FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S LAPTOP
Tēnā koutou katoa
It has been a fantastic start to the year at Matua School. Lots of time is spent getting to know each other and building strong, learning-focused relationships. We have enjoyed meeting our new families over the past few weeks and trust you are enjoying your new school and community.
Staff and students are beginning to focus on assessments to help prepare for goal-setting conferences on 21 and 22 March. We look forward to seeing you at these conferences.
Open and honest communication is important for our school and community. To that end, if you would like to communicate with staff, face to face is always the best way. Staff are available from 8:30 – 8:55 before school, or at pick up times. Alternatively, email is a great way to reach staff, our email addresses are on the school website.
As you will be aware, there has been a suspicious black car at other schools in Tauranga. Please take time to discuss getting to and from school safely with your children.
On the property front, we are excited to have two new classrooms operational. The building work for two more classrooms will be started in the next few weeks. Plans are in place for our senior playground to be upgraded in the coming months thanks to our wonderful PTA and generous community. We will update you closer to the time.
As part of our learning at Matua we promote our values and key competencies. The posters below are displayed in every classroom and are constantly reinforcing and building on these competencies.
Ngā mihi
Craig Wallis
Principal
OUR SCHOOL APP
Our School App
We have a new school app to keep you up to date with events and notifications. Click on the button below to check it out.
LIBRARY
Parent help – A big thank you to the parents who have offered to help in the library. I am still in need of some more incredible parent helpers please! Any time given would be appreciated. The main jobs would be helping me prepare new books – stamping, taping, and covering. They do need to be done to a high standard as they are brand new books, but it is also a job that could be done at home if parents have young children or some spare hours at night! Please come and see me or email me on library@matua.school.nz
Student librarians – (year 5 & 6 students) are now trained and helping to run activities during lunchtimes. Librarians for this term are Holly, Meg, Isabella, Logan, Lulu, Amy, Charlotte, Hamish, Rose, Seth, Samantha , Gracie, Erin, Noah, Riley, Anae, Chelsea, Jacob, Melissa, Caitlin-Rose, Madden, Ruby, Corbyn, & Gabrielle.
They have all made a fabulous start and are a great asset to our lunchtimes. Wednesdays, we are also very fortunate to welcome back our fabulous LABrarians, who have a huge fan base and following – thank you to Belinda Egdecombe for bringing them each week.
Library Book Fair – This year I am holding our annual book fair in Term 1, week 8. This is to coincide with the ‘Goal Setting Conferences’, when many parents & caregivers have made time to come to school.
As usual, I will have many brand new books set up in our library. Parents and students are able to buy and donate these chosen books to our library for either $5 or $10 per book.
Books won’t be for sale for individual/home purchases. All books available are for the library – it is a fabulous chance for children to donate a book and their name will appear on a certificate at the front of the book. They will also be the first to take the book home to read after it has been processed.
Last year, over 340 books were donated in this way. This is a fantastic boost to our very popular and well used library. Please make sure you are able to come into the library either before or after your conference.
SPORTS
SETTING UP KINDO
Setting up with Kindo
Kindo is our new prefered payment and permission system. To help you learn how it works, we’ve added their new help sheet and video. We hope it helps.
KINDO VIDEO HELP
PTA
2nd Hand Uniform – Do you have any unwanted school uniform at home? We have very little 2nd hand uniform left and would love some donations. If you have any uniform that your child/children have grown out of and no longer need, please drop it into the school office. We especially need polo shirts and smaller size shorts. Thank you.
2nd Hand Uniform Shop – Our shop is located in the school hall and is open every Wednesday afternoon from 2.40pm until approx 3pm. Each item costs $5.
NEW PARENT INFORMATION EVENING
Each term we hold an information evening for ‘New Parents’. This is usually held on a Thursday evening in week 5. This term it will take place on Thursday the 1st of March. Come along and meet the teachers, have a look around the classroom and ask any questions you may need answered. It usually last approximately an hour, starting at 7pm and will be in room 21.
ART REQUEST FROM JENNI SCOTT
Dear Parents
I am desperately in need of the following items for the art room this year. If you can send them into the new Art Room (Room 15) as soon as possible it will be much appreciated.
Old rolling pins
Old grotty large paint brushes (even if bristles are stuck together
Washers
Raffia
Newspaper without staples
Old postage stamps
Buttons Straws
Plastic placemats
Plexi -glass pieces
Old lace doilies
Window squeegee blades
Ice-block sticks
Wool
Old CD’s
Magazines
Plastic jar and bottle lids of all colours
Polystyrene Trays (not meat trays)
Could you please place them just inside the door. Your assistance would be much appreciated.
Best regards
Jenni Scott
TERM DATES 2018
Term 1 2018 – Thursday 1st Feb – Friday 13th April 2018
Waitangi Day – 6th Feb – School Closed
Good Friday – 30th March – School Closed
Easter Monday – 2nd April – School Closed
Easter Tuesday – 3rd April – School Closed
Term 2 – Monday 30th April – Friday 6th July
Queen’s Birthday – 4th June – School Closed
Term 3 – Monday 23rd July – Friday 28th September
Term 4 – Monday 15th October – Tuesday 18th December
ICAS DATES FOR 2018
Parents of children in Year 3, 4, 5 or 6 (2018) please mark in your diary the following dates for the ICAS competitions:
Digital Technologies Tuesday 8 May 2018
Science Tuesday 29 May 2018
Spelling Wednesday 13 June 2018
English Tuesday 31 July 2018
Mathematics Tuesday 14 August 2018
We will provide an information pack next year, and opportunities to ask questions. Enrolment for these competitions will take place in February.
Congratulations to all the children who participated in the competitions this year.
Bruce Reid
Matua School ICAS co-ordinator
COMMUNITY NOTICES
CHILDREN’S 8 WEEK ART CLASSES for ages 7 to 10
with professional artist Lynne Sinclair Taylor
Tuesdays 13th February to 3rd April, 3.30pm to 5pm
The children will have fun while learning basics about colour and techniques with different mediums. All art supplies provided.
Cost: $160 for the term.
When: Tuesdays 13th Feb to 3rd April.
Where: Lynne’s home studio, 15 Hartwell Place, Matua, Tauranga.
To enrol: Contact Lynne on 021 121 9864 or lynnestaylor@gmail.com.
Adult classes also available Tuesday mornings and afternoons – details on website.
About Lynne: http://lynnesinclairtaylor.com/bio/
Dance Education Centre
228 Levers Road, Matua Tauranga & 345 Maunganui Rd, Mt Maunganui
- Weekly Classes in Mount Maunganui and Tauranga
- Dance Classes for Ages 3yrs to Adults
- Fully Qualified Teachers
- Dance tuition for classical ballet, contemporary dance, musical theatre, urban dance, adult jazz, competition work
- Dancewear Boutique on-site offering clothing, footwear, accessories and costuming
- Have DEC students in dance companies all round the world
- Contact Julie on 07 5767815 or www.dec.co.nz
Term 1 Gymnastic Academy starting up on Thursday 15th Feb, 7:45-8:45a.m, book online at http://www.
Musical Theater
“Musical Theatre classes on Tuesdays, 4-5pm at St Columba Church Hall – singing, dancing, acting ,theatre sports – primary and intermediate aged. Ballet lessons from pre-school upwards also available on Wednesdays and Thursdays .
Enquiries email Lisa at jumby@xtra.co.nz.”