2nd December 2009

Volume 21


Naumai e te whanau o te kura Muritai
Tena koutou katoa

Dear Parents / Caregivers

Welcome to our new students and their families – Luke Thompson and Sam McRobbie in Room 16.

As the school year draws to a close, upon reflection we need to take heart that much has been achieved and a well-earned break isn’t too far away. The classes have some wonderful experiences planned for their outdoor education experiences and we thank the many parents who will be involved with supervision support. School life over the last few weeks has been busy. It has been about achieving Green Gold Enviroschool status, achievement reporting, completing curriculum goals, preparing EOTC weeks, athletics, the year 8 leaving ceremony, strategic planning for 2010 and of course the important task of setting class placements for 2010. The school’s 2009 overall student achievement report that is presented to the board, the community and to the Ministry of Education, through its Annual Report procedure, is an impressive read and will be posted on the school’s website shortly. Student achievement data collected across the school over 2009 indicates and affirms that the school is high performing in terms of its curriculum delivery.

Of particular interest to us is the performance level of our year 8 classes as that really can provide a picture of the child’s learning journey during their 8 years of schooling at Muritai. Indicators provide good evidence that these children achieved well in advance of the national norms for literacy and numeracy. Our Year 8 children and some Year 6 children will be moving on to high school and intermediate schooling respectively next year and will be leaving Muritai, well placed for the challenges ahead. For the majority, this school has been their main learning world for the past eight years. I am confident that they will look back in years ahead with fond memories of the experiences that made a big difference to their learning pathway. The arts, the drama, the sports and the cultural activities, along with the everyday learning in the basic curriculum areas have all contributed to the learning package they have enjoyed and will take with them. The children have also been involved in many added activities that have provided some very specialised and exciting learning opportunities. It is always interesting to hear how our children do at secondary school and this year we are thrilled to have, for the second year in a row, an ex Muritai student as Dux of Hutt Valley High School. Congratulations Erika Webb! Further accolades are listed below.

At this time staffing and class placement arrangements for 2010 have been confirmed. We ask parents to refrain from making recommendations for teacher choice. This needs to remain the responsibility of the senior management team in consultation with current classroom teachers, as there are many variables relating to the teaching and learning needs of every child that require careful consideration when making placement decisions. Tomorrow I will follow this newsletter up with information about how the school is structured for 2010.

E noho ra
Andrew Bird
Principal

Hutt Valley High School prize-giving.
Erika Webb - Dux
Alex Johnson - Deputy Head Girl
Leole Malama - Cultural Captain and scholarship winner for service to school and community
Alice Meads – First in French and Maori
Sam McCafferty – First in Art Design.

Zone Athletics Sports
Well done to the Muritai students who performed admirably at the zone athletic sports at the Hutt Rec last week. The following students have been selected to represent the zone at the inter-zone. Muritai ran the event so congratulations also to Peter Hull, Vanessa MacPherson and Matt Skilton for their hard work.
Long jump - Frankie Middleton, Jared Baines, Levi Walton
High jump – Isaac Miller-Jose, Clara Lafont, Lea Fetting
Shot put – Ruby Burley-Smith
Discus – Maya Hahn, Xavier Manson, Celine Malama, Levi Walton
Vortex – Maya Hahn, Hilary Sheridan, Xavier Manson, Harrison Swift
Sprints – Monica Sullivan, McLeod Harrison
Relay – Year 6 boys – McLeod Harrison, Levi Walton, Liam Brandwood, Isaac Miller-Jose

JUMP JAM
Every Monday, Tuesday and Friday morning, a dedicated squad of Year 5 and 6 Jump Jam leaders run our Junior Fitness sessions in the hall. They have once again done a tremendous job and are seen as ‘Fitness Role Models’ by our Junior children.
Our Jump Jam Leaders this year are: Holly Cumming, Hazel Sisson, Meg Sykes, Elspeth Morley, Matty Goble, Xanthe Winfield, John Woodnorth, Hailey Griffiths and Sophie Wake.

