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, 

Welcome back to school for Term 3! The energy and buzz is back this week with our incredible learners returning after two weeks away. 

This term promises to be another exciting one with the school working towards our production that will be held during the week of the 20th September - week 9 of this term. We can’t wait to see what our amazing children and their talented teachers create for us all to enjoy!!

Reports

Our mid-year written reports will come home at the end of next week, except for Room 15’s which went home at the end of last term. We look forward to sharing the achievements and next learning steps of your children with you, and celebrating all of the progress they have made this year. 

Parking

Please be mindful of where you pick up your child/ren from when dropping them off or picking them up each day. During days of wet weather some drivers can pull over in areas that are not parks, and this is dangerous for those children crossing the roads around our school as their visibility is impaired, and cars can be in unexpected places.  I’d hate to report a traffic injury or worse - let’s all be careful around the school and protect our precious taonga that attend every day.   

Classes for 2022 - intentions of attendance

At this time every year, we are carefully tracking our early enrollment data from our early childhood providers and new people that have moved to our area.  We need this information to ensure we can fully staff our school for the following year and calculate our class numbers. 

Similarly, if you are moving out of Eastbourne, and/or intend for your child to attend a different school next year, it’s vital that you let us know ASAP - this includes any children finishing with us at the end of year 6.  Please email me at principal@muritai.school.nz with any further enrolment information by the end of next week. 

RSV

This week I have been made aware of the growing number of our Muritai children and their families who have contracted RSV and have been very unwell. We send them all our best wishes for a speedy recovery. 

To stop the further spread of RSV and other viruses, everyone should maintain good hand hygiene and stay home if they have any cold or flu symptoms.

Symptoms

If you or your child has RSV, the most common symptoms are:

• a runny nose

• coughing or sneezing

• fever

• wheezing and difficulty breathing

• loss of appetite, or difficulty feeding due to breathlessness. 

Below is information on the RSV virus provided to us by the Hutt Valley DHB. 

Bec Power, Principal

FROM THE SCHOOL

Scholastic Lucky Book Club

Issue five of the Scholastic Lucky Book Club, for 2021, is now available. This is the fifth issue for the year. Orders will be closing on Friday the 13th August. 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. 

 

SPORTS

Inter school swimming - Friday 27th August

We have selected a team to compete at the Inter school swimming event this term unfortunately we were only allowed to select two entries per race so if your child finished 3rd they sadly missed out this year.

Congratulations to all that qualified for the event and those that finished 3rd at our school event held in Term One.

If your child was selected you would have received an email with the event your child will be racing in.

Basketball

We are all go again this term, it's a new round and a new look for the grades our teams were put into. Good luck to our teams for another successful season.

Congratulations to Max Bentley who has made the Hutt Valley Basketball Under 13B team.  What an amazing achievement.  We wish him all the best in the upcoming season.

Netball 

We have a continuation of the season for our Netball teams. Fingers crossed for more good weather this term.

HOTDOG ORDERS

You can still order for the WHOLE TERM. 

https://forms.gle/RfAxZx42QWExu2wg8

If you just want to order for Friday, click this link.

https://forms.gle/pxDAmKSnNGwbh1Fd6

PAYMENT:

You can make one payment for all of your children. Hotdogs are $3.50 each. If you are paying for the whole term, there are 9 weeks left so please pay $31.50 per child for 1 hotdog per week or $63 for two per week and so on. 

Please pay online into the Home and School Account by 5pm Wednesday and put your CHILD’S NAME and HOTDOGS in the reference fields.

HOME & SCHOOL ACCOUNT DETAILS:

02 0544 0051332 00

PLEASE NOTE If your child is away on Fridays we can’t offer a refund. 

Thank you for supporting this fundraiser for Muritai School.

If you have any questions you can email or ring me:

Tots Saunderson

totsandrew@gmail.com

021854128

School Disco

Muritai Home & School are excited to announce some changes for this year‘s upcoming Muritai School disco on Friday 20 August.

We’ve set ourselves the goal of reducing plastic waste from the disco. This is part of our commitment to being an Enviroschool, and also reflects feedback from the school community after previous discos  This means we won’t be selling plastic toys. Instead this year we’ll use black lights, generously sponsored by NW Group, along with fluro paints to hold a ‘glow disco’. 

More details will be coming out about the disco closer to the time, but we wanted to give families a heads up about our plans for the kids to decorate T-shirt’s to wear to the disco if they wish. 

