SAMS 2013 Prospectus Web

7/31/2019 SAMS 2013 Prospectus Web

1/16

2013 Prospectus


2/16

Page 2 www.sams.school.nz

WelcomeSt Andrews Middle School is a well respected Year 7

to 10 learning provider. Our special character of small

class sizes, homeroom learning experiences and high

expectations, makes us the school of choice for Year

7 to 10 students in Hamilton.

Quality teaching and learning is at the heart of

everything we do.

We progress student learning levels significantly from

the time they begin their education with us as a Year

7 student to when they leave us at the end of Year 10, fully equipped with a strong

foundation in literacy and numeracy to become successful with NCEA in Year 11.

Our school is a warm, dynamic and caring place in which students develop skills and

attributes they will need for their future.

We have high expectations for our students that enable them to show respect for

themselves and others, to develop a can do attitude, and to participate in all areas

of school life.

Your child will experience high quality teaching from our highly skilled and committed

teaching team as they prepare your child for a future of success.

We look forward to welcoming your family into our learning community.

Warm regards

Tanya Thompson

Principal


3/16

www.sams.school.nz

OurMiddleSchool

Our Middle SchoolSt Andrews is a middle school which caters for Year 7 to 10 students. Our programme is engaging and dynamic

to hook emerging adolescents into learning. Our programmes develop well rounded and collaborative learners

through engaging and motivating students to meet their academic, social, physical and emotional needs.

Our delivery focuses on students maintaining a close learning relationship with their teacher and having students

needs recognised and met through an individualised approach.

Year 7-10 is a time of rapid personal development. We pride ourselves on providing a safe and secure environment

for our students. We see our school as a family school providing opportunities for the development of respectful

relationships.

Our four year teaching programme means that we have a much better opportunity to get to know our students

as learners and that we have a much greater opportunity to meet their learning needs whilst they are with us.

Students are organised into composite classes to ensure stability for learning.

We have Year 7/8 homeroom classes and Year 9/10 homeroom classes. Classes are organised into teams with

a Team Leader responsible for each. Each component of our school works together with others to provide

a motivating and positive learning community for our students. The school climate is warm, friendly and welcoming.

Page 3


4/16


Together We Learn

Every member of SAMS is a learner. Teachers, students and the wider community

engage in learning together, not only in subject content but also in the process of

learning about ourselves as learners.

The SAMS Learner

Our Vision

Learning for Life

Our Mission Statement

SAMS will enable and enhance resilient and intellectual learners by providing learningthat is personally meaningful, challenging and vital. We promote self direction in life long

learning and the desire to contribute positively to society.

We develop these through the

SAMS Learner

Respect for Ourselves, for Others and Our World

SAMS Self Manager SAMS Contributor SAMS Communicator

Are resilient

Are resourceful

Set and achieve goals

Make informed choices

Use their initiative

Actively participate

locally, nationally

Contribute purposefully

Connect with others and

their ideas

Are collaborative

Listen actively

Discuss, debate, explain, share their

knowledge, ideas and opinions /

points of view clearly

Use a range of communication tools

Articulate their thoughts,

experiences, needs

SAMS Explorer SAMS Thinker

Use a range of tools

and strategies to access

information

Takes learning risks

Find and solve problems

Seek new solutions

Think about thinking

Think critically

Think creatively

Are intellectually curious

Apply and use their knowledge skills and understandings

Understand the power of advertising and media ontheir and others lives


5/16

Page 5www.sams.school.nz

Dive

rseLearningEnv

ironmentsDiverse Learning Environments

Our Beliefs about Teaching and Learning

We believe

Everyone is a learner and a teacher staff students, parents and whanau

Everyone will learn to their personal best Everyone will be supported and nurtured as individuals

Everyone will have the opportunity to experience and acknowledge the bicultural nature of Aotearoa

Everyone will have the opportunity to experience and acknowledge their cultural diversity within our school

community

Everyone will demonstrate the attributes of the SAMS Learner

Students will be encouraged to take responsibility to think globally and act locally

