Tena koutou katoa
Naumai e te whanau o te kura Muritai
Welcome to our newcomers to Muritai School - Mrs Liz Sullivan and Oscar Bull and Joshua Hosking who have started in room 2. We are extremely lucky to have Raewyn Roberts, a very experienced teacher who has been releasing teachers at Muritai for the past year in Room 3 for Maureen Buckley’s management release role. We also welcome Nicolette Fisher and Christa Pitman to our part-time teaching staff and Karen Tattersall to our student support staff.
What a wonderful Queen’s Birthday break in Wellington. The sunshine hours this year are just remarkable. There must be some grey around the corner somewhere - we will take it for as long as it lasts. Teacher Only day was well used by staff as they are well on their way to completing the children’s mid year reports.
From the Principal -
In my reading this week I was reminded of the fact that “Tomorrow’s Schools” was launched over a quarter of a century ago in a world which no longer exists. The brainchild of David Lange’s Labour government, it installed the governance of each school from the Department of Education to the local community.
I touched on this in last week newsletter when introducing Towards 2020. Muritai being quite a different school to what it was 25 years ago. The school has evolved significantly in the way teaching and learning functions, just like parents’ working environments have changed from 1991. Some things haven’t changed though - words form the basis of all our communication - read or spoken; full stops and capital letters are crucial in our writing, times tables and basic facts form the cornerstone of all maths. The social sciences and science and technology are powerful agents for changing the world into a ‘better’ and more efficient place.
Here is a fun fact for you….there are 34 new countries in the world since Tomorrow’s Schools was introduced 25 years ago!!
Education has to continually evolve - hold onto the foundations but reach out for things that will take us places. It has to be relevant. This happens in each classroom at Muritai every day with regular drills of the ‘needs to knows’ mixed in with lots of WOW moments. I saw part of learning evolution this week when I was one of a team of judges in the speech competition. Having done this for a few years now I have seen speeches evolve from children standing rigidly but passionately speaking to an audience to now children confidently and passionately speaking to an audience supported by a sophisticated visual display made from multiple sources. I am reminded of that phrase I constantly use - I’m not sure if I could have done that when I was that age.
So this week we welcome in a new Board of Trustees who will be charged with building strategy that enables our kids to be the best that they can be.
From the Board -
Voting has closed in the Muritai School Board of Trustees’ Election and Nigel Cass, Mary Longmore, Louise Marsden, Andrew Sanderson, Miki Szikszai have been elected as parent representatives and Deane McKay as the staff representative. With our principal Andrew Bird they make up the Board of Trustees for the next 3 years. Carole Lowe will continue as the Board secretary.
Thank you to all the candidates for standing and for parents for voting.
From the School -
CENTRAL ZONE CROSS COUNTRY
It was a beautiful sunny Wellington day for the central Zone Cross Country championships. Our team did a great job representing the school throughout the day in their various races. We had some top results with the following students winning podium spots:
1st place – Y5 Girls – Rosa Blair
2nd place – Y5 Girls – Mia Campbell
2nd place – Year 6 Girls – Greta Woolloff
3rd place – Y6 Boys – Fraser Belliss
Congratulations to the following students who placed in the top 10 of their race and will now represent the Central Zone at the Interzone event on Tuesday 21st June 2016 (Postponement date - Thursday 23rd June 2016) at Richard Prouse Park, Wainuiomata.
Year 4s - Bruno Thompson, Johnny Baird
Year 5s - Rosa Blair, Mia Campbell, Lola Campbell, Sage Pettus, George Baird
Year 6s - Greta Woolloff, Elodie Bain, Esme Daley, Fraser Belliss, Jack Roche
Year 7s - Mason Donnelly
Year 8s - Charlotte McFarlane
STEMM challenge
We had two year 7 and 8 teams at the STEMM Challenge at the Dowse Museum yesterday. School teams competed against each other in their knowledge around science, technology, engineering, mathematics and manufacturing (STEMM). We entered two teams and both finished in the top 5. Awesome result!
2nd place - Muritai 1 (Luke Thompson, Miles Futter, Oscar Zuijderwijk, Ming Bao) 
4th place - Muritai 2 (Halina Smith, Lachlan McLachlan, Joshua Toomath, Ethan Hester)
Thanks to Lindy Monrad, Rhona Fraser & Allen Smith who escorted the teams!
YEAR 5-6 SPEECH COMPETITION
Wednesday was the Y5-6 speech competition. Eight students made the final and covered a wide range of topics. The judges were very impressed with the quality of writing, strength of delivery, use of visuals and overall standard. A competition has to have winners and this year Mila Bowling won the year 5 competition and Imogen Twose won the year 6 competition. Overall Imogen twose was declared the Y5-6 speech champion and won the R Harrison Trophy for 2016.
POLYFEST
Our kapa haka roopu have been working hard with Mrs Algar and Mrs Hooke on their performance for the Polyfest on Thursday 30 June. Tickets for the show are on sale to parents with children in the Polyfest and are available at the school office for $5 each. They are limited to 3 per family at the moment.
