Our recent cake stall at the Otago Access Radio’s market day was a great success with $330 raised for Christchurch and $87 for our sponsored child Fernanda. Money was given to NZSTA who are co-ordinating money raised for schools by schools. Well done Indy, Shea, Stephanie and Isaac who sold the scrumptious delights that were baked by family and friends of the school. Thank you to all who baked.

Swimming is coming to an end with the swimming sports and the surf group finished for this season. The BOT are looking at how we can improve the level of swimming at school. There has been a noticeable drop off of senior school swimmers and subsequent skills.

Sausages are back on the menu for Mondays (starting next week) to raise funds for Fernanda. We are aiming to raise more than is required for her and excess will go towards the senior school camp.

 

Our year 8s get to experience life as a teacher every Thursday afternoon as part of their own learning goals. They take their skills and interests into the junior class. Pictured is Isaac teaching racket skills, Florence sharing her artistic talent and Miya with her dance group.

Winter sports - if your child is keen to play a winter sport can you please let us know so we can work out teams and levels. Please see Keighley for netball, Nathan for mini-ball and Wendy for hockey. Please return permission slips where applicable.

This new (2 years), four storey building is Albany Senior High School in Auckland. They were the second school in NZ to begin using Open Source software and used Warrington School as their model. I was fortunate on Tuesday to spend time being shown around this wonderful facility. The most striking aspect was the multi-level learning with older students working alongside younger students, the 100 minute lessons (3 per day) and the high engagement of students and staff in the learning process. At times it was hard to distinguish staff from students as the teachers shared large learning spaces and worked alongside the students. While in the north I am presenting the Warrington School story to teachers and principals. Sharing our Ubuntu path and encouraging other schools to use open source software. The focus is on student involvement, environmental impact and the ability to save millions of tax payer dollars.