programmes by 2020. 

2. ULearn 2018 reminder - This is New Zealands largest Education conference and will be held in Auckland from 10 - 12 October. Please see BLS if you are interested in attending this year. The earlybird rate is available to the 31 May.

3. For those of you who remember Amira - you may be interested in her recent blog post around student agency and inclusivity. Student agency and student choice was a key component of the group of teachers who were involved in Grow Waitaha in 2017, and completed an inquiry around how and what this looked like at CGHS.

Week 10 - Term 1 - 2018 ODD

Kaua e mate wheke mate ururoa

Don't die like a octopus, die like a hammerhead shark

Week 10 2 Paengawhāwhā - 6 Paengawhāwhā Easter Monday and Tuesday 2 - 3 12GAT ARA Visit - Wed 4 11Eco trip, p 2 - 4 - Wed 4 Equestrian Event CSS - Wed 4 Otago Uni Junior Maths - Wed 4 12/13 Drama Assessments - Thurs 5 - Fri 6 12DVC Software Course - Thurs 5 12GAT Avonmore - Thurs 5 Summer Sports Awards - Thurs 5 12/13 CST Christchurch Food Show - Fri 6 Sheilah Winn Shakespeare - Sat 7 - Sun 8	Week 11 9 Paengawhāwhā - 13 Paengawhāwhā 12/13 Drama Assessments - Mon 9 - Wed 11 Noho Marae Trip - Tues 10 - Wed 11 12GAT First Aid course - Tues 10 and Thurs 12 (All Day) Blood Donor Clinic - Tues 10 Otago University Visit - Tues 10 Late Start - Tues 10 (See meetings below) LEFs Due - End of school day - Tues 10  Music Concert - Thurs 12 @ 7pm in PAC - Gold Coin Donation Year 9 DIT Paparoa visit - Thurs 12 Senior Alison Harper - Fri 13 12GAT Riccarton - Fri 13 (p 1 and 2) 12DVC Software Course - Sat 14 Last Day Term 1 - Fri 13
Assembly - WED Year 9 Assembly (Peer Support Leaders) - Gym Year 11 Assembly - PAC	Assembly - WED Junior Assembly - End of Term Merit Awards - both Levels in Gym
Meeting  No meeting - Easter Tuesday	Meeting  Pedagogical Meeting - Late start time slot - Integration of STPs in Learning Areas. Learning Area meeting after school if needed.

Information for Staff

1. Thank you for your time and professionalism with parent - teacher interviews this week.

2. Standards for the Teaching Profession: The Pedagogical Meeting on Tuesday 10 April has been set aside as time for Learning Areas to look at evidence for the standards withing their own teaching context. The school wide document has been shared with staff to read through and comment on. (See Google Doc)

By adding learning area specific evidence, this will help individuals during end of year Attestation and Appraisal discussions.

3. At the recent year 12 Assembly, the students were asked to vote on a whakatauki that represents the year level. The winner out of the 3 is:

Kaua e mate wheke mate ururoa -Don't die like a octopus, die like a hammerhead shark

The explanation behind this whakatauki is that Octopus are renown for their lack of resistance when being captured, however a hammerhead shark will fight bitterly to the end, to the point that when you fillet it fresh, its meat quivers. Commonly used to encourage someone not to give up, no matter how hard the struggle is.

So if you have a year 12 class, you might want to remind them about not giving up!

4. Differentiated Teaching: 

Differentiated teaching refers to the methods teachers use to extend the knowledge and skills of every student in every class, regardless of their starting point.

Hattie (2012) found that differentiated teaching had an effect size of 1.07 as an intervention or impact on student learning and achievement. 

This strategy is effective when teachers use evidence of student learning readiness, their progress with regards to learning, student interest, and knowledge of our students as individuals. For this strategy to have such a high impact, Teachers need to 'make adjustments for individuals so all students experience challenge, success and improved learning'. (High Impact Teaching Strategies, 2017).

Teachers who differentiate effectively use information from formative tasks, such as what students know now, and what they are ready to learn next. For more information go HERE

Week 9 - Term 1 - 2018 EVEN

Ka whangaia, ka tupu, ka puawai.

