MINUTES MEETING DATE
Wednesday, 25 February 2015
PRESENT Lucy MacGinley (Chairperson), Delanee Dale (Principal), Jo
Woodward, Thinza Mon, Tara Field-Gargan, Maria McCarty, Laren Adams, Alice
Khounta, Deb Shaw, Karen Blanchard (Student Administrator), Lara Hrstic
(Communications), Hannah Callesen-Chatterley, Emily Li, Aaron O’Connell,
Anna Gatie, Sadie Toogood, Deirdre Kirk, Trixi Leonhardt, Sharon Robertson,
Kate Trewheellar, Kelly Coyle, Frances Pavlovich, Asher Davidson, Joanne Harland, Colette Muir, Sarah
Allen, Sam Cranston, Jo Gander, Kirsty Radcliffe, Annabelle Tyrie, Alison Comer, Anna Jones, Gillian Doyle
(Secretary)
APOLOGIES Melanie Grace, Kate Watson, Anna Walker, Karen Millar, Camina Jacobsen, Erin Prior, Zoe
Hoult
Lucy welcomed all to the meeting. It was great to have attendance from parents throughout the school years.
Principal Introduction – Delanee

Delanee's educational focus and philosophy can be summarised as what is “Best for kids”. Delanee's
aim is to provide personalisation of student learning and teacher development to support this.
Maungawhau School's income is sourced through standard Ministry of Education Funding (based on
decile and enrolment numbers), Special Education Grants, parent donations and fundraising. Our PE
specialist, Librarian, Writing Learning Support teacher (part-time, 0.6) are additional resources that are
not funded by the Ministry of Education.
Delanee also believes in providing a holistic and engaging education within our school.

Writing program 2015 - Maungawhau School is actively supporting writing for children below standard
from middle school upwards. The extra teaching resource has been increased to 0.6. Maungawhau
School also compares writing progress alongside similar primary schools in central Auckland.
Students need both motivation to write (technology helps with this) and quality teaching for quality
writing results. There is still a focus on learning to hand write and encouragement on things to write
about.
Some concerns raised about kids who found it hard to type so made it difficult/slow to express their
ideas via computer (hence became de-motivating to use technology).
ACTION Touch typing program to assist students to be communicated out to school community.
ACTIONED A useful guide has been posted on Maungawhau School Community Facebook page and
is included here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/z3c6tfr

Tablets to rollout to junior school – chromebooks already in middle school, Ultrafast broadband / Fibre
optic cable installation upgrade competed in 2014. Parents have a continuing interest in technology
within the school.
ACTION Separate information evening required regarding technology (Lara to action with Rebecca
Dobson)
ACTION Video tutorials of how to log on and use google drive & school e-newspaper to help both
kids and parents log in at home (Lara to action with Rebecca Dobson)

Teacher release time determined by number of years within teaching profession, and additional
responsibilities teachers undertake. Continuity of release teacher relievers in the classroom is top of
mind, again to ensure quality teaching.
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Additional learning programs offered are outlined on our school website and include programs for
ESOL, learning difficulties, and extension programs. These programmes can either be withdrawal in
small groups or in class support.
Some discussion regarding social skills at break times – buddy bench, friendship house were both
ideas mentioned. Karen Blanchard (Student Administrator) reassured the meeting the Office is
interactive with students at break times as required. All students are encouraged to be kind and
mindful of others at break time and this is reinforced in class at “circle time”. Activities are offered at
most breaks, such as clubs and the library open. Each morning teachers let their classes know the
notices for the day covering which clubs are on. If your child says they are lonely, encourage them to
join in on one of the groups. See daily activities sheet on website.
ACTION: DD to talk with team leaders for feedback on playground inclusivity.
ACTIONED: Ingrid Gardner is to lead sharing of social skills resources with teachers. In addition,
Ingrid will be running social skills groups with children who have been identified as needing support in
this area. Some learning support staff (who have been trained in this area) are also working with
small groups of students on social skills.
ACTION: Information on composite classes was requested.
ACTIONED: (From Delanee) There is often misunderstanding about composite classes. When I
started teaching (in 1986) a straight year 4 class, I recall having seven reading groups. My Education
Department Inspector at the time had a long discussion with me about the practicalities of effectively
operating seven groups. My justification was that I had one student reading at an emergent junior
reading level and some students reading at 12 years + with of course a range of reading levels in
between these two extremes. My point being that some parents concerned about the range within a
composite class, seem to forget that there is usually a large range within a straight class. The good
news is that there is an expectation in reading, writing and maths, that teacher’s know where each of
their students is at, within these areas, and cater for their students accordingly. School is not
necessarily how we remember it as students ourselves where the teacher stands up the front
delivering the Year 4 curriculum, where sometimes the curriculum was far too difficult for some
students, or far too easy for others and they were bored senseless. Hence, our direction to
personalise the curriculum where possible, so that our students are aware of what they know, and the
next steps in their learning journey. The other reason why composites can be beneficial is for social
grouping of students. Year 3 students in particular vary widely in their social maturity. Some students
will benefit from being in a separate group from year 4 students, others will benefit from being in a
composite with strong year 4 role models. If you have concerns about your child's class placement
then please do discuss it with your teacher first then the team leader if required.
2015 fundraising wish-list and engagement of school community – Delanee/Board

