Kia ora koutou,
Welcome back to school everyone, I hope you all enjoyed the break and managed to get outside despite the rain.
Term 2 was action-packed! A huge thank you to everyone involved in our fundraising efforts alongside Unruly Company. Our school-wide steps challenge was a big success, with everyone having lots of fun. We also had over 100 people sign up for boot camp and yoga with Unruly. These events helped us raise an amazing $8,100 towards buying an interactive projection system for our students. We are also very grateful to the St Georges Market Shop Fund (Hauraki) for kindly donating $1,500 towards this. We are pleased to say we have now ordered the equipment, and training for the team is booked for later this term.
There were so many fun events last term. We were very proud of our group of students from Glenfield College who took part in the National Dance Challenge. They were exceptionally confident on stage and performed brilliantly, winning the Attitude Award to bring back to school. We also celebrated Philippines Independence Day with a range of events and activities, including games, food, and music. Thank you to our Filipino staff who helped make this a wonderful experience for everyone. We also celebrated Book Week, with classes across the school creating opportunities for their students.
Congratulations to the students and team at Albany Junior High School and Room 1 at Base who won the Book Week display challenge. Our Junior and Intermediate students also danced the night away at our school discos!
Our whānau learning session last term, linked with Disability Connect, Taikura Trust, and Work & Income, focused on how these organisations can provide support. This was delivered in-school and via video link and was attended by 34 people from Wilson School, Wairau Valley Special School, Takapuna Grammar School, and others. Our next whānau learning session is booked for Thursday 29th August 2024, 6.30pm-8.30pm and will focus on how the school uses Team Teach to promote positive behaviour support. The meeting will include information on the Team Teach approach and how we meet sensory challenges to enable students to regulate. This will be delivered by two of our in-school Team Teach tutors, Anju Raza (Assistant Principal) and Susan Murray (Senior Teacher). Save the date.
In our last newsletter, we shared our latest school ERO report. ERO has now published a national report on day specialist schools. The report can be found here - https://ero.govt.nz/news/ero-releases-new-report-on-specialist-day-schools
ERO reviewed all 27 day specialist schools across the country, some of the key findings include:
- Good quality of education provision across schools, with students experiencing highly adapted and individualised programmes of learning.
- Nine in ten parents told ERO they were happy with the quality of their child’s schooling and agreed that their child is learning about things that are important to their child.
- Demand for specialist day schools has increased rapidly over the past decade and most specialist schools have long waitlists.
- With no new specialist schools established in over 50 years, growth has largely been accommodated through a network of satellite classes. Greater planning around satellite provision and national guidance around expectations and operation of this provision is desperately needed.
- To realise the potential of specialist schools, ERO is recommending that work be done to ensure students and their families can access the right education for them.
Most specialist schools have raised concerns about their capacity to continue enrolling students, and Wilson School is also rapidly reaching this position. We have been working with the Ministry of Education to try and gain further classrooms for the past few years. Unfortunately, nothing has been provided at this stage. We will continue to advocate for the importance of being able to provide specialist education for our community and the right for parents to have this as a choice for their child.
The Special Education Principals’ Association NZ (SEPANZ) has continued to advocate for our schools and has been working closely with the Minister for Education, helping to raise the challenging situation many specialist schools are finding themselves in. SEPANZ have also supported the setup of a specialist schools parent advocacy group. We are very pleased that Kristie Taurua is representing Wilson School as part of this group.
Have a great term everyone.
Mā te wā
Neil Kefford
Pohutukawa whānau
Base Room 3
Term 2 was packed with activities at our school, and our class jumped into action. Book Week was a standout event, with students and staff cozying up in warm pyjamas and diving into their favourite reads. We also marked Philippine Independence Day for the first time, delighting in sweet Filipino treats, traditional games, and cultural arts. Our class’s participation didn’t end there; we engaged in Matariki celebrations, showed our team spirit on Sports Day, took part in the School Assembly, and excelled in the Step Challenge, nearly doubling our target steps!
AJ16
Our trip to the Birkenhead Climbing Centre last term was a delightful and unforgettable adventure. The diverse activities were excellent, and the students loved the challenge. It’s a destination we’re keen to revisit for more thrilling experiences. Our outing to Pak n Save was a positive and enjoyable venture. We displayed impressive confidence and independence as we navigated the store, checked our list, and located the items we needed. Our teamwork and problem-solving abilities were commendable, providing a practical learning experience.
Wilson Book Week was a fantastic celebration, filled with lively activities and captivating stories. We express our sincere thanks to our families for reading to our wonderful young people.
