Newsletter 9 December 2022

Mahora School

TUMUAKI TALK

Kia ora e te whānau,

This week's newsletter contains a lot of end of year information...it might pay to grab a cuppa, there’s quite a bit to read! There will be a small newsletter next week to share the final school organisation overview and some prize-giving photos.

One important point - the last newsletter had prize-giving starting at 5:00pm...that was incorrect sorry, it is 6:00pm.

Staff News

Next week we farewell 4 special staff and we thank them for their contributions and passion for our school. We wish them all Piki Haere with their next chapters.

Nell Harbers has completed her fixed term contract with us and is heading to Westshore School to train for Reading Recovery. We thank Nell for a fabulous 2 years at Mahora and wish her well with her new learning and school.
Judy West has completed her fixed term contract and has won a permanent position at Frimley School which is exciting...so she is just moving around the corner! Thanks Judy for all you have contributed to Māhuri in your time at Mahora this year.
Corey Greig has accepted a position at Heretaunga Intermediate next year. This is an exciting opportunity for him and we look forward to staying connected through our Kāhui and transition to Intermediate programme. Thanks Matua Cor for all your passion and fun with our tamariki...we will miss your huge enthusiasm for life and kura.
Marty Curran is moving to be caretaker at Havelock North Primary next year. Marty has done a phenomenal job improving our school site and we can't thank him enough. We know you will continue to be an amazing caretaker Marty.

There will be a school assembly on Tuesday 13 December at 9:30am in the hall to share a few words and farewell these staff. We know everyone has a lot on at this time, but as always whānau are more than welcome to join us.

In 2023, we will welcome the following new staff to Mahora -

Miss Whitney Nohokau is our new Deputy Principal and will join our team from the start of 2023. We held a pōhiri for Whitney today and it was lovely to be able to welcome her and her whānau to our community.
Miss Tanya Calitz is returning from maternity leave and will join the Kākano team. Welcome back Tanya!
Mr Wiremu King has been appointed as our new caretaker and he will take up this position early next year. Wiremu is well connected to our kura with being a dad of tamariki here and husband to Raven. He already spends a lot of time here, so we look forward to his wonderful contributions in his new role.
We currently have a senior school teaching vacancy advertised and hope to appoint this soon. When this appointment is made we will share an update via the school app.

Classes for 2023

We are sure you can appreciate that class placement is a huge job with many factors to consider. Class lists for 2023 will be placed on the library windows (behind the main office) on Monday morning. Please have a discussion with your child as it can be a time of worry and/or excitement. Please discuss all the wonderful opportunities a new year brings. If you have any questions, please make contact with us.

Prize-Giving - Monday 12 December

It's wonderful that we can all come together again this year to farewell our special Year 6 tamariki. We will be returning to Hastings Girls High School to hold this special school event. Prize-giving will start at 6:00pm.

Details include -

Yesterday I spoke to all our tamariki and talked about how important it is to show whanaungatanga and respect to our leavers...one day they will all be leavers as well and we will farewell them. For this reason, they need to be at prize-giving each year. Ideally we ask for all children to be represented, but it is compulsory for all Māhuri and Whanake children to attend please. Kākano are welcome as well and ideally we would like them, but this is your call parents. All children have been practicing for this prize-giving.
All Mahora children need to be in school uniform except our Y6’s who wear something they feel smart in. Our Y6’s will also be sitting separately from our other tamariki.
The prizegiving is in the hall at Hastings Girls High School. There is plenty of parking outside.
All children need to be delivered to the hall side door at the stage end (Pakowhai Road side) by 5:45pm please. Our tamariki will sit on the mat areas.
Parents and whanau please come into the hall through the main doors. The front seating section will be reserved and ‘coned off” for parents and families of Y6 children only. The remaining area is open to all families.
We ask that all pre-schoolers remain with parents and do not sit with their school age brothers and sisters during prize-giving.

We look forward to seeing our Mahora community at this special school celebration event.

