Kia ora koutou,
As we approach the last week we celebrate our children’s successes with written reports today. The mid year report shares the children’s progress against the curriculum requirements and indicates how the children are tracking towards achieving the national standard in reading, writing and maths. Teachers have noted comments of strengths and next steps as best they can. As always if you need additional information or would like to talk to your child’s class teacher then please contact them to arrange an appointment.
When reading the reports there was a common theme through them, and that is that our children are achieving very well but teachers would like the children to be confident to extend themselves to the next level, particularly in writing. Our teaching is focussed on introducing new ideas and we are finding some of our children feel safe in what they know and can do, rather than trying new ways to improve and extend their work. In Maths we know that the children who have swift recall of their basic facts have an advantage over the students who labour with instant recall. Going over number facts over the holiday break and beyond would be useful. Live Mathletics is a useful tool to speed up basic facts recall. As we go forward we will encourage the children to trial and experiment with new things to take their work forwards.
CELEBRATION OF LEARNING
Next Wednesday 1 July, parents are invited to visit their children’s classrooms where students will guide their parents through their learning journeys. Teachers will be on hand for any clarification required. Classrooms will be open from 3pm until 6pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to see your child’s day-to-day learning and achievements, to reflect on their growth and this helps them self-review their own progress together with the teachers report.
TREE PLANTING
It has been great to see Matt Diederich installing the big trees at the school today. They make a significant difference to the deck area and the entranceway to the main school from Oroua St.
We have also been successful in being awarded 18 fruit trees by the Hutt City Council and so a selection of feijoa, pear and apple trees will be arriving shortly for us to plant at both the main school and the senior school.
INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES (ICT)
We have been spending the recent Eastbourne Village Carnival funds of late. We have managed to invest about $50,000 worth of ICT equipment into the school to replace ageing equipment including a selection of Chromebooks, Ipads and laptops for the children to use plus big screens and multimedia equipment. All this has been spread across the school from year 1-8 for all our children to use. So, a huge thanks to the Eastbourne Village carnival committee and all the parents and children who made last year’s carnival such a huge success - we now have the benefits of this effort into the classrooms.
CARNIVAL COMMITTEE
We won’t be holding a Carnival this year but we do need a Treasurer to look after the money and someone to apply for grants and deal with Council communications. If you feel you would be able to fill one of these positions, please contact Sally Bain at iain.sally@gmail.com or see Carole or Jo in the school office.
POLYFEST
Yesterday a huge group of children from year 4-8 went to Walternash Stadium to perform in the Polyfest show for 2015. It was such an amazing experience, there were so many schools performing with different varieties of songs and costumes. From seeing all the different schools you could identify all the different cultures coming to life on stage. Muritai school sang three songs and made routines with poi, rako, and taiaha. It was an amazing turn-out and I would definitely recommend Polyfest for any other students next year.
A massive thank-you to Mrs Hooke and Mrs Algar for all the direction, choreography, organisation and giving up your own time to put the show together. Thank you, also, to Roger for helping us with equipment when needed.
Helena Cvitanovich
MATARIKI - KITE FLYING
As part of our current focus on Matariki, students will be making kites over the next few days and there will be a huge kite flying extravaganza (hopefully) on Thursday 2 July down at the WH Short Park in the afternoon. Classroom teachers will advise the exact times next week.
WORLD VISION - 40 HOUR FAMINE
The children who participated in the 40 Hour Famine recently did really well and raised $2,993.60 between them. Well done.
SCIENCE WEEK
Classes have enjoyed a mini science week this week with students experimenting and investigating in each syndicate. Along with kitchen chemistry students and teachers have carried out experiments investigating the concept of air pressure and its effect on flight. Teachers learned how to keep pingpong balls afloat with a hair drier during a morning tea break and the year 1 classes spent an afternoon experimenting with forces by setting off air and then carbon dioxide gas powered rockets
STAFFING UPDATE
Congratulations to Anand and Fiona Ranchod for the safe arrival of baby Ahren. He came a lot earlier than expected but everyone is safe and well.