This term, we’re excited about continuing our Pak n Save visits and trips to our local dairy to further hone our life skills. We will also carry on with our music therapy sessions, which have been immensely enjoyable.
AJ15
Term 2 was a whirlwind of activities at AJ15. We celebrated book week, where we learnt what everyone’s favourite book was and made a fantastic display that portrayed the theme that books are magic. There was also the whole school step challenge, which got everyone moving and counting steps, as did the school disco, where everyone showed off some impressive dance moves. We also went rock climbing and bowling; where everyone became a bit competitive and keen to show of their skills during both activities. Matariki also fell just before the end of term, and we learned about different stars and what they represent.
Manuka 15
Term 2 was filled with meaningful activities both in the school and out in the community. The students enjoyed learning about the past and present for our unit study in which transportation was their favourite topic. We also visited the Birkenhead Climbing Centre and Windy Ridge Reserve. The Ball Skills Day at Glenfield College was also a great success. In addition, the School Disco, Book Week, Matariki, and Philippine Independence Day were some of the significant events that we celebrated across the school.
In term 3, we will continue to support the students in growing their literacy skills through different word work and reading materials. For maths, we will continue to support students number knowledge and discuss the concepts of time and temperature. With our unit study, we will be sharing meaningful stories to broaden students understanding about relationships and connections. Also, we will continue with our Playball and Music Therapy sessions. We also look forward to visiting Kelly Tarlton’s this term to support students interest in sea creatures!
Manuka 16
Last term was a fun-filled one at Manuka 16. We celebrated with a Disco, honoured Philippine Independence Day, conquered wall rock climbing, enjoyed music sessions, played our hearts out with Play Ball, and had a blast on Sports Day. We also had an awesome visit to the Windy Ridge Reserve park!
This term we have planned for even more exciting outdoor learning experiences and adventures. Stay tuned for more updates and get ready for another fantastic term!
Nikau whānau
Bayswater 1
In Term 2, the class was alive with excitement as students took part in a variety of activities. They kicked off with Sports Day, where everyone participated in races and games. The Indoor Climbing Adventure was a test of their strength and agility, and they loved the experience. The Steps Challenge was a hit too, turning exercise into a fun and competitive game that had everyone counting steps. Celebrating Philippines Independence Day added a cultural dimension to the term, with students engaging in traditional dances and enjoying Filipino delicacies while learning to express gratitude in Tagalog. The term was a blend of physical education, cultural appreciation, and pure fun, creating memories that students and parents alike will cherish. The Bayswater 1 team extends their gratitude to the parents for their support and looks forward to more exciting times ahead.
Bayswater 2
In Bayswater 2 term 2 was packed with exciting activities and memorable moments! We had a fantastic Book Week, celebrating our love for reading with various events and activities, such as parents coming in to read to us, going to the school library as well as creating a Gruffalo forest and window. Our climbing trip to Birkenhead Leisure Centre was a thrilling adventure, where students challenged themselves and had a blast. The Wilson School Step Challenge at Onepoto Reserve saw everyone stepping up for fitness and fun. We managed to do almost 12,000 steps altogether. The school disco was a hit, with students dancing the night away. For Philippine Independence Day we had a fun filled day with art, cooking, dancing, karaoke, and games. We also had a Ball Skills Day at Glenfield College, where students honed their sports skills and enjoyed some friendly competition. It was a term full of learning, laughter, and growth!
Base Room 1
Room 1 had a great term participating in a range of activities including the Wilson School step challenge, Book Week, Philippines Independence Day, Play Ball, Base Sports Day, and our trip to the Birkenhead Leisure Centre for rock climbing! The students thoroughly enjoyed these events and learning the different skills. Our highlight of the term was Book Week - we worked on our class display where the pages of animal-themed books came to life as our young students embarked on an exciting journey. Inspired by the classic song ‘Old MacDonald Had a Farm,’ we delved further into the world of farm animals. We had so much fun using our imagination and everyday materials to create a farm scene. We have lots planned for this term and look forward to inviting our whānau to our Maths Week open morning!
Karaka whānau
Glenfield Juniors
Hapori (māori word for community). Hapori best describes term 2 for the Junior class of the Glenfield College satellite, as a great sense of belonging allowed many of us to thrive last term. Various activities provided opportunities for us to support each other. Let’s start with the Book Week project. Yes, we didn’t win in the “Decorate Your Door” contest but it united us to contribute something for a common goal. Everyone gave their best effort to complete the work. Then, there’s the Philippine Independence Day celebration which introduced us to the colourful culture of the Filipinos, part of which was bayanihan which is the Filipino way of working together as a community. Lastly, the Onepoto Steps Challenge was a great way to support younger kids who participated in this school-wide activity. We were happy to be part of these big projects! We learned that each of us have something to contribute, and one’s willingness to share can make a huge load easy to carry. Indeed, many hands can make the work light! He rau ringa e oti ai!
