Heron Herald Term 2, Week 6, 2021

FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S LAPTOP

Kia ora koutou,

Last Friday we proudly celebrated the opening of an Interactive Art Installation designed and built by Room 18 and 22.  The installation retells Te Toka a Tirikawa, the story of Apanui, Kinomoerua and Takahia.  It was wonderful to have the parent community support this by gathering before school and viewing the project.  Matua Des and Matua Tumatawha from Ngāti Ranginui opened the exhibit with a karakia. It is a real privilege to partner with Ngāti Ranginui who has graciously shared this story with our school community.  I would also like to thank Hannah Newton, Kim Bartley, and Sandra Landolt who have led the project from start to finish.  It has taken a significant amount of time, passion, and expert teaching to see such a wonderful project completed with so much student ownership and voice.  Thank you also to Janine Stevens, Jeremy Hantler, and Steve Hannah for giving your time and talents to this project along with the many parent volunteers who got involved in this innovative project. 

Check out this short video that captures the opening ceremony.

We are very lucky to have a wonderful ‘Support Staff Team’ at Matua School.  There is no doubt that the team culture at our school is a really positive one, and our Support Staff are integral to this.  While they are not always visible to the parent community, there are so many positive aspects to our students’ school experience that are directly related to the work of our Support Staff team.  From Emma who works on the front desk, Sue and Julia supporting in the office – to Tracey in the library.  We also want to give a big shout out to Jo, Di, Janine, Faye, Toko, Jen, Kathleen, Kathy and Julia in learning support; Adrienne, Heather and David in International/ESOL and Steve working on the crossing – these are just a few of the dynamic team we have.  So often these people go beyond what is required to ensure children are well cared for, feel valued and enjoy their school experience.  Next week we are celebrating Support Staff at Matua School.  I would like to express my gratitude and thanks to this team for everything they do!

The Beetles Production
This week formal practices have started for our school production.  It is so exciting to have Patrice from ‘Gobsmacked Productions’ working with our students.  Patrice brings a passion for the performing arts that is infectious and she has such an ability to ensure children flourish as they take on the challenges of performing.  Tickets for all three shows are now on sale.  With just two evening shows and one matinee performance, tickets are expected to be in hot demand.  Tickets can be purchased by visiting the school website and following the links. 
www.matua.school.nz  Or CLICK HERE for the Production Flyer

Learner Conferences – Save the Date
On Friday 2nd July we have our annual Learner Conferences.  In the week leading up to these conferences Mid-Year Reports will be emailed home.  On the day school will be closed for normal classes.  We spend the day meeting with parents together with your children to report on progress so far, discuss the Mid-Year Report, and set new goals.  Bookings for these meetings will be made available two weeks prior.

Nga mihi,

Marcus Norrish
Principal

East Cluster Cross Country

Tuesday 15th June – Waipuna Park

Basketball World Cup - Y3 & 4

Friday 18th June – Trustpower Arena

WBOP Cross Country

Wednesday 23rd June – Waipuna Park

Argos Gym Comp - Y4 & 4

Friday 25th June – Argos Gym

Learner Conferences - SCHOOL CLOSED

Friday 2nd July – Bookings to come

Gobsmacked Dress Rehearsal - Bethlehem College

Monday 5th July

Gobsmacked Performance

Tuesday 6th July 6.30pm-8pm
Buy Tickets

Gobsmacked Matinee Performance

Wednesday 7th July 12.30pm-2pm
 Buy Tickets – Matinee

Gobsmacked Performance

Wednesday 7th July 6.00pm-7:30pm
Buy Tickets

Last Day of Term 2

Friday 9th July

First Day of Term 3

Monday 26th July

School Photos!

Tuesday 27th July

LIBRARY

The library has been a busy place with puzzle mania.  Most lunchtimes every nook and cranny is used to puzzle over a puzzle or to snuggle up and read.   Colouring days also continue to prove popular.   Our new books bought through proceeds from last years Donate A Book Fair have been promoted and added to our library collection in groups of 20 each week since the start of the year.   The library also accepts donated books which are in good conditon and have been published in the last 5 years or so.  We are currently on the look out for World Record books in good condition.  These books prove popular while creating many fascinating discussions!

Librarian Training

New librarians for Term 3 and 4 will begin their training next week.  Interested year 5 and 6 students will be asked to meet in the library early next week.   Year 6 students will take precedent and a small number of trained student librarians will continue to work alongside our up and coming Term 3 and 4 librarians and assist with training.   A big emphasis on training is caring for the library and assisting library users.  This entails turning up for lunchtime duties and being able to work independently on known tasks, all the while gaining a working knowledge of our library management system (being able to issue and return books) and the library cataloguing system (being able to locate books and correctly return them to shelves).  Student librarians not only assist with the issuing and returning of books, but also read to younger library goers, and assist with puzzles, quiet board/card games and colouring activities.

