Kia ora koutou,
What an action-packed few weeks we have had at Matua School. We are so thankful to all the parents that make end-of-year events possible. It’s a busy time of year for everyone, so adding in-school support can be challenging. However, it’s an excellent opportunity for those who can get involved and be part of your child’s school experience.
Next week has a few key events. On Monday, reports and class placements will be published on Hero. You will receive a message through Hero when they are available. Children will also meet next year’s teacher and classmates during the day. This will be an opportunity for them to get excited about the year ahead. While some children may express some anxiety about the change, please encourage them to look at the positives.
TEACHING TEAMS – 2025
We mentioned in the last newsletter that Karina Tinholt and Robyn Carlisle are finishing at Matua School this year. We look forward to celebrating them with our leavers next week’s final assembly. With Karina and Robyn moving on, we have a few internal changes for next year. In the table below, you will see the teaching teams for 2025. There are no new faces on the team, however, we do see Cath Shaw move to Māhuri, and Laura Thompson move to Rākau. We welcome Mariska van Staden as the new team leader for Rākau, plus Vanessa Millar and Ann-Marie Needham as full-time teachers to the Kākano Team.
| YEAR 0/1 TEAM: Kākano | YEAR 2 TEAM: Tupu | YEAR 3/4 TEAM: Māhuri | YEAR 5/6 TEAM: Rākau |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jennie Gordon (TL) Sarah Reid Vanessa Millar Ann-Marie Needham |
Scott Pratt (TL) Emma Bryant Alison Barclay |
Fiona Matthews (TL) Nikki Reid Cath Shaw Brenda Wright Vicky Nelson Lisa Meaclem |
Mariska van Staden (TL) Joe Hull Lauren Ripper Laura Thompson Andy Cochrane Charmaine Garner Anita Lowe |
For many families at Matua School this will be the end of an era. If your youngest is about to finish and heading to intermediate, or if you are moving out of the area, we hope that your time here has been a memorable one. As teachers, we grow to love the kids and hold fond memories of the time we spend with them. While we know that primary school quickly becomes a distant memory, we trust that being part of Matua will have built a strong foundation in your kids’ lives, enabling them to chase their future dreams and be the best they can be. Thank you for partnering with us, by volunteering and being there to be part of school-life with your family – the place just wouldn’t work without you.
Have a wonderful Christmas full of aroha, joy and hope. We look forward to seeing those returning in the New Year.
Ngā mihi nui
Marcus Norrish
Principal
You can now purchase school stationery for next year. Packs can be ordered online and will be delivered to your home. Click on the link to access the Office Max My School website.
If you have problems ordering, check out the useful Help Video Here.
DEEP WATER SURVIVAL
OTANEWAINUKU BUSH WALK
MĀHURI PROBLEM SOLVING DAY
PINNACLES TRAMP
Some of our adventurous Year 6 students had the exciting opportunity to head up to the Pinnacles in the Coromandel Forest Park for an overnight stay in the hut. Each student carried their own pack, filled with everything they needed—sleeping bags, clothes, food, and more. It was a real challenge, but everyone dug deep and made it to the top.
We were lucky with the weather, and the clear skies gave us breathtaking views from the summit. A huge thank you to all the parents who joined us on this adventure, sacrificing their comfy beds and showers to make the trip possible. We truly couldn’t have done it without you!
It was a fantastic experience with a wonderful group of kids, and I’m sure the memories made will last a lifetime.
MĀHURI TEAM
Room 15 hosted our final Māhuri team assembly last week. We celebrated these wonderful Matua learners with certificates and examples of how they are making positive contributions to their learning.
In addition we farewelled Miss Thompson who has spent 4 years in the Māhuri team but is moving into the Rākau team next year. We all adore Miss Thompson and will miss her. We know that she will enjoy this next chapter in her teaching career.
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SPORT
SCHOOL POOL
The school pool is now open for the students and will be open to our community on Monday 11th November.
If you would like to purchase a key for the summer, you can do so via our school website.
Go to the website and complete the terms and conditions. The link will then take you to Kindo to make the payment.
The cost of the key is $115, $90 for the key and $25 bond. The bond money is refunded at the end of term 1, 2025 when keys are returned to school.
Once you have completed this procedure, keys can be collected from the school office.
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
WHOOPING COUGH
As you will be aware we are facing a whooping cough epidemic. Ministry of Health is asking that we share the following information to our whanau/families.
