Welcome to William Nelson, Connor Johnstone and Luke Sherwin to Room 1
recently.
As we approach the last fortnight of the term we are starting to reflect
on the usual busy hustle and bustle of school life. No day is a dull day at
Muritai and I take my hat off to the staff for enabling the children to enjoy
the learning experiences of today's school life as we continue to embrace the
wide scope of learning these days. The children are right into their stride
though and the classrooms are building with colour as the teachers really get
the learning momentum going. With swimming finished, cross country
training has begun and we look forward to seeing our children trying their very
best at the school event on Tuesday 31 March.
PARENT INTERVIEWS
Next week we have parent teacher interviews. This is a chance to
teachers to feed back to parents on achievement and progress of the first term.
As we approach the 'gritty' autumn and winter terms 2 and 3 we can inform you
on our focus goals for learning for the children. As usual school will finish
at 2pm to allow the interviews to begin at 2.10pm and they are for 15 minutes
each so that we can get through all parents and allow staff some breathing
space through the afternoon and into the evening. You can collect your children
at that time or arrange a play date and if you can't we will be supervising
children until 3pm in the hall.
Please sign up a time by accessing this web address www.schoolinterviews.co.nz and
enter the code 3TGMX and follow the instructions. Contact Jo or Carole in the
office if you need support.
CAMP
Last week year 5 and 6 team thoroughly enjoyed the Forest Lakes
experience. The children did so well to be involved in the high energy
programme and are to be congratulated for their enthusiasm, tenacity,
confidence and 'stickability' to achieve so much in such a short time. They had
a real 'can do' attitude. It would be fair to say there were some very
exhausted children (and adults) heading home of Friday afternoon. A camp
wouldn't be possible without the generous support of our parent volunteers who
gave up their time to support the children and assist the teachers in the
day-to-day operation of camp. I need to thank and congratulate the teachers
Deane, Annette, Shelley, Carl and Carol for their organisation and dedication
to the Forest Lakes experience and for Rachel Evans for her role as the medical
officer.
VOLUNTARY DONATIONS AND ACTIVITY FEE
The Board of Trustees issued a letter last weekend with information on
school donation, activity fee and technology fee. Thank you to those that have
paid so quickly but we have had some feedback from parents as to the clarity of
the invoice. It is important to note, but we were just following what was
recently stipulated in circulars to schools by the Ministry of Education. We
will be reissuing the statements today and putting the voluntary donation and
activity/technology fees on the same page to help you better understand the
financial commitments to the school.
ZEBRA CROSSING
Please take extra care when travelling past the school during the day
and especially around the crossing on Muritai School. We have children
using the crossing at all times of the day. Last week a car stopped to
let a child cross over and two cars coming the other way DID NOT STOP.
The child was already on the crossing when the second car crossed and if
they had run across instead of walking, they very well may have been run over.
We are urging our children to take extra care on the crossing when not
patrolled as we just can't rely on drivers these days to look out for our
children.
WORKING BEE THIS SATURDAY
Come and join us for a garden working bee at the
Oroua St entrance to school on Saturday 21 March, 9am-12noon. Tasks we would
like to do: - clear up the windblown rubbish around the Oroua St. side of the
school, including behind the new library - tidy up planting on the Oroua St
entrance, take out dead leaves and dead plants - prune back overgrown plants
and take out any that are dead/ too big/ self-seeded - fork over some of the
soil behind the library prior to planting next term. All help much appreciated
even if it is just half an hour around weekend sports commitments. Thankyou!
Please contact Kate Brownsword on 027 562 0177 if you have any queries.
SPORT
Cricket
Year 7&8The team started well
with a win over Fergusson Intermediate. This set up a must win game
against Wellesley which the team lost after falling just short in the run
chase. The team played well with stand out performances by Paige Shroder and
Lincoln Moffat
Year 5&6
The team started well with a convincing win over Hutt Central and
followed up with a loss to Wellesley winning in the next round against Karori
Normal School. A semi final has been
organised against St Peters & Paul’s tomorrow. See the next newsletter to
see how the boys did.
Touch Rugby
This is well under way now and all the teams are enjoying participating
and competing for the school. We have playoffs and finals next Friday.
Athletics
Our top athletes (a team of 29 in total) recently competed in the Year
4-8 Regional Athletics with the following students placing in the top 3:
Macey Caughley - 1st long jump / 2nd 1000m
Year 7 Girls Relay - Macey Caughley, Helena Cvitanovich, Angelina Hardy
and Sofya Dickson - 1st
Year 4 Boys Relay - Luca McKay, Harry Rookes, Fraser Belliss, Tom
Brownsword and Joe Dickson - 3rd
Congratulations to all the team.
Wellington Schools Triathlon
Championships
Ben Cass finished 2nd in the Y7/8 boys race at the Wellington Schools
Triathlon champs at Scorching Bay on Thursday 5th March. This is an
amazing result for Ben...well done!
JUNIOR SCHOOL VISITS
The Juniors were extremely busy last week with visits to Pataka Museum,
their Swimming Festival and Festival of the Arts.
On Monday morning the Junior syndicate visited the Pataka Museum in
Porirua where children experienced life as it was in New Zealand 100 years ago.
They had a go at washing with a mangle, ironing clothes with old irons
and then dressing up in period clothing. They compared household
technology today with that of 100 years ago and finished the day with a visit
to the Art Gallery where they listened to and acted out an animal legend.
