Matahiwi Marae Visit
With the Matahiwi
Marae Visit, tomorrow,
Wednesday 16 May the whole school will be spending the day at the marae, leaving at approximately 9.15 a.m. Year 5 & 6 went to the marae, with Miss van der Peet and Mr Anderson, on Monday so we will join them for the day. The Year 4s and Mrs Goodall will also stay at the marae on Wednesday and Thursday nights. Everyone else will return to school by bus at 2.30 p.m.
On Wednesday the children need:
-To be dressed in their sports uniform
-Bring a drink bottle of water
-$5 to cover lunch (if not already paid) They are having special hamburgers for lunch. This includes a vegetarian option
-Clearly named shoes. Shoes must be re moved before entering the buildings by all and the shoes all look ‘the same’.
-To have returned their permission slip
Pekapeka Swamp
Year 7 & 8 are part of the regional schools group which grow plants for the Pekapeka Swamp
Restoration Project on State Highway 2. Each year the senior class and their A1 buddies go to the swamp for a planting day. During each term the children learn about ecosustainability and caring for the environment as part of their class work. On Tuesday, 22 May, Megan McBain will be working at school with them to re-pot the seedlings into larger pots and to make seed-balls for riparian planting. Autumn is an excellent time to collect seed from native plants and to make seed-balls. T o make a seed-ball you place the seed in a small handful of compost. Cover the compost ball with a layer of muddy clay and roll it to gold ball size.
Dry the seed-ball in the sun.
When we plant at Pekapeka later in the year we will take catapults and ‘strong throwing’ arms to throw the balls across the water to swampy areas we can’t walk to because of the water. The seed-balls will decompose and the seed will grow where they land.
Welcome!
With Mr Pilgrim’s retirement, we welcome
Dr Howard Pilgrim (not related), as the interim Priest in Charge of St Matthew’s.
We also welcome Nikki, (mum of Jaimee in B1), as the new Christian Living teacher for our junior classes. Nikki is a fully qualified teacher and Sunday School teacher, and a very active member of our school community.
This term's Value Focus- Integrity
At St Matthew's we have six values that form part of our Charter. We look at these values in the context of our classroom and school life, with a focus on one per term. We have started this term with our new Value - Integrity. This allows us to explore with the children these following aspects : being honest and trustworthy; being reliable and dependable; taking action based on common sense and maturity; having high moral principles; not being ashamed or afraid of doing what is right. If you want to have a look at more of our values - just have a look on the Office walls.
Other points
Music lessons
We have available to our students lessons for a variety of instruments. We have guitar, which will be here at school (see attached flier). There is
also lessons available at Heretaunga Intermediate for brass instruments, violin, clarinet and
cello. Places are limited there so if you are
interested, please contact our school office for details. Children need to be transported there and back by a parent.
There are charges for all of the above lessons.