The Muritai School Newsletter

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

Thank you for your support with our shift to Alert Level 2. We all really appreciate our parents being mindful of signing in, and of staying out of the buildings during our current contact tracing requirements. Together we can keep everyone safe. Thanks too, to those who have kept unwell children at home - we acknowledge the past few days may have been very challenging in your workplaces, and possibly your households.

We have had to postpone two key events this week: our Fun Fitness afternoon, and also our Kahū assembly. We have postponed our Fun Fitness until the weather warms up, this is now likely to be held during Spring, and the Kahū assembly will now be held next Friday, if we return to Level 1.

Connected Curriculum - Announcing the Muritai School production for 2021!

What a great start we have had to the whole school connected curriculum inquiry this term, called ‘Paperback Patterns’ - which has a science focus in the strand of Physical World. We have had classes beginning to explore heat conductors, cogs, gears, levers, forces, transfer of sound, light and colour and plenty more. The children are really enjoying the class and team challenges, taking part in experiments, and getting hands on whilst growing their understanding of the concepts of the Physical World.

We are excited to share what we have been learning for this Inquiry in our Muritai School Production later next term. We are in the process of writing the script and thinking about how the classes can share their Physical World learning with you. Please keep week 9 of next term (starting Monday 20th September) free and we will let you know more details early next term about dates, times and the production schedule.

Staffing Update

Finally today I wish congratulations and farewell to one of our teachers Kelly Williams who has her final day with us today. Kelly’s fiance Mike has won his first architecture position in Christchurch, and Kelly begins her new role at Christchurch East School on Monday. Good luck from us all Kelly and Mike! We welcome Charlotte (Charlie) Parson to join the Muritai staff team who returns to her home town of Wellington after working at Pinehill School in Dunedin. I know you’ll join me in making Charlie feel welcome to our special kura.

Launching our Strategy - To be the BEST we can be!

As mentioned below in the Board update, we are proud to launch our new Muritai School strategy. We are producing a short film (2mins) that will bring our new strategy to life and we intend to film in and around the school on Monday the 5th of July. This film will be featuring some children in speaking roles whose parents will be contacted directly to gain permission to do so. Other Muritai School students may be spotted in some background shots, some playing outside moments, or even shots of learning in the classrooms. This video will be published on our school website and also shown at the start of our production each night. Please let me know, if you would like your child NOT to be captured in this video by emailing me at Principal@Muritai.school.nz

Kia pai tō rā whakatā - Have a great weekend!

Bec Power, Principal

FROM THE BOARD

Hello Muritai Families

The Muritai School Board of Trustees held its fourth meeting for 2021 recently. It was a very productive meeting and from that, we have a couple of updates to share.

We would like to firstly thank everyone who contributed to our 2021 – 2023 Muritai School Strategy. As a Board we have spent a lot of time ensuring this reflects all our combined aspirations for our school over the next three years.

Our ultimate outcome for our children: Our school vision is to “Be the best we can be”

We will achieve this through:

• Empowering – improving learner empowerment through our agentic approach

• Partnership - our people will be their best through cohesive partnerships

• Environment – our spaces are linked to enable learners and Kaiako to be their best

We have included the illustration that communicates this visually:

Another exciting announcement is around our official launch of our new strategy. We are producing a short film (2mins) that will bring our new strategy to life and we look forward to showing you this at our production later in Term 3.

We have had a big focus on Maths over the past two years with fantastic outcomes. Positive changes have been made in classroom practices because of this. Thank you to the team involved in making this happen.

We will share some of this data with you next month.

Warm wishes

Muritai School Board of Trustees

Kaye, Andrew, Bec, Jeremy, Kurt, Lisa and Felicity.

FROM THE SCHOOL

Term 2 Policy Review:

We invite parents to assist us in our ongoing review of school policies. This term we invite parent feedback on

Reporting to Parents on Student Progress and Achievement

How to give feedback:

https://www.muritai.school.nz/copy-of-school-information

1. Visit the website http://muritai.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm

2. Enter the username (muritai) and password (muritaischool).

3. Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.

4. Read the policy.

5. Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.

6. Select the reviewer type "Board".

7. Enter your name (optional).

8. Submit your ratings and comments.

TERM 2 and 3 CALENDAR DATES

29 June Starting School at 5 meeting - 7pm to 8pm

2 July Whole School assembly hosted by Kahu

5 July Hutt Fest rehearsal at 1pm

6 July Hutt Fest Kapa Haka Performance at 6pm

7 July Starting School at 5 meeting - 10am to 11am

9 July Korora Whole School Assembly

9 July Last day of Term 2

25 July First day of Term 3

17 Aug BOT meeting at 6.30pm

17 Aug Wellesley Sport Exchange

20 Aug School Disco starting at 5pm

27 Aug Inter School Swimming Sports

3 Sept Mihi Whakatau

8 Sept Starting School at 5 - 7pm to 8pm

14 Sept BOT meeting at 6.30pm

15 Sept Starting School at 5 - 10am to 11am

21 Sept Ki o rahi Yr 5 - 8

23 Sept PP Ki o rahi Yr 5-8

24 Sept Inter Zone Swimming Sports

1 Oct Last day of Term 3

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.