Monday, December 20, 2010

Handover - The buildings are complete!

Handover December on PhotoPeach



The key for the buildings were handed from Fletcher Construction to the Ministry of Education, then onto our Board Chair and finally the School Principal. A significant milestone in Stonefields School history. The School is looking stunning.

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Countdown to handover!



The learning hubs are looking fantastic - wait till the furniture arrives!

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Construction Update - 1 December

Construction Update - 1 December from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Excitement Builds



Just wonderful to see the look on our Office Wizards face this afternoon as she saw the reception desk in place! Excitement builds as we count down to handover.

Monday, November 29, 2010

The Resources Arrive

The Resources begin to arrive on PhotoPeach

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Community Consultation 25 November



Huge thank you to Gordon Dryden for being our guest speaker. Gordon brings wisdom, experience and a huge knowledge and insights to the changes we are faced with moving into the 3rd millennium.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The carpet goes down!


As we near handover progress is looking fantastic. The space within the learning hubs is amazing.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Staff Induction

There was certainly lots of 'Thinking Big and Being Brave' happening at our staff retreat. Some incredibly powerful thinking occurred as we collaborated together to make meaning and develop a collective understanding of our Core Business 'LEARNING'. We worked through a process of defining what learning will be like at Stonefields School.
“Learning is a dynamic, fulfilling process of actively building on what we know; by questioning, thinking and connecting to make meaning, expand knowledge and deepen understandings.”
The understanding of our vision becomes richer, deeper and fuller as together we have further unpacked the learning we would like to see caused and activated at Stonefields School. It became very apparent,very quickly just how talented, committed and enthusiastic our staff are as we brainstormed how the learning hubs are going to function. Our students and their families are in for a treat.
We are ready to open and getting more excited as we move closer towards our grand opening 3 February.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Staff Induction - Think Big and Be Brave


We are excited this morning as our staff come together to start the induction process. There is a full day planned where together we are going to make sense of the Vision principles and establish the norms that will underpin the culture we want to develop at Stonefields School. We will keep you posted on the events over the next few days.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Community consultation 14 October

Many thanks to our community members who recently participated in our second Community Consultation meeting. The presentation is below if you were unable to make it. Our next meeting will be held on 25 November.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Topping off Ceremony - October

Topping off Ceremony on PhotoPeach

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Community Consultation Presentation



We had 71 children and adults attend our first Community Consultation evening. The feedback to questions posed can be viewed by clicking on this link. If you are a community member and were not able to attend the evening we welcome your responses Click here to take survey
The next community evening will be held on the 14 October starting at 7.00pm all Stonefields School Community welcome.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Construction Update September 1

Construction Update September 1 from Stonefields School on Vimeo.



Very cool today to stand inside one of the learning hubs and get a real sense of space. We are sure the workers on site were thrilled with the lovely sunshine today also.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Construction Update August 26

August 26 Construction Update on PhotoPeach

Monday, August 23, 2010

Presentation for Interested Applicants



Many thanks to the people who attended our Information Evening for interested applicants. Attached is the presentation shared.

Friday, August 13, 2010

E Book - Where is Mel?

Mel Tours Melbourne from Stonefields School on Vimeo.


Here is a wee story we created as an exemplar for our own students. The team went to Melbourne to view some wonderful Schools. We had a superb two days looking at how three schools had worked through a process to purposefully design space. We saw over 100 students working within one learning centre. The engaged learning hum was exceptional, it was wonderful to see students using various e learning tools and being encouraged to pursue areas of interest. Many thanks to all the schools that hosted us.
Mel then took us on a tour of the city on Saturday. We had a great time exploring some of the sights of Melbourne. We are keen for Stonefields School learners to take Mel with them when they go on trips around NZ and further afield. Maybe we will be able to start blog on Where in the world is Mel off to now?
Can you find Mel in each picture?

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Advertising for Teachers


We are two weeks in to advertising 8 teaching positions to commence at the start of 2011. Last night we had an information evening for interested applicants to come along and hear more about the School's direction. It was neat to be able to share the journey so far and gauge peoples excitement. Many thanks to those individuals who did come along. We will upload the slides over the weekend and have them up for viewing on Monday.
All application information can be found on our website - click here

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Roll Call for Stonefields School



Click on the link to view the recent East and Bays Courier article

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Success - What's the secret?

It was great to happen upon this ted talk and reflect on what leads to success. A timely clip to reflect on when we are refining a vision to ensure success for every one of our students.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Open for Enrolments

As of tomorrow 19 July we are officially open for taking enrolments from within our designated home zone. Tomorrow also marks a special day as Kirsty and Chris our two Associate Principals begin in their roles officially. We believe it's an exciting opportunity to be a foundation student or staff member of a brand new school. If you are inside our home zone and would like us to send you an enrolment pack please email us at office@stonefields.school.nz
You can check out the latest Community Update by clicking on this link

Monday, July 5, 2010

Construction Progress Continues

These photos were taken today between rain showers! Regardless of lots of rain recently progress continues. Click on the link to view the gallery on our school website

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Kirsty and Chris our APs visit the Site

The progress continues on site. It was fun to take Kirsty and Chris our new Associate Principals onto site yesterday. We walked into the main admin building and through one of the teaching pods which was great to get a sense of how big the spaces are going to be. Enjoy the short video clip.

