Naumai e te whanau o te kura Muritai
Tena koutou katoa
Dear Parents / Caregivers
A reminder that school finishes tomorrow at 1.00pm. For those children who usually catch the bus home, you will need to be collected as there will not be a special bus at the end of school.
The first day for next year is Wednesday 2nd February. Welcome powhiri is at 10.00 on this day.
Term dates for 2011
Term 1 – Wednesday 2nd February to Friday 15th April
Term 2 – Monday 2nd May to Friday 15th July
Term 3 – Monday 1st August to Friday 7th October
Term 4 – Monday 25th October to Friday 16th December
FAREWELL TO OUR YEAR 8 STUDENTS
Last night we had a special celebration for our year 8 students and their parents. It was a lovely occasion and the sharing of happy memories. We wish our year 8 students every success as they go onto their respective high schools next year. Many families have their last child leaving Muritai School and we say goodbye to them and thank them for their many years association with the school. Tomorrow we have a leaver’s assembly at 11.00 in the school. All the students who we will farewell tomorrow have contributed immensely to our culture at Muritai School. Our leavers have many diverse qualities and strengths but above all, they should feel that they have tried to be the best that they can be and leave with an appreciation for their peers, their teachers, their school and themselves. We congratulate them and thank them, and their parents, for the contribution they have made to Muritai and wish them all the best for the road ahead.
At last night’s prize giving the following cups and certificates were awarded -
Abel Tasman Cup – Iman Holden
Improvement in year 8 award – Harry Heath and Lisa Hanschke
Board of Trustees Cups for 'Endeavour' – Georgia Crawford and Thomas Rodgers
Board of Trustees Cups for 'Academic Excellence' – Sofija Cvitanovich and Grayden O’Connor
Jacobson Cups for ‘Mathematics’ – Nick Bielby and Jessica Woodnorth
Debbie Bertaud-Gandar Memorial Cup for ‘Commitment to Science and Technology’ – Finnegan Fahey
Swain Cup for ‘Leadership and contribution in sport’ – Iman Holden
Beck Family Cup for ‘Best all round sportsperson’ – Kenzy Cooper and Scott Manson
Mills Family Cup for ‘Contribution to the Arts’ – Oscar Connor
Eastbourne Community Trust Cup for ‘Leadership’ – Jack Griffiths and Sofija Cvitanovich
Principal’s Prize – ‘ The quiet achiever’ - Maddy Hesketh
Teachers Cup for ‘Being a joy to teach’ – Zoe Lovell-Smith
Stotter Cup for ‘Dedication and commitment’ – Kenzy Cooper
Clarke Cup for “Positive contribution to Muritai School” – Alana Lai
Newton Family Cup for ‘Service to Muritai School’ – Zoe Lovell-Smith
Class of 61Cup - “Outstanding Contribution to Muritai School” – Sofija Cvitanovich
Booth Family Cup ~ “The Student’s Student” – Ryan Sheridan
Fortescue-Willis Environmental Leadership - Earthcare Award - Verity McRae
Fortescue-Willis Environmental Leadership - Earthcare Award - Verity McRae
YEAR 8 ABEL TASMAN TRIP
The year 8 students had a marvellous time in the Abel Tasman National Park and successfully survived their week away. Stephen Eames, Raihania Chadwick, Carole Lowe and Chris Galvin reported a wonderful week’s experience and praised the children who were energetic and outstanding, both in accepting the challenge of the expedition and in their behaviour. A huge thanks to those parents who gave up their time to spend a week with their children and allow them the opportunity to enjoy the experience.
EOTC WEEKS
The teaching teams put in a HUGE effort to enable the children to have some wonderful learning experiences in the last fortnight. Children ventured far and wide as well as enjoying the benefits of living in such a wonderful community. As part of their inquiry programme the year 3-4 team held a market last, organized and run by the children and raised $927 for the Orphanage in Nepal.
TOUCH RUGBY
A wonderful touch season! All teams did so well, with two teams coming in at 1st place! Thanks so much to all the amazing parent support. Also, a reminder about returning touch uniforms to the office.
Sharks 2nd overall
Eagles 1st overall
Bears 5th overall
Vipers 3rd overall
Rockets 4th overall
Storm 1st overall
Hurricanes 6th overall
Flyers 6th overall
CONCLUSION
This is the final newsletter for 2010 and I take this opportunity to thank the children, staff and the Muritai community for what has been another very successful year.
Through the regular newsletters and blogs parents will have gained an impression of school-life throughout 2010. The newsletters has been available by e-mail, the website and through the school office. We have used email this year as the main process to communicate with the school. School-life is always “full on” and the website and blogs certainly capture the moments of the many activities and exciting events your children have been involved in. Parents who have been keeping track of the school’s webpage www.muritai.school.nz will also have gained an understanding of the beliefs, values and curriculum focus areas the school has promoted throughout the year. Through the newsletters, celebration assemblies, performances, and the school’s website the school has celebrated and recognized the many successes of our children who have achieved in a variety of academic, sporting and cultural activities. The positive celebration of our successes throughout 2010 reflects the school’s vision statement “be the best that we can be”. It is certainly a pleasure to say “thank you” to the large group of parents who regularly support the school and who have been actively involved throughout the year.
The children have been showing signs of excitement as they share their anticipation of what Christmas will mean to them. The Christmas season is indeed one of excitement and joy for them as they begin to dream about everything that sparkles and of course the gifts that are shared by families and friends! Christmas means many different things to each of us and our preparations take many paths as we reflect on our own personal understanding of Christmas and anticipate visitor arrivals, plan summer beach holidays or simply look forward to relaxing and enjoying time with our families.
Many families are leaving the school as they move on to different schools. Thank you for your support and commitment to Muritai and best wishes for the future.