The Board of Trustees (BOT) and Delanee are interested to hear of any ideas you may have for
improving the school environment. What would you like to fundraise for? We have a diverse
community of people and expertise, your ideas will be gratefully received - all ideas welcome – shorttem, long-term, small, and big.
 Some ideas quickly mentioned at the meeting – Chair/bench in memory of Linda Williams (past
teacher); modern learning environment furniture into the junior school (4 classrooms at a cost of $5k
each were introduced into the middle school last year).
 The target for community fundraising this year is $85,700.
ACTION: Fundraising “wish-list” survey to be sent out to school community before March FOMS
meeting.
ACTIONED: CLICK ON THIS LINK TO FILL OUT SURVEY
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Vw9YCIuHNgLZu0qsu-HbvWPtpADkWJoGqf0fwD14u7U/viewform
Class liaisons update - Lucy and Karen
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
Most classes now have a volunteer class liaison. Karen (office) has forwarded an email to class
liaisons with class email contact list (unless opted out).
Contact Karen if you have any school contact/communication issues, the office has an open door
policy.
ACTION: Lucy to follow up with classes without liaisons (currently only rooms 15 and 26)
Overview of current FOMS annual events calendar - Lucy

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Term 1 events have now been put into the school calendar (www.maungawhau.school.nz) and listed
on the school community website (www.maungawhauschoolcommunity.co.nz)
Dates for Terms 2, 3, and 4 events will be added to the website over the next couple of weeks, so
plenty of notice is available for parents.
TGIF cafe – 6 March (Friday), 3.00pm, school hall
Sharon Robertson is organising this new initiative - food, ice blocks and drinks will be available for you
to buy. Students and their families are encouraged to come along and catch up with people they see
in passing in the school grounds, and meet new people – chat, coffee, cake, while the kids have a run
around… support this café, if all goes well, we will do it again.
Kids' Disco – 1 April (Wednesday), 5.00-6.00pm and 6.15-7.30pm, school hall
Lucy MacGinley is organising the Term 1 kids disco, to be held in the last week of term. This year we
are offering ‘all inclusive’ prepaid tickets. Ticket price will include door entry, glow stick, drink & a
snack and eliminates the need for money handling on the night. The disco will be held in two separate
sessions 5.00 - 6.00pm and 6.15 - 7.30pm,which will allow more children in total to attend. On the
night teachers will help with “crowd control”, parents will also be asked to assist. Thank you to Sam
Cranston who is co-ordinating the theme and decorations. Please contact Lucy MacGinley
(lucymacginley@yahoo.com.au) if you can help with decorating, set-up and pack down.
ACTION: Sam to work on theme. Lucy to organise advertising the disco, and call out for helpers.
The school fair will definitely be in Term 4, date to be confirmed with the school, however, we are
proposing Sunday 18th October, 1st weekend in Term 4.
ACTION: Lucy and Jo Woodward to consult with key stallholders. Fair date to be confirmed by end of
March.
FOMS 2015 - ACTIVITIES & FUNDRAISING
Dates
Mar 6th
Feb 27th/Apr 2nd
April 1st
April 29th
Feb 25th
March 25th
TERM 1
TGIF Cafe
Sausage sizzles x2
Kids' disco -2 sessions
Photolife
FOMs Meeting -Delanee speaks
FOMs Meeting -New Vision & Mission
TERM 2
Entertainment books (or replacement)
Learning-athon
FOMS meeting -topics to be confirmed
