Library Survey for Springston School Parents

The various Focus Groups at school have been busy recently, gathering data from the community to help decide directions on matters relating to the use of ICT, school environment / playground developments, and now the future direction of our Library.

We appreciate your input, so please help us with this one further survey. This survey is for Springston School parents only.

You can access the survey at Library Survey for Springston School Parents. Thank you.

We're into Lego Robotics!

Congratulations to the 9 students who have been successful in getting into our first ever Robotics Team.

Oliver G
Freddie G
Alice T
Jake D
Caitlyn R
Jasmine T
Jack M
Annabelle B
Ethan K

Four of these students will be chosen to take part in the RoboCup Rescue in August, and the whole team hopes to take part in the First Lego League (FLL) Competition later in the year. We have never had Lego Robotics at school before, and so this is a new experience all round! Mrs Kendall is learning with us!

We have just started learning the basic skills involved, and will be spending some time after school on Thursdays while we try to catch up in our learning with help from experts such as Mrs Ward from Russley School, and Mrs Horncastle.

ICT Survey of Springston School Parents - May 2011 - Summary of Results

Our thanks to the 53 families who took the time to complete this online survey. The survey has now closed. We hope you find our Summary of the results interesting. Simply click on the image above, to read the Summary. Double-click to zoom in, click the corner of the page to turn to the next page. Or download as a pdf.

Included in the Summary is the ICT Focus Group's brief commentary of thoughts and questions arising from the results, for each question in the survey.

If you would like to add any further comments or insights to what is in this document, feel free to leave us a comment here on the blog, using the usual 'comments' link below this post.

School Newsletter 17 June 2011

Click on the image above, to read the newsletter. Double-click to zoom in, click the corner of the page to turn to the next page. Or download as a pdf.

Watch 'After the Quake: Nigel Latta's Guide to Helping Children Cope'

Image thanks to TVNZ

If you missed this evening's programme, you can still watch it here. An excellent, 30 minute programme with lots of common sense and good tips.

Further resources supporting the programme are available on the 'Safe & Sound: Helping families cope with disaster' website.

13 June Earthquakes - keep checking this post for updates

Image thanks to Geonet

Update 8 pm: School will be open tomorrow as usual. You will be informed immediately if there is any change to this plan.

We are sure you are all safe and well with your families after today's earthquakes. You can keep up to date with news on the quakes at Canterbury Earthquake and the Christchurch City Council. The Ministry of Education has earthquake updates too.

Don't forget to watch Nigel Latta's programme on Wednesday evening (see an earlier post).

After the Quake: Nigel Latta's Guide to Helping Children Cope

Image from TVNZ

TV One
Wednesday 15 June
8 pm

A 30 minute programme that follows Nigel Latta's visits to Christchurch, where he gave a series of talks to families on how to help their children through the stress of the earthquakes.

Playground News

Reporter: Hayden

Science Alive Comes To School

The girls have worked hard on their video news report - lots of firsts here (iMovie, cutaways, new videoing experiences). They've put together a great report!

Reporters: Anna, Bailey, and Georgia

Fun Multi Skills lessons for Springston Students

Another example of students learning to use cutaways to enhance the way they report news. Interviewing skills were important in this report, too.

Reporters: Kes and Madison

Car Boot Sale

On 22 May the PTA held a Car Boot Sale to help with the funds for the sandpit. A total of $907 was raised on what was a wonderful, fine day.

Reporters: Hannah D and Courtney

Work and Play Focus Group Survey for Springston School Families

This survey is now closed. Thank you for your ideas.

School Newsletter 3 June 2011

Click on the image to read the newsletter. Double-click to zoom in, click the corner of the page to turn to the next page. Download as a pdf.

Springston School a winner for ultra fast broadband!

Check out the Rural Schools Big Winners article just published in The Press. Great news for Springston School - to be joined to the ultra fast network within the next year!

House Leader Games

The challenge for our Media Team recently, is to present a video news report that includes cutaways. We have used iMovie to achieve this.

Cutaways are shots that are inserted in a video, but with the previous or another sound track continuing as the new shots are shown. We have used cutaways to illustrate what the news reporter is talking about.

Reporters - Hannah D and Courtney

The WOWOW dog comes to visit

Reporters: Freddie and Oliver