Principals End of Year Report, 2015

2015 the year of the building projects. But not just the physical spaces appearing before
our eyes, but also the building of pedagogy and practice related to our involvement in the
Accelerated Literacy Learning Project, and the building of a new staff, one I am pleased to
say we are carrying through into 2016. At the end of this year we have 96 children from 62
families involved in our school community. Throughout the year we have had 6 pupils leave
and 33 arrive, with 19 of these into our new entrant classroom which currently has 25
children in it. The transient nature of our schooling community at a quick glance is not too
evident, but when reflecting on the numbers, it happens more frequently than we think,
especially when 14 of the 33 children enrolling this year have come into year levels outside
of the new entrant class.
At this time of the year, we analyse the data gathered about the progress of our children.
This data is reported to you in the form of a written report, twice a year. Children under Year
4 get theirs on their anniversary of starting school something that is different to how we all
received our reports. The National Standards data related to Reading, Writing and
Mathematics is ready to be reported to the Ministry of Education. This year there is a rise in
our percentages of pupils at or above the National Standard in all three disciplines. Reading
is at 84% (79% in 2014), Writing at 68% (59% in 2014) and Mathematics at 76% (69% in
2014). Much of this progress I would like to attribute to the development undertaken in
relation to the Accelerated Literacy Learning Project, as we all know the ability to read
impacts on many of our learning areas. To Mrs Neal, who so ably led this development for
our staff, the staff for challenging and in some cases changing their practice to better meet
the needs of our pupils, and to you the parents for supporting us in the changes, which in
the case of reading homework practice was very much a shift away from some of the things
we had been doing for many years. This is still a work in progress, but it is heartening to
know that our practice has been featured in the Education Gazette (a national Ministry of
Education publication to schools), at the South Island Impact Day presentations to other
schools involved in the project, and we have hosted teachers from other schools interested
in what we are doing in our teaching and learning programmes.
We are now excited about applying this learning to the Accelerated Learning in Mathematics
project that we have been accepted into for 2016. As well as this, the staff and Board of
Trustees have been reflecting on our curriculum and strategic plans and the early stages of
our curriculum planning for 2016 is underway. We will look at using the umbrella concept of
Relationships to weave through our topics of the Olympic Games and Ideals, Science and
Technology, Restorative Practices and School Values.
Work continues around the Opuke Community of Learning based around 9 schools who
are keen to work together to take a broader look at student achievement, teaching practice,
transition of our learners and professional learning development that will impact positively on
the needs of our learners. The staff and Board of Trustees have been involved in initial
discussions around this and we look forward to keeping the school community informed as
this progresses.

As well as having a profile for our literacy development, the school also features strongly
locally through the extra-curricular activities undertaken. This year the school fielded two
netball teams over the winter, both playing in the new EA Networks Centre, and the Year 5/6
team were the winners for their grade. Three rippa rugby teams, three summer hockey
teams and two football teams as well as a combined MtSS/Mayfield basketball team
represented the school this year. A number of our pupils qualified for County Swimming,
Cross Country and Athletic events, with Liam Heaven and TJ Tahere recently qualifying for
the Canterbury Primary schools athletics where TJ finished a creditable 6th in the high jump.
We had chess teams travel to tournaments, Science Fair exhibitors, Quiz teams travel to
Central South Island quizzes where the Year 7/8 Team of Eddie Millichamp, Kate Ahearn
and Liam Heaven won that particular event. Jack Neal was the Mid Canterbury Year 5/6
Speech Competition winner at the Rotary Speech finals. As a school we took teams to the
Weetbix Tryathlon, 6 Hour Mountain Bike Race and the Muddy Good Run. Pupils were
involved in the Mt Somers Village 150th, which was a terrific celebration for our area. We
have had two pupils attend the Mid Canterbury MindPlus programme for Gifted and Talented
students throughout the year, an opportunity made possible by the Mid Canterbury
Principals Association, to help cater for needs that are sometimes difficult to do so within the
regular school setting. These are just some of the opportunities we take part in and can
offer, and there are many others not mentioned tonight. These dont happen without a
tremendous amount of organisation, and the teachers and parents who plan, coach,
manage, transport and support our children to do these activities are sincerely thanked for all
they do.
Our children are well supported by our Board of Trustees in Mrs Harmer, Mr Bryson, Mr
Adkins, Mr Giera, Mrs Brown and Mrs Heaven. The Board value being able to support our
pupils and teachers in their education, and this year, as well as in 2016, one of the key ways
they do this is by funding a fifth classroom teacher. This enables us to staff classrooms with
small pupil numbers and limiting the spread of year levels in classes where the numbers
allow. It is a big commitment and one that we can very much appreciate, but not always be
able to expect. The Board want the best for the children of Mt Somers Springburn School
and I thank them for their work in making Mt Somers Springburn School the best it can be.
This year we welcomed three new teachers to school. Ms Julie McKimmie was with us until
we found a suitable replacement in Miss Sarah Gaskin for our Year 2 class. Both contributed
immensely to the growth of that class and I am thrilled that we have been able to secure the
services of Miss Gaskin for the next two years. Miss Sarah White and Mrs Valerie Ashton
joined us in the Year 5/6 and Year 3/ 4 classes respectively and have immediately made
their mark with the ability to run efficient and focussed classrooms while learning about the
culture and processes within our school. Mrs Amy Markillie was appointed during the year to
support teachers in their Literacy Intervention Group work and also stayed on to assist in our
New Entrant class in the latter half of the year. It has been great to see your confidence and
knowledge grow Amy, and we wish you all the best for your study early in Term One. Mrs
Kylie Chapman is in the school once a week to release teachers and Kylies no fuss and
easy but effective nature is valued by the teachers and I know the children are getting a
quality day when she is in front of them. Mrs Neal, while leading our Literacy development,
was also recognised, after many long hours of compiling an in-depth teaching portfolio, as
an Advanced Classroom Expertise Teacher. Congratulations Ginny for this wonderful
achievement. Mrs Heaven continues to be my moderator of all things both exciting and

