Our Classroom Spaces

The traditional teaching spaces we have are very much the same as when I went to school.  Sitting at desks either in a group or individually in lines.  With the coming of the ipads we are looking at our classroom learning spaces.  Are we truly catering for individual needs???  We constantly talk about it but ask our students to sit in a certain way,  at a certain desk or table,  at a certain time.  This needs to change.  It was very exciting to see what other schools were doing with their furniture as they were upgrading their classroom spaces.  I saw how students could choose whether they were lying on the ground, working at a desk, snug in a bean bag or standing by a high table.  Truly catering for individual needs and learning styles.  Plenty for us to look at for our new classroom layouts.

We are now exploring low lying tables for those who wish to sit on the floor and rest on a table.  Ottomans for those looking for comfort, cafe style tables for those who wish to work around a small circular table, swiss balls, study booths for those needing focused closed off spaces.  This is very exciting to create an environment that will allow students to work in a they feel comfortable.

Inovation???
Exciting???
What else is there???

Maurice Rehu
Still Very Excited Principal
Riverslea School
Hastings

Up date so far...

As the news starts filtering down through out team and B.O.T the realisation of this opportunity is beginning to take affect.  People are being contacted for advice and services.
As a team we are exploring what an e learning school would look like.  What role will pen and paper play when we have Ipads?  What of our current furniture? will traditional desks be suitable?  So many things to think off.

When we finished our staff meeting, there was a feeling of excitement, and nervousness.  From the reactions, I felt we were ready for the challenges ahead.

Maurice Rehu
Nervous and Excited Principal
Riverslea School
Hastings

A chance meeting.

Kia Ora koutou katoa

Ko Maurice Inia Rehu toku ingoa.  I am the principal at Riverslea School in Mayfair,  Hastings.  We are a small decile 1a community school.  We currently have 53 students as of Monday the first of August.

On return from an inspiring first time principals residency course in Auckland,  I happened to be sitting next to Rod Drury CEO of Xero Accounting Software.  Our conversation covered many different areas from leadership to national standards, but the final outcome of the 50 minute plane ride back to Napier, 

continues to leave a smile on my face.  I was given an opportunity of a lifetime.  Rod was going to help supply each of my students with I pads.  Yes that is what I said.  All students and teaching staff with I pads. 60 in total.  

On return home and sharing this amazing opportunity with my wife Gina, who happens to teach with me,  we celebrated with a bottle of wine.  Over the next couple of days we started to explore what the outcomes of this would be and how we were going to implement and manage the changes ahead.

    P.M.I.S

How would this change student achievement?

How will we sustain this initiative as the school roll continues to grow?

What will we need to change to manage the infrastructure needed?

How will we get staff, board and community buy in?

PD for staff 

Change the format of our teaching day

Sponsorship

Security

Storage

Community outcome

Accountability more than just a toy

So many different aspects of this opportunity are still being thought of and thrown around.  

At the end of the day, we need to keep the main thing the main thing.  Student achievement, development, wellbeing and growth are paramount.  This tool will be there to enhance learning, connect us globally and show that our students are so important that they can have the best ICT tools available. 

Thank you again Rod for this amazing opportunity for my students and our community.

This is the start of our journey.  Destination ...... unknown......

Maurice Rehu

Excited Principal

Riverslea School. 

Hastings