Wednesday 26 November

Naumai e te whanau o te kura Muritai 

Tena koutou katoa

Eastbourne Carnival

What a wonderful event on Sunday for the Eastbourne Carnival. The good weather does help make the day extra special and we were blessed on the day with sunshine and warmth. The day went without a hitch and that is a huge credit to the organising team led by Sally Bain. The work and the hours they have put in was rewarded with a fantastic occasion and we are immensely grateful for their efforts.

It looks as though we will net between $50-$55,000 profit from the day which is quite exceptional. The children have raised $2000 for KidsCan through their initiatives so it is nice to be able to pay it forward.

We are hugely grateful to the team of parents who got together to help on the Saturday and the Sunday to make it such a memorable day for Muritai. 

Library Opening

Last Friday we celebrated the beginning of a new journey for our school library. It is a beautiful building and it was a lovely ceremony and we were pleased when Sue Fieldes and our oldest and youngest children, Hannah Moffitt and George Saunderson, cut the ribbon to officially open the building. Our thanks to our architects McKenzie Higham, the building team Tracy Smith Construction, our property managers Barry and Natasha at Posseniskies, and Kevin Curren, our MOE property officer.

Staff

Sadly at the end of this year we say goodbye to 2 of our staff who are both taking their young families and moving south to be closer to their parents. Raihania Chadwick, after 8 years at Muritai, is moving south to Wanaka and Murray McMillan is moving to Nelson after 3 years at Muritai. Both Raihania and Murray will be sorely missed by children and their colleagues. We are currently recruiting to replace them and will advise the community when we have made appointments.

ERO

This week we are hosting the Education Review Office who is reviewing the school. They meet with the Board of Trustees and senior leadership team on Friday to give feedback of their findings on school performance. 

Central Zone Athletics / Inter-zone athletics

Following our successful athletic sports day, our athletics team represented the school at the Zone sports, Hutt Rec placing second overall. This is another excellent performance from a Muritai sports team. The following children placed in the top 3 at the zone sports...

1st place - 

Y4 boys relay (Fraser Belliss, Tom Brownsword, Joe Dickson, Harry Rookes, Luca McKay); Fraser Belliss (Y4 High Jump); Marta Perez-Benet (Y5 High Jump); Jack Evans (Y5 High Jump); Zali Young (Y6 High Jump); Fraser Belliss (Y4 Long Jump); Grace Manson (Y5 Long Jump); Henry Evans (Y5 Long Jump); Joe Dickson (Y4 sprints)

2nd place -

Year 4 girls relay team; Year 5 girls relay team; Year 6 girls relay team; Jack Evans (Y5 Long Jump); Samantha Woolley (Y6 Long Jump); Grace Manson (Y5 sprints); 

3rd place -

Year 5 boys relay team; Year 6 girls relay team; Rory Moffat (Y4 Vortex); Chelsea Summers (Y5 Vortex); Maz Cameron (Y5 boys High Jump); Rory Moffat (Y4 Discus); Tom Griffiths (Y6 Discus); Greta Woolloff (Y4 Long Jump); Lea Pummer (Y6 Long Jump); Chelsea Summers (Y5 sprints); Henry Evans (Y5 sprints); Tom Griffiths (Y6 sprints)

From this our squad went to the Inter-Zones with further success. Congratulations to the following placegetters:

1st placings

Year 4 boys relay team  - Joe, Tom, Fraser, Harry, Luca

Year 4 boys long jump - Fraser Belliss

Year 4 boys long jump - Jack Evans

Year 5 girls sprint - Grace Manson

2nd placings

Year 5 girls sprint - Chelsea Summers

 

3rd placings

Y4 boys quoit - Rory Moffatt

Y4 girls long jump - Greta Woolloff

Y5 boys long jump - Henry Evans 

Y6 girls long jump - Samantha Woolley

Y4 boys high jump - Fraser Belliss

Y6 girls high jump - Zali Young

Next Tuesday most of these students will compete at the Wellington Regional Championships in Newtown.

Building Project

With the new library up and going the building team have moved onto phase 2 of the project to convert the old library back to a classroom and build the deck off the middle block. Phase 2 should be finished by the end of the school term.

Next week the big gum tree between the new and old library will be coming down. It has faded badly over the last 12 months and presents a danger within the school environment. We will be planting trees in front of the middle block and will carry this round to replace the big gum tree. While we don't like taking trees out at Muritai, it carries significant risk to our people, including children.

