Newsletter 28 September 2022
Maungatapere School
A word from the Principal
Kia ora Parents and Whanau
It is with much sadness we have learned of the tragic death of Declan Halford last weekend. Declan along with his siblings attended Maungatapere School until the end of last year. The family have been home schooling this year. Our sympathies go to the Halford family from all of our school community. The school has contributed a voucher and the PTA are donating any proceeds from the Movie night to help support the family at this time. Our flag was flying at half-mast today, the day of his funeral.
As our final newsletter for the term we would like to acknowledge all the hard work our staff and students have put in to achieve in so many areas. Overall it has been a busy but successful term, especially with the return of community and regular school events. Next term we have Agriculture Day to look forward to – another day when we have the wider community joining us also.
We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable term break and hopefully will see everyone returning to school happy and healthy for our final term.
Congratulations to the following students who have received school awards for their achievement and attitude especially in relation to our school values:
Hannah Brown Rm 13 - For working hard in class, challenging your thinking to extend yourself. Great leadership being demonstrated.
Kaelyn Neuhold Rm 11 - For being a great leader during our production practices and in class.
Levi Ruddell Rm 10 - For always doing your best in production practices and undertaking leadership roles when asked.
Kaylin Ruawhare Rm 2 - For being an organised and focused learner.
Ciara Compaan Rm 4 - Asking great questions to clarify her thinking and throwing herself into her learning.
Heath Lambly Rm 1 - For working hard on his reading. he is really starting to enjoy the stories he reads.
Work from Room 14
Around The World We Go
Thank you for the positive feedback from parents, whanau and our wider community about our school production. While there were some tired students and staff on Friday, they were hugely proud of their success and being able to perform in a large venue under the ‘bright lights’. It was an opportunity for many of our students to show their individual talents and for our classes to
work together to create their own performance within the show. Well done to everyone involved.
We want to thank Ms Jen Caddick for her incredible writing skills. This will be the last production she has written for our school. Jen wrote her first production for us in 2009 and has written, produced and directed our school shows every two years since then. A total of 7 overall, which is an amazing effort and highlights her ability as a writer. While she has not been here to see this production through to performance, other staff have stepped in. Special thanks to teachers Mr Brad Jensen and Mrs Sherilyn Bennett for producing/directing the show, coaching actors, developing dance routines and enabling the show to come together. Much of the preparation for the show was put in place for last year, however Covid intervened and it was delayed until this year. Our librarian Mrs Leanne Kemp is a wizard at creating costumes, and thanks to her and a team of parents and staff for their work to complete these. Productions are very much a team effort and a big thank you to all the staff and students involved. The actors, singers and dancers enabled the performing arts to certainly ‘fly high’.
If you would like a copy of the production video, drop a 12gig memory stick into the school office and we will make a copy for you.
Maungatapere School Netball Prize Giving:
Last Tuesday the netball season ended with school prize giving’s for our teams.
We had over 80 students playing this year, which is a tribute to excellent parent support.
Thank you again to all coaches, managers and supporters for your contribution.
The Intermediate teams had their prize giving with a pizza lunch at school. The Y0-6 held theirs after school with players receiving certificates and goodies supplied by the netball association.
Congratulations to our Intermediate School trophy winners:
Hotshots - Player of the Year - Jamie Neumann, Sportsmanship - Dilan Brown, Most Improved - Mikayla Carrol, Players Award - Taylah Knox.
Panthers - Player of the Year - Ella Guitry, Sportsmanship - Annelise McDonald, Most Improved - McKenzie Shelford, Players Award - Isla Wright.
Blackferns - Player of the Year - Heidi Shepherd, Sportsmanship - Lulu Cullen, Most Improved - Stella McConachie, Players Award - Heidi Shepherd
Y7/8 Speech Contest:
Public speaking does not come naturally to most people, however knowing how to prepare and present a topic or point of view is an important skill for many in their work today. Our Y7/8 students have been able to develop their skills in this area this term, and it was great to listen to the finalists from each room last week. Well done to everyone for pushing through a difficult task to completion and especially those that represented their classrooms:
Year 7:
R6 Isla Wright, Annelise McDonald, Patience Moore
R7 Georgie King, Eva Grace Gemmell, Chloe Cliff
R8 Zaara Carydias, Ella Guitry, Lily Sommerville
Congratulations to Chloe Cliff for winning the Y7 speech contest.
Year 8:
R6 Mia Agnew, Nicole Ruddell, Dilan Brown
R7 Saige Smythe, Addison Wood, Heidi Shepherd
R8 Susannah Hovell, Taylah Knox, Tyler Mills
Winners: Addison Wood 1st; Heidi Shepherd 2nd; Dilan Brown 3rd.
