Address: 282 Victoria Avenue, Remuera, Auckland | Telephone: (09) 520 0602
E-mail: [email protected] | web: www.victoriaave.com
Dear Parents,
There are so many books about personality types on the market. There are the Facebook posts about personality types – you know, the ones where you find out what kind of animal you are, with the results indicating your personality type – a golden retriever (gentle, loyal), bulldog (aggressive, feisty), chihuahua (punch above your weight). There are the established personality tests – Myers Briggs. Everywhere, people are trying to learn how their personality types interact with others and what is the best way to connect with different personalities.
I came across an article in Teachers Matter, Issue 45, called Teaching to Temperament. Celebrating our Feisty and Gentle Students – Maggie Dent.
This article struck a chord as I deal with both feisty and gentle students. The author calls them ‘roosters’ and ‘lambs’. Dent says that roosters, strong feisty children can be yearning to have more power and influence and often feel they have a strong sense of their self-importance. They like to rule the chook yard! It is exhausting for teachers who have a number of roosters in the class. Typical roosters tend to be: independent, stubborn, argumentative, selfish, power-driven, self-important, dislike sharing, impatient and impulsive, fast learners, energetic, entertaining, adventurous.
Lambs are gentle, caring, quieter children, more accommodating and content with life. Typical lambs tend to be: sensitive to discipline, tire easily, dislike loud noises, like solo time, often withdrawn tend to be shy, struggle with large social situations, are patient, prefer routines, are easy going.
We do not want to turn roosters into lambs or lambs into roosters. We don’t value one animal over another, we recognise their differences and try to put the optimum conditions into a classroom in order that both rooster and lambs have a chance to shine. Dent says that our job as parents and educators is to help put a little bit of rooster into their lamb and a little bit of lamb into their rooster!
In the classroom we can help build empathy and understanding of each other, acknowledging that we are all different. We try to design activities that encourage listening, looking, concentrating, turn taking and respect. Roosters need to learn to sit quietly and listen as others take turns in talking and lambs are encouraged to be brave and share their ideas with the class.
Obviously, across a continuum, all personalities have a little bit of rooster and a little bit of lamb in them. Trying to understand where each child sits is helpful as we try to cater for all learners.
Speaking from experience though, lots of roosters in a class was exhausting but there was never a dull moment which I loved!
Year 6 Camp
I visited the year 6 camp at Lakewood Lodge in Huntly last week. What a fantastic place, with a number of challenging activities well suited for this age group- flying fox, rock climbing wall, horse riding, kayaking, low ropes, co-operative activities, archery. I was at the rock climbing wall and was so impressed by the perseverance one of the girls showed. She was struggling low down on the wall and was getting frustrated and I thought she was going to give up. Her team mates were so encouraging, and that along with her absolute determination to succeed meant that she regrouped and ended up at the top of the wall. This epitomises the camp experience for children; challenging and rewarding.
Huge thanks to the parents who transported children as well as those wonderful parents who stayed at the camp supporting the teachers and the children. Thanks too, to our wonderful teachers who made the experience such a great one for the children (and were exhausted on Friday night!).
Covid-19 (coronavirus) Update from Ministry of Education as at 5 March
As you will know the Ministry of Health’s Director-General announced the second confirmed case of COVID-19 in New Zealand.
The parent of two students – one at Westlake Boys High and one at Westlake Girls High – has been confirmed with coronavirus (COVID-19). While this is concerning for everyone, there is no risk to students, staff or others at the schools. We want to reassure you that we will continue to update you with the latest information. Some people have been asking when a school might close. The answer is that we are a very long way from that situation. At this stage, there is no reason that children should not be going to school. Our Directors of Education will be discussing some key notification and planning protocols with the local medical officers of Health over the next day or so – we will be working very closely together as the situation evolves. Today in Auckland was a very good example of the speed with which we can mobilise to support you if and when it may be needed. A decision to close a school if that became necessary would be made by the local medical Officers of Health. As for the current situation in Auckland – there is no risk to students or staff in either of the schools. The two students have not been infectious while they have been at school, and are not considered infectious now. The letter that both schools sent to their parents explains this, you can read a copy here: Auckland Regional Public Health Service. In the meantime, we can provide you some further facts from the World Health Organization. · Evidence from China shows that only 1% of reported cases do not have symptoms, and most of those cases develop symptoms within 2 days. · Young people 18 years and under represent less than 2.4 per cent of those who have contracted the virus. · From the data we have so far, COVID-19 does not transmit as efficiently as influenza. It continues to remain that the best thing to do is to practice good preventative measures, particularly good hygiene: · Washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before and after eating as well as after attending the toilet · Covering coughs and sneezes with clean tissues or with an elbow · Putting used tissues in the bin · Encouraging staff and students to stay home if they are unwell |
Kind regards
Janice Adamson
DRAMA/SPEECH LESSONS: Click here for information
MUSIC LESSONS: Click here for information on Musiqhub music lessons
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:
FOR TERM 1 2020
Click here for details on these activities.
Also:
Click here for After School and Holiday Community Based Programmes and Activities for 202
What’s Ahead?
Please click here to view our online calendar
IMPORTANT DATES AND TIMES
School Times
School starts: 8.50am
Interval: 10.30-10.50am
Lunch: 12.30-1.25pm
School finishes: 3.00pm
Term Dates for 2020
Term 1: Tuesday 4 February to Thursday 9 April 2020
~ Waitangi Day Thursday 6 February ’20
~ Good Friday 10 April
~ Easter Monday 13 April
~ Easter Tuesday 14 April
~ ANZAC Day Monday 27 April
Term 2: Tuesday 28 April to Friday 3 July 2020
~ Queen’s Birthday Monday 1 June ’20
Term 3: Monday 20 July to Friday 25 Sept 2020
Term 4: Monday 12 October to Wednesday 16 December 2020
~ Labour Day Monday 26 October ’20
Stationery Sales
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 8.30-8.45am
Uniform Shop
– half way up dragon drive
OPEN FRIDAYS only: 8.15-8.45am
Orders and payments for uniform can be made online on our website ~ Click here
Lunch Orders
1. ‘Daily Lunch and Catering’ ordered through ezlunch: Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays – ONLINE ORDERS ONLY
Click here for ezlunch and Subway menus.
Join ezlunch today and Place an order Sushi is available through Daily Lunch and Catering
2. Subway: ordered through ezLUNCH: – ONLINE ORDERS ONLY
Click here for ezlunch and Subway menus.
Join ezlunch today and Place an order
School Dental Service
8b Ngaio St Orakei Ph 520 0603.
The dental team will be posting letters to all new entrants to our school as required.
Remember to ‘like’ Victoria Avenue School on Facebook.
NIT NIGHT TONIGHT!!
PLEASE, PLEASE CHECK FOR NITS – a number of classes have reported nits and if your infected child is not treated then many others will be!
Here is a link from NZ Health for info and treatment.
http://www.health.govt.nz/your-health/conditions-and-treatments/diseases-and-illnesses/head-lice
To download the app for free on iPhone or Android click this link:
http://victoriaave.apps.school.nz/share/
House Relays…
Top Schools
On Sunday, some children from middle and senior school attended the 2020 Top Schools event. We had a fantastic day, with all children who attended showing great team spirit and sportsmanship throughout. Thanks to those parents who came to support the day, and a special shout out to the Y5 team who placed second in the senior tournament.