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It is ironic that the day Myross Bush School sends home the exciting news that we are working to lower our class sizes by creating an 8th classroom next term the government announces a revised staffing formula for 2013 that will see every school affected - some dramatically - which will make it that much harder for us to sustain the structure that we need to give every learner the best possible teaching and learning environment. The reasoning given is that the quality of the teacher is more important than the quantity of teachers. Quality teachers are an absolute necessity, however, you can't argue one side of the coin without considering the impact of the number they deal with each day.

Large classes were the norm in the 1950s and 60s but todays classes are closer to 30 (and we want to lower that) than 50 and the way that they are managed is significantly different. In the past teaching was done as 'chalk and talk' from the front of the room and kids assessed with exams twice a year. But teachers today are expected to see their

students as individuals with individual needs, learning styles and challenges and adapt their teaching accordingly. They are expected to be able to give good and frequent individual feedback on progress and feed forward what students need to be working on to develop their learning. Today's teachers are expected to be super-teachers - to take a class of 30 or so students and deliver increasingly individualised education programmes with much more emphasis on assessment and feedback to students and parents.

Following is an example of how this staffing formula change would look in our local context: Our forecasts for 2013 shows our staffing will drop by .3 of a teacher. Currently our specialist learning support is both funded by the school with teacher aide support and specialist teacher support which is funded by government provided staffing. Our specialist teacher hours equate to 13.5 hours a week, or 2.7 a day. If we take off the staffing we could lose that would mean a drop down to 6.5 hours a week, or 1.3 hours a day - effectively halving

what we do now with that specialist teacher. This includes things like Reading Recovery, Maths support and special needs support. Our choices to therefore keep the resource at the level we currently need would be to either, have bigger classes, little or no student support, try to fund it all from the actual school operating grant (which takes away from other curriculum support), or fundraise for it (that is ask parents for more when already as a Decile 10 school our parents are very supportive monetary wise of what we do).

This isn't good enough. Our school and teaching staff, like in other public schools do a great job. Let's give them the resources and support to ensure every kid is a champion learner. Instead of helping and resourcing teachers to do this job the current Government, with this policy direction, is making it harder.

RegardsTim LovelockPrincipal

Myross Bush SchoolNewsletterFind out more at www.myrossbush.school.nz

Crowded classrooms where the teacher barely moved from the front of the class were once the norm in New Zealand schools.

Cross Country Top Ten results:  5 Yr G 1st Makayla Koppert 6th Hailey Monaghan6 Yr G 7th Lily McAra 10th Eilish Hegan7 Yr G 2nd Bailey Pike 6th Ingrid Patterson8 Yr G 2nd Hannah Symon 3rd Lucy McKee 4th Milly McKenzie9 Yr G 1st Ella Wylie 3rd Eilish McLeod 4th Hannah Smith 6th Emily Hay10 Yr G 4th Katie Jukes11 Yr G 3rd Jaidene Marshall 6th Sophie Sincalir 7th Gabby Schuck 9th Brooke King

5 Yr B 1st Robson McKee 2nd Kaedin de Garnham 3rd Caleb Devery 7th Corban Dixon 9th Ollie Davis6 Yr B 6th Logan Phillips7 Yr B 1st Riley Smith 6th Aiden McKenzie 7th Lachlan McCorkindale8 Yr B 4th Thomas Lemin 5th Aidan McAra 6th Adam Stevens 7th Jayden Haywood 9th Hayden Elliotte9 Yr B 2nd Blake Mitchell 10th Blake Condon10 Yr B 5th Benjamin Symon 6th Bradley Hay 9th Louis Patterson11 Yr B 1st Jack Wilcox 2nd Thomas Wilcox 4th Ben Wylie 8th Logan Hunter

Sports Notices:Southern Zone Annual Moffett Cup Competition: Will be held Friday Aug 3rd for Year 3 - 6 pupils. A notice will circulate round the school asking children what they want to play.Y3/4 play either tackle or ripper rugby, Yr 5/6 play tackle and there is also netball for both boys and girls mixed teams.

Sports Results:Hockey: MB Matrix v Middle Won 5-0POD Lucy McKeeMB Missiles v Waihopai Won 4-0POD Caleb DeveryMB Machines v ? Draw 3-3POD Olivia CooperMB Movers v Otatara Won 2-0POD Emma Henderson

NetballMB Shooters v Otatara lost 5 – 3POD Sophie SinclairWhat a fantastic 1st game for theseason. Everyone played so well! MB Hotshots lost to St Teresas Bluff 0-4 POD's Rose Ellenden & Katie Heads.MBFerns v Waverly Won 8-3POD Amy Marwick

Here's a shot of Kaedin, Ajay, Robson, Caleb, Corban, Finn, Ollie and Ricky, our 5 year old boys just before their race at Cross Country - don't they look excited? Well done to everyone for their effort, enthusiasm and participation on the day!

DAVID WHITE BUILDINGExperienced Qualified Builder of:• New Homes •Residential Extensions and Renovations• Farm Sheds etc... •Phone 0274351490 or A/H 2304984

School News:Storyteller: Once again Myross Bush is lucky enough to host the internationally-renowned Diane Ferlatte, the amazing African-American storyteller. We will be having some children from Waihopai School and Makarewa School visit with us to share this great experience - next Tuesday afternoon, 5 June from 1.30 - 2.30.Diane will also be holding a family storytelling session at the Invercargill Public Library on Saturday 9 June, 11 am - 12 noon. Don't miss this experience - we only get storytellers of this calibre coming to little old Invercargill because of their friendship with Elizabeth Miller - most people in New Zealand do not get this opportunity!!

Wanted: some wonderful person to supervise in the library Friday lunch-times 12.45 - 1.15. This is not at all onerous! Please talk with Mrs FM if you would be interested in this. Thanks.

