Newsletter 2nd March, 2005 - Term 1 - No5
School Targets Attendance Tok. Int. Milo Club Cricket
Waikato Int. Schools' Swimming School Photographs Settling In Reports
Interruptions to Classes Complaints & Queries Policy Relief Cleaner Vacancy
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Dear Parents / Caregivers

School Targets

All students have carried out a range of tests in the first four weeks of the year.  Some of these tests are a part of the Schools Planning and Reporting requirements, which involves “targets”.  The targets are aspects of learning that classroom teachers will focus on so that children may improve.  The tests at the beginning of the year let us know the achievement levels of each child as well as particular skills and knowledge the teachers need to work on.

All of the targets are in literacy and numeracy as this is the area parents have told us they want us to focus our teaching on so that students have the skills and knowledge to succeed at High School.

Our targets indicate the level of achievement we want the students to reach as a school or group within the school, e.g. Year 7 students, boys, etc.  Last year we were able to achieve the majority of the targets.  The ones we did not meet we have analysed to discover why.  This enables us to make changes to our teaching methods, programmes or targets.

In December of last year we provided all parents with a summary of our target results.  Any parents of this year’s Year 7 students who would like to see our results from the end of last year, may contact the office for a copy.

The target results are a requirement of our school’s audit and are forwarded to the Ministry of Education.

We have also discovered if all teachers’ focus on particular learning areas, e.g. reading, then we can make a marked difference in students learning.

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Attendance

In a newsletter two weeks ago, I printed some suggestions on how parents can help their children succeed at school.  One of the points was, attend school regularly.  This is an important factor in student learning.  Unfortunately some parents don’t always realise how important it is.  Unless a student is sick or there is a family bereavement, students must attend school.  Reasons such as shopping, looking after younger brothers or sisters, visiting relatives, it is too wet or cold, etc, are not acceptable.

We carry out roll checks every morning and parents are contacted if we are not informed of the reason for the absence.  If we are unable to contact parents the Tokoroa Truancy Service visits the homes.

We see attendance at school as extremely important.  If a child is away for a day, it is not only the learning that occurs on that day they miss out on, but often learning on subsequent days.

We have incentive awards for regular attendance.  This includes attendance pens and end of term attendance certificates.

The Raukawa Trust Board Education Initiative is also looking at improving attendance of Maori students as they see this as one of the reasons for lower achievement levels of Maori students compared with some other ethnic groups.  I would like to thank parents who contact the school when their child is absent. We request all parents to do this.

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Tokoroa Intermediate Milo Club Cricket

A combined school team (boys and girls) played against Putaruru and recorded their first win.  All of the team played well in their first competition game.

Results: Putaruru 79 off 28 overs and Tokoroa 80 for 7 wickets off 19 overs.  Stephen Harris with 32 runs and Jason Boyce with 12 runs were the pick of the batters.  Morgan Pourau with 2 wickets for 6 runs off 5 overs and Jake Belfield with 2 wickets for 7 runs off 5 overs were the pick of the bowlers.

Thank you to Mark Pourau and Cathy MacPherson for organising these games and coaching and managing.

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Waikato Intermediate Schools' Swimming Competition

Despite the rain the swimming sports proceeded. Our students competed very successfully.
As we are still waiting for the confirmed results, these are unofficial placings -

  • Kamryn Brown, 50m freestyle, senior boys, 1st
  • Jared Wilson, 50m freestyle, junior boys, 1st.
  • Tayjana Brown, 50m breast stroke, junior girls, 2nd
  • Senior and junior girls, 4 x 50m mixed relay team, 2nd
Thank you to the parents who supported our team on the day.

Jane Ritchie
TIC Waikato Intermediate School Swimming Competition

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School Photographs

These will be taken on Friday, 11th March.  This includes individual and class photographs.  Envelopes are being sent out today and provide most of the information required.

Some important points regarding photographs are:

  • The correct money must be placed in the envelope supplied and details filled out (the school does not handle the money so change cannot be given).
  • Cheques must be made out to Photolife Studios Ltd.
  • Envelopes with money must be into the school by 8:50 a.m. on Friday, 11th March.
  • Children will only be photographed together (for family photos) if they both attend Tokoroa Intermediate School.

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Settling-In Reports

These will be sent home with students to all parents next Thursday, 10th March.  There will be more information in next week’s newsletter on Settling in Reports.

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Interruptions to Classes

Parents / guardians arriving at school with student’s phys-ed gear, lunches, etc, are asked to please leave them at the office for collection unless urgent.  This will save interrupting your child’s class.

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Complaints & Queries Policy

Many parents have queries and concerns and these are usually handled amicably.  We encourage parents to contact the school and talk with the teacher concerned if there is a concern or query.  We have discovered that most queries and concerns involve a misunderstanding or lack of communication.  Some concerns and queries are handled with meetings between parents and the teacher and Senior Teacher or Deputy Principal.  Again we request parents to contact the teacher to organise a meeting.  If it is a complaint against a teacher, policy or programme the complaint must be in writing, signed and dated.  Such complaints must be directed to the Principal unless the complaint is against the Principal.  Such complaints should be addressed to the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees.  In this case parents will be given a written response to their complaint.

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Relief Cleaner Vacancy

Our school has a vacant position for a relief cleaner.  We have six cleaners and from time to time we need a relief cleaner to cover sickness, etc.  Work would involve cleaning classrooms from 3:10 p.m. to 5:50 p.m. approximately.  This position may lead onto permanent work as and when a vacancy occurs.  Please phone Brian Fisher, Deputy Principal, if interested.

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Warren Long
PRINCIPAL

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