Hi Shelley and Linda.

As we have discussed in response to feedback from parents it would be constructive to meet informally with parents of students following your year 10 NCEA Level 1 programme to answer questions and develop a collaborative approach to the project ( us students and parents)

I have spent a great deal of time working on blogs over the last couple of years and although a good marketing tool doesn't elicit a great deal of involvement with students.

I think that the tutorials I have been working on will be more useful to them towards the end of the year.

The problem with the blog approach is that it has ownership issues. The person running the blog typically allows limited access to other users. For students this is another classroom situation with a teacher in charge. The same applies to teachers as well, just another system that you are forced to work with.


3/04/2009

Dear Parents / CaregiversDuring Term 1 we have been assessing the abilities of student in the two top year 10 classes (1001 and 1005). The students in these classes are very willing to learn and are working at a level above the norm for year 10. Because of this we would like to give these students the opportunity to gain a head start in NCEA, particularly in Science.We propose to offer these students the opportunity to sit two NCEA level 1 Science Achievement standards in basic Chemistry and Physics this year with the view to giving them a more comprehensive level 1 course in 2010 which we feel would be better suited to these students.The two external assessments offered this year are those that are currently being sat by year 11 level 1 students. These give a broad but shallow range of knowledge within these topics. If these papers are completed this year students would then be offered more specific papers in both chemistry and physics in 2010. This would better prepare them for level 2 and 3 Chemistry and Physics, with the expectation of improved results. Entry requirements at tertiary level are based on grade point averages as well as number of credits. The grade point average is dependant on the number of excellence and merit credits gained in Achievement Standards. By giving these year 10 students a more solid foundation in level 1 knowledge and the opportunity to earn credits, we hope to improve chances for excellence and scholarship in year 13.If you have any further enquiries please feel free to talk to your child’s Science teacher at parent interviews, or the Head of Department (John West), available at the school number.Yours sincerelyJohn West
(HoD Science)