Wilson Tech (Transition 1&2)
Transition 1&2 had an amazing Term 2 and we are excited for Term 3!
We were involved in so many learning activities inside and outside the classroom! These included a Sports Day which we hosted at Glenfield College, Steps Challenge at Onepoto Domain and a Bowling League Challenge which we will continue this term with more teams added in!
We are learning about leadership and how we can best support others around us, be this through helping or inspiring. This term our focus is on stories, we will start with telling the story of the things we love and then extend this out to include all the stories of what we experience in Transition.
Room 2
Last term Room 2 looked at comparing old and new and looked at how Auckland used to look and how it looks now. We had Morgan (intern) teach us all about history in New Zealand and look at a lot of old items and we got to write with a quill and ink. We managed to go out on lots of fun trips including; the library, Flourish café, different parks and also we went climbing in the climbing centre. The students amazed everyone with how fearless they were. We had a great sports day in school and tried lots of different ball skill sports. We continued with our school garden work as well growing a range of vegetables.
This term we are looking forward to lots of things. We are still going on our trips to the café, the library and a few class walks. We also will be going for some basketball sessions at Hoop 33 and go to North Harbour Gymnastics every Friday.
Toe Toe whānau
Windy Ridge 1 & 2
Every Friday, our enthusiastic students at Windy Ridge 1&2 embarked on a refreshing journey to hydrotherapy sessions. The therapeutic water exercises not only invigorated their bodies but also strengthened their bonds as a close-knit group. But that’s not all! Recently, they had an unforgettable field trip to Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater World. As they explored the mesmerizing marine exhibits, they marvelled at colourful fish, connecting their classroom learning to the wonders of the deep blue sea.
And guess what? Their adventure didn’t end there! In celebration of Philippine Independence Day, the students came together for a vibrant cultural extravaganza. Traditional dances, heartfelt songs, and delicious Filipino cuisine filled the air.
As if destiny smiled upon them, Gift A Seat surprised the students with tickets to the enchanting play “Five Go On An Adventure”. And amidst it all, they celebrated Matariki—the Māori New Year. Gathered under star-studded skies, they shared stories, sang songs, and came together as a school.
For this term, there will be a lot of story-telling and sharing of experiences with one another. These stories will be around Māori legends, culture and history.
Room 4
In room 4, Term 2 was underscored by our commitment to fitness and the positive extensions flowing from that commitment into our curriculum goals. We increased our fundamental movement skills (FMS) routine from one day a week to two. We incorporated more equipment during these fitness days, such as our stationary swing. The class engaged in a Steps Challenge with the rest of the school and superstar Antonia walked an extra lap beyond our stated goal. Well done, Antonia! Our bowling trip was a great success with more trips to come this term. The benefits of this extra time spent exercising were noticeable to all of the staff in Room 4. Our students displayed an increased amount of time in focus and concentration, their fitness routines became longer with increased complexity, and communication/literacy goals were achieved. Well done, room 4!
Room 5
Last term in room 5 was marked by our weekly bowling sessions, a highlight that brought Room 5 closer together. It was incredible to witness how each student seamlessly adapted to our Monday routine knowing that it is bowling day. Beyond the lanes, this school trip had positive impacts—fostering camaraderie, teamwork, and working on their physical activity in a more interactive and enjoyable way. As we picked up the balls and rolled them down the lane, we not only had fun but also created lasting memories. The shared laughter, friendly competition, and supportive atmosphere made these bowling sessions an integral part of our term 2.
Room 6
Room 6 has been a hive of activity! We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to The PumpHouse Theatre to watch ‘5 Go on an Adventure’. All the students were excited by the play, and we had an awesome time. In class we have been using our PODD books to develop our communication and strengthen our learning. We are loving exploring a wide range of sensory items and we are broadening our vocabulary to describe our experiences. This term we are looking forward to getting our transition aged students out and about in the community. Our younger students will be enjoying music therapy and for some, hydrotherapy too.
Spectrum Care School Holiday Programme
Spectrum Care run a school holiday programme for Wilson School students. For further details please contact -
Darryl Benge – 0272948892 - darryl.benge@spectrumcare.org.nz