FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S LAPTOP
Kia ora and welcome to the latest edition of the Heron Herald. It has been an exciting few weeks at Matua School.
The Arts have been a feature in lots of classrooms over the past few weeks, with many students already underway with different inquiries into various artists, musicians or dancers. Classes are already planning their installations ready to share at the Art Exhibition in week 7. We would love to see you there, please see details attached.
Classes have started the Pause, Breathe, Smile lessons (eight lessons in the series). You may hear your children talking about ‘dropping anchor’ or ‘circuit breakers’ over the coming weeks. For more information about the programme please visit https://mindfulnesseducation.nz/pause-breathe-smile/
Thank you to all who have completed the property survey over the past week. The BoT would like to gather community voice as we look ahead and plan for the future of Matua School. Please click on this link to complete the survey. So far we have 143 responses. The survey closes this Sunday night at 9pm. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MatuaProperty
Many Winter sports are well underway and we have numerous parents and staff giving up their time to coach and manage these team. Thank you to all who make these important opportunities a reality for our tamariki.
Learner Conferences are coming up on 22 and 23 August and the booking system is open. Please ensure you have booked a conference time. We know effective partnerships promote and accelerate student achievement. We look forward to discussing where your child is at and what their next learning steps will be.
A reminder there is an NZEI strike next Wednesday 15 August. There are many areas that NZEI is negotiating at present. A full-time SENCO (additional needs) in schools to cater for the growing additional needs in schools is one of the key claims. We recognise the inconvenience this causes our community and thank you for your understanding. sKids will be operating onsite for those that need to arrange care. Please email them at matua@skids.co.nz
We have heard several reports of incidents within the Otumoetai/Bethlehem area involving unknown adults approaching students. As per our child protection policy, we teach the Keeping Ourselves Safe every two years in conjunction with NZ Police. In addition to the information in this pdf, the advice education officers give concerning stranger danger is to yell loudly, and run to the nearest adult they trust (hopefully having identified houses or shops beforehand with students).
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.
SPORT
CHICKEN POX
We have had a few cases of children with Chicken Pox. Early symptoms are a fever and spots with a blister on top of each spot. The time between exposure and sickness is approximately 10-21 days after being exposed.
If your child contracts Chicken Pox please keep them at home for a week from the first appearance of the rash or until all blisters have dried.
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
PTA NEWS
Thank you to everyone who has booked a table at the Quiz Night – they sold out super fast. For anyone who has not booked a table, there is a waiting list, in case of any cancellations. The PTA are still looking for local businesses to sponsor tables or donate products or services that we can use for prizes. If you would like some more information, please email matuapta@gmail.com. We look forward to a fantastic evening.
The school Night Market is on the 8th of November. If yourself or anyone you know is interested in a being a stall holder, please email matuapta@gmail.com for more information.
How great is the school recipe book looking! A letter came out today about the Cupcake Challenge next week. Be sure to get your kids to sign up, as the prize is a picture of their cupcake in the school cookbook.
The PTA are also looking for sponsors for the cookbook. It is a great way to get your business name advertised inside the book. If you would like more information please email matuapta@gmail.com.
The Second Hand Uniform Shop is short on uniforms. If you have any uniforms at home that your children no longer use, please drop them off to the school office. Remember all funds raised go back to the school.
The PTA have been very busy this year and we would love to thank everyone that supports and helps us. We could not do it without the help of the community. The next PTA meeting is 11th September at 7.00pm in the staff room if you would like to attend
If you are interested in being involved in the PTA in some way, please send an email to matuapta@gmail.com.
PUPIL ABSENCE
With the cooler weather and the change in season, there seems to be a lot of coughs and colds and tummy bugs around at the moment. If your child is going to be absent from school for any reason, please could you let us know.
You can phone school on 07 576 9027 and leave a message on the absentee line or you can email the office, office@matua.school.nz to notify us.
This will ensure that a close liaison between home and school is maintained, especially with regard to your child’s safety on the way to and from school. Teachers will be notified of children who will be absent each day.
If your child has had a vomiting bug, please keep them at home for 24 hours to ensure that the stomach bug isn’t spread around the class.
Nicola McDowell is undertaking a study of children and would like your help.
Please have a read of the flyer advertising for a control group for her research, looking at the effectiveness of a tool to detect visual perceptual difficulties in children.
