Kia ora koutou,
This term, we are excited to open our refurbished hall kitchen! We have loved seeing students begin to use the space for food technology through classrooms and the Garden to Table programme. It will also be wonderful to see the kitchen used at this weekend’s PTA Quiz Night and the Night Market later this term.
We are incredibly thankful for the support of the PTA, Board of Trustees and broader community to see this project completed. One of the challenges we faced in the building process was sourcing Gib Board! The project was stalled at one stage with the possibility of the construction process being delayed for 3 months. We are thankful to Generation Homes and Placemakers Mount Maunganui, who supported us in sourcing Gib Board directly and at a brilliant cost. This enabled us to keep the project on track. I would also like to thank Kitchen Things, who supplied us with the kitchen fittings at a very competitive price, along with donating a new set of pots and pans for the new induction hobs.
Classes & Teams, 2023
As you will be aware, we have a change in the organisation of classes for 2023. Our Minis and Senior teams will continue as they have; however, our middle school will be comprised of a Year 2/3 team and a Year 4 team. With this being the first time we will have Year 2 and Year 3 students learning together, you may have some questions about what this looks like for your child. We would like to share some information on why we see this change as a positive one.
Our new Year 2/3 teaching team has been built with a focus on meeting the learning needs of Year 2 and 3 students. The team includes teachers who either currently work in our Y3/4 classrooms or have experience in the older years.
Learning is designed in all classrooms to respond to the needs and stages of the children in them. Therefore the learning in the Year 2/3 classrooms will look different to a straight Year 2 team this year.
Year 2/3 combinations are a natural fit for the NZ Curriculum – it is designed that way. While we are used to Year 3 and 4 children working together at Matua School, from a curriculum perspective, Year 2/3 teams are commonly grouped together in NZ schools.
Teaching Teams
In 2023 we will be farewelling teachers and welcoming two new faces to the team. Hannah Newton will be taking refreshment leave for the year, and Whitney Coers is finishing at Matua so she can travel. We also farewell Suzanne Tawharu, who is moving down south! We are sad to see these fabulous teachers moving on and wish them the best for 2023 and the future.
We welcome two new teachers to the team. Mariska van Staden is an experienced teacher that joins us from Tauranga Primary. Vicky Nelson also comes to us with a wide range of experience and joins us from Selwyn Ridge. The teaching teams for 2023 are as follows :
| YEAR 0/1 TEAM: | YEAR 2/3 TEAM: | YEAR 4 TEAM: | YEAR 5/6 TEAM: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karina Tinholt Sarah Reid Jennie Gordon Vanessa Millar |
Scott Pratt Lindsay Crisp Courtney Martin Cath Henderson Emma Bryant Vicky Nelson |
Fiona Matthews Nikki Reid Charlotte Ketel Laura Thompson |
Robyn Carlisle Erin Clarke Mariska van Staden Andy Cochrane Joe Hill Charmaine Garner |
Nga mihi,
Marcus Norrish
Principal
PARENT INFORMATION EVENING – STRUCTURED LITERACY
On Tuesday 15th November at 5:30pm, we are holding a parent information evening. The focus of this event will be on the development of structured literacy at Matua School. Please mark this on your calendar and watch out for @School Messages next week with more information.
LIBRARY
Scholastic Books
Last day for Scholastic Book Club Issue 7 is Wednesday 2 November. This will be the last issue for the year for Matua School. Pre Covid there was a week turnaround of orders. However this year, due to staffing shortages, expect orders to take roughly two weeks to receive.
Looking for a volunteer to oversee the Scholastic Book Club for Matua School for 2023. It requires sending out book issue forms to classrooms (once a term), sending away orders on the due date (just a push of the button!!) and coordinating a helpful group of students and parents to unpack and sort the orders when they arrive. It’s a great way to see what children are reading, and what is available through Scholastics. Anyone interested please phone Tracey via the school office (07 576 9027) or by emailing library@matua.school.nz. The library will happily support this role.
End of Year Dates
The school library will close mid way through term 4. All school backs are due back by the latest Friday 18 November. These can be returned through school library times or by placing books in the returns box by the library front door. The library is always open for returns in the morning and after school.
If anyone is interested in shelving books and other housekeeping tasks – we are looking for assistance anytime you can give during Week 6 starting Monday 21 November. Stock take will start during Week 7 and will require morning or afternoon helpers on the following days
Tuesday 29 November 9.30am – 12.00pm and 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Wednesday 30 November 9.30am – 12.00pm and 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Thursday 1 December 9.30am – 12.00pm and 1.00pm – 3.00pm
Remember, the Tauranga City Library Bus is available every Tuesday in Matua from 1.30pm to 4.10pm. It is outside the bowling club on Levers Road on 8 November, 22 November and 6 December. Alternate weeks you will find the bus on Tilby Drive. The next dates are 1 November, 15 November, 29 November and 13 December
“I can feel infinitely alive curled up on the sofa reading a book.”– Benedict
COLOUR RUN FUN
This week our Minis team have been learning about Diwali, and finished today by celebrating with a colour run! Thanks to Whaea Abha for setting up the colour run obstacle course and sharing something of her culture with the team.
SCHOOL POOL OPENING AGAIN
Looking forward to using the school pool over summer? Yay!
For your key, there are 3 steps to follow:
1. Go ahead and register on the pool webpage first: https://www.matua.school.nz/
2. Then return to Kindo to make your payment for $100 ($75 for the season + $25 refundable key deposit): https://shop.tgcl.co.nz/shop/
3. Then come in to the school office and pick up your key any time during school hours, from Thursday the 3rd November onwards.
SPORT
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.
FUN FIRST FOOTBALL
Fun First Football are back with their awesome Programme at Matua Primary in Term 4 every Thursday after school on our School Field for kids aged 4-9yrs old! To join, or for a Free Trial, go to https://funfirstfootball.co.nz
SCHOOL INFORMATION
LUNCH ORDERS – EVERY FRIDAY
Lunch orders are available for delivery to Matua School each Friday.
We have two options available – The Matua Cafe and Subway
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.
MATUA CAFE & EATERY
For Friday lunches from the Matua Cafe, place your order at the Cafe before 9:30am. Orders will be delivered to school and handed out at the hall entrance at lunchtime.
To view the Matua Cafe & Eatery MENU, follow THIS LINK
TERM DATES 2022
Term 1, 2022 – Tuesday 1st February 2022 – Wednesday 13th April
Term 2, 2022 – Monday 2nd May – Friday 8th July
Term 3, 2022 – Monday 25th July – Friday 30th September
Term 4, 2022 – Monday 17th October – Thursday 15th December (12:30pm finish)
First Day of School 2023 – Tuesday 31st January
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.
