Classroom Information
A Rich and Varied School Curriculum
Click on the link to read the Worser Bay School Curriculum Document - updated 2018
Click here for our Positive Education Strategy
Click on the link to read the Charter 2022 and Strategic Plan 2021-2024
Here's our Annual Report for 2021
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
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.
Payments via our Online System
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.
Sports
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 Jenny at sports@worserbay.school.nz.
Check out our Sports Shirts.
Stationery
Once again, we have teamed up with OfficeMax MySchool for ordering school stationery.
Benefits:
Stationery lists online
You receive competitive prices direct from the supplier.
Save time by avoiding busy retail stores.
Free delivery on orders over $50.
Order early & have plenty of time to cover your books.
Your child will start the year with the correct supplies.
Every dollar spent with OfficeMax MySchool will earn us School Rewards.
To order online using your credit card, go to OfficeMax MySchool - Worser Bay.
Simply select your child's Year Group and follow the instructions on the website. You do not need to enter a student ID.
Delivery must be to your home or place of work – not to the school.
If your child already has a book bag, pencil case or head phones (seniors) - these do not require purchasing again. There are additional products available, that’s up to you.
Student Council
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.
Sustainability
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.