Murchison Area School

2nd November 2018

Kia ora, Moghrey Mie,

As I am writing this week’s newsletter we are just putting together the final preparations for one of the school’s biggest days - Pet Day. We are really hoping for fine weather after an average week, as both our staff and our students are extremely excited about this event.

Our school camps have started with a bang. Tutaki and Matakitaki classes had a great time at Kaiteriteri and Teapot Valley and huge thanks to the staff and parents who helped out with these events. Without this ongoing support we would not be able to offer such a wide and valuable curriculum which absolutely reinforces our Growth Mindset values of “Enjoys learning, is curious and uses imagination”. As I often say to parents and students, it is the curriculum and events outside of the classroom that often are the memories that will stay with a student long past their time at school. We also realise that these opportunities come at a financial cost, be that time off work to support the camp or the actual cost of attending these camps. We are always open to a conver-sation regarding financial support for families, as our desire is that no student in our school should ever miss out on an opportunity due to financial reasons. We also have such a supportive community that we have received donations to support situations such as these. Please just pop in and talk to myself or your class teacher, in confi-dence, if we may be able to assist you.

Next week our Senior students (Year 11-13) begin their study leave for external exams. Their last day is Tuesday November 6th and we farewell them with our now traditional Leavers Assembly. This is quite low key but allows our staff and school students to recognise these students who are leaving us after many years as part of our school community. Parents of these leavers are more than welcome to attend in the Library at 2pm on this date.

We also have next week, our school play “Captain Hook’s Revenge”. This is at the Theatre on Thursday night with a 7pm start. It would be awesome to see our community support this event and all the hard work that has gone into it from our kura. Tickets are available from the office for $7.00.

Finally, Senior Prize Giving is on Friday November 30th at the Rec Centre from 6.30-9pm. This is for all our Year 9-13 students and families plus any other interested parties. I see this and the Junior Prize Giving as major high-lights of my year and it would be great to see you all there. Tickets for this event are also on sale at the office from next Monday for $5.00 which includes finger food and tea/coffee as well.

Busy and exciting times ahead and we are all looking forward to these events.

Nga Mihi, Slaynt as shee. Andy Ashworth

Principal

Term 4 School Wide Value — Consideration

61 Waller Street P O Box 73

Murchison 7049

Phone 03 5239 072

enquiries@murchison.school.nz

Thank You

A big thank you to Nicola Hewitt, Mary Perrin and the parents of Buller/Mangles classes for their hard work in putting together the camp BBQ fundraiser for Labour Weekend.

We raised a good amount towards our camp. Also a big thank you to Alf Kinzett and Jack Top-ping for their donation of meat for the BBQ.

Your help and support is very much appreciated.

Morning Tea with Mrs P

Morning Tea with Witchy Mrs P (Wednesday was Halloween mufti day!) Ant was invited to morning tea and he brought along his friend Kelvin. They couldn't bring their super work, but could tell Mrs P about it - Ant talked about his clay work that he'd been working on this morning and Kelvin talked about the work he'd been doing on his Chromebook. Mostly the boys talked about camp, as their class went to Teapot Valley last week. Some of the highlights for them were the Flying Fox, the archery, the slug gun target shooting, the giant inflated pillow, the pool, the inflatable obstacle course in the pool......... the list went on and on! It sounded like an amazing camp. Both boys are very glad that our school runs camps as they think they are awesome. The boys also talked about Pet Day coming up on Friday. They

are both really looking forward to it. Mrs P asked the boys what they liked best about Pet Day. "The food!" said Ant!

DATES TO REMEMBER

Last day of school for Years 11-13 - Tuesday 6th November Leavers Assembly - Tuesday 6th November - 2pm in the Library Buller Rm Camp, Bridge Valley - 7th – 9th November Maruia Rm Play - ‘Captain Hook’s Revenge’ - 8th November, 7pm at the Theatre

Maruia Rm Camp, Marlborough Sounds - 13th – 16th November Yrs 7-10 Tapawera Sports exchange at MAS - 22nd November Year 9/10 Overnight -Whenua Iti - 29th - 30th November Senior Prize Giving - 30th November - 6.30-9pm at the Rec Centre

Junior Prize Giving - 14th December, 10.30am-12.30pm

Last day of Term 4 - 14th December First day back 2019 - 31st January

Morning Tea with Mrs P

Last week Felix arrived at Mrs P's office for his morning tea and he'd invited his sister, Tara. When asked why he chose Tara he said the person he was going to ask was away at Trades Academy - not a great idea to say she is second choice when she is standing right beside you, but that's siblings for you!). Felix brought along his Geometry revision book as he is in Yr 11 and preparing for ex-ams in a few weeks. Felix said he is feeling ok about his externals, but appreciates the opportunities for revision in his classes at the moment.

Tara brought along her model of a technology innovation that she created as part of her class's recent Social Studies focus on the history and impact of technology on society. She designed a new smartphone that would be in the shape of a sphere. She couldn't work out how to make a sphere, so she made a geometric shape as close to a sphere as she could! Mrs P was very impressed with her construction skills and the ingenuity behind her explanation of how a sphere shaped phone would work. Tara is currently looking forward to putting on their Maruia Rm play at the theatre on Nov 8th. She is enjoying all the practices and work that goes into the performance. Mrs P hopes that there will be a full theatre as Maruia Rm is using the play as a major fundraiser for their camp in the Marlborough Sounds. Tara is also looking forward to the summer holidays and tells Mrs P that there are exactly 50 days left until the holidays....!

