Naumai e te whanau o te kura Muritai
Tena koutou katoa
Dear Parents / Caregivers
Welcome back to Muritai School for 2016. I trust you had a delightful holiday and enjoyed the family time in the traditional Kiwi summer break. We start the year with 385 children and 17 classrooms in operation.
We welcome an number of new children to Muritai today. I am sure your time here will be enjoyable, engaging and full of growth. Some of our children are younger siblings, some the oldest child in their family to start school and some children have moved into Eastbourne. A big warm, Muritai welcome to Olivia Hollard, Lauchlan Stevenson, Freja Ford, Alfie Clench, Finn Seiler, Charley Robinson, Charlotte Claridge, Juliet Medcalf, Jakob Sambrooke, Oliver Sambrooke, Lily Sambrooke, Chloe Bothwell, Eloise Bothwell, Neve Keoghan, Ben Murphy, Mia Oliver, Isabella Lovell, Mila Bowling, Carter Reid, Marlow Fraser, Sylvie Travers, Ben Mitchell, Ferghus Smith, Theo Longhurst, Kyara Brenninkmeijer and Quinten Brenninkmeijer. Whew!!! Welcome to you and your families.
We also welcome our new teaching staff Julie Small (R14), Jordana Phillips (R15), Michelle Hollard (R13), Liz Knowles (R4) to Muritai as classroom teachers this year. Many of the staff enjoyed a live stream of a Teaching Conference on Thursday 21 January which was an extremely cheap way of receiving high quality professional development. We followed this up by having an excellent whole day session with Louise Millar from Cognition on exploring and refining our teaching structures on mathematics last Wednesday which was both challenging and enlightening. All staff have been here for a over a week and we appreciate how each team has seamlessly settled into their ‘working groups’ together.
We had a tremendous year last year and through the newsletters, celebration assemblies, performances, and the school’s website the school celebrated and recognized the many successes of our children who achieved in a variety of academic, sporting and cultural activities. The positive celebration of our successes throughout 2015 reflected well on the school’s vision statement “to be the best that we can be”. It was certainly a pleasure to say “thank you” to our large group of parents who support our school and who were actively involved throughout the year. I am sure 2016 will be similar as we continue to grow as a school to best meet the needs of our students in their 21st century learning environment.
We have also heard that Briana Treder has had a baby boy, George, who was born on 21 January. We wish Briana and her family all the best.
What is on top...
Meet the teacher
This Thursday is the ‘meet the teacher’ evening starting at 3pm until 8pm. This important meeting is usually very well attended and is designed to enable parents to introduce themselves to their classroom teacher and have some 1-1 time where they can share information about their child with their new class teacher about their child. Please, please, please remember that our teaching staff are always available to meet with you at anytime throughout the year and are always the first call for any concerns that you may have. Just contact them via email to set a mutual appointment time.
You can make a booking on-line by going to https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/ and putting in the code G8B3Y and follow the prompts or you can ring Carole or Jo in the office and they will make the appointment for you.
Waitangi Day - Monday 8 February
Please note school is closed on Monday because of the ‘Mondayisation’ of Waitangi Day which falls on Saturday 6th February this year.
Swimming
This starts this week on Thursday and your teacher will inform you of the details for your child’s class.
Sun Hats
All children are required to have a wide brimmed hat at school. Please make sure it is named. Children without hats will be in the shade. We will be limiting 'outside time' during the hours of 11am onwards. We strongly suggest that you apply sunblock before your child leaves in the morning. We have some sunblock at school but not enough to cover all children, every day.
Lost Property
We already have a few bins of lost property and it is only day 2!! Could you please ensure your children’s clothes are named to help us us reunite them with their belongings.
TERM DATES FOR 2016
Term 1 = Monday 1 February - Friday 15 April
Term 2 = Monday 2 May - Friday 8 July
Term 3 = Monday 25 July - Friday 23 September
Term 4 = Monday 10 October - Friday 16 December
Please note Easter is in term one this year and so school will be closed for the Easter Break from Friday 25 March to and including Tuesday 29 March
We have 2 teacher only days this year at Queen’s Birthday and Labour weekend.
Teacher only day one = Tuesday 7 June
Teacher only day two = Tuesday 25 October
ABEL TASMAN - GiveaLittle
Every year our year 8 students go to the Abel Tasman National Park to camp for a week and have a fantastic time. Awaroa, a beautiful beach in the National Park is up for private sale in the next 3 weeks. A Givealittle page has been set up to raise the $2 million required to purchase it with the view of gifting it to NZ and ensuring that this piece of land remains permanently available to all New Zealanders. To find out more information and to donate, go to https://givealittle.co.nz/project/abeltasmanbeach2016
COMMUNITY NOTICES
2016 Guitar Lessons at Muritai School
There are limited places available for new pupils from Years 3-8. Lessons will begin in Week 2. The lessons are 30 minutes long, and will take place in groups of up to 4 pupils. The cost is $12 per lesson, and there are 9 lessons scheduled for Term 1
Each pupil will need a guitar to use at home, and a clearfile to bring to school.
Please contact: Charles Hazlewood
music.box@paradise.net.nz
(04) 934-2759, 029-9392759
Fencing
Fencing at Hutt Valley Swords Club for all school age students, and for adults as after-school classes. Holiday sessions are also offered.
Contact Susan Mob: 021-0276 1922, Tel: 04-9383090, Email: comgt@paradise.net.nz
Susan is an experienced teacher and fencing coach. The sessions are fun and participants always achieve growth in personal development while developing excellent fencing skills.
Kula Kids' Yoga enrolling now for 2016 Term 1!
Kula Kids' Yoga is a creative and fun yoga class just for kids! Your child will develop strength, balance and flexibility and simple mindfulness through age-appropriate story, song and games. Email Jeanne at kulakidsyoga@yahoo.com for inquiries and check us out on Facebook!
Wednesday and Thursday
11 February thru 7 April
Ages 5-9 3-4 pm school pick up Muritai available
Ages 10-13 4:15-5:15 pm
51 Oroua Street, Eastbourne, just down the street from Muritai School
$10/class
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, USA and Year 5/6 at the wonderful Muritai School in Eastbourne! References available.
Wellington Ballet Studio
Creative and fun local ballet classes for 2-9 year olds. Contact: Hannah Ross ARAD RTS (ex RNZB) p: 021 207 6757 e: hannah@wellingtonballetstudio.co.nz
w: wbs.co.nz
Sing - Dance - Act - triple treat for children aged 6 to 16 years old.
Come to try a class on Thursday 11th of Feb @ St Marks Church, 58 Woburn Rd, Lower Hutt.
It's free
Please let us know you are coming as places are limited.
For a 2016 on stage!
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