We are very pleased to share with you our planning and preparation. Our School has a strong partnership between parents and school. While we do not have answers to all elements of our programme, we hope that the following information is of assistance.

Please note - this is a Working Draft only at this stage...

NEW ZEALAND CURRICULUM

The New Zealand Curriculum specifies eight learning areas:

• English
• The Arts
• Health and Physical Education
• Learning Languages
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Science
• Social Sciences
• Technology

The learning associated with each area is part of a broad, general education and lays the foundation for later specialisation at the high school level. Like the Key Competencies, this learning is both end and means: valuable in itself and valuable for the pathways it opens to other learning.

While the learning areas are presented as distinct, this will not limit the way in which our school will structure the learning experiences offered to students at the Year Seven level of our school. All learning will make use of the natural connections that exist between learning areas and that link learning areas to the Values and Key Competencies. Inquiry and high ordering thinking are paramount and an integral part of the Year Seven programmes here at Queenstown Primary School.

The New Zealand Curriculum is made up of:

Vision

Queenstown Primary School promotes quality learning, encourages perseverance and empowers students to create their own pathways to success

Values - students will be encouraged to value...

Perseverance, Honesty, Integrity, Compassion, Caring, Respect and Inclusiveness

Key Competencies - Capabilities for living and life long learning

Thinking, using language, symbols and texts, managing self, relating to others, participating and contributing

Learning Areas - Important for a broad general education

English, The Arts, Health and Physical Education, Learning Languages, Mathematics and Statistics, Science, Social Studies, Technology

Principles - these put the students at the centre of teaching and learning, asserting that they experience a curriculum that engages and challenges them, is forward-looking and inclusive, and affirms New Zealand's unique identity

High expectations, Treaty of Waitangi, cultural diversity, inclusion, learning to learn, community engagement, coherence and future focus.

LEARNING AREAS

Each learning area has its own language or languages. As students discover how to use them, they find they are able to think in different ways, access new areas of knowledge, and see their world from new perspectives. For each area students need the specialist vocabulary associated with that area. They need to know how to read and understand texts. They need to know how to communicate knowledge and ideas in appropriate ways.

They also need to know how to listen and read critically,assessing the value of what they hear and read. As language is central to learning and English is the medium for most learning in the New Zealand Curriculum, the importance of literacy in English cannot be overstated.

In English students study, use and enjoy language and literature communicated orally, visually or in written form.

In The Arts students explore, refine and communicate ideas as they connect thinking, imagination, senses and feelings to create works and respond to the works of others.

In Health and Physical Education students learn about their own well-being, and that of others and society, in health-related and movement contexts.

In Learning Languages students learn to communicate in an additional language, develop their capacity to learn further languages and explore different world views and cultures in relation to their own.

In Mathematics and Statistics students explore relationships in quantities, space and data to learn to express these relationships in ways that help them to make sense of the world around them.

In Science students explore how both the natural physical world and science itself work so that they can participate as critical, informed and responsible citizens in a society in which science plays a significant role.

In The Social Sciences students explore how societies work and how they themselves can participate and take action as critical, informed and responsible citizens.

In Technology students learn to be innovative developers of products and systems and discerning consumers who will make a difference in the world.

for more information on the New Zealand Curriculum see:

http://nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz/the_new_zealand_curriculum

KEY COMPETENCIES

The New Zealand Curriculum identifies five key competencies:

• Thinking
• Using language, symbols and texts
• Managing self
• Relating to others
• Participating and contributing

People use these competencies to live, learn, work and contribute as active members of their communities. More complex than skills, the competencies draw also on knowledge, attitudes and values in ways that lead to action. They are not separate or stand alone. They are the key to learning in every learning area.

Successful learners make use of the competencies in combination with all the other resources available to them. These include personal goals and next learning steps, other people, community knowledge and values, cultural tools (language, symbols and texts) and the knowledge and skill found in different learning areas. As they develop the competencies, successful learners are also motivated to use them, recognising when and how to do so and why.

The competencies continue to develop over time, shaped by interactions with people, places, ideas and things. Students will be challenged and supported to develop them in contexts that are increasingly wide ranging and complex.

So What Does This Look Like for our Year Sevens of 2010...???

English

Reading

Literacy is a major focus for the school, the emphasis is on helping students move from "Learning to Read" to "Reading to Learn". Class programmes will include instructional reading (based on the child's next learning step) as well as reading to learn through inquiry and integrated studies. The use of our school library, public library and the world wide web as a resource will be given special emphasis.

