Bay Harbour: July 06, 2016

PAGE 10 BAY HARBOUR
Wednesday July 6 2016
Innovative
teaching
Diamond Harbour School
has been allocated Government
funding to trial innovative teaching
approaches.
The school and its partner, Kidsfirst
Diamond Harbour Early Learning
Centre, were allocated $49,900
for a project to learn mathematics.
Selwyn MP Amy Adams said she
was looking forward to seeing the
results of the project, which was
among 46 selected in the second
round of the Teacher-led Innovation
Fund.
“This fund supports teachers’
bright ideas that evidence shows are
working and can be shared across
schools.
“It is part of the Government’s
$359 million Investing in Educational
Success initiative, which aims
to encourage collaboration between
schools to enhance teaching practices
and help Kiwi students achieve
at even higher levels.”
Meanwhile Darfield Primary
School and its partner, Annabels
Educare, will receive $79,500 for
their project, which focuses on the
transition between early childhood
education and primary school, and
how it affects literacy.
Both projects are supported by
Canterbury University and are for a
term of two years.
This round of the fund involves
114 schools and six early childhood
education providers. About $3.6 million
of the $18 million fund has been
allocated. The next funding round
will open in November.
Retiring after 27 years
• By Bridget Rutherford
SHEILA ROBINSON has spent
nearly 27 years teaching and
caring for children in Redcliffs.
But she served her last day at
Moa Kids Community Early
Learning Centre on Friday.
It was the children and
families in the area that she will
miss the most in her retirement.
“That’s been the best part and
all the lovely families in Redcliffs.
That’s what I’ve enjoyed.”
Mrs Robinson started working
at the centre as a reliever
in 1990 when it was called
Redcliffs-Sumner Community
Creche. The role had been advertised
in the newspaper.
At that stage, it was in the old
scout den in Barnett Park, before
it moved to the old church
hall in Augusta St, then back to
its current spot in Barnett Park.
“Things change over the
years, don’t they?” she said.
Lyttelton pupils get all lit up
EVERY YEAR, Lyttelton
Primary School pupils look
forward to the festival of lights
event.
This year, in collaboration
with Project Lyttelton and the
festival committee, the pupils
were each given a length of LED
lighting to sew onto a piece of
clothing.
“After the quakes, we did lose
lots of families. Lots of families
moved away. That was quite a
sad time because you didn’t see
them again. Some came back
and some new people came so
that was a big change.”
Mrs Robinson has taught the
parents of children who now go
to the centre.
At her farewell on Wednesday,
a lot of children she had
cared for and taught returned
to say goodbye.
She said working in a preschool
required so much more
than just teaching.
“Early childhood is a lot
of caring. They’ve got to feel
secure and happy to want to
learn. It’s not just about teaching,
it’s also about self-help
skills.”
Centre manager Hayley Strachan
said Mrs Robinson had a
wide range of knowledge.
Science Alive taught Totara
children (years 7 and 8) the
process who in turn tutored
Raupo children (years 5 and 6).
The week before the festival,
these children were buddied
up with a pupil from Takaroa
(children from years 1-4 ) to
help them with their designing
and sewing.
“She will be missed hugely by
the children. She’s part of the
furniture here.”
Mrs Robinson said she
will now use her time to
visit her daughter and her two
Lots of parents went along to
help thread needles and tidy up
loose ends.
The lit-up pupils marched in
the parade along London St,
ending at Albion Square to
sing a rendition of Fireflies,
before going to watch the
fireworks and enjoy the festival
stalls.
SCHOOLS
GOOD SERVICE: Sheila Robinson has retired from Moa Kids
Community Early Learning Centre after nearly 27 years
working there.
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
grandchildren in the United
Kingdom.
But she was more than
happy to offer help if the centre
needed an “extra pair of hands”,
she said.
A group of pupils created a
sculpture of an octopus, or te
wheke, using wire and plastic
lit up by lights as part of the
school’s enrichment programme.
It then stood proudly on the
edge of Collett’s Corner
representing the school’s new
logo.
BUT THE PARTY’S
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