We Are Not Alone

What an amazing production from Kereru Syndicate this week. 
The children did a great job ably lead by their equally talented teachers. 
We learnt a lot about body systems while being entertained with song and dance. 
Congratulations to all those involved.

Children Who Read for Pleasure

Two of our staff members attended a presentation at the National Library on Reading.
Here are some interesting messages from this:

Reading for pleasure

• increases empathy
  
• increase knowledge of other cultures
  
• reduces symptoms of depression and dementia
  
• improves parent-child communication
  
• increases social capital for children, young people
  and adults.
• more important for children’s cognitive development between 10 and 16 than parents' level of education.
• children who read for pleasure made more progress in maths, vocab and spelling, between ages 10 & 16 than those who rarely read.
• improved empathy, imagination, relationships, reduced stress, insight into world-view of others... 

Reading for pleasure- NZ research
Students who enjoy reading had consistently higher scores in:
• reading
• maths
• logical problem solving, and attitude. 

www.natlib.govt.nz/schools 

Our Own Koru Care Kid

Sam Williams was lucky enough to be chosen among 50 children to fly around New Zealand yesterday as part of Koru Care run by Air New Zealand. 
He had an exciting day as the plane flew in the shape of a heart over the North Island.