18 October 2012

Naumai e te whanau o te kura Muritai 
Tena koutou katoa

Welcome to our new students Tatyana Kooznetzoff (Y6), Emma McRobbie (Y1), Beth Houghton (Y1), Jacob Chadwick (Y1), Greta Woolloff (Y2) and Devon Reddaway (Y1). 

We also welcome back some children to Muritai - Robbie and Tim Michael, Nelli, Nora and Rufus Conrad and Kahu and Pania Rolfe. It is lovely to have you back at Muritai.

As we approach the end of the year we should be very proud of our achievements of late. There just seems to be something happening everyday which shows that life at Muritai is certainly not boring…far from it. Term 3 is always exciting and the Olympic Games have given a nice background to all the other things we have been able to do across the term, at every level.

Term 4 and the run through to the end of the year is always very busy. Our term plan looks very manageable but the teaching staff do have a number of  administrative requirements to attend to as we close off 2012 and prepare for 2013. 

One thing remains important however and that is to keep in close contact with your child's class teacher. Our next reporting round is at the end of the year with written reports but you may feel that it is necessary to touch base as the term goes along to get feedback on your child's progress. Our doors are always open for this to happen and it is a regular occurrence.

EASTBOURNE CARNIVAL

With just 5 weeks to go, things are certainly gearing up and we still have a lot to do.  Don't forget to have those spring cleans and donate your unwanted books, clothes, garden stuff, toys and sporting goods - drop them off at the school office.

As a start, the Christmas room are in desperate need of borrowing 6 artificial christmas trees, lights and decorations (Label them and they will be returned) and have an amazing design worked out.  If you are feeling artistic and would like to be involved they will need lots of willing helpers.  If you have a super dad or grandad who would like to volunteer a couple of hours to be a Santa that would really help us out too.  Contact Deborah Wells on mwells13@xtra.co.nz 

You will be hearing from us over the next 5 weeks more regularly with requests for help including manpower for set up and manning stalls on the day, putting up advertising posters, selling raffle tickets etc. This is the part where we need every family to get involved and get behind the Carnival.  We certainly won't be able to pull it off without you.

With thanks from the Carnival Team.

A team are making marmalade, jams and mint jelly next Friday, 26 October and need Lemons, Limes, Oranges and mint.  If you are able to help them with any of these fruits or some mint, please drop them off at the school office.

Jane Woolley is organising the Deli Stall this year and has jars, labels and recipes available in the school office.  If you are able to help make any jams, chutneys, sauces, etc, please see Sue or Carole in the office for jars.  If you need any other information, please contact Jane on 562 0942 or 027 490 0484, jane.woolley@xtra.co.nz 

TERM DATES 2013

The Board of Trustees have set the term dates for 2013.

We are starting the school year on Monday 4th February and our last school day will be Thursday 20th December 2012.

Term 1 - Monday 4 February - Friday 19 April – 51 days
Term 2 - Monday 6 May - Friday 12 July      - 48 days
Term 3 - Monday 29 July - Friday 27 September   - 45 days
Term 4 - Monday 14 October -  Friday 20 December – 48 days 

Teacher only days - Friday 

As we are required to complete 192 contact days there will be 2 teacher only days and these are at Queen's Birthday and at Labour Weekend.

2013
Currently we are putting together the structures for 2013. Thank you to those families who have informed us already of their plans for 2013 and we are aware of the year 6 departures. Please let us know if your child/ren will be leaving Muritai at the end of this year. 

SANDPIT

Our new sandpit is up and open for business. This project has been funded by the Home and School and we have been lucky to get two trust grants from Pub Charity and Pelorus Trust to help top up the Home and School contribution for this wonderful resource.  

HEART FOUNDATION - JUMP ROPE

The Junior syndicate, Rooms 1 to 6, recently participated in the Heart Foundation's Jump Rope skipathon challenge.  They were sponsored to skip and earned $835.30 for the Heart Foundation.  Well done!

THE BUMNOTES

Congratulations to our school band 'The Bumnotes' who have won the NZ Bandquest 2012 title. There were 800 musicians entered into this competition and our group has won the big prize. After entering and winning the online section of the Bandquest regional challenge they were judged to be the NZ champions and are awaiting the results of the national finals which we will here shortly. Gus reece also won the prize for best musician. Their success sees them win $2000 of musical equipment via the competition sponsors the Rockshop. You can view their online entry here.

