Frequently Asked Questions
What are Chelsea School's expectations?
"Tomorrow’s Schools", the philosophy that underpins the current structure of New Zealand's schools, works from the premise of a partnership for learning. To this end, the following is seen as the best way to ensure that our constant drive for excellence produces results for the children. Instruction doesn’t happen perchance, it must be driven by the teachers and supported by the parents.
Our expectations of ourselves
Principal
I undertake to function as set out below. I will:
- See everyone in the school every day.
- Put people before paper.
- Delegate and check.
- Support planning, creativity and innovation that drive instruction.
- Establish and maintain rituals and traditions.
- Model what I expect and respect.
- Be prescriptive in my expectations of teachers and children for core activities. This enables everyone to know exactly what is required.
- "Break at least one rule per day" – in other words encourage and allow innovation.
- Oversee portfolios and analyse all testing, feeding results back to teachers.
- Hold regular conferences with individual teachers to see evidence of successful teaching.
- Have expectations of myself and the teachers that are non-negotiable – specific tasks and goals to be achieved within a timeframe, standards of dress and appearance, good role modelling behaviour etc.
Senior Teachers
The Senior Staff undertake the same as the principal, where it relates on a smaller scale to their syndicate, and/or area of responsibility, and to:
- Keep records of measurable results where suitable, in all curriculum areas.
- Graph or table progression in easy to interpret formats.
- Be accountable for all staff and pupils in their jurisdiction.
Teachers
Teachers will:
- Have high literacy and numeracy standards themselves.
- Nurture and care for children in their area.
- Continue with professional development.
- Negate gender issues.
- Promote "School of Excellence".
- Expect that all children can and will learn.
- Expect more of children in their care.
- Tell all children how smart they are, and that smart children can do …
- Give continual high praise for effort and success.
- Mark all work they set.
- Model high standards, thus raising the status of teachers.
Parents
In order for the children to achieve to their potential, parents should ensure that:
- All children get sufficient sleep. All primary aged children should be in bed by 8pm (junior children by 7pm) on school nights.
- Children have breakfast every morning and come to school well rested and well fed.
- Homework is done each school night in a quiet, supportive atmosphere without the distraction of TV.
- Problems with the child or family which may impact on the child’s behaviour are communicated to the school.
- Children have all the correct and necessary equipment at school each day, that the correct uniform is worn, and that footwear is plain black and is suitable rather than fashionable.
- They actively support the school in the school's endeavours for their children.
- They avoid "micro-managing" their children and allow them to develop a sense of independence and responsibility. Allow your child to do things for him/herself, e.g. hang up their own bag, come into school from the gate by him/herself (after the first week or so), tell his/her own news/messages to the teacher, meet you at the gate at 3.00pm etc. Children derive a great sense of achievement from doing these little things unaided, and feel very important.
Our expectations of students
- Teachers must insist on learning – it is a non-negotiable.
- Teachers will give specific skills lessons then apply the skills in contexts that are relevant.
- Teachers will regularly assess the retention of knowledge.
- Competition against self will be encouraged.
- Results will be fed back to children.
- "Only your best is acceptable" is the overriding premise for the children. Work standards are to be high with neatness and correctness taking a prominent part in presentation so that children can take pride in their achievements.
- High standards of behaviour will be modelled, encouraged and enforced.
- At all times children will be expected to be considerate to others and to display good manners.
- Goals will be set with the children for which the children take responsibility.
- All children will be encouraged to improve constantly their LPB (last personal best).
- The "non-negotiables" will be reinforced and enforced at all times to provide a safe and happy environment for all. Most school rules are based on the preservation of personal safety and health, and the protection of property. Parents will always be welcome at school to discuss disciplinary matters. The school maintains that firm, fair, even-handed discipline creates a positive environment for progress and this should be obtained with the total support and co-operation of our parents.
