Naumai e te whanau o te kura Muritai
Tena koutou katoa
Welcome to our new children and families who have started at Muritai School this week - Felix Butler (3), Petra Gloag (9), Fergus Gloag (1), Robert Davidson (14), Nicholas Davidson (1), Aren Coley (16), Maia Collyer (10).
What a magnificent holiday break weather wise. I am sure you all took the chance to recharge the batteries and are well rested for what will be, as usual, a very busy term 2 at Muritai.
We were so impressed with our kapahaka roopu at Anzac Day who welcomed the parade with powhiri and haka and later sang the waiata He Honore. Because of the holiday break the roopu had many absentees and it was lovely to see the older, more experienced tamariki really step up to lead the younger children in performance.
Our Board issued a newsletter to parents this week regarding the upcoming Board elections. With many of the current Board stepping down after 3-5 years service it is an opportunity for others to take on the governance role in the school to ensure our people can be the best they can be. Muritai has always been blessed with highly skilled Board of Trustees and many years of settled leadership and we are looking to retain that strong position. The Board has to filter a constant stream of government mandates, new initiatives, different ways of doing things, new ideas and suggestions and competing expectations from our own and the educational community. They have always put our children’s teaching and learning first by retaining the way we are at Muritai and subtly adding freshness to make things better. All this in what is realistically a declining budget. It is a huge challenge but rewarding when you are able to receive constant praise from the audit systems of ERO, the Ministry of Education and from our financial auditor.
So to Stu Stock, Olivia Paterson, Craig Griffiths, Julie Parker, Phil Fisher, Nick Brownsword, Lisa Allen, Melissa Coton and Carole Lowe - a huge thank you for what you have done for the school over the last 5 years...you should be very proud of the shape the school is in going into the next set of trustees.
CARNIVAL
Time is marching on and we need to get cracking with our Carnival. We have had lots of peole come to us to say that they are happy to help, be part of the committee and many who have signed up to be part of the day. As yet we don’t have a coordinator / coordinators and so just can’t get going. We have a well established template to follow and enthusiastic supporters. The Carnival is vital to our financial story and the $55K we raise bi-annually funds purchases outside our operational grant funding, such as all ICT equipment around the school, contributing a major top up to our school library, and will be funding replacement and updated playground equipment very soon.
If one of you, or even a small team would like to take on this coordinator role then please let Carole know in the school office.
DENTAL HUB
The new dental clinic is on site and fully operational. It really is quite an amazing concept - the marvels of new thinking and technology! It will be here for a wee while and then move onto the next school.
BOARD ELECTIONS
As advertised previously, the current Board of Trustees 3-year term is coming to an end and we will be holding elections early next term. This is an opportunity for elected parents of the school to ensure that the direction of the school is best meeting the needs and aspirations of our children and their families. This very important role is crucial for our school to maintain its excellent reputation and long history of success. Muritai has consistently had stable governance over the years from very capable trustees and this is always recognised by the ERO office. Please give thought if you think that you have the skills and the time to make a difference for our school, our children and staff.
The order of upcoming Board election events goes like this –
o Main roll closed on Wednesday 4 May
o Call for nomination on Friday 6 May
o Supplementary roll close Wednesday 18 May
o Nominations close Friday 20 May
o Voting papers issued by Wednesday 25 May
o Closing poll election at NOON on Friday 3 June
o Votes counted and results declared on Thursday 9 June
POLYFEST 2016 IS COMING
We have just begun practising for this year’s Polyfest to be held the week 27 June - 1 July. Our performance date is Tuesday 28 June if you wish to add it to your calendar.
Held at the Walter Nash Stadium, Polyfest is a celebration of Kapa Haka, Polynesian song, dance, and this year, an opportunity to perform a speech in either Te Reo or in a Pacific language.
This year things are a little different, with opportunities to watch a showcase performed by our local secondary schools which students can attend on Thursday 30 June, as well as a time set aside for a pre-school event on Friday July 1. Posters will be out soon, which will advise performance times and ticket prices for the primary event.
If you are interested in your child speaking in the oratory show (also Thursday 30 June) or know of a pre-school that is interested in performing, please contact me directly and I can forward the relevant information.
Nga mihi
Carol Algar - algar@muritai.school.nz
SENIOR SCHOOL PLAYGROUND WORKING BEE
Kate Brownsword has kindly suggested a working bee to have "a Senior School playground tidy up"!
We would love to rally up as much support as possible for this, so if you are keen please meet on the Senior School playground on Saturday 7th May between 1pm - 4pm. Please bring your own gardening gear and tools and we will see if we can't put even more 'Mmmmm...' into Muritai!