IPADS

Our new Ipads will be out into the school next week . This is a very exciting development for the school and the first wave of new technology that we are working towards acquiring for the children and their learning with more to come in 2013 after the Carnival fundraising. These 32 Ipads have generously been donated by the Home and School and will be up and running in classrooms next term. A huge thanks to all the Home and School team and their supporters for their hard work raising funds for these valuable resources.

HOT DOGS

A reminder that hot dogs have finished for the year.  We would like to thank Narelle Ferrier for organising the roster, ordering the hot dogs and buns and ensuring that this fundraiser has worked so smoothly and to all the parents who helped prepare them.  

HATS
Term 4 signals warmer weather (hopefully) and the return of hats at school.  Can you please ensure your child comes to school at the beginning of term 4 with a wide brimmed hat to be worn at all play times.  You may also like to consider putting sunblock on them before they come to school.  

EOTC WEEKS
Staff are currently planning our Education Outside The Classroom programmes for the end of year. Year 8 students are preparing for the big tramp at Abel Tasman. This may be helpful for your diaries as you may like to join in the activities so we can confirm the following times -
Year 1-2 - week 8 - December 3-7
Year 3-4 - week 9 - December 10-14
Year 5-6 - week 9 - December 10-14
Year 7-8 - week 9 - December 10-14

DATES
Mon 22 Oct    -    Labour day - school closed
Thur 25 Oct   -   Y5-8 at NZSO Concert at MFC
Thur 1 Nov    -    Y7-8 at H20 with DARE programme
Fri 2 Nov        -    Assembly
Mon 5 Nov     -    Athletic Sports
Tue 6 Nov      -    Board of Trustees mtg
Thur 8 Nov      -    HVHS testing
Tue 13 Nov    -    Life Ed visiting until Thursday 22 November
Fri 16 Nov      -    Assembly
Tue 20 Nov    -    Y4-6 Zone sports
Sunday 25 November - EASTBOURNE CARNIVAL
Wed 28 Nov   -    Starting school at 5
Fri 30 Nov       -    Assembly

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Carer Support Required               

We are looking  for a kind, caring and patient person to provide relief support in our home for William who is 9 and has Down Syndrome.

Initially required for Thursday afternoons after school for 2 hours.

Please contact Annemarie on 04 562 7665

Yula Kozintsova

Don't rush to change your child's wardrobe if you have items with lots of life.  Sometimes you need to 'save' your child's favourite clothes and sometimes you simply need to adjust a new item.
Jeans are worn out or need repair?  Let's give them new life!
Pants, jeans, dresses, skirt hems - lengthening or shortening. Sleeves - lengthening or shortening.  Knee and elbow patches.  Zipper replacement.
Phone: Yula Kozintsova - 562 8982 or 022 034 9033
4/264 Muritai Road, Eastbourne

East Harbour Kindergarten
Eastbourne Historical Calendars will be on sale at selected village shops and from the school from 15th October. The calendars are $15 each and are a fundraiser for the East Harbour Kindergarten.

Movie Preview:

Dayspring Ministries Trust is screening  the popular French film "The Intouchables", on Wednesday 17 October at the Light House Cinema, 52 Beach Street Petone. Tickets cost $25 per person.  Funds raised go to support the work of Seahawk a 53ft yacht  which delivers scriptures, clothing, children's books and reading glasses  to the remote islands of the Pacific.  Contact Mike Cornish (mikecornish@paradise.net.nz) , or Dianne Thomas Bryan (dianne.thomasbryan@xtra.co.nz.) for tickets."

Surf Life Saving NZ - Find a Beach Website

This week Surf Life Saving New Zealand launched its summer patrol season with an innovative new website, Finda Beach. It features up-to-the-minute information including weather, swells, hazards, facilities such as toilets and changing rooms and even a rating system for activities like swimming or if a beach is family-friendly.

The beach is New Zealand's favourite playground, but it can also be a dangerous place. Learning about the risks and preparing yourself will mean your family can enjoy the sun, sea and sand safely this summer.