Wednesday 9 May 2012


Naumai e te whanau o te kura Muritai 

Kia ora koutou 

Dear parents/caregivers,


Welcome to Matthew Cowley who joined the Muritai School family this week in room 2.


School is very busy at present with a busy fortnight of extra events, including the NZ ballet company visit next Monday. Classrooms are very much in the groove and teachers are very pleased with how things are ticking over. Keep in touch with the classroom blogs for the latest news from each room.


This week is national primary science week and it coincided with an ERo report on the teaching of science in primary schools. Aren't we lucky to have Barbara Ryan leading our science programme at Muritai.


A reminder that Muritai School has a facebook page where you can receive short snippets of our highlights and regular updates.


STAFFING
Early next term we welcome back Hayley Skilton from maternity leave into room 9 while we farewell Sheena Naik who will be going on maternity leave.  A big thank you to Linda Brewer, one of our regular relievers for teaching in room 2 recently.


ANZAC DAY
I was very proud of our students who played a key part in the Anzac Day celebrations. Our kapa haka roopu recognised  the contribution of the parade with a challenge  and then responded to the Benediction with the waiata 'He Honore' - a hymn for peace. Our school captains Tom Walsh and Celine Malama had the honour of laying the remembrance wreath this year.


WELL DONE MARGO
We are all very proud of Margo Montes de Oca for her achievement winning the inaugural RSA memorial essay on 'The Dambusters'. She walked away with some impressive prizes and a fantastic trophy.


This was no easy challenge and Margo is to be admired, not just for the quality of her work but the persistence she displayed in getting the job done. It really is an extremely high quality piece of work.
You can read her essay by clicking here.


SCOOTER PARKS
Thank you to the Home and school for these. They have tidied up the school nicely.


SVARGO - ONCE UPON A MIME
This morning the mime actor Svargo performed for the whole school. Svargo is a professional mime actor, originally from Berlin,who now tours Australia and New Zealand doing his show ‘Once upon a Mime’. He amazed the audience with his convincing and very funny performance. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the expierience and we all hope he will come and perform to us again.   Margo Montes de Oca


CROSS COUNTRY
We had a wonderful day at our cross country event yesterday in Days Bay. Well organised by Mr McKay and his team, the quality of the running was fantastic. Children ran superbly and really showed off a strong school spirit as they tried their very best to do well. Distance running is not everyone's cup of tea and children were encouraged to set some goals to help them get through the challenge. Thanks to our year 7 and 8 children who ran alongside younger children to help them get through the event.

Click here for a 10 minute photostory. 


Congratulations to our place getters at the cross country -
Year 3 girls - 1st- Grace Manson, 2nd- Chelsea Summers, 3rd- Evie Wilson
Year 3 boys - 1st- Henry Evans, 2nd- Jack Evans, 3rd- Finn Morley
Year 4 girls - 1st- Charlotte Humpries, 2nd- Charlotte McFarlane, 3rd- Mia Lowe
Year 4 boys - 1st- Flynn Healy, 2nd- Theo Jones, 3rd- Bruno Penney
Year 5 girls - 1st- Macey Caughley, 2nd- Ella Giles, 3rd- Grace Olsen
Year 5 boys - 1st- Andrew Sutcliffe, 2nd- Max Hahn, 3rd-Lachlan Bourgeois
Year 6 girls - 1st- Grace Allan, 2nd- Milly Griffiths, 3rd- Mary Heath 
Year 6 boys - 1st- Liam Lamb, 2nd- Ben Grenfell, 3rd- Jack Healy
Year 7 girls - 1st- Maya Hahn, 2nd- Ruby Burley-Smith, 3rd- Frankie Middleton
Year 7 boys - 1st- Wilson Quinn, 2nd- Harry Crawford, 3rd- Gabriel Barber
Year 8 girls - 1st- Hailey Griffiths, 2nd- Kia Jewell, 3rd- Zara Costello
Year 8 boys - 1st- Gus Reece, 2nd- Moss Grenfell, 3rd- Piri Bradshaw 


Best of luck to the school team that will compete at the zones for year 4-6 and year 7-8.


JUNIOR CROSS COUNTRY
The Junior school Cross Country will be held at Bishop Park on Tuesday 22 May from 9.30am.  The postponement date will be Thursday 24 May.  The children would love to have you support them at this competition.


MURITAI TV
This little project run out of the senior school keeps chugging on. Latest articles are on speed stacking, Anzac Day, the Police challenge and an article with Mrs Ryan on the butterfly garden.


Click here to view the Muritai TV blogsite.



HOOKED ON BOOKS PROGRAMME
The 'Hooked on Books' programme has started. Thank you very much to all the parents who are giving up their time to help with this important programme.  We need two more people to assist children on this programme.  If you are able to listen to children read on Tuesdays or alternate Mondays can you please let Mrs Buckley know.  You can contact Maureen Buckley via e-mail on buckley@muritai.school.nz or call in at the office and leave your details with Carole or Sue.


