Tena koutou katoa
Naumai e te whanau o te kura Muritai
Welcome to Marshall Bradley who joins the Muritai School family this week.
From the Principal -
As we finish week 7 the school is in good heart. We are starting to see a few signs of fatigue but the children continue along in what has been an excellent year so far! My visits to the classrooms have seen the children so engaged and disciplined in their studies - great stuff.
We have front footed a couple of online issues with our year 5-8 community that have happened outside school hours on chat sites. At a time when the online world is growing exponentially it is almost impossible to not be engaged with this. At school we manage our ICT structure through N4L, a government set platform that has the strongest safety barriers available. We also regularly talk about digital safety with the children.
Outside of school our children can, however, access an enormous online world and my advice is that it needs careful management by parents to ensure that children accessing these sites are safe and free of emotional harm. Our experience is that children will say / write things online that they would not say to each other in the flesh. We have found in the past that things written between students about other children online has often come back to the victim through a different source. Talking behind someone’s back is incredibly hurtful - we all know that, and a lot worse for children.
It is widely recognised that 13 is an appropriate age to be accessing social media and chat rooms sites such as Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat. Facebook is actually R13 so only 5 children at Muritai should actually have a Facebook account! Children at home need to behave appropriately online and within the boundaries set by their parents. As parents though you must understand that what happens at home between the children is not necessarily a Muritai issue. At home they are your responsibility and if other children are behaving inappropriately online towards your child then please contact the families directly and seek resolution that way. Often people’s first reaction is to engage the school in something that happened after 3.30.
We suggest all parents have an online code of conduct at home and that it is openly discussed and observed - Netsafe is an outstanding New Zealand website that offers excellent strategies for being safe in the online world and is a great place to get initial guidance.
Next term the year 7-8 team is exploring ‘The Internet’ as their Inquiry focus – including looking at the pros and cons, risks and how children keep themselves safe online. Annette and the team invite parent of Y5-8 to an informal ‘chat’ over a hot cuppa after our Learning Celebration evening on Wednesday 6th July at around 6pm.
The senior staff will also be able to share some resources that may be useful in talking about digital safety with your child. If you would like to attend, please RSVP either by email to borgonje@muritai.school.nz or your classroom teacher before Friday 1st July to let us know if you plan to attend.
From the Board of Trustees -
The new Board of Trustees had its first meeting last night. It met with the old Board and spent a couple of hours, firstly meeting each other and then sharing and gathering information about governance, management of the school and strategy and future plans. We will be meeting again next week to continue our orientation and training.
One of the items at the Board meeting was a letter received from one of our students Seren Lewis about a ‘buddy bench’ . The buddy bench is a place that children with no one to play with can go to and be picked up by people that are happy to play with them. The Board (and staff) think this is a great idea. If you have an old wooden garden seat that you don’t need anymore that the children could paint and decorate please let the school office know. Well done Seren.
From the School -
MURITAI SPORTS UNIFORMS
Children from Year 3 up are required to have a school sports uniform consisting of a T-Shirt and shorts and, in the case of netball, a skirt. Some of our children will be attending Artsplash shortly and will need a T-shirt to wear to the performance if they do not already have one and will need to order one from the school office or purchase a second-hand uniform.
We have set up a page to advertise second-hand uniforms and are happy to advertise on behalf of parents. Forms are available at the school office to place advertisements. We have a few t-shirts, a pair of shorts and a skirt available from the school at the moment. Go to http://muritaiuniforms.blogspot.co.nz/ to take a look.
ROAD PATROL
Please take extra care when dropping off /picking up your children when the Road Patrol is on duty. Our Year 5/6 children man the patrol and they need to have a clear line of sight to ensure the safety of other children using the crossing. We have had several people double parking and parking in the disabled park during these times. This makes it very difficult for our children manning the Crossing and they will be taking down number plates of cars which will be reported to the Police for follow up.
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. Tickets are only available until Wednesday 21 June so please buy your tickets as soon as possible.
GETTING THE EXPERTS IN!!!!
This week the year 5-6 team has hosted the experts. On Monday we hosted Jocelyn Turnbull - Radiocarbon Science Leader, National Isotope Centre at GNS Science - came to talk to the children about Climate Change.
Yesterday they hosted Lisa Murray from the Metservice speaking about her job as a meteorologist and how they forecast the weather. 
It is great to be able to listen to the experts and learn from their deep knowledge, their expertise and experiences
LOST PROPERTY
This is starting to build up - having said that things are better than usual. If you are missing some key clothing items they may be in the corridor opposite room 7. Please make sure clothing is named and then things can be returned if found.
LUCKY BOOK CLUB
Issue 4 should have come home this week with your child. Please have your orders into the school office by Wednesday the 29th of June. You can make your payment with either credit card or cheque, (if paying by cheque please make this payable to Scholastic NZ). If you wish to make your order online please do so at this link: https://mybookclub.scholastic.co.nz/ All orders are delivered to the school and sent home with the child.
