SECKA Update 03

September 2024

This is our third SECKA update for 2024, our online newsletter keeping you informed about what's happening across our Kāhui Ako.

Literacy Unconference

Around eighty teachers from across our school communities gathered on Thursday 8 August to attend the first SECKA Literacy Unconference. This event aimed to give teachers the opportunity to participate in teacher-led sessions about practical strategies, approaches, and resources that have made an impact on literacy teaching and learning.

One of the highlights of the unconference was the opportunity to learn from our own teacher experts. Our colleagues presented sessions based on their personal experiences and successes, providing valuable practical advice. These sessions were informative, and showcased the incredible work being done in our schools.

All sessions at the unconference were firmly grounded in research, ensuring that the strategies and resources shared were evidence-based. This strong connection between research and practice is essential for improving student outcomes. By attending the unconference, teachers were able to bridge the gap between theory and application, gaining practical tools to implement in their classrooms.

In analysing the feedback from the event, 96.6% of attendees found the Literacy Unconference of benefit to them, and 93.3% would like to attend another unconference in the future.

If you would like to view/revisit the presentations from our unconference, please click the link.

Literacy Unconference Website

Cultivating the Literacy Landscape Symposium

The recent Literacy Symposium on the 22nd August, presented by Learning Matters, brought together educators from across Aotearoa New Zealand to explore effective literacy teaching practices. Two of our Across School Teachers, Andrea and Ashleigh, had the opportunity to attend this insightful day.

Keynote speakers Dr Carolyn Strom, Sarah Asome, and Dr Anita Archer shared their expertise on structured literacy and evidence-based teaching. The event highlighted literacy’s crucial role in society and emphasised scalable, high-quality instruction for all students.

Click on the link here to view some of the key insights from the day. If you would like to know more about this event, Andrea and Ashleigh are more than happy to share their takeaways with you. Feel free to get in contact with us!

SECKA ESOL Network

There has been growing interest among schools in connecting ESOL teachers together through the Kāhui Ako to share experiences, resources, and best practices.

A network of ESOL teachers could provide support and opportunities for professional development. By connecting with colleagues in similar roles, we can learn from each other, share effective teaching strategies, and explore ways to enhance our students' learning experiences.

To gather more information about your interest in joining a SECKA ESOL network, please complete the attached form. In addition to indicating your interest, we would also like to hear your thoughts on what you would find most valuable about being part of such a network.

Within School Teacher Hui

On the 22nd of August, we held the third Within School Teacher hui of the year. The WSTs working within the literacy workstream presented their inquiries to the group. It was a productive afternoon of professional discussion and sharing.

The topics covered ranged from the explicit teaching of grammar to the implementation of a schoolwide Reading Process. Highlights included discussions on:

Structured Literacy: Exploring its application to both reading and spelling.
Reading Comprehension: Sharing effective strategies to enhance student understanding.
Universal Design for Learning: Ensuring accessibility and inclusivity in literacy instruction.
Student Writing Learning Pathway: Creating a clear framework for writing development.

We would like to thank our Literacy WSTs for their commitment to their inquiry projects. To learn more about these, please visit the SECKA Literacy Workstream website and explore the inquiry pages.

Literacy Website

SECKA Science of Maths Hui

On Thursday 5 September, SECKA held its first Science of Maths Hui. This event explored the relationship between educational research and mathematics education.

The hui discussed the Science of Learning and its implications for teaching mathematics effectively. Attendees gained a clear definition of the mastery approach, which is a pedagogical framework that the government is referring to as the Structured Maths Approach.

Special guest speaker Alex Laurie from Maths- No Problem shared her expertise on the mastery approach. As one of New Zealand's leading professional development providers in this area, Alex offered valuable insights and practical strategies for educators.

The hui was an informative event, providing attendees with a deeper understanding of the science behind effective mathematics instruction. SECKA is committed to fostering a community of educators who are passionate about enhancing student learning outcomes through innovative and evidence-based approaches.

In analysing the feedback from the event, 100% of attendees found the Hui of benefit to them, and 100% would like to attend another SECKA Numeracy Hui in the future.

Thank you to those that attended for making it such a successful event! For anyone that was unable to attend, but would like to learn more please check out the 15 minute summary video below.

Science of Maths Hui Video.mp4

Numeracy Website

Kapa Haka Festival 2024

We are excited to announce that the SECKA Kapa Haka Festival will be held on the evening of Thursday 31st October, 6pm at the Sancta Maria College Auditorium.

This is the perfect time for us to come together to share and enjoy the wonderful mahi of our Kapa Haka groups.

Tickets will be delivered to schools in Week 1 of Term 4.

Student Resilience Survey 2025

As a community of learning, our vision is to work together to grow our students to reach their full potential for God’s glory. This includes supporting our students' wellbeing and in particular their growth in resilience. This is because we know that resilient students seem to learn better at school.

As you may recall, over the last two years at the start of Term 4 we asked you to administer the Student Resilience Survey with your class. The results have indicated that, in general our students are doing very well, but there are some areas in which we could provide more specific support.

It is time to survey our student population again for 2024. So, please look out for the instruction email and link to the survey early in term 4.

Thank you in advance for your help in administering this year's SRS to your year 4 - 13 tutor class.

Congratulations!

We congratulate Andrea and Jessica on their re-appointment as Across School Teachers for our South East Christian Kāhui Ako.

Your dedication and expertise have been instrumental to our Kāhui Ako. We’re thrilled to have you both continue to propel our work forward and celebrating achievements together.

We are fortunate to have you both on the team!

Wishing you all a happy productive Term 4!

Mā te wā.

Your SECKA AST Team.

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