Click on the link to read:
the Worser Bay School Curriculum Document - updated 2018
our Positive Education Strategy updated 2022.
and our Annual Report for 2023
At Worser Bay School we have a considered approach towards the use of digital technologies. Our thinking is aligned with our whole person well-being philosophy which includes strong messaging around the importance of physical and emotional health. We know a lot more now than we ever did about brain science and this lays the foundation for our decision making.
On the other hand, we also have a responsibility to support our children to be digitally literate and responsible users by the time they leave us in Year 6, as per the New Zealand Curriculum. Therefore, in our junior school you will not see children actively using technology until nearing the end of Year 3 unless there is a need to provide additional support to a learner with assistive technology or engaged in an activity like forming a beat with garageband for a wider musical performance. As children progress through the senior area of the school they increasingly use digital technology as an additional learning tool to enhance learning opportunities, to collaborate, to research and to connect with a wider audience both information sharing and gathering.
Digital Portfolio - Seesaw
We use Seesaw - a digital portfolio. Seesaw gives your child creative tools to capture and reflect on their learning - in real time. Then this work is shared with you. Seesaw will give you a window into each of our classrooms and into your student’s learning process. Our students are excited to use this tool in partnership with the great things our teachers do in their classrooms.
You can download Seesaw’s Parent App for iOS, Android, or use the web to view your student’s learning artefacts. When your child adds new work, you will receive a notification to see, hear and respond to your child’s learning item. You only have access to your own child’s work and all of the content is stored securely.
Home Learning at Worser Bay has a dual purpose. The first is providing some consolidation and support for the learning happening at school and the second, and equally important, is to bring the learning conversation into the home and strengthen the reciprocal relationship between whānau and the school.
There is a similar ‘flavour’ across all spaces but the expectations change as the children move on through our constellations of Autahi, Tautoru and Mahūtonga Matariki, building up their kētes of knowledge. Therefore, it is tailored to the age and stage of the child. Our focus on the key competencies, within the New Zealand Curriculum, complements the different learning areas. Maths, Reading and Writing are common features alongside our strong focus on Positive Education/Wellbeing (our rock) and the integrated curriculum that Inquiry provides.
More specific Home Learning messages can be found on the class spaces' Blog and through Seesaw messaging. If you are unsure, please chat with your Base Group teacher, who can also provide some extra guidance to cater for specific needs.
Worser Bay children tend to lead active social, artsful and sporting lives after 3.00pm and on the weekends. This is all hugely beneficial to the development of ‘the whole child’. Home Learning sits alongside all of the rich variety of experiences they have with you. It should not compete for time with these opportunities.
Our School Karakia was created by our school community, with the majority of ideas about what is important to us coming from the children. The school comes together to begin and end each week with the Karakia, remembering the importance of supporting each other as we learn together. This is also a special time for celebrating and acknowledging achievements.
Please join us for Karakia every Monday and most Fridays (not an Assembly day) just after 9am in the courtyard.
Student-led Assemblies are held at 9.10am approximately every second Friday. Check out the Calendar for the dates and come along!
E tau nei ki runga i a tātou katoa te wairua aroha
Settle upon us the loving spirit
kia ngākaunui tātou ki te hāpai i ā tātou mahi katoa
to enable us to work together
i roto i te hari me te koa me te aroha anō o tētahi ki tētahi
in joy and with respect toward one another
kia pūāwai tātou katoa.
so that we all grow and blossom together.
Whakakahangia tātou kia mahi tahi kia manaaki,
Also strengthen us to work together to nurture and
kia tiaki i tō tātou kura, tō tātou hāpori, ā tō tātou taiao hoki.
look after our school, our school community and our environment.
Mauri ora!
Life force!
Click here to access the Worser Bay School Library Catalogue.
Welcome to the School Library, an integral support for classroom learning at Worser Bay School. Trained student librarians work with our Library Assistant, Christine Cross, to ensure the Library runs smoothly and is adaptive to learning needs and student interests.
On this page, you can view the latest recommended resources that link to current class topics; see what books your child has out and what may be overdue; and keep up to date with useful website links on the Library Research Portal.
10 Key Facts
School starts at 8.55am and finishes at 3pm.
Please Note: If children are playing on school grounds after school finishes, parents are responsible for their supervision and management.
Children usually arrive from 8.30am. (The school cannot take any responsibility for students in the school facilities before 8.30am or after 3.00pm.)
Morning break is at 11.00am - 11.40am and lunch from 1.00pm - 1.40pm.
Student-led Assemblies are usually held at 9.10am every second Friday - come along. Dates are in the Newsletter and on the Calendar. Similarly, please join with us at Karakia every Monday and every other Friday morning just after 9.00am.
Worser Bay School does not have a uniform.
No child is permitted to leave the school grounds during the school day unless this has been arranged between the school and a parent/caregiver.
Children must not bring money, valuable or ’attractive‘ items to school.
Terms 1 and 4, children must wear a hat that shades the face, ears and neck. We also have sunblock in every classroom.
Wheels Day is every Wednesday.
Students are invited to bring scooters and helmets. No helmet, no scoot!
