26 November 2021

This is the time of year we are well into the next and yet there are still a number of things to complete to finish well. I always like to say we rev up to the end before we calm down! Staff members know we can't use the 'T' word here. The one that means not full of energy. If words create worlds.... we at least need to try and trick ourselves into it!

We have some really exciting plans for next year around engagement and visual literacy. You may have seen the notice board accepting a raft of children's musings. This is the appetiser!

Each year the teachers need to start from the children and design around them.

Who are they? What are their needs? What are their strengths, interests and passions?

What is their pattern of achievement to date? What will success look like for them?

And then who are the staff and what are their experiences, skills and strengths - where is the stretch? For children and staff.

This is the process we are going through at the moment so we can start 2022 with a hiss and a roar!

Next week, we are sharing our Student Achievement Analysis in Reading, Writing and Maths with the Board. This is at a high level around cohorts, it doesn't delve into any individuals or names. After this, we will be able to share it with you. In looking at this and now having read all of the Progress Reports, I can see some wonderful positive shifts happening. Some of you have had your meetings this week.

We know we have challenges too - especially regarding mainly some of our boys engaged in Literacy..... if the appetiser of the noticeboard is an indication of interest and a sense of audience becoming greater - then I surely will be looking forward to the main course. Dessert? Cheese Board.....? Can't wait to see where the children go with this next.

My mantra for 2022 is "It's not about tweaking or little changes - it's about shaking things up and making a leap."

PS. Literally, as the Newsletter was travelling to your inboxes, an email from a past pupil, Hunter, was travelling into ours. It was serendipity at work as it's a great example of what I was talking about last week.

"Yesterday at Scots prize giving I was announced as a Prefect - I will be Head of Senior School for 2022, which is effectively Deputy Head Boy.

I was keen to share this with you all, since you have all played a very important part in my life.  It was at Worser Bay that I was given the opportunity to speak in front of others and share my ideas in a very supportive and encouraging environment. I learnt so many important skills at Worser Bay which set me up well when I headed to Scots.

I am very proud to call myself a Worser Bay Old Boy."

This week we also heard that Alex, now Year 9 at Rongotai College, came First in the Year 9 Niwa Science and Technology Fair. His project was Let's get static!

How cool!