The control group needs to be age and gender matched to the research participants. Nicola requires the following children:
2 x 10 year old girls
1 x 9 year old boy
2 x 9 year old girls
2 x 8 year old boys
1 x 7 year old boy
2 x 6 year old boys
1 x 6 year old girl
Thank you for supporting this research.
VOLUNTARY DONATION
Thank you to everyone who has paid the voluntary school donation. Donations are set at $110 per student, per year. Reminders about the voluntary donation will be sent out early next week. Payment can be made at the school office or via our school shop – KINDO. www.kindo.co.nz
ART SUPPLIES
Mrs Jenni Scott would love some more bits and pieces brought in from home for her art classes.
She urgently needs small plastic bottles like 1 litre milk bottles, cardboard rolls, PVC piping offcuts and tubes of any size
Donations would be greatly appreciated and can be left at the school office. Thank you.
ORAL LANGUAGE IN OUR COMMUNITY
Toys for Oral Language
Did you know that you already have the best toy for language development in your home? You didn’t buy it at a shop – actually, it doesn’t cost anything. It’s portable, adaptable, and best of all, it’s tons of fun! Your child loves to play with it, more than any other toy. That’s because your child’s best toy is…YOU!
When you and your child play together without toys, you become the toy. We call this type of social play “people games” because these games only involve people, not toys.
SKIDS
TERM DATES 2018
Term 3 – Monday 23rd July – Friday 28th September
Term 4 – Monday 15th October – Tuesday 18th December
OTHER IMPORTANT DATES
24th July – Term 3 begins
10th August – Book Character Day
13th August – Wetland Discovery Trip. Carmichael Reserve. 9am – 3pm. Rooms 4 & 5.
14th August – Wetland Discovery Trip. Carmichael Reserve. 9am -3pm. Rooms 1 & 3.
14th August – ICAS Competition. Maths.
15th August – Wetland Discovery Trip. Carmichael Reserve. 9am -3pm. Rooms 2
20th August – International Students Learner Conferences. 10am – 3pm
21st August – Senior School Speech Competition. 11am – 12.30pm
22nd August – Learner Conferences. School finishes at 12.30pm. Learner conferences from 1.15pm – 5.15pm
23rd August – Learner Conferences. School finishes at 12.30pm. Learner conferences from 1.15pm – 7.15pm
30th August – Investigators Art Gallery Trip. 12.45pm – 2.30pm
31st August – East Cluster Winter Tournament (senior school).
4th – 6th September – Art Week
4th September – Art Exhibition. 6.30pm – 8pm
7th September – Tauranga Music Festival, Bay Court
10th – 14th September – Te Wiki o te Reo Maori (Maori Language Week)
18th September – Cricket Day
19th September – Room 10 & MPR to Art Gallery
20th September – Room 8 to Art Gallery
22nd September – PTA Quiz Night
26th September – Investigators Poetry Recital
28th September – Last day of term.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
The Affordable Art & Artisan Fair
The Affordable Art & Artisan Fair happens on the last Sunday of every month (and December 15th) from 11am to 3pm at the Black Sheep, Cnr SH2 and Plummer’s Point Road, Whakamarama (just north of Te Puna). We’re on every month; rain, hail or shine as the Black Sheep has large indoor spaces and covered verandah areas. There’s live music, great food and a huge sealed parking area right outside the door. We have a wide range of art, art craft and artisan products on display and for sale. Visual art, woodware, handmade chocolates, flowers, foliage, photographs, container plants, jams and pickles – “something for everyone”. The Fair is on facebook and from there you can access the monthly videos created by one of our organizing team, artist Birgitt Shannon – you’ll soon get an idea of how good our Fairs are! For more information: e: aaafair17@gmail.com or 021 276 7877
THE FRAZZLED KIWI
The Frazzled Kiwi is a 2 hour adventure race for families, school students and social adults. Make your way around farmland on foot, looking for check points and completing mystery activities. There will be mud and water and plenty of fun!!!!! This event is beginner friendly and a great day out with your family, friends or colleagues.
Date: Sunday 19th August 2018.
Duration: approx. 2hrs.
Location: Top Flat, McLaren Falls Park, Lower Kaimai, Tauranga.
Cost: $25 per person. Online entries only (closes Thursday 16th August).
For more information call Fiona on 027 626 7910 or go to www.frazzledkiwi.co.nz