Thursday 28 June

Naumai e te whanau o te kura Muritai 
Tena koutou katoa


The time is right for our mid year holidays. Children and staff have put in a very big effort over the last term and there is not much left in the tank.


Thank you so much for being part of the parent interviews. I strongly believe that face to face contact is the best way for parents to be kept informed of student progress. We were very pleased to see so many parents attending. Teachers certainly were very positive at dinner last night and thought the interviews were going extremely well and parents were receptive to their ideas. At the beginning of term 3 we will establish a new goal setting process for the students and their teachers to work towards and achieve. We encourage you all to stay in close touch with your child's teacher as we go forward.


STAFFING
Next term we are starting a new entrant class in room 16. We welcome back Jess Savage to Muritai.  She starts the term with 7 children which will grow quickly to 16 by the end of the term. We also welcome back Hayley Skilton at the end of week 3 when Sheena Naik goes on maternity leave.


We also say goodbye to Paula, our Speech language therapist who has been doing booster sessions at Muritai this term and to Louise Hannigan, our long-time group Special Education Liaison rep, who works with us with our highest needs children. Both people have been wonderful connections for Muritai and we will miss them.


NEW STUDENT
Next term we have a new student starting at Muritai who is visually impaired. Shannon is a delightful year 6 student who is going into room 11 with Murray McMillan. Shannon can do all the things that the other children can do, although she needs a cane to help her get around the school. We are all looking forward to her arrival. 


SCIENCE FAIR
I hope you enjoyed the opportunity to see the year 7-8 science fair while it was in the library and room 22. The displays were very impressive and the culmination of some very good work by our oldest students. Congratulations to our winners Carlotta Fegert (Y8 - 'What is the best way to make cut flowers last longer') and Frankie Middleton (Y7 - 'Dust mites').  Results:

• Year 8 - 1st - Carlotta Fergert; 2nd - Jack Wellwood; 3rd - Finn Connell
• Year 7 - 1st - Frankie Middleton; 2nd - Amy Flynn; 3rd - Dorrie Brennan, Margarita Montes de Oca

BASKETBALL
Our year 8 team, the "Muritai Monsters" have performed with distinction in the very competitive Hutt Valley league.  They made the final and went down 32-30 to Naenae Intermediate in a very hotly contested game of basketball on Wednesday night. Well done boys!


CROSS COUNTRY INTER-ZONE RESULTS
After lots of postponements our top runners had the chance to test their skills in the Wellington regional cross country event held yesterday. Well done to all our athletes who continued training hard for this challenge - we are very proud of your success. Four of our athletes made the top 6 so congratulations to:

• Gus Reece  - 6th year 8 boys
• Maya Hahn  - 3rd year 7 girls
• Macey Caughley  - 3rd year 5 girls
• Charlotte Humphries  - 4th year 4 girls

ASB 'OLYMPIC' FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT
Two teams from year 5/6 represented Muritai at the ASB football 'Olympic' festival. Both the boy's team (representing Spain), and the girl's team (representing USA) went through the festival unbeaten.


SCHOOL DISCO 
The kids had a fantastic time last Friday night at the "Reports are out, one more week to go disco". Thank you to our Home and School team for running the event, a fun time was had by all.


SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
Thank you for supporting our book fair. Through the sale of the books we have managed to acquire over a $1000 of books for our school library. A big thanks to Jo Salisbury and her team of helpers for their work on Wednesday and Thursday evening.


VOLUNTEERS AT SCHOOL
We have lots of the Muritai family in the school at the moment helping teachers and children and we want to say thank you so much to our volunteers for spending some of your precious time with our children. People are in the school doing hooked on books, sorting and repairing resources, attending to sports uniforms or working with children in classrooms. It is a huge help and really makes a difference.


WORLD VISION
Once again our children have excelled themselves over 'the 40 hour famine' weekend and have raised $2709.40 for the children of Mali. Children do a lot of thinking about other people and their way of living when they involve themselves in something like this so it is a very worthwhile activity. Well done Muritai!


PARK AND CROSS SAFELY TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN

Parking wardens will be visiting Muritai School shortly to keep the area around our entrance safe for everyone getting to and from school.

Double parking or stopping on broken yellow lines can make it difficult for the road patrol to see approaching vehicles, and for other drivers to see children crossing.

For the safety of your child and their friends;

• Slow down around our school
• Always observe all parking restrictions near our school
• Always cross at the patrolled crossing
• Walk to school, or be prepared to park a short distance away and walk. This will reduce traffic congestion.  

Our new Police Constable, Dave Tweedale, has also asked that we remind parents to use the crossing and set a good example for the children.  If you are crossing between the diamonds on the road, please use the crossing.  


FACEBOOK AND TWITTER
With many parents now on Facebook we are able to share information and school news events via Facebook. Presently we have about 90 'friends' which is made up of just 40 current school families.


You can sign up to Muritai School's Facebook page and therefore get regular updates of events.  Click here to join up on Facebook. 


Alternatively, if you are not on Facebook you can also receive these updates straight to your cellphone via Twitter. Simply text 8987 and type in follow MuritaiSchool and you will receive updates, simple messages, reminders, cancellations direct to your cellphone.


COMMUNITY NOTICES
Cottage for Rent

Sunny, unfurnished, 3 bedroom cottage, Pukatea Street, available for rent for  2 – 6 months from 13 July. $520 per week. Please email Robyn and Rowan on robrowed@gmail.com.


Movie Fundraiser
A friend of the school Carol Gorham is raising money to release a Sun Bear from his tiny cage in Sumatra. Carol is holding a movie fundraiser at The Lighthouse Cinema at Petone July 10th at 8.00pm for the Well Digger's Daughter. if you would like to support this event call Carol at  5869050

Give your kids the chance to learn French, Term 3 

Fun French for ages 10 to 12 (year 6 to 8s) a NEW class, Wednesday lunch times. Designed specifically for the older primary level,  including fun games plus plenty of learning, in line with their age and ability.

Fun French for ages 5 to 9, Tuesday lunch-times.  Lots of games crafts, fun activities to help us learn.  Some spaces available in both classes, taking registrations now for term 3.   Come for a free trial lesson. 

LCF Fun Languages offers the opportunity to learn another language for children from 2 to 12 years.  A big variety of interactive and communicative activities: role play, crafts, activity sheets, lively games, songs and drama. Professionally designed materials and a set curriculum. Contact Stefi Plimmer-Blattner on 562 8211 or stefi@lcfclubs.co.nz   Website:www.lcfclubs.co.nz


City of Wellington Pipe Band Open Night
Wednesday 27 June from 6.30 to 8pm.  City of Wellington Pipeband Hall - corner of Stoke and Hanson Streets, Newtown.  All Welcome!  Learn to play the pipes or drums.  Contact Marcus Boshier 021 027 59403 or marcusboshier@hotmail.com