Home & School will be working with teachers and senior students to offer all students the chance to decorate a T-shirt with non-toxic fluro paints. We’ll be running painting workshops during school time at the end of week 3 and start of week 4. 

To support this, we’re asking families to supply an old T-shirt that they’re happy for their child to paint. White or light colours glow in black light, so work well, but dark colours can also look striking. Cotton or cotton mix ‘T-shirt’ type fabric work best. It’s fine for T-shirt’s to already have print or patterns on them, as these may glow under black light as well. We’ll be asking for named T-shirt’s to be sent into school towards the end of week 2 or start of week 3, and will send out a reminder then. Painting a T-Shirt is optional, and children are welcome to wear any white clothes that 'glow' or simply to dress up as they prefer for the disco.

Home & School will provide the fluro paints, and families are welcome to bring a gold coin koha towards the cost of these.

If you have any questions in the meantime, you’re welcome to contact Kathy or Jen on kathy.longson@gmail.com or burje700@hotmail.com. 

Many thanks for your support. 

Home & School

Term 3 Policy Review:

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

Concerns and Complaints, and Behaviour Management

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

6 Aug Whole School Assembly

10 Aug Boostrix vaccination for Year 7’s

17 Aug Wellesley Sport Exchange

18 Aug BOT meeting at 6.30pm 

17 Aug Wellesley Sport Exchange

20 Aug School Disco starting at 5pm

20 Aug Whole school assembly

27 Aug Inter School Swimming Sports

3 Sept Mihi Whakatau

3 Sept Whole school assembly

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

14 Sept Artsplash rehearsal starting at 12 noon

14 Sept Artsplash performance starting at 7.30pm

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 Whole school assembly

1 Oct Last day of Term 3

18 Oc First day of Term 4

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. 

Term 3 Lunch time French for kids at Muritai

• Experience French learning the fun way! Children speak French from the first lesson

• ages 5 to 10, lessons once a week, lots of interactive activities, crafts, active games and music

• Free trial lesson.  

• Includes a membership starter pack of materials to use at home

• For more details contact Stefi on stefi@lcfclubs.co.nz  or 021 178 2099

• see website www.lcfclubs.co.nz

 

Kelly Mini Sports

Get your little sports star off to a great start with Kelly Mini Sports. Our three entertaining programmes are specially designed to teach your toddler or preschooler essential skills and a lifelong love of sports. They're also a great place for parents to socialise.

Our programmes encourage your under 5s to love being active. Our trained coaches use a dynamic combination of fun and music to teach skills that are essential for physical and social development. Your kids will enjoy themselves so much they won't even realise they're learning

The sports we cover are Rugby, Cricket, Tennis, Soccer and Basketball.

When and Where:

Wednesday's at Koraunui Stokes Valley Community Hub

Thursday's at Hutt Indoor Sports, Moera, Lower Hutt

If you would like to find out more, head over to our website www.kellyminisports.co.nz"

Karate

As our 21 year old Dojo has lost a number of students during and after the Covid 19 outbreak we’d like to recruit and start a new class in Term 3.

We are looking for 10 to 12 girls and boys and their parents to join this beginners class so that there is a decent size group to  teach at any one time.

Children must be at least 9 years or older.

Classes are on Monday’s and /or Thursday’s from 6 to 7pm at the Muritai School Hall.

This is a really good opportunity for parents to participate with their children, rather than watch from the sidelines.

This aligns with the growing anecdotal evidence that parents are often so busy that they neglect to exercise themselves, so this provides that unique chance where they can enjoy a shared experience with their children and get fit at the same time.

Kelly Sports is running a Fun for Girls Programme. Our aim is to enable the girls to engage with each other in a positive and fun environment. Encouraging their enthusiasm for physical activity and life skills that such involvement brings - giving them confidence to join teams and sports clubs in the future.

Sports we are covering in Term 3 2021: Tennis, Volleyball, Athletics, Karate/Kick Boxing, Team Building

If you would like to find out more, head over to our website www.kellysports.co.nz/lower-hutt

Friday 9 July

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, 

It was wonderful to see so many of you here yesterday afternoon for our mid-year celebrations of learning - the children were so proud to share their learning from the first half of the year, and it was fantastic to see and hear the classrooms buzzing with colour, learning, and home and school connection. 

