Monday 2 February

Kia ora koutou

Naumai e te whanau o te kura Muritai
Tena koutou katoa

Dear Parents / Caregivers

Welcome back to Muritai School for 2015. I trust you had a delightful holiday and enjoyed the family time in the amazing weather we have had this summer. We start the year with 405 children and 17 classrooms in operation.

We welcome Mia Sclater, Grace Thompson, Orlaith Clitheroe, Rory Marsden, Ben Hollard, Thomas Neilson, Chloe Hammond, Maya Schanzel, James and Ben Allcock, Isabella and Siena Pitman and Miles Futter to Muritai today. I am sure your time here will be enjoyable, engaging and full of growth.

We also welcome Shelley Frith (R13) and Carl Woodhams (R15) to Muritai as classroom teachers this year. Staff have been here for a over a week and both Shelley and Carl have settled into the teaching team very smoothly.

We had a tremendous year last year and through the newsletters, celebration assemblies, performances, and the school’s website the school celebrated and recognized the many successes of our children who achieved in a variety of academic, sporting and cultural activities. The positive celebration of our successes throughout 2014 reflected well on the school’s vision statement “to be the best that we can be”. It was certainly a pleasure to say “thank you” to our large group of parents who support our school and who have been actively involved throughout the year. I am sure 2015 will be similar as we continue to grow as a school to best meet the needs of our students in their 21st century learning environment.

We concluded the year with another outstanding ERO report - which the staff are extremely proud of. The report reflects well on the hard work and dedication of our people - the staff, Board of Trustees, our children and parent community, to the task at hand and how we 'do things around here' to make Muritai a successful school for our children. Consecutive 4-5 year ERO returns places us in a select group of 2% of schools across NZ who have managed to do that. The report will be formally available for public access shortly.

Much progress was made on the building work over the break and we are very close to opening up the deck and the new entranceway. We are just awaiting the seating for the deck and the gates.

What is on top...

Meet the teacher
This Wednesday is the meet the teacher evening starting at 3pm. This is to enable parents to share information with the new class teacher about their child.

Swimming 
This starts this week and your teacher will have emailed you the details. The swimming instructors start next Monday for swimming tuition. This is covered in the activity fee.

Sun Hats
All children are required to have a wide brimmed hat at school. Please make sure it is named. Children without hats will be under the shade cloth. We will be limiting 'outside time' during the hours of 11am onwards. We strongly suggest you apply sunblock before your child leaves in the morning.

YEAR 8 STUDENT AWARDS 2014
At the end of last year we farewelled students who played a big part in our school culture at Muritai School. All our leavers from 2014 had many diverse qualities and strengths. They should be proud that they have tried their very best and leave with an appreciation of their peers, their teachers, and themselves. I just wanted to put into writing our congratulations and our thanks to them and their families, for the contribution they have made to Muritai School. We wish them all the best as they head to High School this week..

At prize giving at the end of last year the following cups and certificates were awarded –

·       Abel Tasman Cup – Shannon Humpris
·       Improvement in year 8 awards – Grace Ogilvie and Felix Ford-Robinson
·       Board of Trustees Cups for 'Endeavour' – Ella McKay and Todd Wellwood
·       Board of Trustees Cups for 'Academic Excellence' – Lauren Redpath and Todd Wellwood
·       Jacobson Cups for ‘Mathematics’ – Briana Kirkham and Soren Matthewson
·       Debbie Bertaud Memorial Cup for ‘Commitment to Science and Technology’ – Hannah Moffat
·       Fortescue-Willis Environmental Leadership - Earthcare Award – Willow Forbes
·       Broadbent/O'Brien Literacy Prize - Excellence in Literacy – Sally Bird
·       Reliability Prize – Jasmine Stock
·       Swain Cup for ‘Leadership and Contribution in Sport’ – Ella McKay
·       Nicholas Bahler Award for Empathy – Hannah Moffat
·       The Malama Family Cup – Visionary award – Mia Treadwell-Burke
·       Beck Family Cup for ‘Best all round sportsperson’ – Mia Treadwell-Burke and Jake Murphy
·       Mills Family Cup for ‘Contribution to the Arts’ – Anna Rodgers
·       Eastbourne Community Trust Cup for ‘Leadership’ – Charlotte Barclay and Freya Neal
·       Principal’s Prize - determination, resilience and loyalty – Beth Brodie
·       Teachers Cup for ‘Being a joy to teach’ – Mary Heath
·       Kirsty and Isabella Clarke Cup for “Positive contribution to Muritai School” – Lily Griffiths
·       Newton Family Cup for ‘Service to Muritai School’ – Mia Treadwell-Burke
·       Stotter Cup for ‘Dedication, commitment and all round achievement’ – Emeline Gray
·       Class of 61Cup - “Outstanding Contribution to Muritai School” – Sally Bird
·       Booth Family Cup ~ “The Student’s Student” – Lily Griffiths and Hannah Moffat


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

Term 1 - Monday 2 February –Thursday 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’ and so Monday 27 April is a holiday.

