13 December 2011

Naumai te whanau o te kura Muritai
Tena koutou katoa

Events schedule for the final 3 days
Wednesday 14th  - Year 8 formal evening 6.30pm
Thursday 15th  - Y3-6 Xmas concert 1.45
Friday 16th   - Final assembly 11.00; Last day – school finishes at 1.00

SCHOOL FINISHES AT 1PM ON FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER

FINAL ASSEMBLY
Often a popular event this will start at 11.00 sharp. We will say a fond farewell to our school leavers and celebrate the year that has been.

SUPPORT STAFF
It is the time of year to thank many of our people but I just wanted to say a huge thank you to our support staff at Muritai. These people work around our teaching staff, either with children who have high or moderate learning needs or in administration to make sure things are functioning smoothly. We have many additional staff at Muritai and they all play a vital role in our school. Many have been here for a while and I am continually impressed with how well respected they are by our children, as they play a key support role in their lives as well. 

Thanks to Abby, Sarah, Romy, Carolyn, Hillary, Francie, Sandra, Diane, Ann, Narelle, Katja.

From all of us here at Muritai we say a big thank you for all your efforts to help make our children do their very best.

PART-TIME RELEASE TEACHERS
With the additional layer of administration required in schools we are very lucky to have a highly skilled, experienced part-time teaching staff to maintain consistency when staff are attending to their release needs. Most of these teachers have been at Muritai for a very long time and it is lovely to have them as part of our team.

Thank you - Vanessa, Clare, Sally, Ruth, Liz, Hayley, Sue.

ABEL TASMAN
Tonight we have our year 8 leavers formal dinner and prizegiving at which we celebrate their achievements. The year 8 students had a wonderful week down at Abel Tasman in what was Stephen Eames' last trip as camp leader. I just wanted to pay tribute to the staff - Stephen, Stu Devenport, Raihania Chadwick and Carole Lowe for their extra efforts to make this camp go smoothly; to Chris Galvin who has made her last trip as 'camp mother', and the wonderful parents who spent a week away from home working very hard with their children. What a success!

We would also like to thank Leo O'Sullivan, Pak'N Save Petone, who gives us enormous assistance with all our food requirements for both Abel Tasman and the Mt Holdsworth camps.

ART AUCTION
This term the Year 3's and 4's have been learning about the causes and effects of child labour.  To get involved we held an art auction to help the kids at the Green Gecko School, Cambodia.  These children are all ex-street kids who had to work, beg or busk to support their families.

From the art and donations, our school raised $3,702. The children in Year 3 and 4 found out what the Green Gecko kids needed to help them stay in school and to break the poverty cycle.  We decided to buy micro-businesses for the parents for $200 each, shoes for $12, school uniforms for $18 each, home repairs for $500 and a week’s worth of nutritious food for the Green Gecko team which cost $1,000.

Thank you to all parents and wider Muritai Whanau for coming and getting behind this project.  It was a wonderful evening and a very meaningful way to end our Social Science inquiry.

Written by Eva, Paige, Callan, Tom and Alice 

BEFORE SCHOOL CARE
Next year the school will not be operating a Before School Care programme. To meet OSCAR compliance we need to have 2 staff and we do not have the numbers to continue this program. Current attendees have been notified but be aware in your planning for next year that Before School Care will no longer be available. We will continue to offer After School Care and Holiday programmes.

MEET THE TEACHER
The children had a chance to meet their next year's teacher yesterday and things went smoothly. This experience breaks down some barriers for children as they move from what is a familiar group into a different group of people they will be with in 2012. There will be challenges, but that is what school is about.

TOUCH RUGBY
The very short season has come to a close with most teams finishing mid table with the Blaze the best placed in third spot overall and the Speed picking up best and fairest award. Thank you to parents and coaches for keeping the Friday Touch programme up and going, and we look forward to a longer, more productive touch season next summer. We do need those uniforms back quickly please!

LIBRARY BOOKS
At present we are missing 100 library books. Children are looking in every corner at school for these ...I suspect that some of them may be in book cases at home.  Please have a thorough look in bedrooms and return to the office or library as soon as possible.

TOUCH UNIFORMS
If you have any Muritai School sports uniforms please return them as soon as possible to the office.

LOST PROPERTY
This goes to charity on Friday so if you are missing those jackets, sweatshirts (60% of lost property) please check our lost property. We will place everything outside for the next 2 days so everyone can connect with their lost items.

WANTED - PLASTIC PLANT POTS
Next year is Carnival Year.  David Williams will be running the Plant Stall again and would like any of your plastic plant pots.  Can you also start thinking of cuttings you would like to grow-on for the Carnival.  Any pots you may have can be left at David's house, opposite the school at 185 Muritai Road.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Eastbourne Library - Summer Splash Reading Challenge 2011/2012
For 5-13 year olds.  Join up between 12 December and 6 January at your local Hutt City Library.  Make a splash this summer!  Read inspiring books of your choice, complete exciting activities and be in to win fun prizes!  For more details see the website www.library.huttcity.govt.nz or phone 570 6633.

Guinea Pigs - Free to a Good Home
Sam and Geoff are cute 3yr old guinea pigs. They are nice guys - the best of mates!  They need a new home – ideally before Christmas. Or a one month ‘summer holiday’ over the Christmas period is also possible.  They come with everything they need except love & feeding. (cage, water bottle, some food).  Sam is brown and has an outgoing personality, Geoff likes a quiet night in - he has black and grey hair. Please contact Jake or Sarah 04 562 6231 

Reliable local mum available over Christmas summer holidays to feed the cat/water garden/clear letterbox, etc.  Rate negotiable.  Please contact Angela - work hours - 562 7002, after hours 027-477-3396.

Christmas Light Display
The Hutt Heat Water Polo elves have been very industrious at the North Pole with the 2011 Christmas Light Display all powered up and blazing each night through to 23 December.
Come along and visit us soon, soak up some Yule from the Pool - gates open 8.30 pm each night at 27 Hathaway Avenue, Boulcott, Lower Hutt(off High Street slightly north of Hutt Hospital, turn into Military Road, turn left into Hathaway with ample car parking on right).  It's the warmth that comes to our hearts when the Christmas spirit returns again
Spread the word, spread the cheer, keep the Christmas light burning, friends make Christmas Merry!  Entry: $2 cash per head.  Kids under 5 Free.  Hutt Water Polo Club ww.huttwaterpolo.org.nz

1 comment:

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