END OF TERM
We have nearly made it to the end of term. It has been a trying last 5 weeks or so with so much sickness around and extremely tired children and staff persevering to achieve their goals. It has been hard to string some consistency together an I thank you for your patience and understanding. At the same time we can reflect on our term with pride. There are some terrific things on display on the school website and I urge you to visit the senior school to view their eco house projects. You can of course visit Muritai TV to see their virtual presentations.
We will have a final assembly this Friday with the usual ensemble of eclectic talents on display. The band will be performing which is always a highlight! As it is the last day of term we aim to start as close to 1.30 as possible.
PARENT INTERVIEWS
With reports and portfolios going out last Friday it’s that time again for parents to have a one on one discussion with their child’s teacher on their child’s progress at school. This is an opportunity for teachers to provide their feedback to you on what is working well, including your child’s strengths and opportunities for further development. Much of the key information is explicitly laid out in the written report. The interview is an opportunity for you to find out more about what is happening in the classrooms.
Providing progress feedback to parents is such an important task and teachers appreciate and value the expectations that parents hold for their own children. Teachers want to provide parents with as much information as they can in a relaxed setting that is conducive to building ongoing, constructive parent/school relationships. Information shared highlights the unique gains being made by individual children and helps teachers plan the next steps to be taken, with the support of parents, to further develop each child's potential.
POU
Tomorrow kaumatua Alma Mihaere will be here to perform a short ceremony around the pou at 10.00. This will enable us to uplift the pou for renovation. Parents, caregivers and whanau are all invited.
CLASSROOM RENOVATIONS
In the holiday break rooms 4,5,6,7,8 and9 are being renovated. Room 7,8,9 will have new wall linings and rooms 4,5,6 will have new wall linings, carpet and windows replaced on the south side. A badly needed ‘additional work space ‘ room is being created beside room 6.
ROOM 16
A please help from Margs Mills-Smith in room 16. Margs is on the lookout for any carpet or rugs that you may have surplus. Her class is in room 16, which has a vinyl floor and she would like to ‘soften’ it up for the children. If you have anything spare please contact Margs.
YEAR 5/6 SPEECH FINALS
Last Tuesday the Year 5/6 Team hosted our annual Speech Competition Final. This marks the conclusion of an eight week process where every child was required to plan, prepare and deliver a 3-5 minute speech to their class. Finalists were selected from each class then year group. Our Year 5 finalists this year were; Milly Griffiths, Harrison Summers, Grace Allan and Sally Bird. Our Year 6 finalists were; Billy Richardson, Matthew Sutcliffe and Harry Crawford.
After much deliberation from the judges winners were chosen. Harry Crawford won the Year 6 final while Milly Griffths took out the Year 5 final and was also chosen as the overall winner! A big congratulations to both Harry and Milly including all our other finalists – we are all very proud of your achievements!
A massive thank you to our fabulous judges Sue Fieldes, Mary McCallum and last year's winner Olly Evans.
BOOK CHARACTER DAY
This Friday we are encouraging the children to dress up as a book character. Staff have been reading in the library this week and with the Book Fair we thought we would relax on Friday, dress up and lighten up! We will also be doing our annual gold coin donation for the Orphans of Nepal so please bring a coin to help make a difference.
ECO-HOUSING PROJECTS
This term the Senior School have been exploring the concept of ‘Sustainability’ with a focus on 'creating a sustainable future by raising peoples awareness of the impact human’s and human practices are having on our planet.
At the conclusion of this unit students had to explore and then design their own eco houses. Please take the time to view and celebrate the achievements of our Senior School students. The Senior School inquiries will be on display in ‘The Green House’ (Room 24) throughout this week and will also be available to view during parent conferences.
For a digital tour check out Muritai TV: http://muritaitv.blogspot.com/2011/07/ecohousing-projects.html
STUDENTS VISIT THE MIRO NURSERY
On Friday the 1st July, eight Y7/8 students got the chance to find out all about the plant nursery at GNS in Seaview. It is a very cool operation and the students really enjoyed being involved in the planting process and supporting MIRO. (Mainland Island Restoration Operation).
As appreciation for their planting efforts MIRO donated six lovely native trees, which will be planted at the back of the Senior School. Thank you MIRO for this wonderful opportunity.
VEGETABLE GARDEN
The Vege Garden in the Senior School is taking shape. The compost bin is being filled nicely with food scraps, leaves, manure and grass clippings. This will give us the food we need to feed the plants. Next term children will be investigating which vegetables to grow in August and which vegetables the Senior Chefs will need in order to create their yummy nibbles under the tutoring eye of Adrian Hornsby from Blue Carrot Cattering. The chefs had huge success at their last Ready, Steady, Cook, with their signaturedish being spinachand pumpkin fritters. Lately the Year 4 gardening group and those they've roped into learn and help have planted cabbages, silverbeat, brocolli, carrots, onions and garlic. http://www.muritaienviro.blogspot.com/
Gardening tools are still welcome for donation to the gardening group.