We feel so fortunate as a school to have such a strong connection with our parents, and our wider local community, and appreciate the richness our close connections enable - our children are lucky to have such supportive, caring parents that want to see them progress in their learning, their dispositions and living and learning values.  We thank you all for this important partnership. 

Matariki at Muritai School & Kapa Haka Hutt Fest performance

We have celebrated Matariki in many ways at Muritai this year, and I’ve attached a few examples below of the variety of learning opportunities that have occurred.  One of the highlights for many of our parents was our Hutt Fest performance by our Kapa Haka roopu.  

I popped up a few photos on our Facebook page the other day, and we have been so delighted to have so many of our parent community leave ‘likes’, lovely comments and messages of congratulations to our students and staff. As I mentioned on Facebook, we simply couldn't be prouder of our students, and also of our Kapa Haka tutors Whaea Hilary Bevin and Ruth Hooke.  We’ve enjoyed having great parent and staff supporters of the Kapa Haka group too - and I must mention Tueila Sellars and Brooke Davis who have been key supporters of our tutors and group. 

In the Facebook post  I also asked if anyone had taken a good video, and Oliver Seiler has sent me this link of the entire performance! Thank you Oliver, now we can all enjoy watching our Muritai children being the BEST they can be! 

Video of Hutt Fest performance: bit.ly/HuttFest2021

Isla is beginning to sketch out her recount of the Matariki story called ‘The Seven Sisters’. 

 

Room 16 have combined their learning about Maori art and shapes from nature, with their learning about multimedia to create vibrant Matariki art works. We also have been studying legends and learnt about Matariki. We learnt that the star formation has four main stars and three smaller stars and we incorporated this into our panels.  Lara B in Room 16 made this piece of art showing the seven sisters with Maori Koru. 

  

Room 14 and 15 made Matariki Kites. Kea has added a child looking through a telescope at the Matariki star constellations.

  

Room 14 learnt how to weave Matariki stars using cardboard and wool. Here are Mills and Darlene's stars. 

 

In Room 13 we learnt about harvesting during Marariki and made some Harakeke Putiputi flowers as part of our weaving unit.  

 

Room 13 and 14 made slices of cake as part of our 3D construction unit. We put all the cake together to make whole cakes. We loved this and how real they look! What better way than to celebrate Matariki with a piece of Cake! 

  

Room 11 used the book Matariki along with the art style of Vincent Van Gogh to create a Matariki version of ‘Starry Starry Night’.  They used paint to understand how to use expressive lines in the artist's style. The artwork here is by Billie Holmes and Dilyan Kusnadi

  

In Tui we have been learning about the Physical World and have looked into Sound, Motion, Gravity, Magnetism, Forces and a whole lot more. Here is our Marble Motion Coaster and how we learnt about magnetism and made a pin float using magnets. We can't wait to share our learning about the Physical World with you at next term's Production.  

Best wishes to you all for a wonderful term break - we look forward to seeing you back at school to start Term 3 on the 26th July. 

Bec Power, Principal

 

FROM THE SCHOOL

SPORTS

Basketball - Term 2

We had 10 teams represent Muritai School this term with some great results. All the teams did themselves proud, with massive smiles and great attitude throughout the season.

Special mention goes to the Year 8 team, finishing first in their grade and the Year 3 boys finishing 2nd in their grade.

We continue on next term with a new round of exciting games ahead. 

Thanks to Rodger and Brad from Hoop club giving us the opportunity for all our Muritai Teams to attend on a Saturday afternoon for their training sessions, this was a huge help and benefit to our teams at Muritai.

Cross Country - Term 2

What a busy term it has been for our long distance runners. 

We started off with our school event at the beginning of the term. This event was for all competitive runners to decide our school Cross Country team to race at Sladden in the South East Zone.

Muritai had 80 runners move through to the Inter-school event, we were one of the biggest schools and the results reflected this. 

We next moved onto the Inter Zone event at Trentham Memorial Park in Upper Hutt where we had 50 runners represent our school and Zone. 

Over all of these events we saw grit, resilience and perseverance. The children did themselves and our school proud.

Finally, 10 of our students qualified for the regional level of this sport. Unfortunately this was cancelled due to COVID levels changing.

These students were:

Elodie Dent

Zaiden Filemu

Lars Meyer Westfield

Edith Janssen

Luca Marshall

Lara Binnie

Tiago Meikle

Hannah Park

Hugo Thompson

Christian Catchpole

 

Off to Timaru

Muritai is so proud of Elodie Dent who has qualified for the National Cross Country event held in Timaru. She came 5th in an Invitational event held on Tuesday which qualified her to run in the Nationals. We wish Elodie all the best.

