Welcome to the very special learning community that is St Matthew's Primary School.
June 23 Update
Rippa Rugby
With the year 5/6 being rained out today, we will be still going on the postponement day, Tuesday 27. We will be travelling by bus, leaving just after 9:00am and we still need parent/family help with supervision. Please contact the office if you can help.
Whole School Church Service
This is on Sunday June 25, starting at 10:00am. All children are to wear school uniform. If your family cannot attend a catch up service later is required.
Family & Friends Fundraising Meeting
With increasing costs and a lack of government funding, fundraising is a high priority for all New Zealand schools. Our own school fundraising team, “Family and Friends” needs boosting up with some new people who are motivated to revitalise our fundraising efforts. Can you help? Do you have some good ideas? Come along to a Family and Friends meeting on Monday, 3rd July at 7:00pm in the school staffroom.
End of Term Assembly
This will be in the Church on Friday, July 7 at 2:00pm. All are invited!
Next Term
This starts on Monday, July 24. We will also be starting our Cross Country
training then.
School Fees
We have two types of school fees here at
St Matthew’s:
1) Attendance Dues $375.00
(93.75 per term).
(Paid to The Anglican Diocese of Waiapu)
These are paid directly to the Diocese. The fee is set by our Proprietors and our school has no part in setting it. This is a compulsory fee that must paid. This fee meets the capital costs of alterations to school buildings and grounds (plus the building of our Waiapu block), and does not pay for resources.
2) Activity Fees/Voluntary Donation $275.00 paid to the school. ($68.75 per term).
There is a reduction for multiple children as well, please check with Mr Coyle.
This is split into compulsory fees, e.g. to cover bussing to swimming at Flaxmere Waterworld ( for four weeks per year), also the likes of Technology at Heretaunga.
The voluntary part covers the extra cost of
resources that the Ministry do not fund us for and for the likes of local trips etc.
If you have any questions about the School Fees, please talk to Mr Coyle in the office.
Term dates for 2017
They are as follows:
Term 1 1 Feb to 13 April
Term 2 1 May to 7 July
Term 3 24 July to 29 Sept
Term 4 16 Oct to 19 Dec
Sugary Drinks at School
The board of trustees passed a new policy at the end of last year following our community consultation during Term 3 and 4.
Only water and the school milk are available for children to drink at school and at school activities.
Other types of drink need to have no sugar or sweetener added to be allowed at school.
Breakfast club
Breakfast Club is up and running, in the Hall from 8.10 until 8.45 every morning. All pupils welcome for Weetbix and toast. We will no longer be offering sugar for Weetbix. Milo will be served in Terms 2 & 3 when a warm drink is a great start to the day in colder weather! In Terms 1 and 4, children will have a choice of milk or water to drink.
Canteen and Hot Dogs
We have American Hotdogs on a Wednesday for $2.00 each and Canteen on a Friday.
Canteen forms available from the office foyer. These both start in week 2.
Your Chatterbox
Many people get the Chatterbox by email and enjoy reading it on a device. If you would this by email, please let Mr Coyle know at admin@ourplace.school.nz
If you would ONLY like an email version (and not get a paper copy) also please let Mr Coyle know at admin@ourplace.school.nz.
Picking Your Child Up
A reminder please that if you are dropping off your child to school after 9:00am, make sure they come in via the office to sign in.
It would be best if you accompany them.
If you are picking up your child
early from school or for an appointment, please do this from the office as well.
Your child will meet you in the school office.
It is not OK to just meet them in the carpark, you need to let the office know.
Music Opportunities
Guitar/Ukulele—These are held here at school on Thursdays and are taken by Brendan Hooper. These proved very popular last year and we have some talented children come through. Brochures available from the office or phone Brendan on 870- 8522.
Instrumental– at Heretaunga Intermediate. These lessons cover drums, cello, flute, violin and brass. Brochures available from our school office. Places fill very fast so if you are interested please contact Ngaire Shand 876 9388 within the next few days.
Instrumental here at school. This year there will be an opportunity for students to learn Flute, Piano, Fife or Recorder. The lessons will be taught by Kathy Fletcher B.Mus (hons) LTCL who has returned to the Bay after many years of music teaching and performing in Wellington. If you are interested or have questions please contact Kathy on e-mail thekains@gmail.com or (027) 8242669
Parish Junior Choir– There are a few places available to join this choir. Practices are on Fridays at 4:00pm and they sing at various Sunday Church services. See Mike in the school office for contact details.
Weekly Events
We have a number of things that happen regularly every week.
Wheels day, Skateboards, unicycles, scooters etc, is on Tuesdays, with helmets required.
Waiapu Kids-Early Childhood Centre St Matthew’s Early Childhood Centre is now taking enrolment's for 2017. There are still places available for 2016. The centre is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm and they cater for children from 0-5 years. Children can attend full time or part time and it is open all year except for three weeks over Christmas. The centre is ideally situated for Mum’s and Dad’s working in the city centre. There are a few vacancies for this year available.
St Matthew's Primary School is an Anglican state integrated school, catering for students from Year 0 to 8, situated in the heart of Hastings. Since its inception in 1995 it has grown to become a small school of just over 130 pupils.
Our motto is "teach our children to use the right path, and when they are older they will remain on it" (Proverbs 22:6). We achieve this by offering high quality values and curriculum based education within a special character context.
We have an open door policy and we encourage all members of our community to be involved in educating our children.
St Matthews Primary School has students from around Hawkes Bay, as well as from around the world.
Our website is aimed at the whole community, students, parents and parish members, to make it an information site to find out what is happening in the school.
Tim Anderson (Principal)