Kia ora koutou,
This week we celebrated a term of learning with Market Day! We loved seeing excitement in the children as they proudly displayed and sold their products. It all started with children having the opportunity to take on roles in a small business. This included leadership, creative, financial and practical roles that highlight the importance of teamwork and range of skills and talents that we all have. In these small groups, children came up with a business plan and worked towards bringing a product to market. Along the way, children were paid Matua Tuits (our local currency) for their work, which they had the opportunity to spend on Market Day. We are always impressed with the creative ideas and commitment to a task that our tamariki show when they are given the opportunity to take some ownership of their learning. As parents and whānau you can be proud of your kids!
A massive thank you to all parents and whānau who came out to Market Day, bought Matua Tuits and made the event such a successful one. Ngā mihi.
You may be wondering if the event made any money. At the start of the term, each business was given a small start-up fund. This was funded with real NZ$ from school funds. This enabled each business to purchase resources. Budgets were tight and technically everything cost money for the students, including an ‘import tax’ for anything recycled from home. Throughout 2024 we have had a school-wide focus on SERVICE, with a particular lens on how we can serve others and our community. The children have known from when they started that any profits from their business would be donated to a charity that the children in the school select. Next week we will be deciding as a whole school who that will be. At this stage, we don’t know how much profit was made, however, we’ll let you know once all the business financials have been completed!
Thanks again for supporting the school by being part of our community in this way. We hope that your children loved the experience, and have grown in confidence in what they can contribute to a team…and maybe one day, they’ll start a successful business that will support you in your retirement!
Teacher Only Day – Friday 25th October
With the many curriculum changes that are being implemented over the next 18 months, we are anticipating several government-mandated Teacher Only Days in 2025. We are in the early stages of planning the school calendar for next year, and will update you on planned days when they are confirmed.
We also have a Teacher Only Day coming up early next term. School will be closed for students on Friday 25th October during which time teachers will be engaging in professional learning. All primary and intermediate schools in our local area have the same Teacher Only Day. We understand that these days can be an inconvenience to families, however, they are necessary to ensure teachers can deliver high-quality teaching and learning for tamariki.
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.
RUGBY EXCHANGE
JUMP JAM
Congratulations to our awesome Jump Jam teams who participated in the Strictly Jump Jam Competitions on 8th September. You rocked!
Our Year 5 & 6 team received a Merit Award in Technical Execution. Tino pai!
Our Year 3 & 4 received a Merit Award for Presentation and also came 2nd place in their category. Ka rawe!
KAPA HAKA AT RADIUS MATUA
For Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori our mighty Kapa Haka roopu walked next door to perform a bracket for the residents at Radius Matua Lifecare. They had their biggest turnout for any event apparently and absolutely loved our dynamic set. The residents sung Pōkarekare Ana for us as a thank you. There were many comments about how they all wished that they had the opportunity to learn Te Reo Māori in their schooling. Huge thanks to Miss Thompson and Mr Hantler for their work with this group. Our students absolutely shone – i pīataata ngā kaiwaiata o tō tātou kura.
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
PARKING AROUND SCHOOL
The local council will be patrolling the streets before and after school, and ticketing anyone parking illegally.
Please park safely when dropping off and picking up your students.
We have also been informed that as of 01/10/2024 the fine (tariff) for unlawfully parking in a disabled park is going up from $150 to $750.
Parked in area reserved for disabled persons.
(Effective date = 1 Oct 2024) (Infringement = $750)
Please be considerate and park in designated areas rather than on yellow lines and across driveways.
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
Lights on Tauranga – City centre light trail comes to life
Tauranga city centre will be alive with colour and vibrancy as the lights switch on for a never-before-seen light trail launching in the city centre on Friday, 20th September.
‘Lights on Tauranga’ showcases eight stunning installations by renowned light artist Angus Muir, and eight lit-up shop front windows highlighting the ‘Reimagine Tauranga’ exhibition where over 220 local school children have worked alongside well-known New Zealand artist, Sara Hughes.
Also featured in the trail are light projections, four larger-than-life origami ‘paper pals’ and our much-loved permanent lighting features at Tunks Reserve and Wharf Street.
If you head along on a Saturdays between 5pm – 8pm, you’ll be treated to some extra special glowing fun in Red Square with free glow in the dark face painting, have a glow circus and more.
The free self-guided light trail runs from 20 September to 6 October 2024 with lights on between 4.30pm – 10.30pm every night. Remember daylight savings and school holidays start halfway through, so if you’ve got little ones, you can see the trail in all its glory earlier in the first week.
Visit www.whatsontauranga.co.nz/light-trail for all the details.
