Classroom Information

A Rich and Varied School Curriculum

Click on the link to read:

 the Worser Bay School Curriculum Document - updated 2018

our Positive Education Strategy  updated 2022.

the Strategic Plan 2024-2026

and our Annual Report for 2022

Student Behaviour

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.

Digital Technology at School 

Instructions for parents*

• • Please read our guidelines carefully. If there are any points you would like to discuss with the school, let your child's Base Group teacher know as soon as possible.

  • The Worser Bay School Acceptable Use of Technologies Agreement was developed with the students, based on the school ‘rule’, the value of respect and learning about digital citizenship and safety on the net. WBS Cybersafety Guidelines and Agreement

  • The guidelines and agreement have been discussed at school in a way that is age appropriate. Please reinforce the messages and go through this information again at home.

  • Please sign the agreement and return it to the school. The other information can be kept at home for your future reference.

  • Starting in 2015, senior students (Years 4-6) will be able to bring a digital device to school to assist their learning. This is NOT compulsory. Students can use their own devices throughout the day for collaborative learning, web-based research and applications, including using Google Apps for Education. BYOD Agreement

*The term ‘parent’ used throughout this document also refers to legal guardians and caregivers.

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.  

Homework/Home Learning

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. 

Karakia and Student-led Assembly

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 usually held at 9.10am every second Friday. Check out the Calendar for the dates and come along!

Our School Karakia

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!

Library

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.

Need to Know

10 Key Facts

• 1. 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.

  2. 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.)

  3. Morning break is at 11.00am - 11.40am and lunch from 1.00pm - 1.40pm.

  4. 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.

  5. Worser Bay School does not have a uniform.

  6. 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.

  7. Children must not bring money, valuable or ’attractive‘ items to school.

  8. Terms 1 and 4, children must wear a hat that shades the face, ears and neck. We also have sunblock in every classroom.

  9. Wheels Day is every Wednesday.

  10. 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.

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