INFORMATION EVENINGS FOR PARENTS OF JUNIOR STUDENTS
Maureen Buckley will be holding a series of information evenings in room 3 at 7pm.  The first one is on Wednesday 16 May and will explain the writing, spelling and handwriting process with the second evening being on Wednesday 30 May to cover the reading process.  The final evening is on Tuesday 12 June which will be about mathematics. This is an opportunity for you to see what your child does at school in these curriculum areas, answer any questions you may have and give you some ideas to support your child's learning at home. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Maureen Buckley.

CLOTHING NEEDED
The school's medical room usually has spare underpants, shorts and tops but at the moment we are very short on everything.  It seems that we have not had our spare clothing returned to us after handing them out.  If you have any old but useable underpants, shorts or trackpants for 5 to 10 year olds, we would love to have them.  Drop them off at the office.  


FREE PARENT ACCESS FOR MATHLETICS 
Parents can now register for FREE parent access to Mathletics by going to mathletics.co.nz/parent. You will need your child's username and password to register. Once registered you will be able to view your child's progress and certificates and you can also choose to have an automatic weekly email sent to you.

For instruction on how to register, look at the Parent Registration Letter on the Noticeboard of the school website.

WHACKY HAIR DAY
To support Oxfam's "Fair Trade Fortnight" the Senior Charity Group are organising a Whacky Hair Day THIS  Friday (the 11th of May).
Students are encouraged to colour, accessorise, and make their hair look totally whacky! There will be a (Fair Trade) prize for the most whacky hair on the day. Everyone who chooses to participate is asked to bring a gold coin donation. Donations will go towards helping Oxfam New Zealand to continue its work in supporting struggling farmers in the developing world.
We can't wait to see your whacky hair!
- Charity Group


WORLD VISION 40 HOUR FAMINE
Ruth Humphries from World Vision spoke to the school at the last assembly about the 40 hour famine focus this year on Mali.

FAIR TRADE COFFEE MORNING
To celebrate the end of "Fair Trade Fortnight" on Friday 18th May the Senior School Charity Group will be setting up a Fair Trade Coffee stall in the office foyer. Fair Trade coffee, tea and hot chocolate will be on sale between 8.30 and 9am. Each hot drink will cost $1.50. Proceeds will go to Oxfam New Zealand.  

A selection of baked goods will also be on sale to help Year 8 students raise money towards the end of year Abel Tasman Camp

UPCOMING EVENTS
Mon 14 May - NZ Ballet visiting a.m.
Tue 15 May - Y5-6 Zone football; Y3 to Marine Education centre
Fri 18 May - Y4 to Marine Education centre; School assembly 1.40
Mon 21 May - Y8 Girls Gardasil immunizations
Tue 22 May - Y1-2 Cross country at Bishops park; Y7-8 Zone cross country; BoT meeting 7.30
Fri 25 May - World vision  famine weekend
Mon 28 May - Young Leaders day (Y8 students)
Wed 30 May - Y4-6 Zone cross country
Fri 1 June - School assembly 1.40

SPORTS
Basketball
Great start to the season with a good win over Hutt Intermediate at basketball by our Year 8 boys (12 - 52) ( Henry Griffiths, Moss Grenfell, Piri Bradshaw, Elliot Hawes, Cahon Holden and Xav Manson)


Netball
Teams have started well and have been progressing through the grading rounds.  Once they have all been graded, the competition starts in earnest.  

COMMUNITY NOTICES
Eastbourne Market is just around the corner on Sunday 13 May 2012, 11am - 2pm.  Bring Mum along to find a treat for her!  Registrations are still
being accepted for stalls - $30 for a stall, $10 for a child's stall.   Sign
up in the foyer of the Eastbourne Library.  See our Facebook page

Need a babysitter?
I am a 20 year old ex-Muritai School student currently looking for evening and weekend babysitting work to help support my university studies.  Local references available.  Call or text Cassie Richards on 021 025 64503.


Fun Mandarin for 5 to12 year olds,starting this week in Eastbourne
Come to a free trial class:
When:  on Wednesday 9th May, 4:30pm, or next Wednesday at 4:30pm 
Where:  St Ronan's Church Hall 
For more information ring Stefi Plimmer-Blattner on 562 8211, email stefi@lcfclubs.co.nz
Website:  www.lcfclubs.co.nz


Swiss Ball Classes
Eastbourne Croquet Club rooms
Mon 10.15am, Tues 7.30pm, Wed 9am, Thur 7.30pm, Frid 9am
Beginners welcome.
Sustainablefitness.net.nz  562 8889


St Bernard's College Open Day
St Bernard's College will be holding an open day on Saturday 19 May 2012 from 10am until 2pm.  Prospective students and their parents are invited to visit during these hours to find out more about St Bernard's College and what it can provide.  St Bernard's College is a Year 7-13 Catholic boys' college.  For further information, contact the office at:  183 Waterloo Rd, Lower Hutt.  Ph 560 9250.  Website: www.sbc.schoolnz  Email: office@sbc.school.nz




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