FRIDAY 5 AUGUST 2016

Tena koutou katoa

Naumai e te whanau o te kura Muritai

What another wonderful week at school we have had.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Over the past week, I have visited classrooms and I continue to be impressed with the high quality of learning and teaching that is going on in every one of them. I have seen, for example, wonderful, exciting writing, listened to fluent, expressive reading, seen science experiments in action, watched extension lessons in mathematics, heard fantastic piano playing as well as the ukelele group and watched our younger children learning to skip with a rope to name a few of what is going on. It is also always great to see the older buddies supporting our younger children in their learning. It teaches our older students many skills including improving their reading, writing, spelling and ball skills along with patience, kindness, and being role models.

In the playground at both morning tea and lunchtimes, it is lovely to see our peer mediators working with students of different age groups, our year 7 and 8 monitors helping our youngest children with their lunchboxes, our many students practising their different sports code, and our enviroteam working in the gardens around the school. Please ask your child/ren what is the best thing that they have done at school today. I am sure you will be surprised at the diverse range of activities that they are involved in.

I have also had the pleasure of students coming into my office to share their quality work with me earning praise, stickers and House Points.

Some students from Year 1 and 2 have been working with Mrs Ryan as part of Science club. This week they have been studying how our skeleton supports us and protects organs in our body.  We had Zac the skeleton to help them!

Our enviro team and schoolgen team from years 5 to 8 had an amazing ‘World of Waste’ tour so please read what they got up to further in this newsletter.

In preparation for the debating finals nearer the end of the term, our Year 7 and 8 students have been learning about the qualities of what makes a good speaker. They have been preparing for the debates by playing some games that encourage pace, volume, eye contact and gesture. Have a look at some of room 23.

Warmest congratulations to George Walker (Year 6) who has been awarded a High Distinction in ICAS Science and Theo Thompson, Elijah Turner (Year 5) Luke Thompson (Year 7) and Joshua Toomath (Year 8) who were awarded Distinction. Well done to you all!

Congratulations to Eloise Bothwell in room 6 for completing her Spelling rocket. Great effort!

Every student takes part in the Mathletics programme to support their learning in Numeracy. These students, Arhit Acharyya, Adreeta Acharyya, Sofia Johnson, Connor Gatwood and Yasmin Kerr are the five students who have scored the most points so far this year, both in the activities and live Mathletics combined. They were awarded the ‘Superstar Mathlete’ wristbands at assembly today.

Congratulations and well done to Jayden who was the first recipient of the Golden Box Award. He was nominated for his excellent work ethic. All staff, both teaching and support staff, are looking for students who exhibit our school values and positive attributes and when they are  ‘caught being good’ their name and the reason is added to the Golden Box in my office.

Have a great weekend and keep warm.

FROM THE BOARD

A huge thanks to all those who braved the chilly evening to attend the family and community consultation meeting with the new board of trustees last night.  About 20 parents turned up to discuss what aspects of Muritai they valued highly, what could be improved and what qualities are important in our new principal.

An appreciation for Muritai’s connection to the local community and broad approach to education was expressed, along with families’ access to high quality & trusted staff. Suggestions ranged from property upgrades to more opportunities for learning extension, health education, social responsibility and socio-emotional learning as well as promoting our year 7&8 syndicate.

Staff representative Deane McKay and board member Nick Brownsword also this week met a group of 20 senior students from year 5 to 8, whose many suggestions included more play equipment, plants and trees, technology and goal posts – and a swimming pool!  Deane said the students were very articulate and thoughtful, and he enjoyed consulting them.  Staff are also being consulted this week, before the board compiles and considers the feedback as it embarks on the recruitment process next week with the assistance of NZ School Trustees Association-endorsed educational consultant Kevin Palmer.

For those who couldn’t make it, an anonymous survey will be posted shortly.

FROM THE SCHOOL

WORLD OF WASTE VISIT

The Enviro Team and SchoolGen Kids are a keen bunch of ecologically aware students.  We have spent lots of time propagating, planting and thinking about predators this year, but yesterday we ventured into the world of waste.

Organised by the Hutt City Council and Enviro School Team, we spent our day in the most unlikely of places.

Pouring with rain, we donned our yellow safety vests, and boarded the bus bound for the landfill, Earthlink, The Dowse and the Waste Management recycling centre in Seaview.  As you can imagine, it was cold and smelly at times, but we had a great time and learnt a lot about what happens once you close the lid on the wheelie bin, from our guide Jonas.