Our 3 Year 8 winners represented our school last night at the Mangakahia Lions Speech contest at Mangakahai Complex tonight. Kokopu and Tangiteroria schools also had students competing. Well done on their efforts. Addi Wood was placed 1st, Dilan Brown and Heidi Shepherd were runners up.
A great result!
Agriculture Day:
Yesterday all families should have received a notice about Ag Day preparation.
This has also been emailed out and put on the App. We hope animals, gardens and projects are going well and you are keeping a record of progress for a photo board. This will be shared with judges on the day.
All classes have a schedule of activities that they will also be involved in – the majority of these are prepared at school for display in classrooms, including calendar art. Some activities will be done at home – especially completing the photo board and some baking. There may also be material that students need to bring on the Friday to create their school activities. The class schedules have been sent home and please get in touch with your class teacher if there are any questions.
Central Day is held at Barge Park on Thursday 3 November. This is an interschool Ag Day, where our students can take their animals (calves, lambs, goats) and show them again. They compete against students from other schools and there is a wide range of trophies available. Even if your animal has not done well on our Ag Day, another time and different judges can change results. We encourage students to take their animals as there is an overall school award for the school with the most points from the day.
Ordering calendar art will be online this year with information going out next term. This will be on display at Ag Day in classrooms for you to view.
2023 Staff Changes:
The Board of Trustees completed the appointment process for our new principal for next year. This process involved an independent support person, who ensured legal process was followed during the appointment with board and staff members. Mr Terry Brock, who is currently principal of Otaika Valley School was the successful applicant and will begin his role at the start of next year. While those of us who have been here a while, will know Terry when he was our deputy principal before going to Otaika, he was not known to the appointments panel and definitely impressed them at interview. He is passionate about rural schools and what they can offer also.
The school is currently advertising for teaching staff for next year, as Ms Jen Caddick has resigned to return to Palmerston North where she originally came from and her family are. Our school has been privileged to have Jen as part of our team since 2008 and during that time she has contributed hugely to the music and performing arts programmes within our school. We are sad she is not returning and wish her all the best as she returns to teaching next year.
Mrs Charlene Cliff will be finishing at the end of this year also. Charlene has been at Maungatapere School since she started her teaching career in 2009 and over the years has led some major school development and worked across the levels. She makes a huge contribution to our school as a teacher and parent.
Cell Phones/Smart Watches:
There was some discussion relating to smart watches after the last newsletter. As ‘school mode’ still allows access to Apps and music, which are not appropriate for school, we have included smart watches as the same as the cell phones and ask that they remain at home. This allows consistency especially for our senior students. We appreciate your support to ensure our students are able to focus on learning in a safe environment.
Congratulations:
Well done to the following pupils who have been selected for the under 14 Northland Hockey Team: Phillipa Taylor, Chloe Cliff, Georgie King.
Staff vs Students Netball
Today we enjoyed a very competitive game of netball between the staff and Year 8 netball teams. Very entertaining for the rest of the staff and students.
Reminders:
Lost Property – We have a large pile of left clothing here at school, including shoes, jackets etc. Please call into school before the term finishes to have a look – we will put it out under the R4 cover for Friday.
Netball and sports uniforms - Please return these to the school office before the end of term.
Reading books/junior readers - If you have any at home we would appreciate these being returned to school also.
Remember to support the Year 5/6 students 2023 Lonsdale Camp
.
Upcoming Events
30 September - Last day of Term 3
17 October - First day of Term 4
24 October - Labour Day
29 October - Agriculture Day
3 November - Central Day
1st WEEK SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Rock Solid Clubs present…. "ontheroad" Rock Solid Camp 2022 Monday 3rd to Friday 7th October 2022 cost: only $160 Exclusively for year 6, 7, 8 & 9 students Bored? Need something to do during the school holidays? How about checking out "ontheroad" Camp 2022. The camp will be run by Full time Rock Solid Club Staff & Parents from Rock Solid Youth Trust. With heaps of cool activities from things that make you go AAAAGH! Since we are a mobile camp ontheroad we will be going to Dargaville, Kai iwi lakes, Waipoua forest, Kaitaia, Cape Reinga, Kerikeri, Paihia (Hole in the Rock) then back to Whangarei.
(AGES: 10-14 year olds)
Email: office@maungatapere.school.nz
Location: Mangakahia Road, Maungatapere, Whangarei 0152, New Zealand
Phone: 094346743