21 October 2022

Nau mai haere mai, welcome to a new term, a new term full of possibility!


After the Christchurch Earthquake the term 'Volunteer Army' started to become more of a common saying in our world. I was thinking about this over the break and, whilst the word 'army' tends to bring up more defence force type images in my head, I suppose it's more globally understood than, say, a 'skulk of foxes' (which was in the 5 minute quiz recently!).


So, sticking with the idea of a group of people all volunteering, a group with most likely much more in common than just Worser Bay School but a group all working together for the benefit of others and ultimately all children. This has become especially relevant since the Educational Reforms that culminated in the creation of 'Tomorrows Schools' back in the 1980s. NZ schools have more and more to rely so heavily on the goodwill, camaraderie and willingness of whānau to contribute.


Tomorrows Schools = Community Schools.


I'm firstly talking here about just getting stuck in! Whether this be sizzling sausages, whipping up pizzas, collecting lost property, taking sports teams, to organising big events - like the upcoming SCHOOL FAIR and all the bits a bit more behind the scenes - like our ParentNet comms and networking team or being that extra pair of hands in the classroom. Schools like us seem likely to have to keep relying on communities too. You may have heard in the news the changes from the decile system to the equity index. This big and complex piece of work has culminated in no change in funding for us.


As well as challenges of rallying the 'troops' at times due to just 'life stuff', the benefits of knowing and working closely with our parent community is a no brainer in doing the best for the children, for truly getting a better understanding of situations, desires, values, needs - basically all the human-ness!


As you will have seen in the Dates to Diary, if you are feeling unloved, we can give you many opportunities this term! It's interesting when I chat with colleagues, we all comment about how some of our whānau haven't had the ability to get to grips with this side of school life starting during the pandemic. Teachers, too, spent quite some months enclosed on school grounds with a wave at the gate.... and we in Wellington had it pretty good compared to others.


AND, it's time to crank up the engines and get that lively Worser Bay spirit back to full capacity. As I type, we have 16 Year 6 students and their parents and teacher, John, tramping their way for an overnight at Turere Lodge. That's a big win for ticking Positive Education boxes:

  • Positive Engagement

  • Positive Purpose

  • Positive Health

  • Positive Relationships

  • Positive Emotions

  • and let's hope Positive Accomplishment (we will know tomorrow!)!

Skulking about? No way!


Enjoy the long weekend and see you on Wednesday next week.