Writing

Written Language was and is still a major focus carrying into 2010. Opportunities and purposes are provided for the students to express themselves clearly and effectively in a range of situations - including blogging design and entries, desktop publishing, drafting information and ideas, personal narratives, poems, arguments, feature articles, character profiles, research reports, essays, responses to literature and short answers. Special emphasis will be placed on crafting and re-crafting and carrying out the process through to conclusion.

Visual Language

Viewing and presenting will be integrated through the curriculum using, for example, video and multimedia, graphics and design. Attention will be paid to visual presentation of all material produced by students. We encourage pride in the presentation of all work

Oral Language

Students will develop communication skills and ideas on a range of topics through public speaking, debating and reflective conversations with peers. Students will be encouraged to take part in rich conversations using appropriate dialogue.

The Arts

We are currently working on a timetable and how much time will be dedicated to each area of the Arts.

Visual Arts

We will be exploring and communicating art making conventions and in particular focusing on the elements of colour, tone and texture.

Drama

We will investigate the functions and purposes of drama and use techniques to create and communicate drama elements and conventions

Dance

The five elements of dance, body awareness, time, energy, space and relationships will be covered during the course of the year

Music

Queenstown Primary School currently offers music with a specialist teacher and this will be continued for the 2010 school year. Students will also be given the opportunity to participate in professional tutoring during and after school hours, such as the flute and saxophone. As more information becomes available we will inform you.

Health and Physical Education

Health and Physical Education

These are taught using the four integrated concepts and strands, which include Personal Health and Physical Development, Movement Concepts and Motor Skills, Relationship with Other People, Healthy Communities and Environments. The key areas for learning are Mental Health, Sexuality Education, Food and Nutrition, Body Care and Physical Activity, Sports Studies and Outdoor Education. Our programme will be supported by a Physical Education specialist with classroom teachers taking an additional three sessions during the week. Health will also be supported by a specialist teacher.

Outdoor Education - including Camps

Queenstown Primary School has offered, over the years, an extensive range of opportunities and activities for students using our immediate resource and community. We would like to continue this. Currently our programme is under development. In Term 1 from March 8th (Week 6) there will be a camp at Moke Lake based around water and outdoor pursuits. As more information becomes available you will be kept informed.

Learning Language

Maori Language

All students are given the change to Whakarongo (hear the language), Korero (speak the language), Titiro (see the language) and Tuhituhi (write the language). Maori protocol and customs will be introduced. Students are also required to complete a research assignment on an aspect of the Maori culture that interests them. Te Reo Maori will be taught and used in all learning areas with full integration and given special teaching time once a week within our language rotation.

Other Languages

The focus is learning how to greet other people and have a simple conversation exchanging personal details, as well as having the opportunity to explore aspects of these colourful and important cultures. They will, as above, hear, speak, see and write the language. These languages will be taught on a rotational basis each term. At this stage we will be offering French and Spanish

Mathematics and Statistics

The School has been involved in the numeracy project for approximately the last eight years. We were lucky enough to have Fraser Hill facilitate teachers continual professional development in this project over the last two years. Our main focus will be on the curriculum strands of Number and Algebra, Geometry, Measurement and Statistics. Students will be cross grouped according to individual assessment tasks at the beginning of each unit and next learning steps. Within these classes students will again be grouped to cater for individual learning styles or strategies that need to be taught. They will be given the opportunity to apply these strategies to real life situations and encouraged to problem solve, use logic and reasoning and communicate their mathematical ideas.

Science

Science will be integrated, where possible, as part of our Inquiry, but in some cases it will stand alone and be a separate subject. Coverage will include the Nature of Science, Living World, Material World and Physical World, and Planet Earth and Beyond. This will be supported with new resourcing and taken in an available space within this new block.

Social Sciences

Social Sciences will also be integrated where possible and applicable, with Inquiry. Throughout the course of the year students will cover four conceptual strands, which include Identity Culture and Organisation, Place and Environment, Continuity and Change, and The Economic World. We will use the Social Inquiry Approach where students question, explore, gather information, anaslyse, consider, reflect and evaluate.