frustrating in the life of a rural school Principal and I value her thoughts and humour in
keeping me sane! Mrs Rhonda Huggins continues to play an important role in our school as
a valued Teacher Aide and back-up bus driver, and it was great to have Rhonda
successfully complete her Certificate in Teacher Aiding this year, recognising officially the
knowledge and expertise she demonstrates on a daily basis. Mrs Akiko Ikenaga also
provides great support in her role as a teacher aide. To our Bus drivers, Ian, Warwick and
Huntley, who day after day pride themselves in safely delivering your children to and from
school, I appreciate immensely the job you do for us. Mrs Olivia Evans-Fews joined our staff
as our cleaner this year, and you do a great of tidying up after us all Olivia. Not an easy task
some days.especially at this time of the year! A special thanks to Mrs Ally Greer who has
done an enormous amount of volunteer hours in our school this year. It is very much
appreciated Ally. Last, but not least, to Mrs Taylor Im sure we have learned an awful lot
about school administration over the last three years although some days it doesnt feel
like it. Im glad we have a lot of laughs, because there would be an awful amount of crying if
we didnt! Thanks for all you do for me and the school.
This time last year I was thanking the Fundraising Association for the contribution made in
making sure our court was resurfaced. Twelve months on I wish to thank them for the
generous donation made so that we can complete the joinery and have two new stoves in
the kitchen of the MultiPurpose room that will be completed in time for the beginning of the
2016 school year. To Jo Murphy and the committee thank you for all you do behind the
scenes to make sure our children and staff are well supported by making sure those little
(and sometimes big!) things happen. I am very much looking forward to showing everyone
the tremendous space the school and community will have available to them for next year
and beyond. As soon as the builders finished their work in the MultiPurpose room they
started on our toilet block the last remnants of a bygone era that was still very visible in our
school. I know this has forced some venue changes for toileting for our pupils, but they
have adjusted well. Im sure Mrs Huggins cant wait for the invite to cut the toilet-paper
ribbon to open the refurbished block at the beginning of next year a project she wasnt
happy retiring having not being done last year until I could show her it was going to happen!
To the parents, caregivers and grandparents, thank you for giving us the opportunity to help
you to shape the lives of your children. You are all very supportive of us and we appreciate
the feedback we get. We too want the best for your children. To all of you who have been on
trips, helped in classes, helped with homework you are all awesome. We hope you enjoy
the opportunities as much as your children do! They are a pleasure to be with every day. We
all feel truly privileged to work with them.
To the Ahearn, Ewart, Hill, Macdonald, Millichamp, Pengelly, Sturm, and Wilson families who
leave us for the final time this year all the best for the future and thank you all for the
contributions you have made during the years you have been involved in the school.
Have a safe Christmas and New Year Break with your families, and I look forward to working
with you all again next year.

Brent Gray
Principal