TERM 1 DIARY DATES

  • Wednesday 4th February - Year 7-8 at Days Bay / Meet the teacher 3pm
  • Friday 6th February - Waitangi Day - school closed
  • Monday 9th February - Swimming instruction starts
  • Tuesday 10th February - East Harbour Kindy visiting room 3
  • Friday 13th February - Assembly 1.40pm
  • Tuesday 24th February - Yaer 5-6 Camp meeting
  • Thursday 26th February - Year 3-8 Swim sports - Huia Pool (afternoon)
  • Friday 27th February - Assembly 1.40pm
  • Monday 9th March - Year 1 visit to Pataka / Year 5-6 Dinosaur experience
  • Tuesday 10 - Friday 13 March - Year 5-6 camp at Forest Lakes
  • Tuesday 10th March - Year 1-2 swim sports at Eastbourne Pool
  • Friday 13th March - Assembly 1.40pm
  • Monday 16th - Friday 20th March - School photos
  • Tuesday 17th March - East Harbour Kindy visiting room 3
  • Wednesday 18th March - Year 2 to Pataka
  • Wednesday 18th March - Year 4-6 Zone swim sports
  • Thursday 19th March - Year 3-4 and Year 7-8 Festivals of the Arts
  • Monday 23rd and Tuesday 24th March - Parent Interviews - student progress
  • Wednesday 25th March - Y4-6 Inter-zone swim sports
  • Friday 27 March - Year 8 girls Gardisal immunisation
  • Friday 27th March - School assembly 1.40
  • Tuesday 31st March - Whole school cross country at Eastbourne Rec
  • Thursday 2 April - Term 1 ends at 2.55pm
  
Kindest regards

Andrew Bird
Principal/ Tumuaki



COMMUNITY NOTICES

SCHOLASTIC BOOK CLUB
Issue 1 of the scholastic book club should be arriving home with your child shortly. You will have noticed this is a new design from scholastic with just one all age catalogue for you to make your book choices from. When making your order simply fill in the form as you have in the past but with the addition of writing the book title, which will help us to ensure we order the correct book. 

Orders should be at the school office no later than Wednesday the 25th of Feb.  Orders can only be paid by credit card or cheque made out to Scholastic NZ please. We cannot accept cash orders. If you have a $2 voucher that you received with your last order this must used in issue 1.  


We greatly appreciate your support of the scholastic book club as your order helps enable the school to purchase new books for our library for everyone to enjoy. 

Days Bay Play Jabberwocky and Jumblies - Painting Poetry for ages 7-12
Sign up now for a fun term of imaginative illustrations. Class will run after school on Mondays for six weeks, staring 16th February. Check out the details at http://daysbayplay.blogspot.co.nz/ or email daysbayplay@gmail.com.
Fencing at Hutt Valley Swords Club for all school age students, and for adults as after-school classes.  Holiday sessions are also offered.
Contact Susan Tel: 04-9383090, Mob: 021-0276 1922, Email: comgt@paradise.net.nz
Susan is an experienced teacher and fencing coach. The sessions are fun and participants always achieve growth in personal development while developing excellent fencing skills.

Fun French for kids ​at Muritai School for ages 5-12
· Experience French learning the fun way
· Lots of interactive activities, role play, crafts, fun games and music
· Free trial lesson
· To register your interest please contact Stefi  on Stefi@funlanuages.co.nz or phone 562 8211
· visit the website www.lcfclubs.co.nz

Eastside Fitness - Now that the kids are back at school, its time to do something for yourself! Make 2015 the year that you get fitter, stronger and healthier! Eastside Fitness is a fully equipped gym in the Eastbourne village. Open 7 days from 5.30am-10pm. We are offering a summer special - 3 months full membership for only $250 - this includes programme set up & consultation. We also offer free 1 week trials. To take advantage of these offers, please call 562 7776 or emailinfo@eastsidefitness.co.nz

Rich Nutrients - NEW Superfood online store - One of the keys to achieving good health is to use the power of healthy foods to positively affect how you feel, how much energy you have, and the length and quality of your life. We offer a huge range of "Superfoods" that you can incorporate into your daily living. Check out the products on offer at www.richnutrients.co.nz




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