Tuesday was a stunning day for the Juniors Swimming Festival held at
Eastbourne Pool. The children used noodles, flutter boards and balls for
their races. It was all about having a go, being in a team and
experiencing success. We had a wonderful turnout of parents and family
members to cheer on their children in their amazing swimming skills.
To cap it all off, on Wednesday they travelled into Wellington to
experience three performances as part of the Festival of the Arts - Carnival of
the Animals, Squaring the Wheel and Orchestra of Spheres. All great
shows.
A very busy and exciting week for our junior students who were extremely
tired by the end of it all.
HOOKED ON BOOKS
The Junior School is looking for parents, grandparents or other adults
in the area who would be willing to help with our valuable 'Hooked on Books'
programme. This entails coming to the Junior School once each week Monday
to Thursdays, preferably afternoons - 1.30 to 2.40 p.m. to listen to children
read. Can you please email Maureen Buckley if you are able to help and
let her know which days you would be available. Maureen is hoping to
start the programme from the beginning of Term 2.
DONATED BOOK
Neils Meyer-Westfield, a parent of the school, is a graphic artist and
has kindly donated a copy of his new book "Land of Birds".
ICAS
The school offers to students the opportunity to partake in the
Inetrnational Competitions and Assessments for Schools test for year 4-8
students. Tests are in Science (Y5-8), Writing, Spelling, English and Maths. An
email has already gone out and information is available at the office if
required. Close of dates for entries and payments are Thursday 2 April.
TERM DATES FOR 2015
These are the term dates for 2015. Please note the following -
Term 1 - Monday 2 February –Thursday 2 April –
43 days
Term 2 - Monday 20 April - Friday 3 July - 53 days
Term 3 - Monday 20 July - Friday 25 September
- 50 days
Term 4 - Monday 12 October - Thursday 17 December –
47 days
Please note that
Monday the 27 April is a holiday as Anzac day has
been Monday-ised.
Tuesday the 2 June is a teacher only day (this is
the day after Queens Birthday.
Tuesday the 27 October is a teacher only day (this
is the day after Labour Day)
Diary Dates
- Thursday 19th March - Year
3-4 and Year 7-8 Festivals of the Arts
- Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th
March - Parent Interviews - student progress (school closes at 2pm
- Wednesday 25th March - Y4-6
Inter-zone swim sports
- Friday 27 March - Year 8
girls Gardisal immunisation
- Friday 27th March - School
assembly 1.40
- Tuesday 31st March - Whole
school cross country at Eastbourne Rec
- Wednesday 1 April - Junior
school Grandparents day
- Thursday 2 April - Term 1
ends at 2.55pm
- Monday 20 April - Term 2
begins
PYJAMA DAY
The Senior Charity Group are organising a Pyjama Day on Tuesday 24 March
to raise money for Vanuatu after the devastation of Cyclone Pam. Come to school
next Tuesday wearing your pyjamas and bring a donation. The money we raise will
be donated to the Red Cross.
SCHOLASTIC BOOKS
The
last day for the scholastic orders is Wednesday the 25th of March. Please
ensure you pay either by cheque or fill out your details for your credit card
as we post the orders and cannot accept cash.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Kids' Yoga in
Eastbourne!
Kula Kids' Yoga is a
creative and fun yoga class just for kids! We weave story, song and games
into the ancient art of yoga. Classes include the physical poses that
develop strength, balance and flexibility and simple mindfulness activities while
we move from stillness to activity and back. Email Jeanne at kulakidsyoga@yahoo.com to book or for more information, and like us on
facebook. See photos, links and weekly postings
Thursdays until April 2
Ages 5-9, 3:45-4:30 pm
Ages 10-13 4:45-5:45
pm
$10 per class
51 Oroua Street,
Eastbourne, just down the street from Muritai School!
Jeanne Balding-Weinstock
is certified through Yoga Alliance with specialty training in Kids' Yoga.
She has teaching experience in Early Childhood, and teaching Yoga in
private schools, clubs, and studios in California, US. References
available
Sustainable
Home & Garden Show 2015
Don’t miss this year’s Sustainable Home & Garden Show on 21 and 22 March.
There will be a huge range of eco-friendly products on display from over 95 vendors, talks in the No8 wire workshop and cooking demonstrations, vibrant school gardens, electric cars, a treasure hunt for kids and plenty of activities for them to try. Something for everyone.
Back by popular demand, a giant Lego® model of what Paraparaumu town centre might look like in 2035 will also be on show to enthral young and old alike!
Plus, great food will be available and entertainment will run throughout the weekend.
The event runs from 9am to 4pm on both days at Kapiti Primary School, Rimu Rd, Paraparaumu. Gold coin entry.
More information go to: www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/homeandgarden
Don’t miss this year’s Sustainable Home & Garden Show on 21 and 22 March.
There will be a huge range of eco-friendly products on display from over 95 vendors, talks in the No8 wire workshop and cooking demonstrations, vibrant school gardens, electric cars, a treasure hunt for kids and plenty of activities for them to try. Something for everyone.
Back by popular demand, a giant Lego® model of what Paraparaumu town centre might look like in 2035 will also be on show to enthral young and old alike!
Plus, great food will be available and entertainment will run throughout the weekend.
The event runs from 9am to 4pm on both days at Kapiti Primary School, Rimu Rd, Paraparaumu. Gold coin entry.
More information go to: www.kapiticoast.govt.nz/homeandgarden
Babysitter
My name is Jasmine
Henwood. I am 32 years old and am
available to look after your kids.
Please give me a call on 021 066 0536 or 562 7009. Hourly rate $10 per hour
