Newsletter 20th May 2022

This week we introduce Beauden Middlemiss-Curd, Leo Milne, Grace Marsh, Riley Astwood-Parkes, Owen Wairama, Taku Wairama and Sadie Aramoana. We hope you have all enjoyed your start at Mahora School.

Kia ora whānau

What an amazing run of weather...it's been fabulous to see our children out enjoying every day in Autumn...we are so lucky to have such wonderful expansive school grounds. Our Black Cap assembly last Friday was a real celebration and it's wonderful to see our 2022 Black Caps in our school. Check out more details later in the newsletter.

It was also wonderful to see some new faces join our PTA this week. Anyone is welcome anytime. It's great to have this team back up and running and a fundraising plan underway. Below there is a list of future fundraisers that we have planned. A number of these can be shared with wider family members so your support is hugely appreciated. The PTA are considering what their future projects will be...one possible being new books and equipment for when the library reopens...yes the planning is underway!

On the health front, a number of local schools have seen a real rise in Covid 19 case numbers and general sickness. This has not hit us yet, but the DHB has given us strong warning about this and the upcoming flu season, in particular, whooping cough and measles. There are currently a few children out with tummy bugs. PLEASE remain vigilant and if your children have any symptoms, keep them at home until they are well. There have also been adults and children getting Covid 19 for the second time, so if there are any symptoms please test your whanau and let us know. Should our covid 19 case numbers increase rapidly, we will revert back to some of the red settings.

Please...this week some youths entered school and stole a students bike from the bike stands. This is really disappointing and expensive to replace for the whānau. Please make sure all children who bike to school bring a suitable lock with them. This also applies to the scooters that don't fit into the locking scooter racks.

My thanks to you all who were able to attend the Piki Haere Hui last week. It was just so great to see parents and teachers being able to connect finally. To date 90% of tamariki have had a hui. All going to plan the next Hui will be early term 3 and is back to the usual annual cycle.

Matariki is just around the corner, so keep an eye out for information coming up at school as we learn more about this important time of year. Have a great weekend ahead and many thanks for all your wonderful Mahora support.

Ngā mihi

Rohan.

Last Friday saw a lot of Year 6 tamariki very ‘nervicited’. For the first time in two years, whānau were able to come and support tamariki as their journey towards receiving their Black Cap ended. It was lovely to have our first whole school assembly this year and for such a special occasion. The newly capped Black Caps were then able to take

their seat on the bleachers for the first time. Congratulations to our new leaders of Mahora School 2022!

We have had so many wonderful artists create some beautiful mahi in the last 2 weeks.

Check out these beautiful stone sculptures on wooden bases. Painted and lacquered by the wonderful tamariki in Room 11. Mrs Haronga was most impressed with the attention to detail and care they took in creating these masterpieces.

Finn and Taimana in Rm 5 used their mahitahi skills to complete this Manu Tukutuku. The intricate details in weaving the toitoi with the harakeke is superb. Tino pai boys.

And finally in this art section we have the Matariki Cluster rising in the dawn sky using pastel. Renata and Frankie have worked so hard on their blending and use of colour to create drama and movement in their art.

Ezra has researched and written about his favourite Basketball players. He chose Jayson Tatum, LeBron James and Joel Embiid just to name a few.

Ezra wrote about their statistics and why he chose them as his focus players for his booklet.

The wonderful weather this week has created the perfect opportunity to get out and use our amazing cycle track to help keep us fit. The smiles and laughter coming from our gorgeous Room 4 children was heartwarming to see and hear.

Matthew Witheford, our Board of Trustees chairperson and Dad to Fletcher and Hudson has spent some time today, sharing his passion and skills for Hockey with all tamariki from the Kākano team, our Year 0, 1 & 2s.

Each class has been out learning how to hold the stick, stand in a hockey position and move around the turf controlling the ball.

I already have 15 Year 0,1 & 2s registered to play Hockey Funsticks. This is a fantastic programme which teaches the fundamentals of Hockey through fun activities. If your child loved the sessions with Matthew today, I can ask Hawke’s Bay Hockey if we can add to our numbers. Please get in touch with Denise Pearse at school for more details.

Our Term 2 sports are nearly all underway….Year 5 & 6 Hockey, Year 5 & 6 Netball, Year 5 & 6 Canoe Polo and Year 3, 4, 5 & 6 Miniball. We’ve also had lots of tamariki tell us about their club Soccer and Rugby teams that have kicked off this term. It is SO fantastic to see so many tamariki involved and so many whānau valuing the massive benefits of sport…being active, being valued as part of a team, cooperating with others, being challenged, learning to win and lose, and having fun!

Registration for the Rugby 10s after school competition has come through to school and a number of Year 4, 5 & 6 tamariki are bringing a note home today to talk to whānau about playing. Please send these forms back if your child is interested and it works for your whānau. Again, contact Denise Pearse at school if you are interested to find out more about this opportunity.

We had another fun game kaiako vs netballers today at lunch time. Height proved to be a definite advantage! There were loads of laughs and great skills on show.

The Mahora School App is the best way to stay up to date with all school events throughout the year. If you haven't already downloaded it, visit your phones app store or ask at the office if you need assistance.

Reminder about the Mahora Community Meeting Saturday 21 May. Have your say with improving and developing our community.

• PTA 'Cookie Dough' Fundraiser begins - Monday 23 May
• Mahora Community Meeting - Saturday 21 May ~ 1:00pm - 3:00pm
• Board Meeting - Wednesday 25 May ~ 6.:30pm
• PTA Committee Meeting - Monday 20 June ~ 7:00pm
• PTA Disco - Friday 1 July
• PTA 'Cookie Dough' collection date - Thursday 7 July
• PTA 'Cake n Shake' Fundraiser - Friday 8 July