Kia ora koutou,
I have recently returned from a week in South Korea where I was promoting Matua School, Tauranga and New Zealand. I met with many families are who interested in bringing their children to Matua School in future years. Spending this time in Korea and talking with the families highlights the courage they have and the treasure that they are to our school community. We know how much we as parents love our children and will sacrifice so much to give them opportunities. This same value is so evident in our Korean families as they take on the challenge of exposing their children to other cultures, and provide the opportunity to experience life as a Kiwi kid. The resilience and determination that the children have when they arrive in New Zealand can’t be underestimated, and I am even more thankful for the opportunity we have to host them in our school and community.
Absence Notifications
We are experiencing regular occasions where parents are not following the correct process for letting the school know if their children are away from school. Any communication directly to teachers, whether verbal or via email/message won’t be accepted. We must follow the correct procedures as this protects against information being lost. Messages directly to teachers can create issues, particularly if a teacher is away sick or absent for another reason.
Please note that the only notification the school can accept is communication directly with the school office.
Option 1 (Preferred ): Using the Absence link in HERO
Option 2: Leave a message on the phone system
Option 3:Email to the office at office@matua.school.nz
If teachers receive direct messages regarding absences they have been asked to push these back to you and ask they are submitted via Hero.
Thanks for your support in this area. If you would like to clarify anything, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Sensory Room Opening
This week we opened our new Kiwi Room. This is a sensory space that is intentionally created to provide multi-sensory resources to support a student’s sensory needs. The space is used to support students with regulation and/or sensory needs to help them get the most out of their learning. This project has come as the result of a wonderful partnership between the school, our parents and the business community. We would like to make a special thank you to Jamie Anderson and Teresa McClean who have spearheaded the project, raising funds and researching the equipment required to make this an effective place. Thanks for your passion and care for the tamariki at Matua School.
We would also like to thank the team at K&M Electrical, and BeeJays Solution Flooring & Interiors for providing materials and labour, and ensuring the space was finished well. Their willingness to donate these items and support our school in this way is appreciated. As with all our sponsors, if you need electrical work or new floor coverings, please allow these businesses to quote.
Ngā mihi nui
Marcus Norrish
Principal
TŪĪ TALKS – EPISODE 12…Follow, Like & Subscribe on Spotify!
Joining us for this episode we have Canoe NZ Coach Gordon Walker and K4 Gold Medalist Olivia Brett. They share their wealth of knowledge, Olympic experience and some future goals.
Hit play now to listen to these incredible and inspirational athletes.
REST HOME READERS
Thanks to Mrs McLean and our Rest Home Readers who visit Radius Care every Wednesday lunchtime. This group of committed children take their favourite books over the road to the residents at Radius Care, to read and share about life at school. This is a highlight of the week for everyone involved!
JUMP JAM 4 STAR JAM
Congratulations Matua on such a fantastic turnout for Jump Jam 4 Star Jam last week.
We raised a total of $730, which will be donated to the Star Jam charity.
It was wonderful to see such bright and happy Matua students dancing away under the sun. Ka pai to all those Jump Jam leaders too!
RAKAU SPEECH FINALS
Designgroup Stapleton Elliott (DGSE) is an award-winning architect practice with studios spread across Aotearoa. Formed by a large team with diverse backgrounds and skill sets, their services include Architecture, Interior Architecture, Master Planning, and Landscape Architecture. Acknowledging the weight of their responsibility as architects, a deep understanding of people, place, and culture are at the heart of their design processes.
LIBRARY
SPORT
HEADLICE
It’s that perennial problem – Head Lice! We have a few cases across the classrooms.
If you could check your child’s hair tonight then there is a better chance of nipping the problem in the bud. It’s tricky when it gets to a cycle of reinfecting each other.
Can you please also ensure your child’s hair is tied up at school until the outbreak subsides.
Below are some ideas for prevention of head lice you may find helpful.
You can prevent head lice by…
1. Brush hair every evening before going to bed
Brushing dislodges and/or damages head lice. Damaged/injured head lice cannot lay eggs. • The hair needs to be brushed with the head hanging down
• Use a firm bristled brush
• Brush from the nape of the neck to the hair end ten times
• Brush from the right ear across the head ten times
• Brush from the left ear across the head ten times
2. Wet combing method weekly
This will help pick up head lice before they become established.
• Wash hair with ordinary shampoo
• Put lots of conditioner on the hair. While the hair is full of conditioner and wet, comb through the hair from the roots with a fine toothed comb purchased from the chemist (often called a ‘nit comb’)
• Clear the comb of lice between each stroke
• Repeat this routine every 1-2 days for 2 weeks
• If no lice are found, repeat on a weekly basis
3. Use own brush and comb
Everyone in the family should use their own brush and comb.
Please click on the link below for more information and guidelines from the MOE
SCHOOL HOURS
A friendly reminder that school is not open until 8.30am. If you require childcare before these hours, please contact SKIDS either by email – matua@skids.co.nz, phone – 027 586 0408, or book online – www.skids.co.nz/Matua.
SCHOOL INFORMATION
LUNCH ORDERS – EVERY FRIDAY
Lunch orders are available for delivery to Matua School each Friday.
SUBWAY
Simply order your SUBWAY lunch online through you myKindo account by CLICKING HERE
Order (or cancel) any time before 9:00am on the day or schedule in advance.
Help? Visit support.mykindo.co.nz or call 09-869 5200 Mon-Fri, 8:00am to 4:00pm.
TERM DATES 2024
Term 1, 2024 – Wednesday 7th February 2024 – Friday 12th April
Waitangi Day – Tuesday 6th February
Learner Conferences – Friday 1st March. School will be closed for instruction.
Easter Weekend – Friday 29th March until Tuesday 2nd April
Term 2, 2024 – Monday 29th April – Friday 5th July
Teacher Only Day #1 – Friday 31st May
King’s Birthday – Monday 3rd June
Matariki – Friday 28th June
Term 3, 2024 – Monday 22nd July – Friday 27th September
Term 4, 2024 – Monday 14th October – Friday 20th December (12:30pm finish)
Teacher Only Day – Friday 25st October
Labour Day – Monday 28th October
First Day Of Term for 2025 – Monday 3rd February 2025
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.
KINDO VIDEO HELP
COMMUNITY NOTICES
A new waterfront playground is on its way!
The final design for a new waterfront playground in the city centre has been revealed. Creative and inclusive ideas from local children were incorporated in the design.
There will be four different play zones for the children to explore: an impressive 8-metre-tall waka tower structure for climbing and sliding; a nature play zone; an elevated pathway that follows the Milky Way design; and a water play zone with troughs, water pumps and more.
Making way for the new playground, the former playground has been removed, come summer the children will be able to let their imaginations run wild as they explore all the new waterfront playground has to offer.
For more information about the playground and all the other projects happening in the city centre, please visit: www.tauranga.govt.nz/ourfuturecitycentre
