Kia ora koutou,
It has been wonderful to see all our tamariki back at Matua School for the start of 2022. While the country is still dealing with COVID, which does impact us – we continue to work hard on making school as safe and normal as possible for all our students.
@School Parent App
All parents should now be connected to our new @School Parent App. It is through this app that all school communications will happen. As we have transitioned to this app, some communications have also been sent via email, however, we will stop this shortly. The new app will also be used for booking Learner Conferences later in the term and can also be used for you to record an absence when your child is away. If you haven’t set up the app, please get connected today!
Troubleshooting @School App
There is a couple of common challenges when first setting up the app:
| Problem | Action |
| I didn’t get an email with the password | The second email with the password is not sent until you click on the link in the first email. |
| I can’t see all my children in the app. | Please contact the school office. |
| I don’t get notifications | Notifications need to be activated in the @School App, and in your phone’s settings. |
For more information on the @School App, please watch THIS VIDEO
At this stage, there are three key apps in use at Matua School. They include:
| App | Purpose |
| @School App | Communication home, notices, trip permissions, absences and booking Learner Conferences |
| Seesaw | Sharing of learning activities – not for communication. |
| Kindo | Payments |
Matua School is no longer using the Skool Loop App, so please delete it.
COVID-19 Guidelines Update
We do appreciate parents and whanau who are doing their part to support us in meeting the health and safety requirements that are in place. The key requirements for parents to be aware of are:
- Parents and visitors stay off the school site unless a visit is absolutely necessary
- Always wear a mask when on the school grounds or inside buildings
- Drop off and pick up children from the gate or on the outskirts of the field area
- If needing to meet with teachers, please contact to arrange a time
Masks in School
We have been so impressed with the way our Year 5 and 6 students have managed themselves with the wearing of masks in school. It really is a challenge for students and teachers alike. If you do have questions about how this is working in the classroom or impacting your child, please do make contact with your classroom teacher.
As you know, our Year 4 students are not required to wear masks, only due to our Middles classrooms having both Year 3 and 4 students in them. All Y0-4 students at school can choose to wear a mask if they would like.
Vaccination Mandate
At this stage, we have limited numbers of trips and events booked for Term 1 due to COVID-19 Red Settings. However, just a reminder that where we do ask for parent volunteers this term or later in the year, they are required to be vaccinated. For staff and volunteers in education, the vaccination mandate now includes the booster.
While there are some activities that aren’t happening this term due to the restrictions, school is still an exciting place to be. Teachers are working hard to keep children active, maximizing the outdoors with this fantastic run of weather and looking for different opportunities to make learning fun and meaningful. Let’s acknowledge the challenges with our children, but focus on the good things – the treasures in our life. Matua School is a great place to be – thanks for being part of it!
Nga mihi,
Marcus Norrish
Principal
Waitangi Day - School Closed
Monday 7th February 2022
Go Girls Cricket World Cup
Wednesday 16th February 2022
International Parent Conferences
Thursday 24th February 2022
Learner Conferences - School Closed
Friday 25th February 2022
Teacher Only Day (Cluster) - School Closed
Friday 11th March 2022
Staffing Update
A special welcome to Miss Erin Clark who has returned to Matua School after a number of years teaching in Auckland. Erin started her teaching career at Matua School, then moved to Auckland where she worked in many roles, including being the Year 7/8 Team Leader at St Heliers School. We are thrilled to have Erin back on the team and trust that you will make her feel welcome as she leads Room 2 this year.
LIBRARY
Welcome back everyone! We have a wonderful library at Matua School, and everyone is welcome. I am available between 10am and 1.30pm Monday to Thursday in the library or can be contacted by phoning the school office or by email library@matua.school.nz.
Classes all have a 45 minute library session during the week with their teachers. Mini and junior children are allowed to issue one book at a time, while our middle and senior children can issue two books. Books are issued for a two week period, but may be returned before then. Books are returned during class library hours, or before school and at lunchtimes (place books in the returns box located by the entry doors). Overdue emails will also remind children and families to return books, however children are more than welcome to renew books when needed.
Lunchtime in the library will look slightly different this year. Each team will have a library lunchtime slot. Activities will continue to include reading/issuing books, puzzles, card games/checkers/chess and colouring.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday |
| Juniors | Middles | Seniors | Minis |
Scholastic Books
Each term there is one scholastic book order through Matua School. This is a community service to allow families to access books and promote reading. Please do not feel pressure to purchase scholastic books. Scholastic orders however, do provide the school with scholastic points to spend on library books and literacy supplies. Orders are placed online. Please look out for the first scholastic issue for the year coming home via school bags soon!
