Kia Ora, Talofa Lava, Greetings, Malo e Lelei, Kia Orana, Bonjour, Nǐ hǎo, Hallo, Hola, Kon'nichiwa, Namaste, As-salāmu ʿalaykum
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Tena koutou Muritai families,
Home Learning Review
A discussion around home learning always draws out strong feelings for us as adults whether we are directly connected to schooling as educators, or are reflecting on our own memories of homework in our younger days, or perhaps picturing a more recent time at the dinner table cajoling children into completing a task etc… Whether the thought of homework fills you with excitement or discomfort can be quite individual. One thing however that we’re becoming increasingly aware of is in our community our children are busy with plenty of afterschool activities and family fun and not all families are managing to get time to meaningfully engage with home learning. Alongside this information the research around homework at primary school age leans towards focusing on activities around developing capabilities and dispositions, or reviewing current learning rather than new learning tasks or projects for the sake of more learning.
Since I wrote on home learning a few newsletters ago, I’ve had an increase in parents connecting with me around stories of homework struggles and that they’re pleased we’re reviewing our current practices.
As part of our annual policy review we are looking into home learning at Muritai School and what this means for us moving forward. When we talk about home learning we are referring to what used to be known as ‘homework’, and not what we called Lockdown learning - which of course is quite different indeed. If we should again return to Covid Alert Levels 3 or 4, learning would of course continue to be offered for all students at Muritai School.
I’ve attached a survey which I’d like you to share your thoughts on. It's helpful for us to hear as many voices as possible when creating our stance and policy around home learning at Muritai School. Along with the parent voice, we are gathering staff thoughts, and student feedback.
Please take a look at the research links and answer our questions in the parent survey, this way we can move forward together to ensure our children are the ‘Best that they can Be’!
Home Learning Survey Link: https://forms.gle/AuSyBeTu1eJMmwr86
Wellbeing Group - (Repeated from earlier in the week - Survey due Monday)
I’ve been thinking on how we might bring some additional support to some of our students who are living with anxiety, negative thinking, bereavement and stress, amongst other childhood concerns. In a primary school we don’t receive funding for staffing for school counselors, however I’ve been speaking with a local supporter of our school, and they have generously offered to fund this initiative for Muritai School for Term 2.
I’ve engaged with Heather Dodge, the director of Kaleidoscope Solutions about hosting some groups here at Muritai School. Heather’s work aligns closely with our vision for our learners at Muritai (being the Best we can Be), where Kaleidoscope’s vision is ‘empowering children to reach their full potential’. You are welcome to take a look at Heather's website at www.kaleidoscopesolutions.co.nz
Who will be in the wellbeing group? Due to a change in personal circumstances or the events of the past year, your child may be expressing feelings and emotions that they don't yet have the skills or tools to work through. As well as what we observe here at school, (we may recommend children for inclusion in the group) you might be seeing some changes in your child at home. I’d like to invite you to confidentially let me know if your child might benefit from being included in our wellbeing group.
You are very welcome to phone the school and speak with me personally about this rather than filling in the form, especially if the information is highly confidential and sensitive. I have created the form as an option to assist us in capturing the information as easily as possible. The information you provide will be completely confidential to just myself and Heather.
If you would like your child to be considered for this group, please fill in this google form by clicking here: https://forms.gle/NSucLV1hSpRd13cQ8
I am so grateful for the opportunity to offer this important programme and would like to thank this supporter of our school on behalf of all Muritai students and families. This incredibly generous support is offered on the condition that the family who has funded this programme remains anonymous. I’m sure you will find this as touching as I did, we are so lucky to have such a wonderful wider school community.
Please have all information with me by Monday 17th May so that we can get our group underway.
Peer Mediators
In assembly today we launched the new Kereru Peer Mediator vests. Keep an eye out for our peer mediators in the playground coming soon.
I’ll see you at the cross country on Monday, fingers crossed for good weather!
Kia pai tō rā whakatā - Have a great weekend!
Bec Power, Principal
FROM THE SCHOOL
Learning Conversations
The second of our Learning Conversations are on Wednesday 19 May from 3.10pm. If you have would like to make an interview time with your child’s teacher, go to www.schoolinterviews.co.nz, use the code gmzep and follow the steps. If you have any problems with booking a time, please call Jo in the office.
Scholastic Lucky Book Club
Issue three of the Scholastic Lucky Book Club, for 2021, is now available. This is the third issue for the year. Orders will be closing on Friday the 21st May. Your order can be done on the following website https://my bookclub.scholastic.co.nz/Parent/Login.aspx.
The whole school order is processed on the closing date and it usually takes approximately a week for orders to be delivered.
We greatly appreciate your support as the school is able to gain rewards through purchases you make which enables us to add books to our school library collection and also get sets of books for novel studies.
TERM 2 CALENDAR DATES
17 May Pizza Monday
17 May Muritai School Competitive Cross Country Years 4-8
18 May Gardasil vaccination for Year 7/8 students
19 May Learning Conversations 3pm to 6pm
19 May Tui Te Papa Trip
21 May Pink Shirt Day
25 May BOT Meeting at 6.30pm
25 May South East Interschool Cross Country
27 May Muritai School Fun Run
28 May Kereru Whole School Assembly
1 June Inter School Cross Country
3 June PP Inter School Cross Country
11 June Mihi Whakatau
14 June Pizza Monday
15 June Interzones Cross Country
22 June Inter Zone Cross Country
22 June BOT meeting at 6.30pm
24 June PP Inter Zone Cross Country
5 July Hutt Fest rehearsal at 1pm
6 July Regional Cross Country
6 July Hutt Fest Kapa Haka Performance at 6pm
8 July PP Regional Cross Country
9 July Korora Whole School Assembly
9 July Last day of Term 2
TERM DATES 2021
Our Term dates have been agreed for 2021 as follows:
Term 1 4 February to 16 April
Term 2 3 May to 9 July
Term 3 26 July to 1 October
Term 4 18 October to 16 December
Our teacher only days this year are:
Friday 4 June
Friday 22 October
These days line up with HVHS teacher only days which may be of help to you as well as being the Friday prior to Queen’s Birthday holiday and Labour Day enabling a long weekend for everyone.
Kelly Club will very likely have holiday programmes for these Fridays for people who need care for their children.
COMMUNITY NOTICES - Please Note the following notices have been requested to be published and are not necessarily endorsed by us as a school. In the spirit of community we include these digitally for you to peruse.
Barnardos Eastbourne - open afternoon - Sunday 16th May
We are having an open afternoon on Sunday 16th May from 2.30-4pm at Barnardos Eastbourne Early Learning Centre, 199 Muritai Rd Eastbourne. Everyone is welcome to come and see our new back playground, to sit on Jason’s seat (Jason passed away in March 2020) and to have some afternoon tea. We would love to see old friends and whānau of the centre and also welcome any new visitors too. If it is raining we will postpone the open afternoon to Sunday 23rd May and post this on the Eastbourne Community Facebook page. We look forward to seeing you there.
