Open-minded: “You don’t get harmony when everybody sings the same note” Doug Floyd

Possessing an open mind is a significant part of IB learning. IB students are open-minded when they understand and appreciate cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. When students become accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, they develop and grow from this experience. At the Bay Academy we want students to learn and understand from their own experiences, and to help put knowledge into perspective as they get older. 

This fortnight I have spent time in the Room 3 and 4 classes hearing all about their inquiry“Homes reflect lifestyle influences and local conditions.” Students looked into a range of cultures and then created stunning models of homes with information on traditions. Students have become very knowledgeable about their chosen society which was clear in their student voice. 


Our whānau games on Friday had an open-minded theme and we had so much fun wearing blindfolds, acting out uses for random objects and thinking of as many uses as possible for a coat hanger. Not only did we see many open minded students but also caring senior students looking after younger friends and also many risk takers.


Speaking to students as I walk around the school I have been asking what being open minded means to them;


“Listening to other peoples ideas” Pheonix D

“It means being open to trying new things, like if someone gives you a challenge, it is accepting and trying.”  Leah Y


“My mind is open and I am ready to learn new things” Aliyah H

“Listen to other people’s ideas and think outside of the box.” Sophie H

2018 and beyond - Our Strategic Plan

Tēnā koutou Parents, Whānau and Caregivers,

2018 and beyond - Our Strategic Plan

We are inviting your input into our next strategic plan?

As we look forward in this fast changing world we continue to inquire and reflect on the most valuable and effective ways to prepare our young people, our rangatahi, for their futures. A big part of this process is agreeing on a VISION for the school and creating a MISSION STATEMENT that will lead to that vision.

The Staff and Board of Trustees have been working on what we believe to be strong statements for both our Vision and Mission, and we ask you now for your input. What do you think? Have we got the flavour of what you want for your children at our school? Have we missed an obvious focus? What is your vision, and how closely does it align with what we have come up with?

VISION

“A peaceful, inclusive, and sustainably productive world”

We envision a world where positive, peaceful relations between people and cultures are the norm, where everyone, every culture, feels recognised and respected and where people act to create and make, in a sustainable way, what is needed for improved lives for all.

MISSION STATEMENT

“Developing confident, balanced and caring people with a shared passion for learning, growth and action, who respect the planet and all who share it”

Here we are trying to encompass the ideals of having every child feeling positive and secure (confident) about their future as they leave us, understanding the importance of physical and mental wellbeing (balance) and having a sense of goodwill to other people/cultures and the environment (caring). We want our children to have choice over and love their learning, who grow as people both educationally and emotionally and who take action for good to improve our society. This is all encompassed in a respect for all things.

The importance of these statements is how they drive and direct the way we run the school day to day. All of our choices and decisions are driven by the Vision and Mission once finalised. This is an important part of who we are as we go forward and it is vitally important that you as parents and whānau have every chance to contribute. We are also asking our students for their input. Please go to the following survey link and answer some brief questions, by Friday 7th September.

Ngā mihi nui

Chris Bell, Principal

http://bit.ly/BOIIAstrategy2019

bit.ly/BOIIAstrategySurvey

Taupo Bay O'Neill Surf Academy

Spring Holiday Surf Programme 1-5 October, 8-12 October 2018
Parents looking for options for the upcoming school holiday break may be interested in this sign up http://bit.ly/2Bv7qr1. It would be a great way to prepare for the BOIIA surfing programme that will start again, after school every Friday in term 4.

Latest on the renovation

We have sent out information about the upcoming removal of asbestos from Rooms 1 and 2. The licensed removal company will be on site from the 27th August until the 7th September, two weeks.

We are looking forward to the completion of the removal process and continuing on with the renovation and modernisation of the learning spaces for our children.

Please be in contact if you have any questions.

The IB programme encourages students to be “active, compassionate and life long learners”

I am really excited to be the PYP Coordinator at BOIIA, it is a role I have admired and now one I can experience. Having taught in the school for three year now I have seen students learn and grow through play and inquiry. In my role I am privileged to visit classes and talk with students about their learning and hear the passion and knowledge shining through. Last week I talked to Room 2 about their inquiry “Tools have adapted and changed over time”. The students had a firm understanding of what changes were made and how that might help us in our lives. Through their unit they explored, played and created under the central idea enhancing skills for future learning.

I am really excited to see what other classes are learning this term! The past week the school has been focussing on the Risk Taker Learner Profile and students received awards in assembly for showing their ability to try new things.

Hillary Outdoors 2018

20 students, 4 parents and principal Chris Bell made the  recent trip to the Hillary Outdoor Education Centre on the central plateau. This fantastic trip was part of the year long learning outside the classroom programme offered to our intermediate age students. The experience tested our students in the outdoors and challenged their team working and leadership skills.

From daily kitchen and cleaning duties to learning about and preparing for adventure in the cold and snow students experienced lots of challenges, and every one of them was tested outside of their normal limits and learnt things about their capacity for resilience and perseverance. 

We owe a big thanks to the parents who helped and supported the students through this challenging week. We look forward to our next trip in 2019. 

Students who took the trip have shared their  reflections in the following 'newspaper' style review.