Technology

Information and Communication Skills (ICT)

ICT underpins all learning and is used across all curriculum areas. At Queenstown Primary School ICT will be integrated throughout Year 7 programmes with new hardware and software being introduced. The new Year 7 building allows us to utilise ICT in the way it was and is intended to be used, not as a stand alone subject. Students will be given the opportunity to be involved in a variety of multi media projects such as live broadcasting, Techi experts and classroom blogging. We are a dual platform school and at the Year 7 level we will be using both Apple Mac and PC formats. We are resourced with sets of COW's within the block for students to use on a regular basis and at the point of need.

As staff we are aware that many students possess mobiles and personal laptops. they are the responsibility of the student and phones must be switched off during school hours. if you're happy for your child to bring their personal laptops or cell phones to school, protocols will be put in place.

Technology

A specialist teacher has been employed to facilitate a technology programme. This will be integrated into our inquiry programme.

Technology covers technological practice, technological knowledge and the nature of technology. There is also the possibility of hard technology being delivered at the end of Term 4 using Wakatipu High School's facilities and specialist rooms, whilst their older students are on study leave. If this is possible, it will give our students opportunities to use specialist resources and will help familiarise them with the High School setting. As more information is available you will be informed. Each class will have an hour and half block each week from Term 1 to 3 and Term 4 may be delivered in blocks of time.

Electives

Students choose from a range of options such as academic, sporting and leisure, social and the arts.

Terms 1 and 3 are based on sporting and leisure pursuits and Terms 2 and 4 are based around the arts. Every option that is on offer has an element of core learning showing progressions and next learning steps.

Electives will happen from Week 2 through to Week 9 each term on Wednesday afternoons. This programme is heavily reliant on parent and community support to ensure a programme of quality and choice for the students. Some ideas and possibilities for Term 1 are golf, sailing, cricket, mountain biking, swimming, squash, multi sports, tennis, bowls, fishing, skateboarding and water skiing. If you are able to help or offer support to this programme please speak with John or Justine. More information about this programme will be published at a later date.

Extension, Enrichment, GATE and Learning Support

Queenstown Primary School Year 7's will benefit from programmes and resources already in existence, using the Learning Centre and specialist teachers where required. As teachers and staff of the Year 7's we will be catering for individual needs. For example, if a child is gifted or talented in an area, they will be able to pursue this further whether this be through a programme or extension offered by us, as teaching staff, or school, or as a programme that is purchased beyond the school by parents.

We will support this and time will be provided for the student to complete this during the school day.

Thinking Skills

Students will be encouraged to use De Bono's Thinking Hats, Blooms Taxonomy, Habits of Mind, Thinkers Key and Graphic Organisers as part of their learning.

Homework

The homework programme for Year 7 will be based around reading, spelling and maths. This will be relevant and related to the work being carried out in the classroom that week, to consolidate learning. Students will be required to do no less than half an hour and no more than an hour of homework per night. At times gathering of information will be required at home to complement the inquiry process.

Queenstown Primary School is an Enviro School.

The above is a draft that we are currently working on, we understand there may need to be changes made, as needs arise or time constraints become an issue. We are open to your input and value your feedback on this. We would like to get this right for your child.

Year Seven Team 2010

• Justine
• Helen
• Aimee
• Brendon

Inquiry 2010

Term 1 - Belonging/My Voice is Powerful/Who am I?

How are we going to get on? Who are we? Forming relationships. How will we get on at camp?

This theme encourages you to develop an understanding of yourself as a person. You will develop greater understanding of the needs of others in your class as you learn about yourself as a learner. You will explore your rights and responsibilities as you learn about your role in the school.

Strand Links

• Health - Relationships with other People

Term 2 - Keeping the World Clean

Strand Links

• Health - Healthy Communities and Environments
• Social Studies - Place and Environment

Term 3 - Technology Dinner

Strand Links

• Social Studies - Economic World
  
• Technology - All strands

Term 4 - Festivals and Celebrations

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
9.00 - 10.40	Literacy. Oral, Reading & Writing Programmes	Literacy Tech (class 1)	Literacy Tech (class 4)	Literacy	Literacy
10.30 - 10.40	Read & feed	Read & feed	Read & feed	Read & feed	Read & feed
11.00 - 11.30	Literacy	Literacy	Languages (45 minutes) The Arts	Literacy	Literacy
11.30 - 12.30	Maths	Tech (class 2)	Maths	Maths	Maths
1.30 - 3.00	P.E. Inquiry	P.E. Inquiry Tech (class 3)	Electives	P.E. Inquiry	P.E. Inquiry Full school assembly

please note library, PE specialists, music specialist and Year 7 team meetings are yet to be added to this timetable.