That the SAMS curriculum will have meaning for everyone, connect with their wider lives and engage the

support of their families, whanau and communities

Expectations of our Students

It is expected that all students at St Andrews Middle School will demonstrate commitment of the following:

To develop the attributes of a SAMS learner

Attend school every day please note we have 92% minimum attendance

Arrive well prepared for learning and all classroom programmes

Demonstrate mana and respect towards students and staff

Expectations of our Parents and Whanau / Families

To help students to succeed the school needs the help of those at home. Basic requirements that you can assist with

include the following:

Help students attend school everyday on time

Ensure that they get sufficient food and sleep to help them learn effectively

Take an interest in their school work by looking at their books and supervising home learning every night

Encourage your child to meet their potential

Keep in touch with the school by

- text and email

- writing notes

- phoning the school when necessary

- coming to meetings

- helping with sports and other school activities


6/16


The Homeroom Learning Environment

A strong component of our learning community are our small class sizes and the

commitment of our staff to build strong, positive learning relationships with our

students and their families. Our average class size in Year 7/8 is around 25, and in

Year 9/10 is around 18. Our technology and the arts classes are around 15 students

per class.

Our students experience a mixture of specialised and generalised teaching situations

throughout the school. All students (Year 7-10) work for a large part of the day in

a homeroom environment. This means that students have one teacher for general

curriculum areas which proves to be a major strength to our learning community

environment. Our students also cover the Technology and Arts Curriculum by learning

in our specially equipped teaching spaces.

Our curriculum delivery focuses on identifying and meeting individual students

learning needs within the classroom. This provides exciting opportunities for students

to make good progress within a supportive learning community.

Meeting Students Individual Learning Needs

We offer special challenges for gifted and talented students who excel and need

extension through our GATE classes. Diverse learning experiences are provided to

extend every students thinking.

We offer students who have learning difficulties in literacy and numeracy additional

in-class support. As well as this we offer withdrawal booster programmes designed

to assist students in general classrooms with learning difficulties. This is designed to

support and nurture the classroom programmes.

Our learning community here at SAMS promotes positive achievement at a personal

level. We believe every student can learn and achieve success.

Effective eLearning Tools for Learning

We believe that students need access to a range of tools when and as the need arises,

therefore we provide digital tools in all classrooms. These tools range from computers,

laptops, netbooks, data projectors and interactive boards. Our eLearning tools will

enhance your childs achievement and motivate them to succeed at our school.

All students have the opportunity to Bring their own device (BYOD) to support

their learning. A digital approach to learning supports our dynamic programme and

makes learning motivating, collaborative, engaging, challenging and exciting for our

learners.

At St Andrews Middle School we use an online learning environment which provides:

Engaging virtual classrooms

Integrated parent portal

Dynamic ePortfolios

Safe social networking

Students and parents can access our website from both school and home to support

their childs learning.


7/16


Dive

rseLearningEnv

ironments

International Students

Each year we welcome applications for enrolment from International students. We provide specialised programmes

including ESOL and we have an experienced International Student Manager who oversees their transition into the

school as well as their on-going pastoral care. This person is also able to assist with home stay requirements.

Please contact the school for her contact details.

A Safe and Nurturing Learning Community

We believe that all students have the right to learn in an environment where they feel safe and valued. We encourage

our students to take responsibility for their learning and behaviour through the attributes of the SAMS Learner.

As a community we place daily importance on responsible thinking practices which allow students to think through

choices and to consider the impact their decisions have on others.

SAMS Kotahitanga Unity

Show respect Manaakitanga(to yourself and others)

Awhinatia Caring(act with kindness, support others)

Mana Dignity(pride, behaviour, uniform, language)

Sustainability Kaitiakitanga(environment grounds, buildings,

equipment)


8/16


Our Staff / Team Work

Our Staff Quality Practitioners

At St Andrews Middle School, we believe firmly that the learner sits at the centre of

our teaching and learning model. Accordingly, we provide vigorous and continuous

Professional Development for our staff as learners themselves to ensure that theyare up to date with current educational theory and practices. Over the past several

years our staff have been involved with Professional Development in Best Teaching

Practice, How Students Learn Best, ICT to Enhance Learning, the Numeracy Project,

Restorative Relationship Building and the Career Education Project. We strive for

educational excellence for both our staff and students. Consequently we have a

dynamic and highly skilled group of teachers and support staff who will help your

child reach their potential.

