What's going on here?

Hello Folks and Families, 

As many of you are aware, Sylvia Park school is in a `happening' location with a whole lot of action happening up and down the highway, but there is something happening down underground below the sports field that is hard to believe! 

We are `special' because under the field lies one of Auckland's largest sewer pipes, at about 2m high.  It has been there a very long time and needs some major repair work done to it so that it doesn't collapse with the stampede of students running over the top of it! 

Reality is, Watercare are having to make a big enough hole in the pipe so they can lower a `small' boat into it so that the workers can go up and down the pipe and clean and repair the concrete pipes, with most of the work being done at night when the `water' level isn't so high!!  So far, they working on getting the work going well and smoothly, and should be all go very shortly.

So although we may get un-welcome noise and smells from their work, spare a thought for those who have to get inside it! 

Paul

Introducing.... Paul Tetley

Paul and his family
(images all rights reserved)

Who are you?

I mostly do property maintenance with a growing interest in landscaping as well, I try to make the best use of what a property has to offer. I'd like to be self sufficient and have a lot more time to spend `building stuff' with the boys and their mum!

What would you like to do for a holiday?

Go back to Arrowtown and look for more Gold! or to Australia or America and go real treasure hunting with the boys...

What do you enjoy about being on the Board of Trustees?

Our BOT is privileged to have a great administration team at the school who work tirelessly to improve all aspects of the school and teachers. It's great to be a part of this and in contact with that team and understand so much more about all the different levels of `our education system'. It is a very good way to learn so much more about how wonderful the school is on a deeper level also.

What other connection do you have to the school?

My wife grew up in this school, some of her teachers are still here! We have three boys, we expect all of them will grow up right here too! I, on the other hand, went to primary and intermediate school in the Philippines.

Learning every day

Hello one and all, parents and caregivers!

You will have seen and read the Sylvia Park School mission, "Setting children on a path of lifelong learning" many times by now, and how is this achieved?   Well, it never actually ends but it definitely starts soon after a child learns to say the word "No!”  At this point they have realised they have some power to influence their world, it is up to all of us to develop that attitude to be positive and enriching for the rest of their lives.

The Ministry of Education has set a goal for all schools to actively seek ways that all students can reach their potential. The staff at our school are well equipped and spend a huge amount of time ensuring that every child is encouraged on their learning journey through school.  Many tests prove that our students are achieving well compared to the national averages.  But we want our kids to do even better, and it really does matter!

A very major factor in student under-achievement is non-attendance or ‘having to move again..' (this is a sad option in more ways than one!).  It has been shown to greatly disrupt the learning process and it is frustrating for the teachers to see such wasted potential.  Unless they are unwell, PLEASE try and have your children at school every day! 

A child is like a fruit tree that is planted in good soil by a stream, it will grow strong and deep and easily weather the storms in their life, and also produce fruit for many to enjoy....but they need their parents to partner with the teachers to maintain that solid ground for them to grow within and maintain a passion for learning at SPS!   

Paul