Curriculum
NZ Curriculum
Mellons Bay School, like all other state primary schools, follows the New Zealand Curriculum which involves the implementation of national standards in English, Mathematics, Science, Technology, Social Sciences, the Arts and Health and Physical Well Being. The school is fortunate in attracting and maintaining staff with a collectively strong balance of strengths and interests. Staff stability and teamwork continue to be a characteristic of the school. In line with the NZ Curriculum requirements, the school has developed its own inquiry model. The students' learning is linked to the six stages of this model. Each year at least one of them is a focus for the whole school. Each year the management team develops a curriculum map as part of our planning process view the plan here
As a context for study the students have an opportunity to learn about the history of Howick and Mellons Bay, thus helping them to identify with the area and its values.
All students learn at different rates and bring to school a range of learning experiences. The individual needs of each student are met through a differentiated learning environment. Their learning is carefully monitored and support or enrichment programmes are provided as needed.
For further information on the NZ Curriculum visit the Ministry of Education website www.minedu.govt.nz Please also view the Educational Review Office website for parent information on asking the right questions at school
Classroom Teaching Environment
The school's vision is foremost in our minds when teaching the students "Explore, Challenge, Learn! Be the best we can." We also follow a set of values, the 5Cs -Communicative, Creative, Confident, Connected and Caring.
That teachers work to develop in their students. Whilst there are Ministry of Education and school guidelines, each teacher will have different processes and initiatives in order to manage the classroom and school life. Teaching staff have regular meetings to discuss the curriculum and share ideas but they will have different ways of handling certain things, including homework, behaviour, parent interviews, daily timetable of learning. At Mellons Bay School we are lucky to attract a high standard of qualified teachers and we fully support their professional judgement in the classroom. If you have any concerns or would like further insight into teaching processes, please feel to discuss with your child's teacher or the Principal.
Arts and Cultural Opportunities
A specialist music teacher is employed to support the class teacher in delivering the Arts curriculum document. During the school year all students attend classes in the music and drama room.
Mellons Bay School also participates with other local schools in the kapa haka, choir, dance, and music festivals. Students are encouraged and given the opportunity to join these groups.
Sporting Opportunities
Students are encouraged to participate in sporting activities with their class during PE time as well as being involved in school sports days, school sports team and inter-school fun days. The following codes, they can participate in school teams and fun days are: swimming, athletics, touch rugby, hockey, cricket and netball.
School Trips
The process of learning and understanding is enriched by direct experience. It is likely that your child will participate in educational trips during school hours. Often parent help is required on the trip, so there are opportunities for you to share learning experiences with your child. School camps are also organised for our senior students in years 5 and 6.
Visiting Educational Providers
As part of the curriculum planning, teachers may also organise educators to visit the school to enhance student learning in certain areas. Such educators could be musicians, poets or authors. The school engages Life Education to deliver their programme every 2 years. The police programmes Kia Kaha and Keeping Ourselves Safe are also delivered on a two year cycle.
Speech Contest
Each year, as part of the curriculum, students from Years 5 & 6 compete to represent the school at a prepared speech competition held throughout the Auckland region.
Other Activities
The school provides a range of extra activities that change from year to year depending on staff and community support. These activities include chess, Trees for Survival, gardening and bush support (Eco Warriors).
Assessment
Assessment for learning is best described as a process by which assessment information is used by teachers to adjust their teaching strategies, and by students to adjust their learning strategies.
Assessment, teaching and learning are inextricably linked, as each informs the others.
Assessment is a powerful process that can either optimize or inhibit learning, depending on how its applied.
For teachers, assessment for learning helps teachers gather information to:
- plan and modify teaching and learning programmes for individual students, groups of students, and the class as a whole.
- pinpoint students’ strengths so that both teachers and students can build on them.
- identify students’ learning needs in a clear and constructive way so they can be addressed.
- involve parents, families and whānau in their children’s learning.
For students, assessment for learning provides students with information and guidance so they can plan and manage the next steps in their learning.
Assessment for learning uses information to lead from what has been learned to what needs to be learned next.
Assessment for learning uses a range of approaches. These may include:
- day to day activities (such as learning conversations).
- a simple mental note taken by the teacher during observation.
- student self and peer assessments.
- a detailed analysis of a student’s work.
- assessment tools (which may be written items, structured interview questions or items teachers make up themselves).
What matters most is not so much the form of assessment, but how the information gathered is used to improve teaching and learning. At Mellons Bay, we use the following assessment tools, found in the links below:
www.kiwifamilies.co.nz/articles/assessment-at-primary-school
www.nzcer.org.nz/tests/understanding-pats-parents-and-community
An informative guide for parents can be found on the Education Review Office website asking the right questions at school
Parent Teacher Interviews
Parent interviews are held twice a year.