Whetūkairangi - Star Gazer
The school was established in 1897, on a historically significant pā site. The Ngai Tara tribe called the pā Whetu-kairangi (star gazer) to convey the idea it was located on high ground, from which only the stars and sea might be seen.
Our Online Payment system is available from our website wherever you see this logo.
You can make all your school payments at once -
Voluntary Contributions,
School Trips,
Sports, Sports T-shirts,
all events,
Lunches,
Everything!
Once your child starts school, you can register an account in 3 easy steps at Online Payments. If registered, click here.
Our children love giving it a go. Physical Education and general fitness are highly valued at our school. As well as regular fitness and games, our Physical Education programme caters for all ages and stages. We have a range of sports teams that regularly compete outside of school and we embrace interschool competitions. Contact Rose at sports@worserbay.school.nz.
Check out our Sports Shirts.
We’ve teamed up with OfficeMax again to make your back to school shop super easy. And, if you order in December, you’ll go in the draw to WIN $1000 cash prizes.
Your child’s class list will be loaded. Just go to https://www.myschool.co.nz/worserbay. Simply add your details, check that you want everything on the list, then click and confirm — and OfficeMax will get your delivery underway with free delivery on orders over $70*.
Plus, you’ll be helping our school earn school rewards* that we use to purchase much needed extra resources for Worser Bay School.
We encourage you to order early to ensure your child has all their stationery requirements ready to go in plenty of time for the start of Term 1. All items are carefully chosen for a particular function and purpose.
So, go ahead and beat the back to school rush, order today.
Please name all books, coloured pencils and felt pens. The other items go towards class sets for the year.
* Terms & Conditions apply, see myschool.co.nz for details.
The school has very clear expectations regarding behaviour. Aiming for full engagement in learning, an inclusive collaborative culture and strong home/school partnerships certainly goes a long way to minimising negative behaviours.
Modelling and rewarding pro-social behaviour and encouraging a ‘culture of telling’ is first and foremost.
What we do know, however, is that things never go entirely smoothly. We are in the people business and there is always an element of unpredictability! While we always focus on the positive, we also have consequences for negative behaviours. Teachers and your child/ren will be able to explain the ‘colour chart’. Although very rarely utilised, it serves a useful purpose.
It is extremely important to act on negative behaviours quickly. Most incidences occur in the playground, usually out of eyesight or hearing of duty teachers. Please help us by encouraging your child to speak up - then teachers can deal with things at the time. Please don’t wait a month for things to build up. This isn’t helpful.
It is useful to also be mindful of the use of the term ‘bullying’ and be very clear as to what it is. It has 4 defining characteristics:
Bullying is deliberate
Bullying involves a power imbalance
Bullying has an element of repetition
Bullying is harmful
In a nutshell, it is not a word to be thrown around lightly!
Developing resilience in our children, supporting them to have the ability to bounce back, to stand up for themselves, to be flexible, to show courage and make good decisions, to deal with things for themselves, to really understand who they are and what they value can never be underestimated.
Ultimately, we have one value = one rule and that is of respect.
The Student Council at Worser Bay involves all students in Māhutonga Matariki. We want students to be active in developing ideas which enhance the school. There is a practical element to this, with all students working at least once a week in their Student Council groups on selected projects.
Each group is led by a smaller group of leaders; people who have put themselves forward to represent the ideas of the group and take responsibility for realising their plans. The groups currently include ICT, Library, Social Committee, PALs, Gardens, Pest Control and Choir. Students will continue to set up groups and subgroups as the year progresses in response to their perceived needs.
Definition
Sustainability is the ability to be supported, upheld or maintained. In relation to the environment it is something that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. In relation to us, it is engaging in and maintaining practices with cultural, environmental, physical and emotional awareness.
Vision
Worser Bay students are connected and active learners. They know that their actions have an impact on themselves, others and the wider world. They value and respect diversity and also acknowledge the place of Te Ao Māori as part of what makes New Zealand unique. They have a sense of responsibility to uphold the school’s core value of Respect. Respecting themselves, each other and the world around them.
What does this look like in practice?
People work collaboratively, are reflective of our bi-cultural heritage and the diversity of their community. They ensure that students are all involved in sharing decisions in order to become confident, connected, actively involved, life-long learners.
Programmes focus on learning about the interaction between people and the environment and developing attitudes and behaviours for a more sustainable future. Through taking action, students discover why sustainability matters and how to make sustainability a reality in their school and wider community.
Sustainable Practices are part of school culture instigated by students and staff to make a more resilient community for the future.
A Place is created where students and their community work together willingly to reduce their impact on the planet for future generations to enjoy the diverse and beautiful world we live in.
Sustainability is a key principle in the New Zealand Curriculum and an area we have been building up over the last couple of years. It's so much more than purely environmental issues.
People, place, culture, language, sharing, growing, preparing, cooking, eating and learning together, are vital components as we move towards achieving the vision. The gardens, composting, worm farm, beach clean ups, 'down the bank' cleanups, cooking opportunities around the corner, have all been part of this wider outdoor learning/sustainability plan. Insect mounds and weta hotels shouldn't be too far off.
If you are keen to get involved, please contact John in Māhutonga Matariki.