Not only have the Jump Jam Leaders instructed and demonstrated routines, they have also competed in Nationwide Competitions with other schools throughout New Zealand. In Term 2 the whole squad competed in the Jump Jam Challenge and were placed 64th out of 90 schools. A great achievement as it’s only the second time we have entered!

At the end of Term 3 Holly Cumming and Meg Sykes entered the Jump Jam Idol competition in which they had to perform their chosen Jump Jam routine on their own. They both did extremely well and were placed 13th and 26th respectively, out of 56 Year 4-6 girls!

The Jump Jam squad have also attended leadership workshops this year to help fine tune their aerobic skills, learn new routines and to further develop their leadership skills. Thank you so much Jump Jam leaders for your enthusiasm, skills and dedication – we couldn’t do it without you all! Mrs Skilton

NARRATIVE WRITING COMPETITION
The year 7 and 8 children were involved in a narrative writing competition at the end of Term 3. These stories were judged by Author Alan Bagnall. Alan commented on the incredibly diverse stories and the high quality, powerful writing style of all of the entries. Congratulations to Samantha Mason who was placed first, Marcus Noakes, second and Rupert O’Brien third. Sofija Cvitanovich was highly commended and Dante Tilley received the People’s Choice award. Well done to all the children who entered the competition.


THANK YOU
We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Leo Sullivan of Pak N Save Petone who has supported and contributed to the school over many years. This year Leo donated the meat for our hangi and gave the school discounts on all the groceries for the Abel
Tasman trip. We really do appreciate his generosity.


School Diary – Muritai School – Term 4 2009

DECEMBER
3rd Y5/6 National Theatre for children
visiting
4th Assembly 1.30pm
4th Y5/6 Trip to Te Papa and Capital E
7th Y8 in Abel Tasman all week
7th Y5/6 Trip to Te Papa and Capital E
8th Y4/6 Interzone Athletics at Petone Rec
10th Y3/4 EOTC week begins
10th Y0/2 Christmas Concert


11th Y8’s back from Abel Tasman
11th Reports, Portfolios, class lists and
stationery lists go hom
14th Y3/4 Capital E
15th Y3/4 EOTC week ends
15th BOT meeting 7pm in staff room
16th Y8 Formal Dinner
17th Y3/5 Christmas concert
18th Leavers Assembly
LAST DAY OF TERM – Early Finish

COMMUNITY

Eastbourne Community Carols and BBQ 5pm Sunday 13 December at Muritai School. Special Guests – The Titan Hutt City Brass
Band. Bought to you by the Eastbourne Churches. Everyone Welcome


BirdCards sells a fantastic range of Christmas cards, advent calendars, Christmas wrapping paper, gift ideas and much more. BirdCards is open Friday 4 December from 10am -12 pm and Sunday 6 December from 2-4pm or by appointment - phone Jan on 562-0199. We are at 336 Muritai Rd.

Christmas Trees
Take the hassle out of sourcing your Christmas Tree this year and call Steve from the Eastbourne Scouts - 562 6270. Trees available fresh on Saturday 5th and 12th. $20 per tree, $25 delivered in Eastbourne, collection and disposal in January $30. Merry Christmas from the Jamboree fundraising team at the Eastbourne Scout Group.

Eastbourne Games 2010 - Book your place now!
The Eastbourne Games, a two yearly community event between the 7 local bays, is to be next held on Sunday March 21st 2010. We plan to make it bigger this time with over 20 games planned including football, running races, possum throwing, ready-steady-cook, tug-a-war, triathlon, super quiz, a yacht regatta, the odd mystery event and much more. Places in your bay are limited so families are encouraged to get in early or risk missing out. Some games sell fast and are first in first served only - $5 / child and $10 / adult. Bookings can be made via your team captain or go to http://www.huttcity.com/games for more information:

Pt Howard Team Julie Batchelor - ph 568 9007
Lowry Bay Team Trish Perrins - ph 5769099
York Bay Team Peter Wyllie - ph 568 3226
Mahina Bay Team Steve Wilson - ph 5627570
Days Bay Team Becky Grenfell - ph 562 0166
Rona Bay Team Lisa Harkin - ph 5628800
Muritai Team Wendy Manson - ph 562 8287