Kirsty and Chris visit the Site - 3 June from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Construction Update

What a sight as I drove down College Hill Rd towards the temporary office a few weeks back. This one got lost in the construction updates but is well worth a watch for those individuals intrigued by the construction process.

Construction Update April from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Which Library Software Should a School Choose?

I have been recently gathering prices for web based library software. I am interested to know which library software schools have found to be most appropriate for primary aged students. What would you suggest?

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Construction Update

It was a thrill to visit the site yesterday and see the concrete panels being put into place.

Kent from Fletcher Construction 19 May Construction Update from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Dub Fx - Implications for learning in the classroom?

How might this youtube clip be used to capture student interest in using garage band creatively? I was hooked!

Friday, April 23, 2010

It's Official Mt Wellington School now Stonefields School

We received the official seal of approval from the Ministry of Education today to change the school name from Mt Wellington to Stonefields School. We have worked through a consultation process over the last month to give our community the opportunity to make submissions about the possible name change.

Construction Update week of 19 April

Construction Progress April 20 on PhotoPeach

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Fletcher Living - Morning Tea

Fletcher Living - Morning Tea from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Randall Fielding - School Design Video Clip



A huge thank you to Sarah G for leaving a comment on a previous post with the link to Randall Fielding's video clip. Well worth a watch click here

Monday, April 19, 2010

School Building - Progress Update

It was great to visit the site today to look at the progress. The foundations are down! The concrete pad has been poured for the hall and there was a hive of activity. Check out this clip I took on the flip video.

Site Visit 20 April, 2010 from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Mt Wellington School - Sod Turning Gallery

Sod Turning Mt Wellington School on PhotoPeach

Monday, March 22, 2010

Mt Wellington School Design

Building Design on PhotoPeach


After returning from Jasmax, our Architects this morning I am reminded of what a privileged position it is to dream and scheme about possibilities for classroom/school design, from the ground up. I am constantly having to challenge traditional mental models about how things have always been in school. Take the traditional big librarian counter for example, portraying a 'fort Knox' scenario of please don't enter! One of the most exciting parts is thinking about how classroom spaces might be furnished to cater for various learning scenarios and preferences.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Pushing Boundaries - School Design


Image taken from Stephen Heppell's site
I was told recently that a trillion dollars is spent on education a year across OECD countries. The scary reality is there has been no significant change in educational outcomes for students in 60 years. This would suggest more of the same is not the answer. Thinking 'different' perhaps is! How do we maximise the evidence highlighted in John Hattie's recent Visible Learning meta analysis, about what works? What actually has an impact on student outcomes? How do we design learning to take into consideration opportunities where students self grade (1.4 effect size) and provide opportunities for rich feedback to be integrated into everyday learning.
With this in mind I am currently grappling with what impact does the traditional school design have on student outcomes if any. How do you flip the traditional on it's head and create the new, what might be possible? I am in a privileged position currently thinking about how one might design learning environments/spaces to ensure that learning experiences, opportunities and student autonomy is increased. Has the traditional classroom contributed to the no change in student outcomes?
More questions than answers as I sit and scribble how multiple learning zones and spaces might be organised/ furnished to maximise student ownership and autonomy and ultimately increased student outcomes.
The more I search the more innovation I find. Check out this cushion hub above that looks like it helps to make learning fun, comfortable and maybe maximises student outcomes!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Framing Learning


It is a privilege to have the opportunity to think big and conceptualise how learning could be framed to meet the needs of 21st century learners. Our thinking is constantly evolving as we dialogue, research best practice and imagine the possible future our students will live in.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Turning of the Sod




It was another special day in the history of Mt Wellington School as Ben, Ashton, Anne Tolley and Bill English turned the sod on Thursday the 18th of February.

Click on the link
to view the article published in the NZ Herald the following day.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Site Blessing - Special Occasion



It was a moving experience to be present at the blessing of the School site in the Stonefields Development.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Visioning - Thinking Big

Was fabulous to come across these cards that can be used to help facilitate big picture discussions around how schools could be. Take a look at the 'what if ...' cards. An example 'What if classes had learner of any age?'
Click here to see more.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Powerful Movie - Future of Schools



Thanks Derek Wenmoth for finding this pearl. Great questions asked in this movie about considerations needed in planning a future School. Well worth a look.

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Derek Wenmoth - Coping with Change



Derek's post is indeed timely as I think about the possible IT infrastructure for Mt Wellington School


Click here to see Derek's blog entry on change.