This Monday we welcomed six teacher training students from the University of Waikato, who are on their final practicum before they head out to teach full time in schools next year.  A special feature of our school is our connection with the University of Waikato and in particular the Faculty of Education in supporting teacher training.  We are often asked why we are called a Normal School.  This comes from the French concept of "ecole normale" which was to establish schools to model best teaching practices thereby setting a standard or norm for student teachers.  We are proud to be one of 29 Normal and Model Schools throughout New Zealand.

There is lots of fabulous learning happening across the school. Production rehearsals are now well underway for half of our senior classes with performances on the 19th  and 20th August. Please read on to see what else is happening in each team for our creative HNS learners.

For health and safety reasons the two gate entrances off McCracken Avenue will be locked at 9.10am and unlocked at 2.45pm for you and your tamariki to enter the school. The Cambridge Road front entrance gates will remain unlocked throughout the day for whanau and visitors to come into school.  Apologies in advance for any inconvenience that this may cause. 

A reminder that there will be two parent evenings to share the new curriculum learning in Literacy and Mathematics.  As well as sharing what happens in school in these areas, parents will learn how they can further support their child at home.  On Monday 25th August the session will cover the first three years at school (Years 0-3), while Thursday 28th August will target learning for Years 4-6  students.  Both sessions will be held in the hall starting at 6.30pm.