Newsletter 29 July 2022
Mahora School
NAU MAI HAERE MAI, TALOFA LAVA, WELCOME!
This term, we have welcomed fifteen new students to Mahora School. Over the next few weeks we will introduce them to you. This week we introduce Jacklynn Nicholls, Julian Hunt, Caleb Allen, Ethan Canning and Nixon to our New Entrant classes. We hope you have all enjoyed your start at Mahora School.
TUMUAKI TALK
Kia ora e te whānau,
Welcome back to term 3 at Mahora School...it's great to see everyone back and into mahi (work) this term.
Many thanks to all families who have actioned the re-introduction of masks. While it's not the ideal we all know how important they are and our tamariki have switched back into this mode well. We will keep you in the loop and monitor the health situation and advise if they are no longer needed. All classes have mask supplies, so no need to purchase, but tamariki are welcome to use their own.
Thanks for everyone's patience with the mud around the back entrance. There has been so much rain and is the reality of winter and a building project.
I'm also pleased to be able to announce that our next roll growth classroom (a new build on site) has been approved and the project will commence later this term once the Room 14 and 15 project is complete. The REALLY exciting news is this also means the Board is able to revisit the zone restrictions currently in place for out of zone students and they aim to do this very soon. We will advise what the outcome of this is in the near future. If you have any questions in the interim, please contact me at school.
There are a number of really IMPORTANT events ahead, please read the details carefully.
Piki Haere Hui
Next week we are back to our annual reporting cycle and our Piki Haere Hui (mid year parent interviews). Thank you to everyone who has made a booking. If you are yet to do this please use this link.
Early next week, we will send a reminder email about the Piki Haere Docs (our reports) for you to review and consider contributing to prior to the hui. Our staff and students will have completed their sections prior to the hui.
School finishes on both Hui days at 12:00 noon. Please make sure your children are collected at this time. No lunches are provided on those days. The Hui run from 1:00pm - 6:00pm on both days. If you have any queries, please contact your child's teacher.
Term 3 Staff Only days - No school
Over the holiday break all of our staff were involved in 3 days of professional learning, delivered by Kauwaka. Te Toka Tūroa is the Ngāti Kahungunu response to the national Te Ahu o te reo kaupapa that the Ministry of Education is encouraging to all schools in NZ.
There are two further Staff Only days this term (see dates below) for this learning. In addition, those involved are undertaking further online learning during their own time and using their new skills within their classroom environments.
Staff only days for Term 3 are:
Friday 12 August - No school
Friday 9 September - No school.
Thank you for your support as we know it impacts families, but this is a wonderful learning opportunity for Aotearoa schools and staff.
Board of Trustee Elections
These happen every 3 years in every NZ school. CES will be managing our school election this year, with an electronic voting option hopefully making it easier for everyone to participate in this important election. Once our Election website is set up, we will let everyone know.
For the purposes of the election, the following is the definition of who is a ‘parent’ for the purposes of voting:
The Education and Training Act 2020 defines the term “parent,” in relation to any person, as meaning someone who is the person’s father, mother, legal guardian or immediate caregiver. Wherever the word “parent” is used, it is with the understanding that it includes legal guardian or immediate caregiver.
Immediate caregiver:
In relation to a student who usually lives in a household that includes the student’s father or mother but not both, but also includes the spouse or partner of the father or mother, means the spouse or partner; and
In relation to a student who usually lives in a household that includes the student’s father or mother and no spouse or partner of the father or mother, but also includes a person who has turned 20 and has a day- to-day responsibility for the student clearly greater than that of any other person, means that person; and
In relation to a student who usually lives in a household that does not include the student’s father or the student’s mother, means any member of the household who has turned 20 and has a day-to-day responsibility for the student clearly greater than that of any other person.
**Note: A student is deemed to have no immediate caregiver if he/she:
Usually lives in a household that includes both parents, or
Spends approx. equal time in two or more households; or
Does not usually live in a household (for instance, lives in a hostel)
Note: The onus is on the VOTER to ensure they are on the roll.
We have 5 parent elected Trustee positions to fill. While some existing members are likely to put themselves forward for election, we are keen to encourage other community members to consider standing in the election.
Nomination forms will be available soon and further information can be found on the school election website. Remember anyone can be nominated but only ‘parents’ can vote.
If you have any questions or would like to talk about it, either phone me at school or email me via principal@mahora.school.nz or Matthew Witheford who is the current Chairman via mattheww@mahora.school.nz
To find out more about being a Trustee - check out this link
Here are the main dates for the election.
Nominations called Friday 29 July
Nominations close Wednesday 17 August
Votings papers issued Wednesday 24 August
Election Day Friday 23 September
Votes counted: 27 September.
Please read the information below from our provider - CES.
Nga mihi,
Rohan.
AKO IN ACTION
What a fabulous start to the term! Each team has kicked off their new learning focus for Term 3.
In Kākano, our tamariki are learning to be scientists and carefully observe what changes are taking place in an experiment. Check out their faces as they see the chemical reactions taking place. Such joy and wonderment.
In Māhuri, we have begun learning about our weather and how it affects us. We began with learning about tornados and extreme storm weather. This is us seeing our classroom tornado!
In the Whanake team, they have mixed up classes for a rotation of inquiry activities 3 times a week. Their inquiry is around the school values, so for the first 2 weeks they are looking at Mauri. Each child will get to do all 6 Mauri activities with the 6 different teachers over the 2 weeks.
In Miss Harvey’s rotation, the tamariki have built their own Fale (home) including their family as our foundation, our physical, spiritual and mental wellbeing as our pou and our culture as a roof. They have discussed how their Fale needs to be strong so their Mauri is also strong and flourishes.
