Te Puke Intermediate Parents Information Evening.

1. Te Puke Intermediate Parents Information Evening.

2. Purpose • Meet your child’s teacher • Meet the other teachers in the school • Ask questions • Open the lines of communication • Emerging adolescents • Middle schools • Latimer Award

3. This generation are : • Optimistic – know they can do anything • Ambitious – expect to have a great job/life • Confident – know their rights • Have a global perspective • Time is measured in seconds • Respond best to visual stimuli • Paradoxical- alcohol / drugs and drop litter but will eat organic food and be concerned about global warming • Less Resilient – don’t bounce as easily, carry greater baggage, more complications

4. Core traits of Y Gen kids • Special – we’ve told them they are (PC) • Sheltered – more done for them • Confident – about their place/rights • Achievers – introduced early • Team/group oriented – comfort of others, don’t stand out individually • Pressured – socially and mentally • Coping with greater stress–(or not coping)

5. PUBERTY –emerging adolescents Moody Uncommunicative Argumentative Don’t want to talk and share with you You know nothing anymore You are too strict – it’s not fair – everyone else is allowed! Live in a constant state of mess – everything they own is on the floor. Hate you at times – and tell you so No longer value your opinion on clothes, music, friends, trends etc Hide in the ‘batcave’ – fresh air and sunshine become unimportant Monosyllabic – even grunting as a response (esp boys) Emotional/Irrational Roll their eyes heavenward about something you said Want/expect everything and give little back – take take Difficulty making decisions Inappropriate reactions to things Secretive Sneaky Tell lies/tell it the way they think you want to hear it

6. Hardwiring the brain • Birth – 100 billion brain cells • Baby – 17 % become interconnected • First decade – increasing ‘grey matter’ and connections with the first pruning occuring • No. of connections is determined by amount of experiences and activities. • Prior to puberty – growth time for brain. • During puberty – massive pruning takes place allowing the brain to ‘invest’ in the connections most valued by the student.

7. Hardwiring the brain We know that dominant behaviours and frequent activities hard wire the brain connections – that which we do most often. All other connections get ‘pruned’ by our brains as no longer required.

8. The adolescent brain • The prefrontal cortex – not yet developed. • Reasoning • Problem solving • Rational thinking • Females – mid 20’s • Males – mid 30’s

9. Adolescence • A time to begin separating from their parents • Breaking the emotional ties • Engaging in some risk taking behaviour • Majority grow out of the phase – self discipline and acceptable behaviours but not all. Not new – since the beginning of time – methods may have changed.

10. Pressure to ‘grow up’ • Girls – straight from ‘toys to boy’s • Real challenge – adjusting to new found sexuality • Boys – develop their secondary sexual characteristics long before their physical changes What does this mean for you?

11. Parenting adolescents • Be prepared- do some reading-watch Nigel Latta • Don’t necessarily expect to parent the way you were parented • Keep them busy, activities/sport/hobbies • Know your kids friends • Know their parents if possible • Know where your kids are – who they’re with and where they’re going • Be clever about keeping tabs on them- ring other parents and check on details, keep tabs on computer and cellphone use • Have very clear expectations and consequences if not met • Be Confident • Be Consistent • Listen – be their advocate but don’t necessarily believe everything they tell you, follow up any concerns • Be the Adult – not their best friend, you set the rules, allow some discussion but in the end you make the rules

12. Great reading “Growing Gorgeous Boys into Great Men” “The Princess Bitchface Syndrome” “Before your teenagers drive you crazy, read this” – Nigel Latta “Queen Bees and Wannabes”

13. Why Intermediate? • Short attention spans for learning. • Need to attach emotion in order to store to long term memory. FUN. • Need variety, choices, challenges and competition to stay engaged. • Need a person who affirms them regularly. • Need uncluttered curriculum. • Learn best by discussing, sharing and exchanging ideas. • Learn through play – experimenting, hands on.

14. Middle Schooling • Govt have now recognised the research into emerging adolescents Years 7 – 10. • Ministry of Education accredited Middle Schooling as ‘the’ most critical time for engaging students and retaining them in education. • Specific resources on MOE website • Specific qualification in teacher training

15. Work together • Parenting adolescents is not complicated but at times it is not easy either. • We are always here to help. • If we can’t help we will be able to refer you to someone else who can.

16. Latimer Award • School wide achievement award • Purpose is to encourage and recognise participation across variety of school based curriculum and activities • Four levels of achievement – Bronze, Silver, Gold and Distinction • Four categories – Academic, Sport, Arts and School Culture • Community service to achieve distinction

17. Levels of achievement • Bronze – completing 3 activities in every category • Silver – completing 4 activities in every category • Gold – completing 5 activities in every category • Distinction – achieving GOLD status and completing community service component

18. Attestation • Class activities will be attested and signed off by class teachers • School activities will be attested and signed off by the teacher in charge • Community activities will be attested and signed off by the appropriate community leader • Deputy Principal Mrs Gourlay will be the teacher responsible for collating all achievements schoolwide.

19. Presentation of awards • Bars will be awarded as levels are achieved. • Bars will be awarded at the end of term Assembly • Gold and Distinction award winners will be recognised at the end of year prizegiving

20. Thank you Thank you for attending the information evening. Syndicate teams will now be introduced and will lead you up to classrooms. At the conclusion of syndicate meetings please come back down to meet the rest of the Staff and BOT members. The sausages and a cup of tea/coffee will be ready for you.