DIARY DATES (staff may contact you with more details about these events)
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
We are currently sharing 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 2 concepts of Science, Technology, engineering and maths and Growing great citizens.
Science, technology, engineering and maths - this concept is an area of national interest. We know that STEM education is crucial to enable children to understand how things work and also creates a pathway into an exciting career options. In addition to this for new Zealand science and technology is an area that enables our country to be competitive on the global stage. We also know that the human resources around this area are strong and readily available.
Growing great citizens - this concept is crucial as we allow our children to grow as individuals be able to work with others. With close to 500 people at Muritai School we all have to work together. After school, in the workplace we have to be able to work together. Growing great citizens is about giving children the strength to be able to take the best from Muritai School grow a people and then contribute back to it and our community.
Concept 3.
Science, technology, engineering and maths education creates pathways to exciting professional careers.
Objective
To nurture curiosity and creativity in our children and to increase their understanding of science, technology, engineering and mathematics as crucial to our everyday life, and our future, to enable them to thrive in an increasingly progressive and innovative global environment.
Strategy
- Curriculum planning integrates the learning areas so that our children can understand how the world works.
- Teacher planning identifies how we can promote STEM and introduce the ‘knowledge’ of things, how they have developed over time, and their influence of everyday life.
- Further enhance our collaborations and partnerships with the community e.g. Hutt Science
- Embrace internal/external opportunities such as competitions / interest groups/ special learning weeks and clubs.
We will
- Prepare children for their future world by reflecting back and looking forward.
- Understand the history and development of the factual world and how things work and why.
- Encourage critical and creative thinkers.
- STEM supports the development of linkage with the broader community into delivering fun, creative learning contexts. Teachers will need to be confident and proficient to teach STEM learning areas.
- Syndicate teams drive this concept in their term planning.
What we will see…
- Relevant learning contexts so children can build deep knowledge of STEM.
- Project based learning opportunities to personalise STEM through collaborative and self-directed inquiry contexts.
- Create understanding of pathways from education into careers using community experts who have made careers out of STEM.
- Passion projects enable mentor type teaching by classroom teaching and self-directed learning by students.
- Our STEAM Room supports this learning and is used effectively by classes.
Concept 4.
Growing great Citizens
Objective
Teachers and children use the school values and the key competencies to ensure a learning environment that features quality behaviours.
Strategy
- Clarify the meaning and impact of each value and KC for a strong understanding of what it looks like, sounds like and feels like.
- Develop a resilience or change fitness so students can cope with an ever changing learning landscape.
- Socialise what quality learning and behaviour looks like and share our expectations.
- Develop in teachers a deep understanding of restorative practice processes for conflict resolution.
We will see...
- Our school culture reflects our values and embodies the key competencies.
- Muritai is known as a healthy school – they way we are, the way we interact with each other, and the way we work to achieve our goals.
- People feel part of Muritai and reflect positively on how the people in the school perform.
- Our ex Muritai students will thrive after leaving the school with a strong ethic and purpose.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Save the Maui’s Dolphin
As you may know, the Maui’s dolphin is critically endangered and if people don’t take action soon, these unique creatures may die out. Last assembly we presented a speech on the Maui’s dolphin. We informed the school about 3 things. We talked about interesting facts about the Maui’s dolphin, why these unique creatures are critically endangered, and how we can help these dying dolphins. We came to them with a conclusion: to get their parents to sign a petition. We realise it may have been difficult to remember the address of the petition website, so here is a link to the website:
Regards, Tai van der Bar, Dan Walker and Flynn Cook (Year 7)
Baby Sitting
My name is Jasmine Henwood. I live in the Eastbourne area and am 34 years old. I am available for any babysitting in the Eastbourne area. Call or text on 021 066 0536. Hourly rate $10 per hour.
SELF DEFENCE COURSE FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS
Our gym is hosting a Self Defence Course for women and girls of all ages. Non-members are welcome to participate in this 8 week course. Cost is $160 or just $20 per week for 8 weeks commencing Monday 4th July. In today’s environment it is important for girls and women to increase their confidence and defend themselves in unexpected situations whether it’s out in the open, in your work place or school environment.
Please share this one off opportunity with your employer, online, social media, newsletter and open community. This course will allow all women and girls the chance to improve their ability to fend off any potential danger that may come their way in the future. For more information please phone L J Shaw at Configure Express Lower Hutt on 576 0941 or pop in to see us at reception to register at Level 1/59 Queens Drive Lower Hutt. Payment plan options available.
SAN ANTONIO SCHOOL FUNDRAISER
ONLY 10 tickets left for the 2nd exciting Eastbourne House Concert, hosted on Saturday 25th June by San Antonio and Tommy's Real Estate. Held in a beautiful home right here in the Bays - Latin American Classical musician Carlos Navae will entertain. Tickets are $45.00 each with a complimentary drink on arrival and nibbles.
For bookings and enquiries please contact gina@motheronboard.com
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