Our first newsletter of the year will be sent home today, Tuesday 7 February, along with a Goals sheet for parents to complete and bring along to the Meet the Parents/Teachers meeting on Thursday at 7.00 pm. We have also attached a newsletter about the Cultural and Music groups that we offer and a Parental Assistance sheet for you to indicate how you can be involved this year. These newsletters are also attached to this notice. We have made an excellent start to the year, thank you all for your support in ensuring the children are prepared for the year. 
Why Choose Us?
Sunnybrae Normal School has established a reputation for providing quality education within a positive and inclusive climate. We value the partnership that we have with parents, students, staff and community, recognising their substantial contribution made since 1966 in providing the resources, facilities, standards, traditions and values we have today. We aim to maintain and extend our students' education in a climate of partnership, life long learning, and in caring for and valuing each individual. We prioritise the following:
- Student achievement - high expectations
- Excellence in teaching and learning
- Effective communication
- Professional approach - teamwork and continuous improvement
Effective Teaching Practice
A variety of effective teaching strategies and approaches are used to achieve success in learning. These include: an inquiry based approach, problem solving, authentic learning experiences that relate to real life contexts, co-operative learning, use of learning centres, ability based individualised and group learning, interactive and hands on experiences, use of the environment and peer tutoring. We believe it is our responsibility to offer children the best and most effective strategies to suit their learning needs.
Library and Information Centre
Our library and information centre is a modern, child friendly, key resource area in our school. Each year we apportion a significant part of our budget to maintaining and extending teaching and learning resources that support the learning process.
Classrooms are all networked to the library facilities and we use a computerised system for the issue and return of all books and resources. Computers are available for students to use enabling them to further develop their information skills to undertake research. Supervised access to educational websites is provided before school and at lunchtimes. This is also a time for students to browse or gather information on topics of interest to them.
Gifted and Talented Programme
Special programmes are offered in a variety of curriculum areas to students with special talents and abilities. An extensive programme both within the classroom and in selected groups is provided. This includes mathematics extension, thinking skills, philosophy for children, future problem solving, speech making, debating, and one-day curriculum programmes.
Catering for Special Needs
Children with special needs are assisted in a variety of ways. The part-time teachers and teacher aides play a prominent role in helping class teachers best meet each student’s needs. We provide support programmes in maths, reading and writing and a Perceptual Motor Programme for students needing assistance in developing greater co-ordination. Our school works closely with specialist agencies to ensure that best advice and support is accessed. An Individual Education Plan (IEP) is written for children who gain support via the Ministry’s ORRS (Ongoing Reviewable Resourcing Scheme).
ESOL – English for Speakers of Other Languages
For newer arrivals to New Zealand with no English, or limited English, some additional help is provided with discretionary funding made available by the Ministry of Education. Specialist teachers provide small group tuition in English. We also employ two language assistants who provide support and translation for our Chinese and Korean students.
Music Extension
Opportunities exist for students to be involved in a number of musical activities that are additional to classroom programmes. Our senior choir participates in Music Festivals and, along with the Junior Choir, perform at assemblies and local venues. Lunchtime recorder and instrumental groups offer free music tuition for children from Year 3 onwards. Junior, Middle and Senior school musicals are produced biennially.
Sports Teams
We have an optional, varied sports programme at lunchtime. Each Friday the senior syndicate students participate in a variety of sports; this includes regular sports exchanges with neighbouring schools. School hockey, netball, basketball, flippa ball and touch rugby teams participate in regular competitions. There are also school swimming, cross-country and athletics events from which representatives are chosen to compete at school cluster competitions.
Cultural Groups
We have two Kapahaka groups, one for Middle and one for Senior students, dance and drama groups and a chess group, all examples of groups that encourage students to extend their education and personal interests and talents.
Enviroschool
Sunnybrae is proud to be involved in the Enviroschool programme. In 2011 we received a Silver Ward - see attached statement below about this. As an Enviroschool we have established a school garden group who meet weekly to further develop and maintain our garden and worm bin. We have a shade house where children are encouraged to propagate plants for our own Sunnybrae bush area.
| Attachment | Size |
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| SNS – Silver Award Statement 10:11.pdf | 72.05 KB |
Noticeboard
Welcome Back Everyone
Upcoming Events
- PTA meeting(10 hours)
- Dental Van(2 days)
- Meet the teacher evening(2 days)
- Dental Van(3 days)
- Board of Trustees meeting(7 days)
- Classroom helpers meeting(8 days)
Recent Blogs & Videos
Nothing published.