Donate A Book Fair 2021

A heads up for our Donate A Book Fair scheduled for Week 2 Term 3, Thursday 5 August and Friday 6 August 2021.  For those new to one of Matua School’s oldest traditions, during the book fair families can choose to donate a book for the school library.   Books on display in the library can be donated for $5 or $10 by Matua families.    Student’s (or families’) names are written on a certificate within the book in recognition of their contribution.  They also get the chance to be the very first person to read their book before any other library goer.  Preceding these two days is a Book Character Day on Wednesday 4 August in which students come dressed as their favourite book character.   The book character parade is a crowd favourite.  It’s amazing how an old coat, some pretend glasses and a lightning bolt scar turns any child into the one and only Harry Potter!   More information about these events will follow in later newsletters.

KITCHEN DONATIONS, ROOMS 4 & 5

Extra plates in your cupboard??
Room 4 and 5 are super excited about our beautiful new classroom spaces, and the fantastic shared kitchen which joins the 2 rooms. The students are organising themselves into groups, and planning lots of amazing things to cook.
We are needing some extra kitchen equipment as at the moment we have the basic one spoon, one bowl scenario. So, if you have extra items cluttering up your drawers and shelves, would you PLEASE consider us when you tidy up. We would be grateful for any cups, cutlery, bowls, pots …. pretty much anything! Just send things along to Room 4 and 5. Thank you.

SCHOOL POOL KEYS

The pool is now closed. If you purchased a school pool key, please return them to the school office. We can then refund the $25 key bond. There are still a few keys to be returned.

SCHOOL SORES

SPORTS

It’s a busy month at Matua for sports. On Thursday 3rd June everyone from year 2 up participated in the School Cross Country down at Fergusson Park. The Mini’s were treated to an extra special fun run around the school field led by some of our senior students. Every year I am lucky enough to take 48 students to the East Cluster Cross Country held at Waipuna Park in Welcome Bay. We take the first 8 runners from years 4, 5 and 6 boys and girls. This event will take place on Tuesday 15th June (pp Thursday 17th June). We are very excited about this event since it wasn’t able to happen last year. Congratulations to all our runners on the day and especially those who qualified to represent Matua at East Cluster.
Last Friday our year 5&6 gymnastics team represented Matua at the ARGOS Gymsport Competition. In their beautiful sparkly leotards they performed to such amazing standards and were awarded with some certificates and ribbons. Well done to our year 5&6 girls, you all did such a fantastic job,  I look forward to presenting your awards at assembly this Friday. In two weeks time our year 3&4 gymnasts will do the same thing at ARGOS and we wish them the best of luck.
Stacey Sutherland

LUNCHTIME CLUBS

There are many activities that children can get involved with at Matua School.  We have groups such as Kapa Haka and choir, alongside a large range of optional lunchtime clubs that our wonderful teachers run.  If you are interested to know what is available, we now have a page on our website that displays what is happening.  Follow THIS LINK to check it out.

LUNCH ORDERS – WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY

Day change to Wednesday from Term 2!

Now with two days of ezlunch each week, your kids will have a great variety of healthy and tasty school lunches.  Simply order by clicking here.

Order (or cancel) any time before 9am on the day or schedule in advance.

Subway reveals minimalist new logo and symbol | Design Week Pita Pit in Kumeu, AKL 0810 Phone number, hours,locations,map.
Order anytime before cut-off or schedule in advance. Lunch will be delivered to school at lunchtime on a Wednesday for Pita Pit or Friday for Subway.
ezLunch orders are made online through your myKindo account.  You can order lunch by simply going to www.mykindo.co.nz

Click here to view the menu.

Help? Visit support.mykindo.co.nz or tel. 09-869 5200 Mon-Fri 8 am to 4 pm.

Find out more ezlunch.co.nz or mykindo.co.nz

HEADLICE

TERM DATES 2021

Term 1, 2021 – First Day: Tuesday 2nd February 2021 – Friday 16th April

Waitangi Day – Monday 8th February

Easter – Friday 2nd April – Tuesday 6th April inclusive

Term 2 – Monday 3rd May – Friday 9th July

Queen’s Birthday – 7th June

Term 3 – Monday 26th July – Friday 1st October

Term 4 – Monday 18th October

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.

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

COMMUNITY NOTICES

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