Team Work

While students are at SAMS they are a part of a House culture. We have four different

House teams which each student will belong to for the time that they are at SAMS.Each House has representatives from each year level and they compete against each

other in many sporting and cultural events throughout the year. House competitions

take place during all major school sporting events such as Swimming Sports, Athletics

and Cross Country. House competitions also run during lunch times and cover a range

of cultural, academic, arts and sporting activities.

Student Leadership

We offer many opportunities for students to lead within our school. Alongside these

roles we also provide training programmes to ensure our student leaders are well

supported in their roles.

Students can gain positions for the following:

Head Girl Year 8, Year 10

Head Boy Year 8, Year 10

Sports Captains

Cultural Captains

Learning Captains

Class councillors learning, cultural and sports

Digitech ICT experts

House Captains

Peer Mediators Librarians


9/16


OurStaff/TeamWork

Student Opportunities

Interschool

Sport

Academic

Teams

Cultural

Teams

Other

Opportunities

Swimming Literature Quiz Kapa Haka Head Girl / Boy

Athletics Waimaths Choir Learning Council

Touch Speech Team Rockband House Captains

Tennis Science Fair Envirogroup Librarian

CricketInternational Academic

CompetitionsJapanese Club Music Tuition

Cross Country Otago Problem Solving Chess Club

Netball Primary Research Project Photography Club

Rugby Science OnlineChallenge DigiTech ComputerClub

Hockey Seasonal Sports Teams

Soccer School Camps

Basketball School Productions

Volleyball Drama Group

Sports Camp Young Leaders

Golf

Table Tennis

Badminton

Gymnastics


10/16


A Thinking Curriculum

Here at St Andrews Middle School we believe in enabling our learners to become

successful SAMS Learners. As a key component of this we have designed a Thinking

Curriculum which places huge focus on developing successful lifelong learners.

Alongside the SAMS learner attributes there are eight essential learning areas.

Year 7-10 students learn across the eight essential learning areas as a part of our

curriculum delivery. Our Year 9 and 10 students have access to a diverse range of

additional options to ensure they are ready for NCEA in Year 11.


11/16


OurStaff/TeamWork

The Technology Learning Programme

The Technology Curriculum is a special feature of the learning programme at St Andrews Middle School. Students

learn through hard materials (wood, metal and electronics), textiles technology, biotechnology and food technology,

each taught by a different specialist teacher.

We have newly designed rooms for technology and the arts which will be opened in 2013. We have specialist

teachers teaching in these rooms who have extensive expertise in their field.

The programme provides our students with the opportunity to acquire new skills in the process of design and

construction and to further appreciate the ways in which technology impacts on their lives.

The Arts Learning Programme

The arts programme offers both music, dance, drama and art, each taught by a different specialist teacher and

emphasising creativity and expression.

Our specialist teachers in music, dance, drama and art, bring with them a wealth of expertise and experience.

Student art work is well promoted across our school and performance is also popular, offering a combination

of music / dance and drama.

Technology The Arts Year 9 and 10 Options

Biotechnology

Technology

Becoming a Performer

Music, Drama and Dance The Arts

Te Reo and Tikanga Mori

Maori Language

Toys and Games

Hard Materials Technology

Viva SAMS Learner

Visual Arts and SAMS Learner

Vive la France! Vive le franais!

French

Things that go Bump in

the Night

Textiles Technology

Art Workshop

The Arts

Konnichi Wa!!!

Japanese

Sustainable Architect

Science and Technology

Mori Performing Arts-Toi

Whakaari

Whose Line Was it Anyway?

History

Where in the World Are We?

Geography

Show Me the $$$

Financial Literacy

Enterprise Studies

Ever thought about making a product

and then selling it, making money,

being rich?


