Strategic Planning

I never thought that I would ever say this, but I'm excited about Strategic Planning! The BoT are working on up-dating our current plan, and I see this as a really good time to re-visit our priorities & re-establish what it is that we all believe is important for the successful & effective education of students at Centennial School.

The "Centennial Centurion" is a visual representation of what we stand for, the attributes that we want our children to have, and our Curriculum Plan (that is also being reviewed) documents what specificially we will be doing to make this happen.

Members of the "Centennial Community" will shortly receive a survey that can be used to give us feedback on how we are doing, and to set future priorities - I would strongly advise you to take this opportunity, and if you are interested, get involved in the Strategic Planning process.

Active School #2

Our commitment to physical activity has continued through Term 2 - regular training has seen Centennial children performing well at cross country events. Our school's cross country saw an extremely high standard of running, and the team that was chosen to represent us at the Waimate District event was particularly successful, dominating the day with five "Firsts", five "Seconds", four "Thirds" and eight other children in the first six home!

This week a team of nine Year 5 & 6 children go to the South Canterbury Cross Country, another step up but we are sure that they will do us proud!

Active School

The children at Waimate Centennial School get many opportunities to try different sporting activities. Currently we have children about to compete in the South Canterbury Swimming Sports, others involved in "Jump Jam" lunchtime sessions with a view to entering a contest in Timaru later in the year, and senior children having a "taste" of golf, both in our grounds and down at the Waimate Goilf Club. The photo shows some children with obvious potential - future "Tigers"?

Welcome to 2011 - at last!

There have been several "prompts" that have got me finally up-dating my blog:-
* it has been a long time since I have placed
anything on it and much has happened
* our Year 6 children headed away today for
their week-long camp at Arthur's Pass (see the
photo) and
* 6 days ago Christchurch was rocked by another
earthquake.

The 2011 school year is well and truly underway - we are into Week 5 and all is well in our world. As a result of the earthquake we have enrolled (temporarily) 7 extra children from Christchurch. It is good to be able to do something to help these people after what they have been through over recent months. At least the children can come to school each day and get back to something like a "normal" routine. There are benefits for our school too - our children get to meet some new people, and they are all great kids!

The whole school is also looking forward to Outdoor Education Week in Week 7 during which the Outdoor Rec students from Aoraki do also sorts of outdoor teaching with our children.