That which is nurtured blossoms, then grows

Week 9 26 Maehe - 30 Maehe Cycling - NZ Schools MTB - Mon 26 - Wed 28 Year 12 Geo Trip - Mon 26 - Wed 28 Parent Teacher Interviews - Mon 26 and all day Thurs 29 Swimming Sports - Tues 27 UC Visit - Tues 27 Good Friday - Fri 30	Week 10 2 Paengawhāwhā - 6 Paengawhāwhā Easter Monday and Tuesday 2 - 3 12GAT ARA Visit - Wed 4 11Eco trip, p 2 - 4 - Wed 4 Equestrian Event CSS - Wed 4 Otago Uni Junior Maths - Wed 4 12/13 Drama Assessments - Thurs 5 - Fri 6 12DVC Software Course - Thurs 5 12GAT Avonmore - Thurs 5 Summer Sports Awards - Thurs 5 12/13 CST Christchurch Food Show - Fri 6 Sheilah Winn Shakespeare - Sat 7 - Sun 8
Assembly - WED Full School Easter Assembly - Gym	Assembly - WED Year 9 Assembly (Peer Support Leaders) - Gym Year 11 Assembly - PAC
Meeting  Learning Area - Tues 27	Meeting  No meeting - Easter Tuesday

Information for Staff

1. Digital passport: Mindlab has launched 'Digital Passport', which is a platforms for teachers to 'realise the opportunities of the new Digital Curriculum and bring 21st Century skills to today's students'. The 'digital passport' contains a set of resources for teachers to engage with what the new digital curriculum has on offer and is free till 22 July, 2018.

See the following websites if you want to know more:

https://interfaceonline.co.nz/2018/03/21/new-education-platform-empowers-kiwi-teachers-in-the-21st-century/

https://www.digitalpassport.co.nz/

2. The use of explicit teaching as a way to structure lessons: Effective teachers use explicit teaching to provide instruction, demonstrate concepts and build student knowledge and skills. In explicit teaching practice, teachers show students what to do and how to do it, and create opportunities in lessons for students to demonstrate understanding and apply the learning.
The first part of explicit teaching is to set goals for your lesson. Goals are a way to explain what the students need to understand and what they must be able to do by the end of the lesson. By setting learning goals (kaupapa), you are able to clarify what success looks like for a student.
The second part of explicit teaching is around 'show and tell'. This involves modelling both the 'visible actions and the underlying thinking' that is needed for learning.
The final part is making sure there is time for practice, i.e. time to practice what they have learnt over time.

NZ Curriculum: Effective Pedagogy p34-35 'Teacher actions promoting student learning: Students learn best when teachers (allow students) to encounter new learning a number of times and in a variety of different tasks or contexts'.

Use of this strategy aligns with the following Standards for the Teaching Profession (STP): Learning-focused Culture, Design for Learning and Teaching.

3. For Wellbeing: The Happy Secret to Better Work

Week 8 - Term 1 - 2018 ODD

He waka eke noa

A canoe which we are all in with no exception

Week 8 19 Maehe - 23 Maehe Summer Tournament Week - All Week 11DRA Assessments - Mon 19 - Wed 21 Rowing - Maadi Cup - All Week Rowing NZ Champs - All Week Sailing - SISS Sunburst - All Week Year 9 Science Rutherfords Den Visits - Mon 19, Tues 20 and Thurs 22, Fri 23 Tennis NZ Champs - All Week Volleyball - NZ Champs - All Week Water Polo SI Champs - Mon 19 ARA Visit - Tues 20 SI Sevens Champs - Tues 20 - Wed 21 Basketball 3x3 Tournament - Wed 21 - Fri 23 Dragon Boating - NZSS - Fri 23 - Sat 24 13HTH Blood Donor Centre - Fri 23 SISS Athletics - Sat 24 - Sun 25 Touch NZ Champs - Sat 24 - Sun 25 Polo Tournament - Sun 25	Week 9 26 Maehe - 30 Maehe Cycling - NZ Schools MTB - Mon 26 - Wed 28 Year 12 Geo Trip - Mon 26 - Wed 28 Parent Teacher Interviews - Mon 26 and all day Thurs 29 UC Visit - Tues 27 Good Friday - Fri 30 via GIPHY
Assembly Year 12 Level Assembly - Gym year 13 Level Assembly - PAC	Assembly Full School Easter Assembly - Gym
Meeting  L & T meeting - Tues 20	Meeting  Learning Area - Tues 27

Information for Staff

1. Monday 26 will be running on Wednesday times for classes for period 3, 4 and 5. This is to avoid an additional AKO time. This means school will finish at 2.30pm in preparation for parent-teacher interviews.