We farewell Vita Collier and Holly Edwards tomorrow from our teaching staff after 2 years at Muritai. Both are heading to the UK – Holly is heading home to Edinburgh with her fiancé James and Vita is heading to Oxford to join up with her partner Dan at Oxford University. Holly and Vita have been excellent staff members at Muritai – very popular and good team players.
Muritai runs on people and we are very lucky with the team we have here. I would like to thank –
Our DP’s - Matt Skilton and Maureen Buckley and team leaders Stephen Eames, Stu Devenport and Richard Dobson for their tireless organization of the teaching and learning for staff and students.
Our teaching staff and specialist teachers, who every day, do their very best for our children with skill, organization and enthusiasm.
To our teacher aides and support staff, who often do the most difficult work, and finally a huge thank you to Carole and Sue at the front office who do such a great job and for accommodating, with a smile, the numerous extra requests we get from parents on a daily basis. We are very grateful for your service to Muritai.
To our after school group, in particular Cath and Chrissy who put in many hours to look after our children before and after school– we say thank you. Not an easy job but one that is always done with a smile.
Our children are very lucky to have such a great team working with them and we really appreciate the nice thoughts, comments and gestures from parents received recently, in appreciation of the contribution we make in your children’s lives.
Our 6th Eastbourne Village Carnival was a huge success raising over $50,000 for the school. Thank you to the entire carnival team, and the home and school team for their hard work and determination to create experiences for our children and families at Muritai.
COMMUNITY
Christmas Lights
The Hutt Heat Water Polo elves have been very industrious at the North Pole with the unique 2010 Christmas Light Display all fired up and blazing each night through to 23 December.
It’s our 10th Anniversary, so come along and visit up soon, soak up some Yule from the Pool - gates open 8.30 pm each night at the North Pole aka 27 Hathaway Avenue, Lower Hutt. (off High Street close to Hutt Hospital, turn into Military Road, turn left into Hathaway with ample car parking on right) Check out the Christmas Lights video on You Tube using the link on the Hutt Water Polo Club web page http://www.huttwaterpolo.org.nz/ It’s the warmth that comes to our hearts when the Christmas spirit returns again. Spread the word, spread the cheer, keep the Christmas light burning, friends make Christmas Merry! Entry: $2 cash per head. Kids under 5 Free Hutt Water Polo Club
Bike-a-Palooza! Kids Bike Open Day at Karori Park Saturday 18th December, 10am-3pm Come on down to check out the new Karori Kid's bike track! This event will provide a great environment for kids to explore these tracks for the first time and learn some new skills. Thanks to a collaborative effort by WCC, The Kennett Bros, the Outdoor Participation Trust, the Makara Peak Supporters and local volunteers, the Karori Kid's Track is up and running! The short loop in the pines behind Karori Park was specially designed with the safety and enjoyment of younger riders in mind, and is one of few such facilities in the universe!
10am-12 noon for 11 years and under, or those inexperienced at riding on rough surfaces or hills 1-3pm for kids 12 and over, or confident young'uns For more information please contact John Randal at siftyjohn@gmail.com
Experienced Nanny/housekeeper/aged elderly care available. 12 years experience with all ages of children. Reference available from Eastbourne families. Please call or email Abby 0277396594 abswilton@windowslive.com
To the Board of Trustees - you have a huge job and many responsibilities, and you have had another successful year. Recent ERO feedback, yet to be confirmed, shows that Muritai is in good heart and governed extremely well. We are blessed to have such a supportive team that enables so many opportunities and developments to come to fruition, at our side.
All the team joins with me in wishing you all a very happy and safe Christmas with family and friends. Enjoy spending time with your children.
Kindest regards and Mere Kihirimete
Andrew Bird
Principal/ Tumuaki
Christmas Lights
The Hutt Heat Water Polo elves have been very industrious at the North Pole with the unique 2010 Christmas Light Display all fired up and blazing each night through to 23 December.
It’s our 10th Anniversary, so come along and visit up soon, soak up some Yule from the Pool - gates open 8.30 pm each night at the North Pole aka 27 Hathaway Avenue, Lower Hutt. (off High Street close to Hutt Hospital, turn into Military Road, turn left into Hathaway with ample car parking on right) Check out the Christmas Lights video on You Tube using the link on the Hutt Water Polo Club web page http://www.huttwaterpolo.org.nz/ It’s the warmth that comes to our hearts when the Christmas spirit returns again. Spread the word, spread the cheer, keep the Christmas light burning, friends make Christmas Merry! Entry: $2 cash per head. Kids under 5 Free Hutt Water Polo Club
Bike-a-Palooza! Kids Bike Open Day at Karori Park Saturday 18th December, 10am-3pm Come on down to check out the new Karori Kid's bike track! This event will provide a great environment for kids to explore these tracks for the first time and learn some new skills. Thanks to a collaborative effort by WCC, The Kennett Bros, the Outdoor Participation Trust, the Makara Peak Supporters and local volunteers, the Karori Kid's Track is up and running! The short loop in the pines behind Karori Park was specially designed with the safety and enjoyment of younger riders in mind, and is one of few such facilities in the universe!
10am-12 noon for 11 years and under, or those inexperienced at riding on rough surfaces or hills 1-3pm for kids 12 and over, or confident young'uns For more information please contact John Randal at siftyjohn@gmail.com
Experienced Nanny/housekeeper/aged elderly care available. 12 years experience with all ages of children. Reference available from Eastbourne families. Please call or email Abby 0277396594 abswilton@windowslive.com
We also farewell Ann Gibbons, who has been teacher aiding in our student support team. Ann has been here since 2006, and has been a valuable member of our team.
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