Silverdale Normal School is a co-ed contributing primary school located near the University of Waikato. With a role of 234 students from diverse ethnic backgrounds, it aims to provide practical teaching experiences for student teachers. It has 10 classrooms, support resources for literacy, behavior and learning, and a new learning hub. New initiatives include Te Reo and Mandarin classes, specialist PE, and swimming. The school curriculum is influenced by the New Zealand Curriculum and a vision of positive learning focused on growth mindset. General policies focus on innovative learning, formative assessment, digital safety, and health and road safety.

1. Silverdale Normal School:
• State co-ed contributing primary school.
• Located near the University of Waikato on Silverdale road in Nawton,
Hamilton.
• It is referred to as a ‘Normal School’, because it aims to provide
student teachers from Waikato University with practical in-school
experiences.

2. Student Population:
• Relatively small school, with a role of 234 students.
Students come from diverse ethnic backgrounds:
• 30% of students identify as tangata whenua
• 9% as Pacifica
• 35% as NZ European
• 26% as other cultures
• Also, a number of students arrive at Silverdale with a very limited
ability to speak English, which further impacts teaching and learning
within the classroom, and teacher and learning assistants are
employed to work with these English Language Learners.

3. School facilities:
• 10 mainstream classrooms.
• 2 satellite classes from Patricia Avenue Special School, whose students are
integrated into the whole school community.
• 2 Resource Teachers of literacy (R.T.Lits) working within schools in the
Waikato area supporting children who are having difficulty with reading
and language.
• 2 Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour (R.T.L.Bs) working with
students who have behaviour difficulties, and/or the areas of language,
literacy and numeracy.
• Learning hub has been developed this year, specifically for priority learners.
However, this is a new area introduced within the school, and therefore the
way in which it will be managed has not yet been observed.

4. New Learning Pathways:
• In 2016, new Te Reo and Mandarin teachers have also been
employed, and will rotate through all the classrooms to provide
students with teaching in these languages.
• Specialist PE is now offered to every classroom on a rotating basis.
• Swimming programmes (3x 45min sessions per class per week).

5. Key influences on designing of the Silverdale
curriculum:
• NZC
• The school’s vision of ‘making a positive difference’.
• The vision for the Silverdale Normal School learners (SSL).
• Growth mindset (Dweck, 2006).
• Current Research on learning, such as Mark Treadwell (2013).

6. General School Policy:
• Innovative learning environments.
• Formative Assessment.
• Digital safety: With the use of digital technology in classrooms, teachers are
required to discuss safe use with students and students are required to use “Safe
search for Kids” whenever they are using technology.
• Sun-safe policy: All staff and children must wear hats when outside in the sun, or
remain in the shaded areas.
• Safe eating policy: All children are required to sit under the dome when eating
their lunch. Staff members on duty manage this area and ensure children have
eaten enough lunch prior to leaving the area to play. Morning tea is eaten outside
individual classrooms. Furthermore, there are pathways in place when students
arrive at school without lunch.
• All children will be provided with the option of having milk at lunch.
• Road safety policy: Road patrol on two crossings before and after school to
ensure safe crossing.