12/16


The Sporting Arena

We actively encourage students to take part in sporting activity and our school provides

a wealth of opportunities to take part in both individual and team sports. These include

teams in netball, rugby, hockey, cricket and indoor basketball. Students in Year 7/8

and Year 9/10 are given opportunities to take part in a comprehensive programme of

sporting events as part of the inter-intermediate and middle school programme.

Further Options

We actively encourage our students to experiment with a variety of curriculum areas

during their time at SAMS. Our Music tuition is a way that students can branch out

and try something different. Instruments on offer depend on the students requiring

lessons registration of interest in lessons occurs at the beginning of each year.

Instruments available for tuition are:

Guitar

Bass Guitar

Drums

Violin

Keyboard

Piano

Saxophone

Flute

Clarinet

Our languages programme is another way that students can branch out and explore

other cultures and languages. The languages we offer at SAMS is dependant on staff,

but generally they are:

Te Reo

Spanish

French

Chinese

Japanese

Another exciting component of our curriculum is delivered by the experts we invite

into our school to enrich and diversify the eight essential learning areas. These people

perform, entertain and present demonstrations for our students. We will also take our

students out to these experts or facilities should they not be able to be accessed at

school. These include:

Rhythm Interactive drumming shows where each child gets a bongo drum for

the entire show (Music)

Stand Up Be Heard Speech making techniques from experts (English Speeches)

Technology Roadshow (Technology)

Science Roadshow (Science)

Disability Awareness

Waikato Museum a variety of exhibitions

Careers Expo

Local Libraries

International Acts which travel through our region


13/16


OurStaff/TeamWork

Cultural Exchange Programme

The school has established links with schools in Japan

and we host students from these schools each year

in Home Stay arrangements. We appreciate offers of

assistance from our school community and usually

require Home Stay arrangements for 5-10 days.

If you are interested in being a Home Stay Host

family please contact the school.

Our Wider Learning Community

As a learning community, we aspire to engage our

staff, students and families within a culture of learning.

Our staff hold strong beliefs around the importance of

building strong, positive learning relationships with

our students and their families. We believe in keepingparents regularly informed.

To ensure this we encourage regular communication

between home and school and vice versa. Whilst we

have specified times in the year when we share student

learning with parents and families, we also operate an

open door policy. We feel it is important that you can

come into school at times when it is convenient to

find out about your childs learning and how they are

getting on at school. We also believe that the student

is central in this process and we encourage student

lead conferences. This also encourages students to

take more responsibility for their own learning andsuccessfully tracking their progress and achievement.

Teachers and students report to parents / caregivers

about learning through:

eportfolios samples of student work across all

curriculum areas

Conferencing and Goal Setting interviews

Set in late February and July

Written feedback and feed forward of student

work

Formal Mid Year (July) and End Year

(December) reports

In addition to this we encourage parents to:

Pop in during the day to see learning in action

(via our School office)

Keep channels of communication open

Contact the classroom teacher when concerns

arise

Contact senior staff when concerns arise


14/16


Facilities

At SAMS we have:

Sporting Facilities

Gymnasium with Basketball markings and equipment

Courts with Netball, Tennis and Basketball markings and equipment

2 Soccer Fields

Rugby Field

Adventure Playground

Asphalt areas for small ball games

Many grass areas with BBQ tables

Learning Facilities

Library

Multi Purpose Room (MPR) for shows, assemblies etc

TV and Radio Station

Science Laboratory

Music Room for band practice, individual music tuition

We have a school mini-van which make class outings more manageable

Newly upgraded Technology and Art Facility

School Uniform

We have a uniform which students are expected to wear with pride. Our uniform

details can be found in the additional information insert with our prospectus.


15/16

www.sams.school.nz

O

urSchool

Page 15

Our School

Learning for Life


16/16

Should you require more information, simply contact us at:

St Andrews Middle SchoolHeath Street, St Andrews

Hamilton 3200

Ph: 07 849 2819 Fax: 07 849 3760Email: [email protected]

www.sams.school.nz

Learning for Life

Learning for Life

Te Kura Nga Tai Tamariki O Hato Anaru

Documents

SAMS 2013 Prospectus Web