Wednesday 10 April



Welcome to our new students who have joined the Muritai family recently - Johnny Baird, Lulu Adair, Roko Treadwell-Burke and Emily Yao (room 1), Ishbel Cook (room 3) and Jayden Aislabie (room 10).

As we approach the end of term 1 we are very pleased with the progress we are making this year at Muritai. The children are working very hard in class and starting to wrap things up for the end of term in preparation for some new learning experiences in term 2.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES ELECTIONS
In May the Board of Trustees election will be held. This is an opportunity for parents to help play a part in the decision-making process of Muritai School.  Information with nomination forms will go out to the parent community by the 15th April with the election date being 30th May.  NZSTA have a useful website which provides a background to becoming a trustee. Click here to get some useful information.

SENIOR SCHOOL SWIM SPORTS
Our year 3-8 swim sports are at Huia Pool next Friday 19 April. This is the last day of the term.  Events begin at 9.30 and run through to 12.00, the programme will be very tight but we should manage. This event is traditionally a hard fought competition, in particular the inter class and inter house relays.

GOAL SETTING INTERVIEWS FOR YEAR 4-8
Next week on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 April we have goal setting interviews for children in year 4-8. We will share information from PAT and AsTTLe assessments tested earlier in the year and discuss goals for the children to focus on going forward. We will also be sharing the year level appropriate skills from the literacy and maths progressions with you.  This helps to make you aware, as parents, of the programme run at Muritai School and the competencies required at each year level to be at the national standard.

Interviews start at 3.00 and are 15 minutes long and we would encourage children who are in years 5-8 to attend the interview as well. We would also encourage families, whose parents live in 2 separate homes, to attend the interviews together - this is not essential but just helps to manage our time.

Please book a time by visiting www.schoolinterviews.co.nz  (event code EBF8M)

As always I remind parents, that  teachers are available to share information and discuss any concerns at any time through the year.

GRANDPARENTS DAY
Last Thursday the junior school held a very successful Grandparents afternoon. Many of our children's grandparents brought treasures to show the children and it really was a lovely experience for both the children and the grown ups. Thank you to some 'friends' of the school’  who joined in the fun and helped out those children whose grandparents couldn't make it. Room 2 have posted photos that you can view by clicking here and you can view Room 6 blog posting here.

YEAR 5 and 6 CAMP
The year 5 and 6 team had a fantastic experience at Forest Lakes camp recently. The children put in 100% and returned very tired but satisfied with a good weeks work. They will remember this experience for many, many years. Thank you to all our adult helpers who assisted throughout the week and of course to the teaching staff, led by Deane McKay for their excellent organisation. Click here to see some photos from camp.

HOME AND SCHOOL
Unfortunately our Home and School committee is almost non-existent at the present time with only four volunteers.  Our last wonderful committee members have had to stand down due to other commitments and at the last meeting only one new person attended.  Without new members we will be unable to run our fundraising events for this year, including the school disco, hot dogs and chocolate fundraiser.  It would be great to have some new volunteers to help run these events.  The Home and School provide Muritai with much needed funding and also fun events for our children.  Please contact the school office if you are able to help in any way.

WHACKY HAIR DAY
Whacky Hair Day raised $522.20 for the Kids Can charity.  Well done to all of you who made the effort to dress up your hair.

FACEBOOK
Very occasionally parents refer inappropriate children's Facebook commentary, which happens outside of school hours, back into the school to 'deal' with.  First things first, Facebook is blocked at Muritai School so students cannot access it on our school ICT equipment.  Secondly, Facebook is for people aged 13 or over and so no child under 13 should have a Facebook account.  However, as parents are responsible for their children outside of school hours, it is the family's decision whether children have Facebook accounts and with this responsibility comes regular monitoring of their child's online activity.  Netsafe is an excellent online resource to start 

At Muritai we regularly explain to children about being a safe and appropriate online citizen. If you or your child think other children comment inappropriately on another child's facebook page then I encourage you to directly contact the other parent in the first instance.

DOGS AT SCHOOL
Our school policy is that dogs are not allowed on the property. It is not that we don't like dogs, it is because they may foul on the property and can be unpredictable around children. Although we discourage children from approaching dogs that are tied up outside school grounds, there is always a risk that children will approach the dog. What happens next is unpredictable. We strongly advise dog owners who walk their dog to school, not to leave them unattended. If by chance you do have to tie the dog up, please do so away from the access areas for children. 

ZONE SWIMMING 
Both year 4-6 and year 7-8 have competed at their zone swim events with some excellent results. 