Last day of the 2022 school year

The last day for tamariki is Thursday 15 December and school finishes at 12:00pm. All children need collecting at this time. Each child that has opted in to the school lunch programme will be given a ‘take home’ lunch.

2023 start of year details

Stationery

By now you will have received an email with your stationery charge for 2023. This does not have to be paid this year...this is your choice if you would like to pay it now. We do ask that it is paid by the start of school please. A regular payment chips away at costs like this over time. If you would like to set up an automatic payment please contact Kirsten in the office. The stationery will arrive before the end of this school year and will be placed in your child’s 2023 class ready for Day 1.

The cost of stationery for 2023 is -

New Entrants (Kākano Team) - $35 per child

Year 1 & 2 (Kākano Team) - $35 per child

Year 3 & 4 (Māhuri Team) - $25 per child

Year 5 & 6 (Whanake Team) - $20 per child

Uniform

All our school uniform can be purchased from the new NZ Uniform shop set up beside Jaycar on Heretaunga Street. The prices are fantastic, there is plenty of stock and plenty of parking. The school office will only hold a few second hand items from time to time.

Office Hours

The office will be open the following days prior to the start of Term 1. Just a reminder that stationery will be delivered to classes. The office team will be here and are happy to help with any of this or any general queries.

Tuesday 24 January - 9:00am - 3:00pm

Wednesday 25 January - 9:00am - 3:00pm

Thursday 26 January - Closed for staff development

Friday 27 January - Closed for staff development

2023 Class Connection/ Whanaungatanga Day

On Monday 30 January, all classes will be open from 1:00pm – 6:00pm for families to call in and visit with your child/children. We would really like every child to be part of this please.

The purpose of this important time is for any of the following:

To explore each child’s new learning space for 2023.
To connect with 2023 teachers and staff.
For parents to ask any questions or share important information about their child.
To give our children the opportunity to reduce start of year worries and begin to make strong connections.

The first full day starting at 9:00am is Tuesday 31 January and will be usual school times. There will be a pōhiri on this day and details will be shared via the school app.

The year of 2022

To our school community and everyone that works here, volunteers, cares, contributes, helps or just supports in so many ways…my thanks to you all for caring about tamariki and whānau and the unlimited extra energy and patience that has been needed again in 2022. We get it has been another busy year...but we did it again! Please know your efforts are hugely appreciated!

To our staff – Thank you for the amazing people you are, for digging deep in challenging times and making our school a fun and safe learning space full of opportunities. Thank you for the effort, the passion and the desire to do your very best. Enjoy the time ahead with your own whānau.

To our community and whānau – I wish you all a wonderful festive season ahead and hope you all get some special time with your whānau. This time of year is all about the most special people in our lives…our family.

Ka nui te mihi (a big thanks) to you all.

Piki Haere

Rohan.

AKO IN ACTION

Mahora Kindy comes to visit

Our gorgeous Mahora Kindy tamariki came for a walk to our hall last week to participate in our PMP - Perceptual Motor skills Programme. This is a great programme initiated this year to help build coordination and motor skills to support the learning of our tamariki. Mahora Kindy will come over more regularly next year to participate as well which is amazing.

Lunchtime Coding Club

Rachael takes a coding club every Tuesday in Tī Kouka, our new Library Multipurpose space which will be re-opened officially next year. The Coding Club is very popular and all ages across the school attend. The creativity and focus is amazing as they learn to animate avatars and create digital games.

Gardening Club

We are so lucky to have Mel and Jill who take our beautiful gardening club 3 times a week. Watch out for their new project - beautiful giant sunflowers will spring up along the fence line to brighten everyones day. Next year our maara-garden will be developed so we would love more whānau and tamariki involved in this area. Keep an eye out for information next year.

Kawakawa Authors

Check out the smiles on these wonderful authors from Kawakawa. They have used all their letter and sound knowledge to chunk out their words. I saw lots of enjoyment and pride when they were reading their stories.