JUNIOR SCHOOL INFORMATION
Thank you to Mrs Buckley and the team for running information sessions on learning to read, write and do maths over the last 3 weeks. Maureen has handouts if you weren’t able to attend and want the information. Next Wednesday evening is Starting School at 5 at 7pm in the staffroom so if you know of any interested parents please let them know.
PIZZA MONDAY
Another Pizza Monday next week. Thank you to the Pizza Monday team for their work!
ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS
We still have some Entertainment Books which have not been paid for or returned. If you still have yours could you please return your Entertainment Book or payment to the office as soon as possible. For further information please contact michelle.fisher@xtra.co.nz or call her on 04 562 8877.
DIARY DATES (staff may contact you with more details about these events)
Mon 13 June ICAS Writing Exam
Wed 15 June ICAS Spelling Exam
Thurs 16 June Board of Trustees meeting
Thurs 30 June PolyFest 2016
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
TOWARDS 2020
Last week we shared the main points of our Towards 2020 strategic document. These 7 key themes maintain the integrity of what Muritai School has now, but take us forward towards 2020 to innovate, progress, and modernise the way our teachers teach and our children learn.
These 7 concepts are -
1. Achievement and success for all
2. Thinking globally, acting locally
3. Science, technology, engineering, maths
4. Growing great citizens
5. Lead with pedagogy, accelerate with technology
6. Using community expertise
7. Using learning spaces and resources to enhance learning.
This week we are going to expand and define the first 2 concepts - Achievement and success for all and thinking globally, acting locally.
Achievement and success for all learners sits as the very front page. It is undisputable. Every child, every parent and every staff member wants the same tisn and that is to bring out the best of all our people at Muritai. Our wider society wants this as well. Everything we do at Muritai is based on enabling our children to reach their potential and become active, confident, life-long learners.We also recognise that each child is a unique individual and so achievements and success will come at different times and in different ways. This will be celebrated.
Thinking globally and acting locally looks at the way problem-solving forms the basis of many industry and global social progress. Our children are attracted to learning about the world around them - it builds knowledge and acceptance of others. Kiwis are globetrotters, travellers and many of adult OE experiences have seen New Zealanders contribute to the global stage.
By looking at global issues we can look to solve or contribute to solving our local issues close to our homes. Eastbourne is a unique community that we want to continue to be the jewel in Wellington’s crown. As our children get older they will contribute to bigger communities and be involved with others to make ‘things better’.
Concept 1 -
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Objective -
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Strategy -
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Key Components -
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What we will see…
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Concept 2 -
2. Thinking globally, but acting locally
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Objective -
To use local issues as part of our learning contexts so children build an understanding of things that go on around them and how they can participate locally to create solutions to their community issues. This will empower them to tackle global issues.
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Strategy -
We will do this by harnessing Muritai’s unique, natural community and intellectual assets to provide local studies of issues. (Environment)
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Key Components -
We recognise that …
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What we will see -
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COMMUNITY NOTICES
HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED HOW IMPORTANT A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP IS FOR YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING?
The University of Otago’s Sleep, Education and Learning in Our Neighbourhood (SEALION) survey… Is looking at children’s sleep, and how it may affect learning during the school day, in the New Zealand School Community.
We are looking for parents of 6 to 10 year old children to fill out a questionnaire online (or at home) and go into the draw to win one of five $150 supermarket vouchers.
Click this link to fill in the survey or contact:
http://tinyurl.com/sealion-survey
Rebecca Harding (PhD Student)
Phone: (03) 470 9476
Email: sealion@otago.ac.nz
This study has been approved by the University of Otago Human Ethics Committee (Health)
Drama Classes
Our international curriculum will:
Help explore creativity, Overcome shyness, Develop positive self esteem, Grow their imagination, Interact with adults, Make new friends, Have lots of fun
Fun after-school classes – 5 – 17 years To enrol please call or see our website.
Midwinter knack craft market
Saturday 18 June, 9.30-1.30
Berhampore School hall, Britomart Street
As the temperature finally drops it's time to stock up on winter woollies and beautiful crafty stuff to brighten up the winter days! We have a whole hall of makers who have spent the last few months creating interesting and well made work for your viewing/purchasing pleasure. There's an emphasis on sustainability and ethically-produced wares, which are great for reasonably-priced gifts, or treating yourself. It's soupfest time on the food front along with a potato bar and divine curry too. As usual the coffee will be fresh, the parking is free and you can pay for everything via eftpos.
For further information contact Justine 027 381 3409, knack.market@gmail.com
Fun French for kids at Muritai School for ages 5-12
- Experience French learning the fun way!
- Lots of interactive activities, role play, crafts, active games and music, and cooking
- Free trial lesson
- To register your interest please contact Stefi on Stefi@funlanuages.co.nz or phone 562 8211
Adolescent Talk for Parents
Come along and hear Brainwave Trust presenter, Sarah Best, speak on the topic of “Unravelling the Adolescent Brain” to be held on Thursday 30th June at 7.30pm at Wa Ora Montessori School, High School Campus, 175 Rata Street, Naenae. Recent research shows that there is a burst of new brain cell connections in late childhood and adolescence that is linked with risk taking and impulsive, emotional behaviours typical of teenagers. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased on the night at the door.
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