Year 4-6 -  Congratulations to Helena Cvitanovich who is the new 25m year 6 record holder. These are the children who placed in the top 3 in their races -

  • 1st Y6 Girls 25 Freestyle - Helena Cvitanovich
  • 1st Y4 Girls 25 Backstroke - Emily Jones
  • 2nd Y6 Girls 50 Freestyle - Helena Cvitanovich
  • 2nd Y5 Boys 25 Breaststroke - Hamish Dalziel
  • 2nd Y5 Girls 25 Breaststroke - Samantha Woolley
  • 2nd Y5 Girls 25 Backstroke - Rachel Vass
  • 3rd Y4 Girls 50 Freestyle - Emily Jones
  • 3rd Y6 Girls 25 Freestyle - Ella Burton-Wood 
  • 3rd Y6 Girls 25 Breaststroke - Grace Olsen
  • 3rd Y6 Girls 25 Backstroke - Phoebe Evans
The following children will compete for central zone at the inter-zones - Helena Cvitanovich, Hamish Dalziel, Samantha Woolley, Emily Jones, Rachel Vass

Y7-8 - Congratulations to the following students who achieved a top 3 finish in their events -
  • Milly Griffiths; Mia Treadwell-Burke; Ella Littlejohn
  • Todd Wellwood, Alex Scott-Billing and John Woodnorth 
ICAS EXAMS
A reminder that if you would like your child to take part in any of the ICAS exams, we need your form and payment returned to the school office by this Friday April 12th.
  • Year 4's can enter English, Maths and/or Writing.
  • Year 5-8's can enter English, Maths, Writing, Spelling and/or Science.
 STAFF BABIES
It was lovely to see Sheena Naik (with Naava), Annabel Smith (Cian) and Sally Velvin (Honor) at school with their babies last week. All mothers and children are doing well!

AFTER SCHOOL CARE HOLIDAY PROGRAMME
Mel Dowdall, our After School Care Manager, has been working hard organising another exciting Holiday Programme.  Some of the events for these holidays include:
  • Carter Observatory
  • Movies & Percy Reserve
  • Marshmallow creations
  • Mad Science Day
  • Staglands
  • Somes Island
  • Scavenger Hunt & Sausage Sizzle

 Enrolments close this Friday, 12th April (although we will accept enrolments until the end of term but spaces will be limited and cannot be guaranteed).  Brochures are available at the school office or you can book online through the After School Care Blog

RECEIVING EMAILS FROM THE SCHOOL
It would appear that some people are not receiving notification of the Bird's Eye View and other notices via email.  If you have not been receiving notices, please first check your spam or junk box and contact us if you have no notification. I will be contacting our Student Management System to ask them to look into this.

SCHOOL DIARY
Wed 10 April     Year 4-6 inter-zone swim sports
Thur 11 April     Year 8 Gardasil Immunisation
Fri 12 April         School Assembly 1.45
Wed 17 April     Y4-8 student goal setting interviews
Thur 18 April     Y4-8 student goal setting interviews 
Fri 19 April         Y3-8 Swim sports at Huia Pool / Last day of term 1

Mon 6 May         First day of term 2

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS
The Entertainment Books are available once again. This year, instead of a book being sent home to every family, please let us know if you would like to buy one.

You can order your Entertainment Book from the school office or by ringing Angela Armstrong at 562 8554. You can buy online at www.entertainmentbook.co.nz or by cheque or cash or eftpos at the school office.  Books cost $60, the same as last year.

Just to recap: Entertainment Books will not be sent home unless one is ordered. There is a copy of this year's book to view in the school office. 

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Looking for a holiday bach in Taupo.
I will be racing in the 2014 New Zealand Ironman in March next year.  I am looking for a 'Holiday Home' in Taupo to rent for the following dates: 27th February - 2nd March.   If anyone has a place available can you please email me (mckay@muritai.school.nz) as soon as possible.
Thanks!  Mr. McKay.

Hutt Valley Netball Centre – April School Holiday Programme
Come and enrol your daughter in the Hutt Valley Netball Centre School Holiday Programme.  Joanne and her coaching team can assist with improving the basic generic skills of the game and also assess and identify all potential representative players.
Walsh Nash Stadium – Tocker Street, Taita
22-24 and 26 April 2013. Please note as the 25 April is ANZAC Day, no programme will be held on this day.
Fun Ferns Year 3 & 4         9.00am – 10.30am                     $60.00
Future Ferns Year 5 & 6    11.00am -1.00pm                       $70.00
Mini Ferns Year 7 & 8        1.30pm – 3.30pm                        $70.00
For all entry queries please contact Casey on 04-567 5971 or email aaohvnetball@actrix.co.nz
For information on the program please contact Joanne on 021-678 975 or email jpaora@paradise.net.nz.

DAYS BAY PLAY
Days Bay Play is an extension of Days Bay Playcentre that offers creative play-based education opportunities to all families in Eastbourne. 

Next term we are offering after school classes for 5 - 10 year olds in cookingpaper art (making/origami/notebook making), and due to popular demand we are offering another creative clay course.  We are also offering a ukulele course for adults and a preschool music group, which will be run at a local rest-home for the elderly residents.  Take a look at our blog to see the details for all our courses, to read about the artists and specialists who are running these courses for us, and to enrol!  

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