Tracey Donovan-Grammer
Just one more chapter’…, I whispered two hours ago
PTA Update
We are very sad to announce that due to COVID-19 restrictions our annual Gala has been canceled for 2022. Planning for such a large event cannot happen with the uncertainty we have around how long restrictions will be in place. Our PTA will be in contact through the PTA Facebook page and will be looking for ideas to connect and fundraise in a different way throughout the year. We do hope that restrictions will lift in time to run the Quiz Night and Night Markets!
While at COVID Red Settings, we are not able to hold in-person PTA meetings. But watch out for updates and ways that you can share your ideas for the year ahead.
TERM DATES 2022
Term 1, 2022 – Tuesday 1st February 2022 – Wednesday 13th April
SCHOOL CLOSED – 31ST JANUARY (Auckland Anniversary) & 7TH FEBRUARY (Waitangi Day)
Term 2, 2022 – Monday 2nd May – Friday 8th July
Term 3, 2022 – Monday 25th July – Friday 30th September
Term 4, 2022 – Monday 17th October – TBC
SPORTS
Kia Ora, nice to see everyone back after a lovely hot summer holiday. Welcome to 2022 at Matua School. We have plenty of sporting endeavours to look forward to this term so let’s start it off with our sports registrations. These are now open and can be accessed via our school website – https://www.matua.school.nz/sport/
To register all you need to do is click on the sport your child wishes to play and that will take you to the form to register. A reminder there is NO payment at the time of registration. Notification of payment will come once teams have been finalised. Payments must be made promptly. You should have already received notification about sports registrations via the @school App and also email.
If you still have a sports uniform from last year can I please ask that these be returned ASAP. I do seem to have a small number of sports uniforms that are yet to be returned.
Special congratulations to Ben, Nathan and Caylius who, last year were selected to represent BOP in the U13 Softball team. They will play in Palmerston North this weekend 5th-6th February. Best of luck boys!
We have plenty of local clubs who also have their registrations open for various sporting opportunities this term. Please see the flyers below for: Albion Cricket Club, Learn to Sail.
Last but not least, we understand that these are unprecedented times at the moment and we are doing our best to keep everything constant for the children. Most sporting organisations have worked hard to make it work under the current restrictions. We are in an ever-evolving situation and we will continue to be vigilant if anything were to change. Please understand that changes are out of our control and we will do whatever it takes to keep our children safe. We need coaches and managers for our teams. Without these amazing people our teams simply cannot go ahead. Under the current law we require all of our volunteers to be vaccinated and therefore be able to provide a valid vaccine passport. Most venues are now requiring all spectators (if they are allowed) to be vaccinated also. Please be kind if you are asked to provide your vaccine pass. Ultimately, this is about keeping people safe.
Coaching clinics
If you are interested in being a coach this term, both basketball and rippa rugby are offering coaching courses. See below for links to register.
Rippa Rugby
Coach Development course sign up Greerton Marist Recreation and Community Club, Tuesday 15th February 2022 – 5.00pm – 5.45pm. Any questions please contact Jamie Bell – jamie@boprugby.co.nz or 021 02914004
Click here to register – https://www.sporty.co.nz/viewform/193608
Basketball
On Monday 14th February 4.00pm – 5.30pm Byron Vaetoe BBNZ CoachForce Officer will be running a Kiwi Hoops Getting Started in Coaching Clinic, at Trustpower. This is a free session, for anyone wanting to get started.
Contact Byron on 022 043 2163 to register.
If you have any questions or queries in regards to sport at Matua School. Please get in contact with me – sport@matua.school.nz
Stacey
Sports Coordinator
LUNCH ORDERS – EVERY FRIDAY
Note: Pita Pit is no longer available. This is due to a lack of orders. Subway will still be available for lunch every Friday.
Simply order by CLICKING HERE
Order (or cancel) any time before 9:00am on the day or schedule in advance.
Lunch will be delivered to school at lunchtime on a 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 call 09-869 5200 Mon-Fri, 8:00am to 4:00pm.
Find out more ezlunch.co.nz or mykindo.co.nz
OUR SCHOOL APP
Our School App
We have a 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 prefered payments system. To help you learn how it works, we’ve added their new help sheet and video. We hope it helps.