***SCHOOL CAMPS***

Please see below the dates of upcoming school camps.

November 6th - November 9th

Buller Room camp - Bridge Valley

November 13th - November 16th

Maruia Rm Camp - Marlborough Sounds

November 29th - November 30th

Year 9/10 Overnight -Whenua Iti

Camp fees can be paid in instalments if this suits. Payment can be made by either direct credit to the school bank account - 03-1354-0142625-00 or

cheque, cash or eftpos at the school office.

If you have any queries please contact the school office.

Child sick, away or not catching bus?

Can parents/caregivers please remember to contact the school office promptly each time your child/ren are not going to be at school or catching the bus after school due to swimming club, sports or any other reason. This is so we can ensure the safety of your child/ren and buses are not held up waiting for a

child that isn’t catching the bus.

Your co-operation is needed and appreciated for the school to complete this duty each day.

If you are unable to speak to anyone in the office a message can be left by calling 5239 072 and leaving a message on the “absence line.

Lovely lupins outside Maruia Room.

Bike Day Cancellation

Unfortunately the proposed Bike Day course set for next Monday (November 5th) has been

cancelled. We will look at rescheduling in the New Year.

We apologise for the cancellation and any inconvenience caused.

Teapot Valley Christian Camp - Tutaki Camp 2018

We had a blast on camp this year! Everyone took on the motto of “Give it a go” and had fun challenging themselves and working together to complete an activity. Tutaki class left a great impression on the staff at Teapot Valley Christian Camp. Mr Williams and Miss Steinmann were so impressed with the positive attitudes on camp and the way that the class showed our school values of respect, responsibility, consideration and honesty so well. One of our favourite activities was the inflatable obstacle course on the pool. Many children in Tutaki class showed amazing perseverance and courage to conquer the slippery obstacle course. Friendships were solidified, smiles were shared and pride was built on camp this year.

Tutaki Camp photos continued:

ERO report from the West Coast Messenger edition on 17th October. The following link will direct you to the article if you wish to have a better view…. https://issuu.com/westcoastmessenger/docs/west_coast_messenger_17_october_201

It’s that time of year again….

With the warmer weather here, we are once again implementing our NO HAT, NO PLAY rule. This is for ALL STUDENTS. Year 7 to 13 students must wear a hat that provides sun protection. Year 1 to 6 should be wearing uniform hats.

There are 3 different styles of school sunhat available from The Warehouse in Richmond.

A cap with our logo

A bucket hat with our logo

A plain navy wide brim hat

Or you can order directly from School Tex on 0800 507 807. The school office has some school caps available for sale for $12.

Please see Kathryn or Sandy.

Halloween Mufti Day

Lake Rotoiti 23rd October

Yesterday Buller and Mangles went to Lake Rotoiti. Johanna took me, Annabelle and Elsie. I had morn-ing tea when I got there. It was weird. I was welcomed by my friends. We went and had a quiz and watched a movie and went to the eels. They felt slimy and they were pitch black smooth skin. The honeydew tasted sugary. When we went home I got to sit in the front seat. Koby Morgan

On Tuesday Buller class went to Lake Rotoiti.To see some eels. When Buller class got there we had something to eat then we watched a movie and then we went to see the eels. There were little eels and big eels. Then we went on the honeydew walk. Ben Dineen

Yesterday Buller and Mangles class went to Lake Rotoiti. Ruby, Zahra and me went in my dad's speedy car. Meanwhile in Toppy’s car Emma Schroder-Brown was throwing up. Then we all regrouped and went inside the visitor centre. There was a film about eels and we all got to watch it. We walked down to see the slimy eels and feed them meat. After they were fed we all got to touch them. They felt slimy like jelly. After feeding the eels we had a boring lunch. After that we went on a walk. Summer Nicholls

Last Tuesday we went to Lake Rotoiti to see the eels. First we drove for 40 minutes. When we got there we watched a movie. After we played games about eels. Then we went to the jetty. I got to pat eels and they were slimy. After we went for a walk called the honey dew walk. Mike put us into num-bers 1-32. So then we walked on and on until Mike showed us a stoat trap. Mike put a stick in it then it went bang! Like a sniper. After we went to the awesome playground. Then we went home. Konnah Van Kempen

Questions to ask your child instead of “How was

your day?”

Alternative questions that your child will answer with more than a single word or grunt.

Questions a child will answer at the end of a long school day:

If one of your classmates could be the teacher for the day who would you want it to be? Why?

If you had the chance to be the teacher tomorrow, what would you teach the class?

Did anyone push your buttons today?

Parent Help is a non profit organisation supporting parents to build resilient and positive families/whānau. They run a free confidential parenting Helpline for parents and caregivers. The Helpline is available from 9am – 9pm, 7 days a week providing advice, support and practical strategies on any parenting challenge.

Did you Know:

apples are more effective at waking you up in the morning than coffee