14 February 2020

Kia Ora, Talofa Lava, Greetings, Malo e Lelei, Kia Orana, Bonjour, Nǐ hǎo, Hallo, Hola, Kon'nichiwa, Namaste, As-salāmu ʿalaykum

A warm welcome to the following children who have joined Muritai at the beginning of Term 1:

Sam Dawson to Rm 14, Carmen OGrady Rm 23, Petra Gloag Rm 21, Sofia Simpson Rm 5, Nico Geldenhuys Rm 14, Mila Geldenhuys Rm 22, Will Christensen Rm 6, Emmy Christensen Rm 11, Sophie Mouat Rm 22, Amy Mouat Rm 16, Oscar Haidon Rm 15, Room 1 - Molly Innes, Finn Lockyer, Olivia Dawson, Frida Reed and Room 2 - Toby Thomson, Freya Davidson, Archer Coleman, Toby Fanning, Piper McHugh, Evie Young

FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Tena koutou Muritai families, 

Haere Mai and welcome back to the new year at Muritai School - 2020. If you are anything like us here at school you may still be coming to grips with writing 2020,  as the year 2020 has always seemed so very far away in some sort of futuristic decade...but my goodness it's here! 

The year at school has begun with beautiful weather, excited staff and students and some wonderful learning is already underway! 

The first few weeks of each year are focussed on our first learning unit called ‘Get, Set, Go!’ where we meet our new classmates, new teachers and start the all important new classroom culture building through a wide variety of relationship growing activities and learning adventures. 

After Drop off Walk and Talk with Bec:

Throughout each term I host several get-togethers that take the format of a chat and a wander around Eastbourne with a coffee to follow at Hive Cafe. Our next ‘walk and talk’ is scheduled on Wednesday 19th February.

Pushchairs are welcome, as is skipping the walk and coming straight for a coffee around 9:30!

Learning Partnership Meetings

Our learning partnership parent meetings will be held next week on Tuesday 18 February (3.15pm - 6.15pm) and Wednesday 19 February (3.15pm - 6.15pm). These interviews are an excellent opportunity for parents to meet the teacher and to share some thoughts and goals they may have about their child with the classroom teacher for 2020. 

To help with this there is a template below that we recommend you complete and bring to the interview to guide the discussion. Please note that school will finish at the normal time of 2.55.

Interviews are each set for 10 minutes. To make an appointment go to www.schoolinterviews.co.nz and enter the code uwq7a, or phone Jo in the office 5628409 between 9am-3pm or email bentley@muritai.school.nz .

These meetings are a great way to establish contact with your child’s teacher early in the school year, however, parents are reminded that they can arrange to meet at any time to discuss their child’s progress. The best method for doing this is to contact your child’s teacher directly by email.

We hope to see 100% of our parents and caregivers at these meetings.  

Please print the page below (for each child) and bring to the learning partnership meeting

Term 1 2020

Parent form:  Learning Partnership Meetings - Learner goal setting

Child’s name: ___________________________________________

Tell us about the highlights of the 2019 school year
What do you consider to be your child’s academic and social strengths?	Are there any areas of development for your child?
What do you think are your child’s goals for 2020: (please discuss these with your child prior to the meeting)

Thank you for your ongoing support and we look forward to receiving your feedback

Ngā manaakitanga,

Bec Power, Principal

FROM THE SCHOOL

SUN HATS

With the lovely sunny weather we have been experiencing lately, please ensure that your child comes to school with a hat to wear outside.  Children need to bring a wide brimmed to wear during morning tea and lunchtimes.  Please name them so that we can return them if they lose them during the day.

SCHOLASTIC LUCKY BOOK CLUB

The first Scholastic Lucky Book Club Order for the 2020 year, Issue One, is now available and orders can be done either online at this link https://mybookclub.scholastic.co.nz/Parent/Login.aspx or by filling in the paper form in the catalogue and sending it with the payment details back to the school office. The payment cannot be cash as the school does not accept cash payments. 

Term 1 2020 Dates
19 Feb	Walk and Talk with Bec Power at 9am
21 Feb	Mihi Whakatau at 10am to welcome our new students and their families
27 Feb	Swimming Sports for Korora and Tui (Year 1 -4)
28 Feb	Postponement day for Swimming Sports for Juniors (Korora)
2 Mar	Pizza Monday
3 Mar	Y6 Cricket Competition
6 Mar	Tui led Assembly
10 Mar	Y6 Cricket Competition
12 Mar	Weetbix Tryathlon
13 Mar	Swimming Sports Y4-8
16-19 Mar	Schools Photos
20 Mar	Kereru led Assembly
23 Mar	Inter Zone Rippa Rugby Tournament
24 Mar	Quick Rippa Rugby Tournament for Y3-8
26 Mar	PP day Quick Rippa Rugby Tournament for Y3-8
30 Mar	Pizza Monday
31 Mar – 3 Apr	Kereru @ Camp Makahika
3 Apr	Kahu led Assembly
6 Apr	Room 1 visiting East Harbour Kindy
7 Apr	Room 2 visiting East Harbour Kindy
9 Apr	Gardasil immunisations for year 8 students
9 April	Last day of Term 1
28 Apr	First day of Term 2

Term Dates 2020

Term dates for 2020 have been confirmed by our Board of Trustees as follows:-

Term 1   Wednesday 5 February to Thursday 9 April

Term 2   Tuesday 28 April to Friday 3 July 

Term 3   Monday 20 July to Friday 25 September

Term 4   Monday 12 October to Thursday 17 December

Our Teacher Only days in 2020 will be advised during term 1

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Guitar Lessons at Muritai School 

Do you want to learn to play guitar? 

I am now accepting enrolments for Term 1 for pupils in years 3 to 6. 

The lessons are taken by Charles Hazlewood on Monday or Friday during school time with tuition being held in small groups according to ability and age. 

It is educational, and a lot of fun! 

The school has guitars to use at lesson time, but you will need a guitar to play at home. 

I am a very experienced music teacher currently teaching at several schools in Lower Hutt. 

The cost is $12 per 30 minute lesson, multiplied by the number of lessons held during the term. Usually there would be 8 lessons, so the term fees would be $96. 

Please call Charles on 04-934-2759 or 029-9392759 or            charleshazlewood1@gmail.com

Enrolments for Term 1 will close on Wednesday 12th February.

Lunch time French for Muritai School children, starting in week 2

• Experience French learning the fun way! Children speak French from the first lesson
• Lessons once a week, lots of interactive activities, role play, crafts, active games and music
• Free trial lesson.  After that $14.50 per lesson, plus a membership starter pack of materials to use at home, siblings 10% discount
• To register your interest please contact Stefi  on stefi@lcfclubs.co.nz or 021 178 2099
• visit the website www.lcfclubs.co.nz

Get in touch for more details.

Learn to play drums! There are a few spots open for weekly in-school drum lessons for years 4-8. For more info, contact our drum tutor Andy Russell at andyrussellmusic@gmail.com.