Blue Day - Diabetes Awareness

Last Friday we dressed up in blue to support people who live with type 1 diabetes. We were lucky to have Lesley from the Diabetes Association talk to the school and explain how diabetes affects the body and how we have to look after ourselves to stay fit and healthy. We raised $502.

Facebook and Twitter

With many parents now on Facebook another way to access information and school news events is via this medium. Presently we have had about 233 'friends'.  You can sign up to Muritai School's Facebook page and therefore get regular updates of events.  Click here to join up. 

Alternatively, if you are not on Facebook you can also receive these updates straight to your cellphone via Twitter. Simply text 8987 and type in follow MuritaiSchool and you will receive updates, simple messages, reminders and cancellations direct to your cellphone.

TERM DATES FOR 2015

The Board of Trustees have set the term dates for 2015. Please note the following - 

Term 1 - Monday 2 February –Thurs 2 April – 43 days

Term 2 - Monday 20 April - Friday 3 July - 53 days

Term 3 - Monday 20 July - Friday 25 September   - 50 days

Term 4 - Monday 12 October - Thursday 17 December – 47 days  

There are 2 teacher only days in 2015 - these are the Tuesday of Queen's Birthday and the Tuesday of Labour Weekend.

Please note in 2015 Anzac Day has been ‘Monday-ised’

DIARY

You can access a full calendar on our website under 'Noticeboard' on our website

Fri 28 Nov        Assembly at 1.45

Mon 1 Dec       Y1-2 EOTC week / Y5-6 Road patrol pool party

Tues 2 Dec      Year 4-6 Celebration of Learning 3.00 - 6.00

Wed 3 Dec       Y5-6 EOTC week begins / Junior school athletic sports

Thurs 4 Dec     BOT mtg 7.30pm

Mon 8 Dec       EOTC week for years 5/6 and 3/4 and Y8 to Abel Tasman

Mon 8 Dec       Year 7s to Matiu/Somes Island

Wed 10 Dec     Year 7s to Mt Holdsworth camp

Tues 9 Dec      Y5-6 2015 camp meeting

Thurs 11 Dec   Junior school Xmas concert

Fri 12 Dec        Reports go home

Mon 15 Dec      2015 classrooms meet together

Tue 16 Dec       Y8 leavers dinner

Wed 17 Dec      Y3-6 Xmas concert

Thurs 18 Dec    Last day of the school year / Final assembly 11.00                

                         School finishes at 1.00

MURITAI MUNCHIES

To past and present pupils and staff.  Muritai Munchies would like to thank you all for the wonderful support you have given us over the past 20 something years.

It is with sad regret that Muritai Munchies will close at the end of the term, due to other commitments. 

Last day of Muritai Munchies will be FRIDAY 12 DECEMBER.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

Matahiwi Wine Fundraiser

Hi, I am helping to organise a fundraiser for my son, Harry, and his college music group who have a school trip planned for next year. With the help of Matahiwi Estate, we are able to offer some delicious premium Waiarapa wine at great prices....just in time to stock up for the festive and holiday season! There is a choice of Matahiwi Chardonnay, Savignon Blanc or Pinot Gris @ $14.00 and Pinot Noir @ $18.00 a bottle - all $5-7 under RRP and you won't find them in the supermarket! You can check out wine details/awards etc at www.matahiwi.co.nz  Minimum order is 12 bottles (can be mixed), and I am happy to deliver to anyone in the Eastbourne/Bays area. Please email me with any queries or to place an order - hayley.gary@xtra.co.nz if
 . Delivery will be mid Dec & of course you must be 18yrs or over. Thanks, Hayley Crawford.

Fun French for kids at Muritai School in 2015 for ages 5-12

• Experience French learning the fun way
• Lots of interactive activities, role play, crafts, lively games and songs,
• Free lesson offered
• To register your interest please contact Stefi  on Stefi@funlanuages.co.nz or phone 562 8211
• visit the website www.lcfclubs.co.nz

Plus Fun after school Spanish waiting to start

Contact Stefi at 562 8211 or stefi@funlanguages.co.

NEW BALLET SCHOOL in Eastbourne next year! Enrol now to secure a class place for 2015. Also taking enquiries for Grades 1&2 (7&8 year olds) Please check out wellingtonballetstudio.co.nz or phone Hannah Ross ARAD RTS on 021 207 6757 or 934 1420