Today we farewell our beloved drum and guitar teacher Steve Wren. Steve joined us as an itinerant teacher about 10 years ago and has been the force behind the ‘Drummers and Strummers’ during this time. He has also put together a number of school bands that have performed with distinction over the years. We will miss Steve and we thank him for his great work at Muritai. We wish him and Debbie a safe return to the UK.
Steve has personally found two people to take over from him and next term Charles Hazlewood and Andy Russell take over Steve’s portfolio of guitar and drum students.
At the end of this term one of our Teacher Aides, Lorna Lane, will be moving to a new job in town. Lorna has special link to one of our students who she cares for but the time is right for Lorna to do something new. We thank Lorna for everything she has done at Muritai and wish her well in her new opportunity. Rachael Armstrong joins our support team.
We also welcome Hannah Watkins, Brenda Anderson and Rachel Cope to the Muritai support team working in new entrant.
MURITAI SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMME
Winter is here and it’s holiday time! We have some great activities lined up to keep your children entertained these holidays:
- Soap decoupage
- Make your own sherbert and Junglerama
- Marshmallow Madness and Wallet making workshop
- Alternative Art Day
- Lighthouse Cinema and Talent Show
- Creative Ceramics
- Indoor Skating
- Funky upcycling day
- Gymnastics and Indoor Sports day
- Indoor Carnival
Pick up a brochure from the school office or visit the After School Care page on the website - http://muritaiafterschoolcare.blogspot.co.nz/
DIARY DATES FOR TERM 2 and 3
25 June Board of Trustees Meeting / Kapa haka roopu at PolyFest 2015
26 June Assembly / Mid-year reports go home.
1 July Learning celebrations 3pm - 6pm
3 July LAST DAY OF TERM 2 (Usual finishing time of 2.55pm)
20 July FIRST DAY OF TERM 3
23 July Otago Problem Solving
23 July Pedal Ready Programme begins for the year 3/4 syndicate
28 July ICAS English exam
11 August ICAS Maths Exam
SPORTS
Upper Hutt Netball Tournament
Last Sunday we had two year 4 and one year 5/6 netball team represented in the Upper Hutt Netball Tournament.
All of the teams played extremely well and fought hard against extremely tough opposition. I’m sure the experience will help them greatly with their regular weekly games.
The Year 4 Muritai Wombats should be very proud of themselves having won the overall Year 4 competition.
Well Done Muritai Netball!!
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Toolbox Parenting Groups - from The Parenting Place
Fun and inspiring small group parenting courses for parents of children and teenagers.
Middle Years (6-12yrs) Designed to help you stay connected, teach skills and build memories.
Mondays 10am to 12pm | 27 July to 31 Aug |Pinehaven School Library OR
Tuesdays 7:15pm to 9:15pm | 28 July to 1 Sept | Belmont School
Building Awesome Whānau (0-12yrs) Whether you are already a super-parent or you’re struggling a bit, this will give you lots of good ideas to create a great family team.
Thursdays 5:30pm to 7:30pm | 30 July to 3 Sept | Lower Hutt
Bookings are essential. Cost: $75 individual, $110 couple (subsidies are available)
Free for foster and adoptive parents and grandparents raising grandchildren, thanks to govt funding.
July School Holiday Children’s Theatre ..... Let's Make A Puppet.... Let's Tell A Story..... 13th & 14th July 10am or 11.30am at Epuni Community Hall, 37 Mitchell Street, Lower Hutt.... contact Sarah on 021 042 1851 or info@littledogbarking.co.nz or visit our website www.littledogbarking.co.nz
EVOLVE
Calling all future tennis stars! Evolve tennis coaching are now providing coaching at the Muritai Tennis Club under the guidance of Head Coach Jakim Malan. Registrations for Term 3 tennis coaching are now open. All ages and abilities are welcome. For further information please contact Evolve ph 479 1386 or email evolvetenniscoaching@gmail.com or visit www.evolvetenniscoaching.co.nz