Term One
Meet the Teacher – presentation from senior management and the classroom teacher.
Parent Teacher Sharing – data sharing with parent.
Term Three
Conferences – the child, parent and teacher share the learning.
Term Four
Year end summative report
Celebrating Success
The school celebrates individual successes by acknowledging personal achievements in class, at assemblies and at the end of year presentations.
Each week at the whole school assembly there is a special presentation of the three merit cups.
These are awarded to a student in the junior, middle and senior school.
Students are chosen not only for working well in class, but for their behaviour and attitude in and out of the classroom.
After School & Term Holiday Care
A private after school care programme is operated by SKIDS (Safe Kids in Daily Supervision) from 3.00pm till 6.00pm. Please email Carlo, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you wish to use this service or phone Carlo on 021 975 636. SKIDS also run school holiday programmes. For information on activites, school holiday programmes and enrolment view their website http://www.skids.co.nz/location/mellons_bay/ You can also follow them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/skids75 or download the enrolment form here
View the current school holiday flyer here
For details on OSCAR funding view the information sheet here
Art Classes
Time : 3.20pm—4.20pm
Art class: Drawing, Oil pastel, Sketching, Painting - Only $10.00 per lesson.
Please contact Janet directly.
Phone: 027-6555574 (Janet)
E-mail:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Lego- Bricks4Kidz
Classes are on Friday - 3.15pm - in the library
Phone 022 370 4936
Register at Bricks 4 Kidz
Chinese Language Classes
我们Mellons bay primary school课后中文班开办已经有段时间了。我们从零基础开始到现在孩子们已经能流利的读和书写了，教学效果受到了家长和孩子们的肯定。这个周五就要回学校上课啦！这个班马上要开始学习中文第二册，欢迎有需要的同学插班学习。上课时间是每周五下午的3:15-4:15。
另外我们在周一下午5:50-6:50开办了一个新的汉语拼音班，
也欢迎大家报名，谢谢大家！
联系人：符老师
电话：0211066859 Email： This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
微信：maomi021186
Our Mellons Bay Primary School after-school Chinese class has been running for some time. We started from zero, now the children can read and write fluently. The teaching effect is recognized by both parents and children.
This class will start to learn Chinese level 2 (elementary level), we welcome any new student. Class time is every Friday from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
In addition, we have a new Pinyin class on Monday from 5:50-6:50 PM,
Contact person: Teacher Fu
Tel: 0211066859
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
WeChat: maomi021186
Music Lessons
Musiqhub are able to offer guitar and ukulele lessons on Wednesday's during school hours.
This will be availalbe for students in years 4 - 6.
Please contact Bee Lee - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - 021 529 531
Lewis Eady are offering lessons on Tuesday's during school hours.
This will be available for students in years 4 -6.
Instruments include keyboard, piano, guitar, ukulele and vocals. (Woodwind and brass would be considered if there is sufficient demand).
Please enrol online www.lewiseady.co.nz
BYOD - Year 2 Parent Presentations
To view the programme please click here
BYOD Policy
To make full use of the safety filters, BYOD users will need to download an SSL Certificate. This allows secure websites to be scanned for objectionable material. An example of why the certificate is required is the Google seach engine. Without this level of filtering unsuitable material can be accessed through Google’s secure sites. You can find out more about the certificate and filtering here.
All users can download the SSL Inspection Certificate by clicking here
Please let the class teacher know if you would like to use a lighter security option and not install the Minstry of Educations' N4L certificate solution.
For any support or queries please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
e-learning
inistry of Education - Digital Technology NZ Curriculum 2018 - click here to view
Download the Mellons Bay Internet User Agreement
BYOD (bring your own devices)
BYOD will be available to all Year 3 to 6 classes in 2020.
Learning needs students at other year levels requiring assistive technology may complete a BYOD agreement/policy.
Device requirements for BYOD include:
- Light and mobile
- A good battery life to last the school day [6 hours]
- Able to connect to the internet via wireless technology
- Have a built in camera and video function [preferred]
Other information you may find useful:
95% of the school owned tablets are ipads and are currently our favourite school owned device.
Recommended List of Apps
Below are a list of apps that we have found useful for supporting teaching and learning within the classroom. Although they are not compulsory, we recommend that these be installed on your child's device.
It would be beneficial for students to have an email account set up on their device. They currently have shared access to a class email account. It is also recommended that the devices have a passcode for added security. During the year, as the students become more confident in using their devices, we might find other useful apps which will support your child's learning.
Please be aware that it is very important that all devices are clearly named. In some classes, there is a large number of students using devices and many have the same cover making them difficult to identify.
WiFi - Wireless Technology in Schools
Information for parents flyer, please click here to view.
Internet Security
The school strongly recommends to parents that 'Restriction' settings are used.
To find out how to do this, watch this You Tube video