ROCKET SCIENCE
The Year 3 and 4s are at the end of their Science Unit on Flight. The record flight so far is set at 82m, measuring horizontally. This was set by Noah Stock, son of no other than Super Stu. Undisputed 2nd place getter goes to Rosie Owles, whose rocket only came back to Earth from the Norfolk Pine on Friday night. Flying 52m horizontally, but also turning about 70m to right. To view Rosie's flight go to http://www.muritaitv.blogspot.com/
SPORTS
Netball
Intermediate 1 - Muritai Int 1 started the netball season with two very good wins but recently experienced 3 close losses with just a 1 and 2 goal difference. Girls have become stronger in their positions, but still need to work on areas, especially ball retention. The team is looking forward to the second half of the season.
Primary - Muritai 1 netball team have trained extremely hard this term and this has certainly paid off with wins in all their games in round 1 and leading grade 3. Thanks to coaches Mae Brennan and Ellen Sullivan and congratulations to Monica, Marguerite, Emma, Maya, Uma, Ella, Dorrie, Ruby and Kobe.
A pleasing first half of the season for Muritai 2 (Year 6), culminating in victory in the last round over the leading team in our grade. The girls are showing steady development of their skills, while still trying out different positions to find the best fit for them. Most of our games have been very close, and we have been pleased at how the girls have kept trying right to the final whistle.
The Muritai 3 (Year 5) team are working hard and improving so much, especially with their passing and movement about the court. They won most of their grading games and are in a competitive grade (same one as the Year 6 team!) They have had 1 win and 4 close losses.
The Muritai 4 (Year 5) team are having a great season with some good wins and a few challenging losses leaving us in fifth position on the points board. The team has come a long way together making huge improvements and we don’t even mind playing in the rain.
Muritai 5 (Year 4)
The Muritai 7 team (Year 3) Ten girls from rooms 8 and 9 make up YR3 Muritai 7 netball team entered into the Hutt Valley Small Hoops competition this year. Games are held at Eastern Hutt School on Saturday afternoons. The girls are enthusiastic players and are keen to practise at least twice a week. It has been a steep learning curve for them with noticeable individual and team skill improvement. Each player is rotated into different positions each game so they are able to develop a wide range of netball skills before specialising in one position. We are half way through the competition and despite the weather all the grading and round 1 games have now been played and the team is looking forward to the competition resuming next term.
Regional Cross Country
The following children from year 4-8 represented the Lower Hutt Zone at the Regional Cross Country at Kaitoke - Macey; Andrew, Max, Charlotte, Jack, Liam, Maya and Matthew, Hayley, Tessa and Clara.
Both Matthew Sutcliffe and Maya Hahn came 1st in the year 6 event, and Macey Caughley came 2nd in the year 4 competiiton – an outstanding achievement! Matthew and Maya are now focusing on the National event which takes place in Blenheim later in Term 3.
COMMUNITY
7.30PM Saturday 6 August at the Muritai School Hall. Nibbles provided. Cash Bar. Challenge your friends and neighbours, put together a team of 8-10 and join in the fun. Look out for the generation game challenge round. Tickets $20 available from Hartcourts Eastbourne, Gina at Youth Group on Friday nights or Karen Sisson on 562 8771.
FILL YOUR LPG BOTTLES FOR LESS
Kiwi LPG Cylinder Filling Station is now open. Bring this voucher with your LPG cylinder to 38 Bouverie Street, Petone (across from the Mitre 10 Mega Store) and Kiwi LPG will donate $1.00 of your purchase to Muritai School. Hours: M-F: 8:30-5pm Saturdays: 9-1pm
EHock School Holiday Tournaments
Wednesday 20th July 12.00pm – 2.00pm
Wednesday 27th July 10.00am – 12.00pm
Eastbourne Indoor Sports Centre, Tuatoru Street
New Player Welcome
All you need is a pair of soft shoes.
Contact: Derek Wilshere 562 7920 or Derek.wilshere@xtra.co.nz
Generously supported by PAK ‘N SAVE (Petone)
French and German language classes starting in Eastbourne, term 3
French and German classes starting in the first week of next term for 5 to 12 years olds! A huge variety of interactive and communicative activities – role play, crafts, activity sheets, lively games, board games, songs and drama.
French: Starting on Thursday 4 August at St Ronan’s Church Hall, 3:15pm.
German: Starting on Wednesday 3 August, Muritai School Library, 3:15pm
Italian, Spanish, Mandarin – inquiries welcomed.
Come to a free first lesson and bring your friends! For more details please contact Stefi: stefi@lcfclubs.co.nz, phone 562 8211 or visit the website www.lcfclubs.co.nz
