Starting School

Preparing your child

• Speak positively about your experiences at school
• Make positive comments about things they will do at school
• Visit the school on a weekend to walk around the grounds and play on the playground without the children.
• Three months before your child is to start, contact the school to let them know your child will be coming. They will give you enrolment forms to complete and advice which certificates the school needs to see.



Closer to the date:

• Contact school to make dates to visit the New Entrant classroom. Have at least 2 visits. Stay with your child. Some children will benefit from shorter more numerous visits.
• Ask for a stationery list and buy the books ready for the first day at school.
• Ensure your child knows where the toilets are.
• Let the teacher know of any allergies, serious health issues, phobias.



Parents as first teachers

You can do a tremendous amount to ensure your child to be a keen learner with a positive attitude to school.
Can your child……..
• Write their name correctly using lower case letters and a capital for the initial letter?
• Hold a pencil correctly?
• Say the names & some sounds of the letters of the alphabet [not just chant/ sing the alphabet.
• Listen to stories every day.
• Show an interest in learning
• Use the words him and her correctly?
• Answer in sentences.
•
• Count to 10 or 20?
• Count out sets of 1-10 objects
• Recognise and write some numbers?
• Recognise the basic shapes
• Know their colours
• Use scissors reasonably well
• Share their toys, take turns,


Google ‘starting school ‘ for a range of excellent websites giving similar advice to the above.


And once your child has started school we also provide…

A Reading Recovery Programme

One to one instruction for children with learning difficulties

Specialist withdrawal programmes

Accelerated and differential learning programmes

International Schools English and Mathematics Competitions

Calf club and home garden programmes

Participation in interschool sports and academic competitions

A school dramatic production & choir in alternate years

Camps and field studies as part of our outdoor education programme

Science Fair in our senior School

Otago Maths Challenge

A venue for private music tuition

A values education programme

Please visit http://matarauschool.wikispaces.com/Prospectus for more information.
 


Matarau School .. Year 7 and 8 .. 2011

There are plenty of views out there on what really makes a difference to student learning.

Did you know that ground breaking research has proven what informed teachers and parents have known all along ..

.. that the professional who stands at the front of your child’s class each day will have a bigger impact than any almost any other factor.

.. Is that teacher fully planned and prepared for each teaching day?
.. What is the quality of their relationship with their students?
.. Do students receive quality feedback on their work?
.. Are students shown how they can improve?
.. Are instructions clear?
.. Is the teacher sensitive to their specific learning needs?
.. Are programmes based on clear goals and high expectations?
.. Do these programmes build the skills required for success at secondary school and beyond?

Did you know that there is a year 7 and 8 programme on offer in the Whangarei area which integrates these crucial elements to assure students of personal success .. Matarau School has low class numbers (low twenties per class) .. diverse learning, social and sporting opportunities .. a safe and supportive learning environment .. a proven track record of success .. a bus service to and from Kamo .. and no private school fees!

 

Matarau School

Prospectus
YEARS 7 & 8


To be valued
To know your worth
To make choices
To have fun

Introduction

While fully a part of the school we also recognise that the needs of year 7 and 8 children are in some respects unique. We make specific provision for those needs within specially targetted and academically rigorous programmes
This prospectus endeavours to highlight some of the many advantages of year 7 and 8 education at Matarau School. It is by no means exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the schools general prospectus.
Year 7 & 8s and the full primary school ….

Our year 7 and 8 programme is based on the national curriculum. This means that the basic framework for curriculum delivery is prescribed by the Ministry of Education (and audited by the Education Review Office) to ensure that our year 7 and 8 children have programmes not dissimilar to year 7 and 8 children in secondary, area or intermediate schools. In fact it is not uncommon for children in full primary schools to be operating at a higher instructional level than their counterparts in larger schools.


Advantages of a full Primary School

• Education within a safe rural environment comparatively free from the pressures and diversions of a large urban school
• Opportunities to develop leadership attributes as school seniors
• Education in an environment where children feel safe and where individual children are valued for their unique disposition and talents
• Education in a school where these children are already well known by staff. This aids in the quick transfer of relevant information to the receiving teacher. Skills and interests are already known and any potential problems can be dealt with quickly.
• Education within a peer group large enough to develop an age appropriate network of friends but not so large as to generate many of the problems associated with a large number of early adolescents
• Education within an environment which is closely monitored.

In more specific terms the year 7 and 8 programme at Matarau School offers

• Class numbers substantially lower than in most urban schools. Class numbers are usually in the low twenties enabling more individualised instruction and better access to learning resources.
• Specialist teaching in Technology (off site), art and music. This ensures senior staff have the opportunity to specialise in areas of strength (as occurs in larger schools) and accustoms children to the experience of multiple teachers.
• Instruction in goal setting, time management, study skills and test technique
• Participation in leadership and community services programmes
• Excellent classroom discipline ensuring lessons occur without disruption in a fashion most conducive to effective learning
• Specific programmes tailored for children ages 11 to 13. These include advanced study skills and thinking skills programmes
• Numerous opportunities for extension including ..
.. Science fair / Action learning
.. DeBono Cort Thinking Programme
.. Otago Maths Challenge
.. Australian Schools English and Maths Competitions
.. A variety of withdrawal and extension programmes
• Opportunities for individualised monitoring and instruction in areas of need
• Instruction in use of computers and associated technologies
• Excellent outdoor education and sports programmes
• Secondary school bridging programmes which ensure the best possible preparation for secondary school.
• Staff who are highly accessible and committed to working in close partnership with parents
• A firm commitment to teaching core basic skills in English & Maths
• Opportunities to develop skills in areas of interest

The step to secondary school

We take seriously our responsibility to prepare our seniors for secondary school. We have regular liaison with local secondary schools to help ensure that our seniors are prepared academically and socially for this important step. We undertake an extensive programme of preparation for secondary school entry tests and have consistently achieved grade averages well above average overall entry levels.

Significant achievements of our Year 7 and 8s
• Excellent year 9 class placements
• A disproportionately high number of former pupils have gone on to achieve exceptionally well in their respective secondary schools
• Exceptional achievements in regional and national science fairs including two national winners and more individual prizes proportionate to our size than any other school
• Exceptional achievement in Australian Schools English and Mathematics Competitions

Physical Resources
• Exceptionally well resourced classrooms
• School Band
• 3 modern computers per room, computerised library issues and cataloguing systems, specialist computer suite
• School hall / gymnasium