School+News

__Mauriceville__ **** __School-__ **** __Learning together, learning forever!__ ** Mauriceville School has a very positive culture and students are engaged in their learning. Our students feel safe at school and speak proudly about our school. We place an emphasis on literacy and numeracy. Our other curriculum priorities are ICT and Technology, thinking skills and focusing on values, and were determined collaboratively by the board and teachers in consultation with parents. This strong emphasis on values and positive behaviour helps students to successfully work together. Numeracy 84% of students in Years 4 to 8 are achieving at or above national expectations for mathematics, there has been a substantial improvement in mathematics between 2008 and 2009 due to teacher professional development and changes in teaching practices. We are participating in the numeracy project and students enjoy mathematics learning. They can identify what they have learnt and how they can use it in their lives. “Maths is fun because you learn your times tables, and helps you to solve maths problems. I like working in a group and helping my friends, sometimes they help me too. We have lots of new games that we share and play together.” Lucy (9 years old) Literacy Analysis of results for all students shows that almost all are reading at or above their chronological age or expected level. Results are consistent across ages, gender and ethnicity. Students’ 2009 information and research skills results in Years 4 to 8 show that students made positive, and in some cases, substantial progress between 2008 and 2009. “My reading improved heaps this year, so I learned what some tricky words meant and now I use them in my writing and my vocabulary is better. Research skills are good because you can learn how to do things (like recipes, gardening, make animal cages and look after pets). I got better at researching on the computer and found out about keywords and encyclopaedias.” Capri (12 years old) I.C.T. and Technology Last year we purchased another two new notebooks and now have one computer for every two students. Computers and information technology are integrated into all areas of learning and students are ITC savvy. This year we will be working on using our wikispace to inform the community and parents and to show them our learning. Students participate in school-wide technology programmes with parent support. This year we will be learning about wool and fibres and studying alpacas, finding out more about gardening, food, preserving and cooking, designing products and selling them and further developing our knowledge of I.C.T.
 * The following article was published in "The Wairarapa News" January 2010

Thinking Skills We have been developing our thinking skills and integrating different strategies and structures into our curriculum. This year we will be focusing on integrating thinking skills into reading comprehension activities and integrated units.

Values Our School values of confidence, perseverance, honesty, kindness, respect, cooperation and thinking are part of everything we do. We are proud of our students for taking these values on board and making positive changes to their thinking and behaviour. “I like it how we play games at assembly to learn about values. I have learned about perseverance- keep on trying. I keep on trying now when my work is really hard.” Billie (7 years old)

We are accepting enrolments in for New Entrants through to Year 8 students now. We have small classes and experienced teachers, enabling us to better meet each student’s needs. Give us a ring, or pop out to see us any time!