2. In light of our Pasifika Girls' performing tomorrow at Polyfets, information can be found on how to Support Pasifika students on TKI under the section on Inclusive Education.

3. Why do girls lose interest in STEM? (see also Closing the STEM Gap)

The article is based on research of over 6000 girls in the USA. There are definite aspects that resonate with the success of the girls at CGHS. The author states " Boys are pushed to take risks; girls are not. In fact, they feel like they have to be perfect at everything they do; they see getting a 'B' in math class as bad - we have to teach girls to be imperfect". Something to think about, I know there has been discussions in our staffroom especially in relation to taking Scholarship examinations.

Week 7 - Term 1 - 2018 - EVEN

Takoto kau ana te whanau o Taane!

The forest is felled (for planting), the hard work is done.

Week 7 12 Maehe - 16 Maehe Year 11 Art Portfolio Exhibition @ Wigram Museum - Mon 5 - Sun 18 NZCT tournament - Tues 13 - Thurs 15 Athletics - Canterbury Champs - Tues 13 and Sun 17 Auckland Uni Visit - Tues 13 Easter Mufti Day - Tues 13 Year 11 Art Trip to Wigram - Wed 14 12CHE Internal - Wed 14 - Fri 16 13GRA Field Trip - Wed 14 - Thurs 15 Waitaki Exchange at CGHS - Thurs 15 - Fri 16 Massey Uni Visit - Thurs 15 11DRA Assessments - Fri 16 Rowing - Maadi Cup - sat 17 - Sun 18 Water Polo - SI Champs - Sat 17 - Sun 18	Week 8 19 Maehe - 23 Maehe Summer Tournament Week - All Week 11DRA Assessments - Mon 19 - Wed 21 Rowing - Maadi Cup - All Week Rowing NZ Champs - All Week Sailing - SISS Sunburst - All Week Year 9 Science Rutherfords Den Visits - Mon 19, Tues 20 and Thurs 22, Fri 23 Tennis NZ Champs - All Week Volleyball - NZ Champs - All Week Water Polo SI Champs - Mon 19 ARA Visit - Tues 20 SI Sevens Champs - Tues 20 - Wed 21 Basketball 3x3 Tournament - Wed 21 - Fri 23 Dragon Boating - NZSS - Fri 23 - Sat 24 13HTH Blood Donor Centre - Fri 23 SISS Athletics - Sat 24 - Sun 25 Touch NZ Champs - Sat 24 - Sun 25 Polo Tournament - Sun 25
Assembly Full School Assembly - Wed 14 - Gym Academic Colours	Assembly Year 12 Level Assembly - Gym year 13 Level Assembly - PAC
Meeting  Student Support - Tues 13 Learning and Teaching - Extra Meeting - Tues 13	Meeting  L & T meeting - Tues 20

Information for Staff

1. New update for G-Suite: We have asked for the new feature, an activity dashboard to be activated when it becomes available on Google. It will be available in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides. It’s a feature that lets users with edit access see who has viewed the file and when they viewed it, rather than just find when the last edit is.
A very useful feature for teachers who are google doc users.

2. Transforming Assessment Practice: NZQA have developed a 9 week online programme, for teachers who would like to "modify existing resources to better meet the needs of learners, and exploring diverse and valid ways of collecting evidence."
To find out more information visit http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/about-us/events/best-practice-workshops-assessment-and-moderation/tap/

3. NCEA Opinion Piece: There have been a number of articles written in the media about the review of NCEA. The Sunday Star times had an article quoting Briar Lipson, and her views of how NCEA should be changed.
The article (NZ Initiative Publication), was released to coincide with the announcement that NCEA was under review.
There is a front summary of a number of recommendations that she puts forward, and these are worth a read. Some of them will challenge your thinking about how NCEA is currently run. See 'Spoiled By Choice'.