 

Netball

Fun first half to the season with 8 teams representing Muritai.

 

The teams battled against blustering winds, torrential rain and changing Alert Levels to

get on court  and produce some exciting netball. 

Great to see lots of new players working alongside existing members to develop their skills and 

help build a strong team environment.

Huge thanks as always to the teachers and families who coach, umpire and support the players.

 

Tino Pai ! See you on court next term for Round Two.

 

HOTDOG FRIDAYS ARE BACK!

Yes! Hotdogs are back on Fridays next term, thanks to all the lovely volunteers offering to help out.

To make it easier for you, we are taking orders for the whole of next term. So you don't need to remember to order and pay each week.

There is also an option to order week by week - an order form will be sent out on Mondays each week next term.

If you wish to order for the whole term, please click on the link below and fill out a separate form FOR EACH OF YOUR CHILDREN. 

You will also need to pay for the whole term up front online - this can be done in one payment for all of your children. Hotdogs are $3.50 each and the term is 10 weeks so please pay $35 per child for 1 hotdog per week or $70 per child for two per week and so on. 

Please pay online into the Home and School Account (below) by 5pm Wednesday 21st July and put your oldest child’s name and HOTDOGS in the reference field. Their order will automatically be added to the class order sheet each week.

HOME & SCHOOL ACCOUNT DETAILS:

02 0544 0051332 00

Please ensure you put HOTDOGS in the reference field as well as your oldest child’s name. 

PLEASE NOTE If your child is away one week unfortunately we can’t offer a refund. 

Here is the link to the order form:

https://forms.gle/RfAxZx42QWExu2wg8

Thank you for supporting this fundraiser for Muritai School.

If you have any questions you can email or ring me:

Tots Saunderson

021854128

totsandrew@gmail.com

School Disco

This highly anticipated event is back!  This year children are asked to wear white clothing or other glow in the dark colours.  See below for details

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

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 Artsplash rehearsal starting at 12 noon

14 Sept Artsplash performance starting at 7.30pm

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. 

Kelly Mini Sports

Get your little sports star off to a great start with Kelly Mini Sports. Our three entertaining programmes are specially designed to teach your toddler or preschooler essential skills and a lifelong love of sports. They're also a great place for parents to socialise.

Our programmes encourage your under 5s to love being active. Our trained coaches use a dynamic combination of fun and music to teach skills that are essential for physical and social development. Your kids will enjoy themselves so much they won't even realise they're learning

The sports we cover are Rugby, Cricket, Tennis, Soccer and Basketball.

When and Where:

Wednesday's at Koraunui Stokes Valley Community Hub

Thursday's at Hutt Indoor Sports, Moera, Lower Hutt

If you would like to find out more, head over to our website www.kellyminisports.co.nz"

Term 1 Lunch time French at Muritai

• Experience French learning the fun way! Children speak French from the first lesson

• ages 5 to 10, lessons once a week, lots of interactive activities, role play, crafts, active games and music

• Free trial lesson.  

• Includes a membership starter pack of materials to use at home

• For more details contact Stefi on stefi@lcfclubs.co.nz  or 021 178 2099

• see website www.lcfclubs.co.nz

Karate

As our 21 year old Dojo has lost a number students during and after the Covid 19 outbreak and now we’d like to recruit and start a new class in Term 3.

We are looking for 10 to 12 girls and boys and their parents to join this beginners class so that there is a decent size group to  teach at any one time.

Children must be at least 9 years or older.

Classes are on Monday’s and /or Thursday’s from 6 to 7pm at the Muritai School Hall.

This is a really good opportunity for parents to participate with their children, rather than watch from the sidelines.

This aligns with the growing anecdotal evidence that parents are often so busy that they neglect to exercise themselves, so this provides that unique chance where they can enjoy a shared experience with their children and get fit at the same.

 

Kelly Sports is running a Fun for Girls Programme. Our aim is to enable the girls to engage with each other in a positive and fun environment. Encouraging their enthusiasm for physical activity and life skills that such involvement brings - giving them confidence to join teams and sports clubs in the future.

Sports we are covering in Term 3 2021: Tennis, Volleyball, Athletics, Karate/Kick Boxing, Team Building

If you would like to find out more, head over to our website www.kellysports.co.nz/lower-hutt."