What is whooping cough?
Whooping cough is an infectious disease caused by bacteria and is spread through the community by
coughing and sneezing, in the same way as colds and influenza. Young children, especially babies
under six months, can become very ill from whooping cough. Older children and adults get
whooping cough too, which if not diagnosed and treated, may spread to young children.
What are the symptoms?
Whooping cough starts with a runny nose and dry cough. The cough gets worse over the next few
weeks, often developing into very long coughing attacks. In babies and children these coughing
attacks may end with a ‘whoop’ sound when breathing in, or end with vomiting.
What should be done to help prevent whooping cough?
Immunisation is the best prevention – Parents should ensure that their children are up to date
with their free routine childhood immunisations which include the immunisations against
whooping cough. Children are further protected with booster vaccinations at four years and
11 years of age.
Whooping cough immunisation is also recommended and free for women during pregnancy
as this helps protect their baby from getting whooping cough when they are very young and
before they can get their own routine immunisations starting at six weeks of age.
A free dose of Pertussis vaccine (which also covers Tetanus and Diphtheria) is recommended
for adults at age 45 and 65 years.
Good hand hygiene is always beneficial, and it is important to remember to cover your cough
and not to cough on, or near, babies.
If anyone has symptoms of whooping cough they should stay away from school and see their doctor
for assessment and advice.
If a child or staff member is diagnosed with whooping cough by their GP they need to remain away
from school until:
They have completed two days of the antibiotic Azithromycin, or
Five days of other appropriate antibiotics (including Erythromycin), or
Three weeks from onset of cough if no antibiotics given.
Further information on whooping cough and immunisation:
Whooping Cough (Pertussis) | Toi Te Ora Public Health
Whooping cough (pertussis) vaccination | NZ immunisations | Te Whatu Ora – Health NZ
Whooping Cough | KidsHealth NZ
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 / 2025
Term 4, 2024 – Monday 14th October – Friday 20th December (12:30pm finish)
First Day Of Term for 2025 – Monday 3rd February 2025
Term 1, 2025 – Monday 3rd February – Friday 11th April
Waitangi Day – Thursday 6th February
Teacher Only Day – Monday 17th March
Term 2 – Monday 28th April – Friday 27th June
Teacher Only Day – Friday 30th May
Kings Birthday – Monday 2nd June
Matariki – Friday 20th June
Term 3 – Monday 14th July – Friday 19th September
Term 4 – Monday 6th October – Last day of term yet to be set
Labour Day – Monday 27th October
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
Join the Matua or Tauranga City Centre New Year’s Eve Community Celebration!
Celebrate the start of 2025 with an evening of family-friendly fun at Tauranga City Council’s free New Year’s Eve event. With live music, kids’ activities, delicious food, and a fireworks display, it’s the perfect way to wrap up the year. Don’t miss out on this incredible night.
More event information can be found on the TCC website: https://www.tauranga.govt.nz/exploring/whats-on/annual-council-run-events/new-years-eve
When: Tuesday, 31 December 2024
Time: 6pm to 9.30pm
Where: Fergusson Park – Matua or Tauranga Waterfront – Tauranga City Centre
What to Expect: Live music, roving entertainment, delicious food trucks, activities for the kids, and a local MC to host. All events will finish with fireworks at 9.30pm except for the Greerton celebration which will finish with a laser light show.
There are other community events happening across the city, in Greerton, Mount Maunganui and Pāpāmoa! More event information can be found on the TCC website: https://www.tauranga.govt.nz/exploring/whats-on/annual-council-run-events/new-years-eve
At Fergusson Park in Matua there will be a low sensory/accessible event with limited noise and crowds, taking place an hour before the main event.
Mark your calendars now for ‘Whānau Fun on the Waterfront’ on Saturday, 14 December and celebrate the opening of the much-anticipated new waterfront playground.
Organised by Tauranga City Council, there will be free activities for the kids, including facepainting, colouring stations, and places to write letters to Santa (who will be dropping by to say hello, ho ho ho!). There’ll even be some Whai NBL players shooting hoops on the new basketball half-court next door.
Gather the whānau and enjoy a free sausage sizzle plus ice creams for the kids to keep them fuelled and ready to explore. You won’t want to miss this one!
What: Whānau Fun on the Waterfront
Where: Tauranga city centre waterfront
When: Saturday, 14 December, 10.00am to 12noon
Find out more: www.whatsontauranga.co.nz/whanaufun
