At St Michaels Catholic School we pride ourselves on the high calibre of staff we employ, and value their individual skills and talents. All teachers are encouraged to share their skill base and work together to provide our children with the best learning opportunities possible.

Our staff are encouraged to participate in professional development and are given many opportunities to do so. Currently our staff are completing the second year of a major literacy contract with Learning Media to enhance the standard of children’s writing at St Michaels. We are also in our fourth year of an intensive Maths development programme. Staff are given many opportunities for personal and professional development and are fully supported in this by the Board of Trustees.



Staff for 2010

Year Group	Room	Name
Principal		Carolynn Phillips
Deputy Principal		Louise Campbell
Year 5	10	Elizabeth Simpson
Year 4/5	9	Joanna Gray
Year 6	8	Phoebe Cunningham Tyler
Year 4	7	Geraldine Sumner
Year 3	6	Hayley Ruddock/Paula Middleton
Year 2/3	5	Carla Mackle
Year 2/1	4	Catherine Westwood
Year 1	3	Malica Gore
Year 1	1	Nicola Gray
Year 0	2	NE class opening T4
Secretary		Genevieve Van Coller
Reading Recovery		Annette Wilson
Teacher Aide		Anne Kee
Teacher Aide		Glenda Daniels
Accounts		Avril Denton
Caretaker		Peter Laver

Introduction

Our aim at St Michael’s is to cater to the individual needs of all children within the classroom. However, a number of extra programmes throughout the school are provided. These are: Reading Recovery, small group teaching in literacy, teacher aide assistance, gifted and talented programmes.

Many external agencies also service the school including RTLB (Resource Teachers of Learning Behaviour), GSE (Group Special Education), Speech Therapist, Child Psychologist, Public Health Nurse, Occupational Therapist, NZ Police School Service, Literacy and Numeracy consultants.



Religious Education

The Religious Education programme is timetabled daily, and it is important that parents/caregivers support this learning programme. Each child has an R.E book relevant to their year group that they work on throughout the year. At the end of each strand it is important that a comment is made in the ‘Parent Comment’ section.



Reading

Following six year net testing, children with identified reading difficulties are enrolled in our Reading Recovery programme. Reading Recovery offers an individualised reading and writing programme which is attended by the student for half an hour a day, 5 days a week. Rainbow Reading is a group reading session held for half an hour a day, 5 days a week to provide reading support for children requiring extra reading mileage.



Learning Enrichment/ Talent Groups

Children with identified abilities are offered extension learning in various specialised fields, in particular in Science, Writing and Maths..



Maths and Literacy

Over the last five years St Michael’s have worked intensively on the development Literacy of high quality Literacy and Numeracy programmes. All staff undertake intensive professional development to upskill and to ensure high standards of teaching and learning are sustained.



Curriculum Review

Current curriculum areas under review are Science and Physical Education. In Review 2009 we will continue our second year of Professional Development in these areas with many exciting opportunities being available in both areas for children’s learning.

New Entrant Tests

When a child has been at school for approximately six weeks literacy and numeracy baseline data is collected. This information enables us to gauge progress when further tests are conducted.



6 Year Nets

6 Year Nets All children at St Michael’s Catholic School are tested at the age of six in areas related to their literacy development. The results this test produces enable us to compare our six year olds to other six year olds around New Zealand. The results also identify any children who may require Reading Recovery intervention.



Assessments

Students are regularly assessed from the time they start school until they leave. In order to provide information on achievement, we use a variety of methods, both nationally recognised and school based. Books are marked and assessed to ensure progress is being achieved and results are discussed with parents at the parent teacher interviews mid-year, and at any other interview times.



External Exams

In Term 2, years 4 – 6 children are given the opportunity to sit the ICAS exams. These exams are internationally recognised and are conducted throughout Australasia. Exam subjects offered are:

• Maths
• English
• Spelling
• Writing




Homework

Homework The habit of regular homework is a worthwhile one, providing opportunity for practise of work undertaken by your child at school. Your child’s teacher will inform you of what homework your child will bring home throughout the year. The following is a guide:

Years 0-1

10-15 mins per day: R.E, reading

Year 2

15-30 mins per day: R.E, reading, spelling

Year 3

20-30 mins per day: R.E, reading, spelling, homework book

Year 4-6

30-40 mins per day: R.E, spelling, homework book, (reading outside this time)





The following sports and activities are offered at St Michael’s through the P.E curriculum.

Term 1

• Jump Jam
• Swimming
• Swimming Sports Day – held offsite at Sacred Heart pool.
Years 5 & 6 compete at Remuera Zones swimming competition held at St Kentigern’s Prep School mid term 1
• Summer Sports Field Day – held in Remuera/Epsom with other participating schools, years 5 & 6 only


Term 2

• Jump Jam
• General fitness programme
• Jump Rope for Heart
• Winter Sports


Term 3

• Jump Jam
• Cross Country
• Cross Country Competition - Years 5 & 6 compete at the Remuera Zones, Years 4-6 compete at the Catholic Zones


Term 4

• Jump Jam
• Athletics
• Athletics Competition – Years 5 & 6 compete at the Remuera Zones




Summer Sports

Touch Rugby – years 2 -6, in association with College Rifles. Games played at College Rifles grounds on Friday evenings. Term 4 only.




Winter Sports

Netball Teams – years 1 -6, inter schools competition played at Morrin Rd, Mt Wellington on Thursdays after school. Soccer Teams – years 1 -6, in association with Ellerslie Soccer Club. Games played across Auckland on Saturday mornings. Rugby Team – year 5 & 6, inter school games.

To ensure teams run successfully, parent helpers are always needed for coaching, umpiring and managing sports teams. Notices will be sent home prior to sports teams being formed, to ascertain the level of parent help the school requires.



Sport Days

Sports Days at St Michael’s are a wonderful way for your child to participate in different sporting activities. They are held in terms 1, 3 and 4 for swimming, cross country and athletics respectively.

We cannot run these events successfully without parent help. Dates for sports days will be on the term Calendar, and notices requesting parent help will be sent home prior to the events.



Inter School Zone Competitions

In years 4, 5 and 6, children who have achieved well in sports days will be given the opportunity to represent St Michael’s at the Remuera and Catholic Schools Zones competitions. Parent help may be needed for these events. Notices will be sent home with children that are participating.