FOMS meeting -topics to be confirmed
Sausage sizzle x2
Parent quiz night
Kids' Disco -2 sessions
Cafe or hot chip Friday
WHOM RESPONSIBLE
FOMS
SCHOOL & CLASS PARENTS
SCHOOL & FOMS
SCHOOL
profit $
co-ordinator
Sharon Robertson
1,400 Office
1,500 Lucy MacGinley
1,500 Office
Lucy/Lara/Gillian
Lucy/Lara/Gillian
SCHOOL
SCHOOL
FOMS
FOMS
SCHOOL & CLASS PARENTS
FOMS
SCHOOL & FOMS
FOMS
1,300
10,000
1,400
2,500
1,500
TERM 3
Sausage sizzle x2
Auction night
FOMS meeting -topics to be confirmed
Kids' movie afternoon St Lukes
Capitol Movie night parents
Raffle tickets (for Fair)
SCHOOL & CLASS PARENTS
FOMS
FOMS
FOMS
FOMS
FOMS FAIR committee
1,400
20,000 Lara,Tara,Chris
Lucy/Lara/Gillian
0
0
October 18th (tbc)
Nov 25th (tbc)
Nov 18th
tbc
tbc
tbc
TERM 4
Fair
Sausage sizzles x1
FOMS meeting -planning for 2016
Ice cream Friday's at school
Abacus calendars (or other)
Christmas carols by candle light
FOMS FAIR committee
SCHOOL & CLASS PARENTS
FOMS
FOMS
SCHOOL
FOMS & SCHOOL
40,000
TOTAL
(excludes new events where profit is not known)
tbc
May 27th
June 24th
May 15th /Jun 26
June 5th
June 19th (tbc)
tbc
Aug 5th / Sept 16
July 31st
Aug 26th
tbc
tbc
Office
Office
Lucy/Lara/Gillian
Lucy/Lara/Gillian
Office
Anna Dales
Lucy/Lara/Gillian
3,200
0
$
85,700
Other fundraising/community ideas

Garden to Table – Joanne is the Upper North Island Area Coordinator for the Garden to Table Trust,
and also a school parent. If you weren’t at this FOMS meeting to see Joanne’s passion for the
program being in our school, you can be assured she is very keen to have it in place for our children
as soon as possible. She has first-hand knowledge of the positive effects the program has on all
students, and would love Maungawhau to be involved. Check out their website
www.gardentotable.org.nz. Delanee and the Board are keen to understand how this could work for
Maungawhau School.
ACTION: Jo Harland, Alison Comer, Lucy MacGinley and Geoff Scott to form a working party to
scope out how this could be implemented for Maungawhau School. Please contact Jo
(joanne@gardentotable.org.nz or call her on 021 395 333) if you also wish to be part of this process.
Jo to set first meeting date.

Community Business Directory – Our school community encompasses a range of businesses,
trades and services. We all want to support the businesses in our local school community so FOMS
are starting a school community business directory to promote themselves and advertise for free. So
when you need a electrician, gardener, cleaner, accountant, IT help, etc…..you go to our school
directory first before google!!! Please get in contact (initially via larahrstic@yahoo.com) if you would
like to advertise in this directory for free.
ACTION: Thank you to Frances Pavlovich and Sarah Allen who have volunteered to co-ordinate this
initiative. Frances and Sarah to update progress at subsequent FOMS meetings.
Other Business
 New school vision – BOT, teachers and students have together come up with a new school vision
“Growing Leaders”. More information will be communicated to the school community soon. This
vision is included in the curriculum this year.
ACTION: Matt Wiseman to speak about the Maungawhau Learner, new School Vision and Mission at
the next FOMS meeting.

Other information evenings - aimed to be covered in 2015:
o Growing Leaders
o How to use our school websites (Google Drive & e-News)
o Cyber Safety
o Mathletics and Reading Eggs (term 2)
o Reporting - update from Tania Plaisir
Please send any other topics of interest through to Lucy MacGinley (lucymacginley@yahoo.com.au)
9.15 Meeting close