HĀKINAKINA AND MUSIC
Our wonderful caretaker, Mr Curran, put up our brand new rugby posts in the holidays. It was great to put them into action, as this team took on St Marys in one of the Barefoot Rugby games this week.
UPDATE ON TERM 3 SPORTS
HOCKEY:
Year 0,1 & 2 Funsticks starts up again today, Friday afternoon. Year 5 & 6 games start back up tomorrow, Saturday.
All our Year 3 & 4 classes, as well as a group of interested Year 5 & 6 beginner players had a taster session with Fletcher and Hudson’s Dad, Matthew today. These tamariki will have an option to play hockey on a Wednesday afternoon, starting in week 7 of this term. Have a chat to your child and see if they enjoyed it and would like to consider playing in a school team later this term. A note will come out to interested kids next week.
NETBALL:
Year 5 & 6 games started up again this week on Thursday afternoon.
MINIBALL:
Games for Year 5 & 6 teams start up next Tuesday afternoon. Games for our Year 3 & 4 teams start up next Thursday afternoon. All miniball players should have come home with a note today with teams and season organisation.
BAREFOOT RUGBY:
Games started up again this week and continue for another 4 games on Wednesday afternoons.
GIRLS & BOYS SOCCER:
Games start in Week 3 for these Year 5 & 6 tamariki. All interested players will have brought home a note today with teams and season information.
To our new Mahora whānau, if your child is interested in any of these opportunities, please get in touch with Denise Pearse, pop in to see her at school, email on denisep@mahora.school.nz, or on cell: 027 478 9546.
An exciting Gymnastics opportunity is coming up for our Māhuri and Whanake teams. Tamariki can take on the challenge of learning a floor, vault and beam routine and then head to the Gymnastics Festival at Hastings Central School later this term. I will be talking to the teams next week and interested tamariki will bring a note home with more information. This is one of those opportunities that we have missed out on in the last couple of years because of COVID-19, so I hope lots of tamariki are keen to put the mahi in to build their skills.
…for the incredible support we have already had in the first week of our Colour Run fundraising.
We have 166 student profile pages already set up and some very generous sponsorship made by whānau and friends.
Everyone at Mahora will take part in our Colour Run on Tuesday 23 August. The split of the profit is as follows:
60% of all the funds raised go to our Whanake team to support all our Year 5 & 6 students to go to Lakes Ranch camp in Rotorua at the end of this term.
30% of all funds raised go towards the prizes that your tamariki can choose if they raise $10 or more.
10% of all funds raised go towards the coloured powder and online admin costs.
We understand that there are a lot of costs out there for whānau at the moment and we totally understand if you are not able to support our seniors this time.
All tamariki will take part in the fun Colour Run day regardless of sponsorship.
If you or family and friends are happy to sponsor, but you’d like a hand to set up a profile page for your child or haven’t received the notice yet, please connect with your child’s teacher for support.
CAMP 2022
Whanake, our Senior School, are gearing up for Camp at Lakes Ranch at the end of this term. We have a few fundraisers on the go at the moment to help get them there. We thank you all so much for helping to support these. Thanks to those who are sharing from social media platforms such as Facebook etc and helping to spread the word outside of our community.
If you are interested in any of the following, please contact Tanya Greig at tanyag@mahora.school.nz for further information.
- Personalised Labels for lunch boxes, drink bottles and pantry labels in both English and Te Reo
- New website or updated website
- Colour run Sponsorship
- Bake Sale - Thursday 18 August (Notice to come)
HEALTH UPDATE
At Mahora, we are still having positive Covid-19 tests reported to us. Some of these are from whanau who have already had covid earlier in the year.
We want to remind you about the isolation policy, should you be in this situation in Term 3.
- If your child is feeling unwell within 28 days of testing positive, there is no need to re-test. However, they must stay home until they are symptom free.
- If your child feels unwell, more than 28 days after they have tested positive, they do need to re-test and isolate if the result is positive. If the result is negative, they must stay home until they are symptom free.
- Any household contacts of a positive case who have not previously tested positive, within 28 days need to isolate for the 7 day period.
- Any household contacts of a positive case who have previously tested positive, within 28 days, do not need to re-isolate. If outside the 29 days, household contacts will need to isolate for the 7 day period.
Please advise the school office if anyone in your household tests positive for COVID-19. We will discuss dates of your isolation period and advise when your child can return to school. For Mahora School, Day 0 is taken from the day the individual tests positive. I understand this differs from medical advice from some health professionals.
We are happy to continue delivering home learning packs, so that your child can continue learning from home if they are well enough to do so.
PTA UPDATE
Cookie Dough Fundraiser
Thank you to everyone for their patience with the delivery of the Cookie Dough.
Unfortunately, Yarrows notified us of a further delay on Wednesday this week and will now advise a new delivery date next week. Keep an eye out on the School App and your emails for this date.
We appreciate your support and understanding.
OTHER KORERO
UPCOMING EVENTS
- PTA Fundraiser 'Cookie Dough' collection date - To be advised
- Piki Haere Hui - SCHOOL FINISHES AT 12:00PM - Wednesday 3 & Thursday 4 August
- Staff Only Day - NO SCHOOL - Friday 12 August
- PTA Committee Meeting - Monday 15 August ~ 7:00pm
- Board Meeting - Wednesday 17 August
- Camp Bake Sale - Thursday 18 August
- Colour Run - Tuesday 23 August
- PTA Disco - Friday 2 September
- Staff Only Day - NO SCHOOL - Friday 9 September
- Board of Trustee Elections - Friday 23 September
- Whanake Camp - Monday 26 September - Thursday 29 September
- Term 3 finishes - Friday 30 September
Email: admin@mahora.school.nz
Location: 710 Frederick Street West, Mahora, Hastings
Phone: (06) 878 2622