Welcome to Term 3

I'd like to extend a warm welcome to students, parents and whānau to term 3 at the Bay Academy. I acknowledge our busy lives and as a result just want to bullet point whats happening at our school during this term. If you ever want more information or have suggestions or feedback for our school you can email me at principal@boi.ac.nz.

• IB Evaluation Visit: we are being visited by representatives from the International Baccalaureate organisation in week 3. This is an evaluation of our school in terms of our status as an IB World School. This is a very important visit and our IB PYP coordinator Jenna Grant has put in many hours preparing us for success. We feel we are well prepared but fingers crossed everyone!
• School photos in week 4 - more information to follow.
• Please remember to let Sharon at reception know if your child is sick, each day that they remain at home. We also have a mobile phone for texting 021 02561795
• A reminder that we are a water only school supporting the New Zealand Dental Association (NZDA) and good oral hygiene. We also encourage waste free lunchbox options for children.
• Mindfulness programme - we continue to support emotional wellbeing through the mindfulness daily programme in our school. We are pleased to see a growing number of schools locally and internationally adopting this practice to support young people.
• Positive Behaviour for Learning - this new initiative for 2019 continues to build momentum. As a school community we are making an agreed list of the expected behaviours specific to areas of the school eg. classroom, library, bus, etc. The next step is bringing a consistent approach to teaching and modelling these behaviours so they become embedded.
  Mindfulness and PB4L are key parts of our 2019-2021 strategic plan;
  
  

Finally, I know this is an important time for families of senior students as you consider schooling options for 2020. Students in year 6 and 7 begin to look towards high school and think that the move will be better for them, for whatever reason? 

Before deciding to make the move prior to completing year 8 I encourage you to consider these questions:

1. Is inquiry learning through connected units, where students are encouraged to pursue their interests and passions, more meaningful, engaging and relevant than the 55 minute blocks of unrelated subjects they are likely to face at high school?

2. Will students experience mindfulness and learning to support their personal emotional wellbeing at high school?

3. Will they enjoy the distraction free option of no mobile phones at high school? 

4. Will they get opportunities to become leaders and enjoy leadership training and responsibility at high school?

5. Will they be offered weekly outdoor education such as paddle boarding, sailing, waka ama, hip hop dancing, horse riding, mountain biking and more? or get the chance to visit the Hilary Outdoors Centre at Mt Ruapehu?

6. Will they go to a school that is actively changing to meet the needs of every child, not just those with academic strengths?

We continue to work hard to offer students a diverse, relevant and modern education fit for a rapidly changing world. We are by no means there yet, but we will be guided by the very latest and best practice to continue to evolve for the best outcomes for our young people.