HOT DOGS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We are still looking for helpers to make hog dogs on Wednesdays during Term 2 and 3. It is very simple with detailed instructions. If you would be willing to volunteer helping out at school between 11.30 and 1.30 on Wednesdays, please see Carole or Jo in the school office.
TERM 2 SLIPPERS AND HATS
Could you please provide your children with slippers to wear inside for the next 2 terms. As the weather turns, shoes (in particular sneakers) get wet when the children go outside so it is nice to be able to wear something dry and warm when they come back to class. Children may like to wear caps/beanies outside in the winter to help keep their heads warm.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Food for Thought is offering a NEW AUTUMN MENU. Each Friday lunch at Muritai School staff and children can order a Wrap (chicken or vege), Sushi (teriyaki chicken, tuna, or avocado), Homemade Pie (mince or mince & cheese) or our chef’s choice Crunchy Baked Chicken Strips. All menu items are served as a combo with fresh fruit or vegetable and a homemade baking surprise. Combo’s cost $7.50. Orders can be placed in the red “Food for Thought” box at the school front desk, emailed to info@fft.co.nz or by text to 022 468 6325 (022 HOT MEAL). Payment to 12-3145-0180659-00, Food for Thought Ltd. Orders close Thursday 3pm. See fft.co.nz for more information.
CROSS COUNTRY
Our Muritai School cross country is on the Tuesday 24th May starting in the morning with the junior school and finishing up with the seniors later on - we will have more details in next week’s newsletter. Children are continuing to train for the event to get ahead on their aerobic fitness so that on race day they are able to powerfully last the distance. The Year 4-8 zone cross country is on Tuesday the 7th June which is also our teacher only day so officially school is closed. We will still have a team at the event, however, and hopefully we can bring a ‘trophy’ back to Muritai School!
DIARY DATES (staff may contact you with more details about these events)
Tues 17 May Y5-6 Zone football
Tues 24 May Y3-8 Cross country race
Mon 6 June Queen’s Birthday - school closed
Tues 7 June Teacher only day and Central Zone cross country
Wed 8 June Y5-6 Speech finals
Tues 28 June PolyFest
Fri 1 July Mid year reports go out
Wed 6 July Celebration of learning 3pm - 6pm
Fri 8 July Last day of term.
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
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
COMMUNITY NOTICES
HOCKEY FOR CHILDREN
Derek Wilshire runs a hockey workshop for children on a Wednesday evening indoors at the Community Centre for all ages. Some of our children attend and it runs between 6.30pm and 7.30pm and is great fun for the children to both upskill and gain fitness and coordination.
Race to Explore Wellington Zoo, then Greater Wellington, with the Metlink City Safari, May 15
This awesome family adventure sees teams start by racing to explore Wellington Zoo, before heading out to explore greater Wellington. This year's event has a wild animal theme. 'Wild Animals' will be located all over Greater Wellington. A map book will show you exactly where they are - your challenge is to find the quickest and smartest way to visit the most of these - both by foot and by all forms of public transport.
You may be racing to catch the ferry to Seatoun, the Cable Car to Kelburn, a train to Tawa, or a bus to Queensgate.
3 and 6 hour events are available
Kids Cross Country Series - come along and have some fun
Athletics Wellington is again running the Kids Cross Country Series in partnership with Les Mills and the Shoe Clinic over the winter months at various venues around the Wellington region. First up is Karori Park on Sunday 15 May. Other venues are Upper Hutt, Petone, Tawa and Mt Victoria. Races for pre schoolers though to year 8s. This event has grown in the past few years with up to 600 kids taking part, so come along and have some fun. For more information or to enter go to https://www.athleticshub.co.nz/our-programmes#kidsxcountry
WELLINGTON BALLET STUDIO
Does your child love dancing? My classes at St Alban’s Church hall are creative and fun, in a family friendly environment. From 'Tippy Toes’ for 2yr olds through to RAD Grade 1 Ballet (7-8yrs). It’s free to try out a class! Contact: Hannah (ex RNZB, ARAD RTS) on 021 207 6757 or email hannah@wellingtonballetstudio.co.nz
Jennian Homes Mother’s Day Fun Run/Walk, Sunday 8 May, Wellington Waterfront.
Run, walk or have a leisurely stroll with your Mum, daughter, sister or a group of girlfriends this Mother’s Day. Nominate your primary school and they could win a share of $50,000 Rebel Sport vouchers to purchase sport equipment. Register at http://www.jennianmothersday.com
No comments:
Post a Comment