Welcome to our wonderful school! You will find Carterton School offers children a wide range of opportunities to develop academically, socially and creatively. The school community works as a team to develop these skills and we look forward to your involvement in this process.

In 2009 the school community started to implement our new school charter. The charter is our guiding document for the next few years. Many families have already helped us to decide on the values we want to develop in the learners at Carterton School and this has helped the Board of Trustees and staff to decide on three main strategic goals for 2009-2011.

The key values underpinning our strategic goals are:

• Respect

• Excellence/Confidence

• Leadership

• Innovation & Inquiry

• Community/Participation

• Sustainability

Our strategic goals are:

1. To develop a positive learning culture which will produce students who are enthusiastic, contributing members of society.

2. To focus on ensuring that all students achieve to the best of their academic ability.

3. To develop students who have a connection with their wider community and environment.

We have developed six ‘trees of learning’ which symbolise the areas we focus on as learners throughout the school. These are...

Carterton School learners (and this includes students and adults):

• Are respectful

• Strive for excellence

• Are motivated learners

• Are effective communicators

• Are connected to their community and environment

• Are effective team members

In 2011 our main professional development focus is on aspects of literacy learning and teaching. Improving student achievement will continue to be the driving force behind all we do.

Other school goals for the year relate to the continuation of the school aiming to become a Green-Gold Enviro School, work on the New Zealand Curriculum, and the development of Information and Communication Technology resources in all classrooms.

Programmes in Te Reo, Kapa Haka, Spanish and French will continue. This year the Primary Enterprise Programme will happen in the second part of the year. Special extension opportunities will be provided for gifted and talented students in a range of areas.

A huge strength of or school is the extensive outdoor education programme the children are offered, ranging from local visits to day tramps and 5 day challenging camps.

Continuing in 2010 will be the school Academies, the Perceptual Motor Programme for juniors and the YMCA after school care facility.

Carterton School will continue to organise Wairarapa-wide events and there will be full involvement in a wide range of inter-school events to nurture the skills and talents of our high achievers.

We have a genuine Open Door policy – you can come straight to the classrooms or activity – there is no need to check in at the office.

We have lots of fun and we would love you to be part of it in this great learning environment.

Alison Woollard
Principal