Go by bike day

Organised a come to school by bike day in conjunction with Rotorua go to work by bike day. Many children came and as a reward had a cycle through the hills and trees on our park at lunchtime. Since this we have continued having bring your bike days. Also won the Rotorua schools competition.

Maori staff PD

Thanks to our Maori project team we have had a number of staff meetings involving Te Ao Maori and how to integrate into everday practice and also on developing resources and hans on activities. We aslo learnt some great games involving traditional Maori concepts, language and materials.

STEAM

In 2018 I have been involved in leading a STEAM project team which has included; developing and reviewing a strategic plan, leading meetings, liasing with the community, board, staff and tamariki, developing a philosophy around STEAM, developing an intergration into our planning and curriculum, liasing with parties re the building of a STEAM lab, starting to gather resources and delivering staff PD.

I facilitated a staff meeting on STEAM.

PE and Health

In 2018 I have once again been involved with a colleague in leading all aspects of PE and health at our school. This has involved: developing and reviewing a strategic plan, liasing with sport BOP, running and organising in school activities, PD opportunities, organising sports teams and out of school events, maintaining equipment, budgeting, liasing with the community and many other jobs and roles. Was pleasing to get the following from a parent;

Hi Neil and Craig,

I just wanted to share some lovely feedback I received about your organisation of sport.

Amy Turuta, Bayden's Mum, is delighted at the opportunities the kids have had to play this year and she said you have both being doing a great job in organising it all for our kids.

So well done you two.

Kind Regards,

Margot.

Teaching as Inquiry 2018

This year we have had PD around SHARP Reading, this involved attending workshops and then developing the guided reading programme programme and then observing each other. This also informed my teaching as inquiry for 2018, more information of the inquiry can be found at the tab/page above.

Vision and new curriculum

In 2018 we have been involved in creating a new vision and mission including statement for Otonga. This has involved alot of discussion and collaboration and consultation with all whanau, staff, the board and our tamariki. In various staff, team and project meetings the new 'Four winds curriculum' has been developed, this involves the learner at the centre and is informed by tikanga maori and maori values and the child as; an investigator, a leader, a learner, a citizen. This new curriculum allows us to also focus on more student agency and developing 21st century skills and the key competencies needed to be succesful in life.