One real highlight of the trip was the Dowse with Joilie, (the Dowse educator) who talked of Maori sustainability in the past and showed us how to make paint brushes out of Harekeke.  We all had a go at scraping the Harekeke with shells; it was harder than it looked!   We also got to sit in the cardboard chair which could be changed into different shapes.It was awesome!

All too soon we were back on the bus heading towards Waste Management.  You wouldn’t believe the amount of paper, plastic and cans that are squashed into cubes which weigh more than a tonne;  all to be sold and recycled either within New Zealand or offshore.

As we left the recycling centre we were fairly positive that our recycling was making a difference.  If you’re not already recycling at home, why not give it a go?

Just remember to sort and either bag or tie your recyclables into groups of paper, plastic and tin as this makes the workers jobs so much easier.

                                                                                         

NETBALL

A team made up of a mix of our two year 6 teams (named “Muritai Mix” for the day) recently played at the Silverpine Year 5/6 Tournament, taking a while to get some rhythm going. However, we gelled as a team after about 20 minutes of game time. We played 5 games (1W, 1D, 3L). Three of the games were very closely fought, plus one big loss and one big win for us. Fortunately the weather smiled on us, so a good entertaining day for parents. Our players were busy during the breaks, getting in a bit of extra coaching, so overall it was a fun and educational experience for them. Thanks to Silverpine Junior Netball Club for organising.

PERFORMING AT BARNARDOS

By Sophia Cotsilinis and Lachlan McLachlan.

On Wednesday Mrs Hooke’s Ukulele group performed a selection of songs to the lovely children at Barnardos. The songs we played and sung included, ‘You are my Sunshine’, ‘Hound dog’, ‘Proud Mary’, ‘Brush your teeth’, ‘Twist and Shout’, ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ and many others. We had a great time sharing our talents but we also sang some songs with the kids there so they got to share their talents too. They were great at joining in with the actions and singing. We were so lucky because they sat listening patiently and didn’t interrupt as at all (except for singing and dancing with us)! If the opportunity to perform for them again sprang up somewhere, then we would all leap for the chance and grab it with both hands.

PARENT HELP

As you can see above, the Home and School will be running the annual school disco on
Friday 12 August.  To make this run smoothly we need some parent volunteers to help throughout the evening.  If you are available and happy to lend a hand, please email Carolyn Littlefair on littlefairs@ymail.com indicating which disco session you would like to be involved in. (see times above).

Many thanks and regards

Hannah Watkins, Muritai Home and School Committee

DIARY DATES (staff may contact you with more details about these events)

Tue 9 Aug Y5-6 Zone Netball

Thurs 11 Aug Y5-6 Rugby/Soccer v Wellesley

P.P. date for Y5/6 Netball

Thur 18 Aug BOT Mtg

Fri 19 Aug Assembly

Thur 25 Aug Otago Problem Solving

Mathswell

Wed 31 Aug Artsplash Choir Evening Show

Thur 1 Sept Y7-8 NIWA Science fair

Fri 2 Sept Assembly

Y3-6 Zone Basketball

Mon 5 Sept Production Rehearsal

Tues 12 - Production - Matinee on Tuesday

 Thur 15 Sept Production - Evenings

Mon 19 Sept Y1-2 Parent Conferences

Tues 20 Sept Y1-2 Parent Conferences

Y1-2 Jump Rope for Heart ‘Jump Off’

Y5-6 Zone hockey

Wed 21 Sept Room 5 Parent Conferences

Thur 22 Sept PP Y5/6 Zone Hockey

Fri 23 Sept Assembly

LAST DAY OF TERM 3

TERM DATES FOR 2016

Term 3 = Monday 25 July - Friday 23 September

Term 4 = Monday 10 October - Friday 16 December

We have a teacher only day at Labour weekend.

Teacher only day two = Tuesday 25 October

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Fun French Free trial lesson

For kids ​at Muritai School ages 5-12

Free trial next Tuesday or Thursday​ lunch time

• 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

visit the website www.lcfclubs.co.nz

BOULCOTT’S FARM - FOOTGOLF

Play the newest sport in New Zealand.  9 or 18-hole courses that anyone can play.  You use the rules of golf and the ball kicking of football rolled into one sport.  Footgolf is the sport the entire family can play.

Prices

9 holes $10

18 Holes $15

Ball Hire $5

Contact Proshop (04) 567 4722 or visit www.boulcottsfarmhgc.co.nz