North Canterbury News: January 18, 2024

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22 North Canterbury News, January 18, 2024
Focus on maths
Pegasus Bay School is reaping the
benefits from its extra focus on
maths.
The year 1to8school began a
trial of an innovative model for
teaching numeracy, Maths ­ No
Problem,two years ago and
principal Jared Kelly is pleased
with the results.
‘‘It was aprogramme which
aligned with us.
There are other programmes,
but this one really hit the mark in
terms of the teaching and learning
and how we want to do maths.
‘‘The teachers have brought into
it and there have been good
opportunities for professional
development.’’
New Zealand’s declining
numeracy standards have been
the subject of debate among
educators and politicians alike in
recent years.
The New Zealand maths rating
is 494 on mathematics
performance (PISA 2018), just
above the average of 489 among
the OECD nations.
But countries like Japan,South
Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong
have ratings well above 500.
Maths ­NoProblem! is similar to
the Singapore model, and is based
around students getting abroad
and in­depth understanding of
maths by masteringconcepts, Mr
Kelly says.
‘‘We have done our two years
and we have completed our
review and decided to continue
with it.
‘‘We arereally happy with the
results, particularly through our
junior school, which flows into the
senior school.
‘‘It has had amassive impact
Jared Kelly
through our school.’’
Concepts are taught in ‘‘microsystems’’,
so they get agood
understanding of how to explore
maths problems and how to solve
them, Mr Kelly said.
Students work with ‘‘maths
buddies’’ and complete
journalingasthey go to reflect on
theirlearning, ‘‘so it is areally
thorough process’’.
Mr Kelly said two other schools
in the Kātote Kāhui Ako (Kaiapoi
community of learning) have
since joined the programme,
while Kaiapoi High School uses it
for its remedial maths programme
for year 9and 10 students.
‘‘There is still some ability to
put your own flavour on it, but the
teaching is consistent.
‘‘The programme is prescribed
so they don’t need to plan for the
lessons, which is really good for
those less confident teaching
maths.’’
Parent support
While your child has awhole raft of services they can
turn to for advice and guidance, if they are anxious
or concerned at school, what about the parents?
Community Wellbeing North Canterbury Trust
provides help for parents and caregivers of
secondary school and tertiary aged students in North
Canterbury through its free parent drop­in service.
With the parenting programmes supported by
MainPower, the trust’s counsellors can offer free
advice and support around wellbeing and mental
health for parents of young people aged from 13 to 24.
Antoinette Lewis, clinical team leader at
Wellbeing NC, says parents seek help for awide
variety of issues.
‘‘This often includes concerns about sleep, eating,
self harm, anxiety and low moods, gaming, alcohol
and drug use, grief, loss and change issues.
‘‘We are there to support them, to provide
information on how to navigate mental health
services or how to access further support services
like parentline or parenting place,’’ she says.
Many parents struggling with teenage children
issues want to have aconversation with acouncillor,
who may be able to help with their situation.
‘‘In many cases they want to improve their
relationship with their teenager butdon’t know how
or who to turn to. That’s where we come in with our
free parent drop­in service.’’
To book an appointment call Community
Wellbeing on 03 310 6375 and appointments can take
place in person or via avideo call.
Other Resources include parentline (0800 568 856)
and parentingplace.nz/.
Rangiora High School principal Bruce Kearney
says they know many young people starting school
experience high levels of anxiety.
‘‘We are also very aware of issues around
wellbeing and the impact of transitioning on young
(and older) people.’’
‘‘Yet Idobelieve that the resilience found in many
of our young people is remarkable. We are aware
that any time astudent transitions from one stage in
life to the next, such as schooling, there is
excitement and there are anxieties.’’
He says for parents, acoffee and cake evening with
the principal allows parents to ask aboutthe
concerns and interests they have when their
children are preparing to enter high school.
Tēnā koe iroto ingā āhuatanga otewā
Our vision is to empower young parents by providing secondary school qualifications in an inclusive and caring environment. Students
work towards NCEA Levels 1,2,&3. They are further supported through arange of parenting, life skills, careers advice, budgeting and
healthy relationships programmes.
If you are aged under 21 years and either hapū oralready have achild we would love tomeet with you to discuss your aspirations.
We have places available for 2024 and the on-site ELC has spaces available for children aged 6weeks to6years.
Early Learning Centre open for new
enrolments.
Monday 22January 2024, 9am to 3.30pm
Transport available. Whānau welcome.
Young Parents’College enrolment for
new &returning students
Tuesday 30 January 2024, 10.30 to 12 noon
Transport available. Whānau welcome.
We look forward tomeeting you!
For ELC enquiries please contact:
Jacinta McInerney
P: 327 8315 M: 027 816 5388
E: karangamai@wellbeingnc.org.nz
For all YPC enquiries please contact:
Ruth Robertson P: 327 8386
Robert Coup Road, Kaiapoi 7630
E: ypc@kaiapoi.school.nz
To encourage, empower &enrich the learning of young parents
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