Library: Several things to keep in mind:- please send library books back to school promptly so that we do not have to spend a lot of time chasing overdues- do check the library books your child brings home are suitable for them - teachers do check issues but our student librarians do not always know what is

appropriate for different levels, and you know your child better than any one else - what is suitable for one child may not be ok for another- we have a small but select section of

parent-teacher books on a variety of topics such as parenting, bullying, supporting learning - feel free to come look at these and we can set up a barcode for parents so that these books can be taken home (and barcodes for preschoolers, too). Talk to Mrs FM about this.

School Accounts: Term 1 and 2 accounts have been issued today and are due for payment on Wednesday the 20th of June. If you have any queries regarding your account, please contact Irene or Cristy in the office between 8.30am and 1pm. Thank you.

Health: Impetigo (School Sores): We have been notified of a case of school sores. Be on the look out for scabby sores on exposed parts of the body which is spread by direct contact with discharge from infected skin. Time between exposure and sickness - usualy 7-10 days. Infectious for 24 hours after treatment with antibiotics has started or until sores are healed. Exclusion from school, kindi etc - until 24 hours after treatment has started or as advised by GP or Public Health Nurse.

Week 6 Term 2MANUKA were stars at the cross country on Friday. We had 2 trophies for 1sts in the 5 year old race - Robson and Makayla, and lots of other great placings with everyone putting in a big effort to finish. Check out our blog for some photos. I have had lots of positive feedback from parents who are enjoying hearing about our inquiry this term - the children are really excited to learn about Maori culture and what makes us unique as a country. It has been very rewarding seeing the change in thinking and understanding that is happening.

KOWHAI had a great time at the cross country on Friday. Everyone showed perseverance during the race, and we were very proud of our efforts at the end! We welcome Miss vant' Wout on her posting this week. She will be with us for three whole weeks. We had an exciting time today with our visit from some pupils from Arowhenua School. It was great to immerse ourselves in the special part of New Zealand culture we have been learning so much about. We experienced new things, like a formal Powhiri (welcoming ceremony) and we learned to hongi! Look out for some photo's on our blog - it's very exciting when someone writes a comment.

RIMU Room Rimu enjoyed cross country on Friday.• It was fun because I was trying my best - Eilish • It was fun because I came 29th - Magnus• It was cool because I came 12th - Cody• When Ollie was upset I cheered him up by saying 'go Ollie' - Jack• My favourite part was when Dad came to see me run the race - Lachie• My favourite part was when I ran the race because I got to run - Addisyn.

RATA This Friday Rata are excited to be on assembly duty and would love to have you join us. If the children have a talking part they will bring their script home to practise on Thursday. The Math's-a-thon homework starts today. Our normal math's homework will not continue during this time.

MIRO Cross Country Celebrations!• I enjoyed coming third because I hooked in behind Hannah and stayed behind her. Lucy• Cross Country was fun and I am proud that I got second. I was very puffed at the end. Bailey•I ran my heart out and I came ninth. Hayden

Good luck to Holly, Daniel, Olivia and Brock who are representing Myross Bush in the Southspell competition tonight.And thank you to Danja for being our reserve team member. I'm sure they will do us proud.Have an enjoyable long weekend.

TOTARA Cross Country • We had to run two paddocks and I came 5th! Aidan• Cross country was really fun and we all had a great time! Jessica• I was very nervous at the start of the race but then I got the hang of it and enjoyed my run. Emma• I came 5th in the 10 year old boys, I was proud to be the first Myross Bush kid to cross the line. Ben S• Some people had to run 2 km! Paige

KAURI are starting our film projects this week. This week is storyboarding and choosing which medium we'll be using. We're hoping to invite all of you to 'film festival' at the end of term to show you what we've created.We're also collecting plastic milk bottles (cleaned) to create an inside 'bottle bivy' by the holidays. We'd love to have you send those along to the class and we'll be storing them in the old PE shed. Thanks in advance!

Assembly Duty: Rata

Food Wrap Reminder:The office staff and aviary committee are running the food wrap fundraiser again for the aviary seed. You should have received a pink order form last week with your newsletter and there are spare copies at the office. All orders and money are due back at the office by 9am tomorrow. Thank you for your support.

Friends of the School: This term the Friends of the School are running a facts-a-thon to encourage the children to develop their numeracy skills. The funds raised will be used as part of the development of our new classroom, which gets underway in Term 3. Today you will receive a sponsorship card and and a letter explaining the process for the facts-a-thon.

Community:Good Luck: to Samantha Koppert who is singing in the Junior Section at the Gold Guitar Awards this weekend.

Gladstone Tyres and Mags: Get the school rewarded - $5 back to the school on every tyre purchase - drop a copy of your invoice into the school.

Roslyn Bush Playcentre Fundraiser: - Andrew Newton world famous Hypnotist, Civic Theatre Invercargill, Wednesday 6 June 2012, 7.30pm, tickets $20.00. For Tickets /More Info Contact Sheena Smith 230 4884 fro

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May June July

30th Wed TonightFriends of the School at Buster Crabb 7.30pm. RSVP to Kimberly 2304342

4th Mon

Queen’s Birthday

16 Mon

Term 3 begins

31st Thurs TomorrowOrders & money due in at 9am for Aviary Food Wrap Fundraiser

15th Fri

Southland Primary Schools Cross Country

3rd August will be Moffett Cup.

20th Wed

School account payment due

22nd Fri

Facts-a-thon Test Day

26th Tues

Board of Trustees Meeting 7.30pm

29 Fri

Term 2 last day

Don’t forget... • Friends of the School meet tonight at Buster Crabb 7.30pm

• Food Wrap orders due in tomorrow

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