week 7 term 1 2024
Kia ora koutou
I hope this newsletter finds you well as we navigate through the seventh week of Term 1. It's been a busy and exciting time at Maeroa Intermediate, with numerous achievements and events to celebrate.
Thank you to all the parents/whaanau who came along to support our students in the triathlon on Wednesday afternoon. The students did well and participated enthusiastically and determinedly. Thank you to those parents who have taken the time to thank us for running this event; we appreciate your positive comments. Once our photos have been edited, I will post more of the event on our school's Facebook site.
A big thank you to our families who have hosted a Makuhari Junior High School (Japan) student in their home over the last two weeks. This is a well-established exchange that has been happening between our schools for over thirty years. I know the Japanese students have been well cared for and have enjoyed their stay. The sayonara evening will be held on Monday, March 18, in our auditorium, and on Tuesday morning, our Makuhari students will depart.
I look forward to taking nine Maeroa students, among a group of 60 students from Waikato Intermediate and Middle Schools, to Makuhari in September this year. The Japanese families are so kind to our New Zealand students and welcome them warmly into their homes. Eighteen students applied to go to Makuhari, and I got nine spaces. The nine students have been selected and are very excited about going. It was tough to select only nine students when so many amazing students applied.
Our top touch teams are off to the WIMS Tournament next week, and we wish them all the very best in their play and sportspersonship.
School Safety Reminder: The safety of our students is our top priority. Please remind your children about the importance of following school safety rules, including pedestrian and bike safety. We expect our students to use the pedestrian crossings and not just run across Maeroa Rd or Churchill Avenue.
We expect parents to set an example by using pedestrian crossings and not calling their children across the road or stopping in the middle of the road to let them get out of the car. Even if your children separate from you slightly as they become teenagers, once they’re adults, they will be much more like you are right now – especially if you make choices based on your principles, morals, and values backed up by facts. Because of this, you must become the example and model of what you want your child to learn and how you want them to be when they are adults. After all, you’re raising kids who will become adults.
Thank you to all the parents who have supported their child's enrolment in our Bike Safety Training. I am sure our students will benefit from this.
Social Media, including Roblox—This is a reminder that parents must watch what their children do on social media platforms, including Roblox, Instagram and TikTok. There are age restrictions on social media platforms, and most are for 13+. We can not control what children do on social media within their homes; they are not on social media at school. Research shows that parents are critical to the success of young people becoming safe, confident and capable in using digital technology. Regular proactive conversations at home help minimise the damage if things go wrong online. Online, usually between tweens, spills over into school, which unfortunately distracts from learning time.
Healthy Mind, Healthy Body - Parent and Whaanau Meeting
In Term 2, we will teach Pubertal Change, part of the New Zealand Health Curriculum. We call this Healthy Mind Healthy Body. We will send further information home at the end of next week, outlining the Pubertal Change Term 2 learning. This information will cover the unit's lesson-by-lesson content, answering some questions and curiosities about what we are teaching. If you have further questions about the content, you are invited to a meeting on Wednesday 27th March at 6 pm in our school library.
Triathalon 2024
This Wednesday, we had over 200 students compete in our school Triathlon. Seeing and hearing all the students cheering and encouraging each other was awesome as individuals and teams crossed the finish line. Each participant earned a dark blue koru, which supports them as they move towards their koru badge goals. Thanks to all the parents and whaanau who came to support this event.
Congratulations to our WIMS Swim Team
Our small but mighty swimming team attended the Waikato Intermediate and Middle Schools Swimming Competition on Monday. We are very proud of our students, who qualified for and placed in the finals of each event they participated in.
Congratulations to:
- Carlos Joe finished second in the Year 8 boys' butterfly and third in the year 8 boys' 50-metre freestyle.
- Havana Leilua finished 3rd in the Year 7 girls' 50-metre butterfly, 50-metre backstroke and 50-metre breaststroke.
- Harper Leilua finished 2nd in the Year 7 girls '50 metre backstroke
This swimming competition is very competitive, with the top intermediate and middle school swimmers from across the Waikato participating, so of course, we are very proud of our students' achievements.
WIMS Swimming
Winter Sports Update
Extracurricular sports are played offsite over a season outside of school time. Here is an overview of what is on offer in Term 2. The individual codes will release further information over the next week regarding cost, times, practices, trials, and asking for volunteers. Our daily notices are published on our school's Facebook page and read to students every morning.
Cost of Extra-Curricular Sports
External organisations set fees, which can be expensive, and families are responsible for transport.
- It costs money to join and play on these sports teams, and fees are expected to be paid before the season starts.
- You will not be placed on a team with outstanding 2023 or Term 1 2024 sports fees.
- If you cannot pay it all upfront, you can set up an automatic payment with our office. misaccounts@maeroa.school.nz
Basketball
Term 2 basketball starts Tuesday, 30 April, and ends Tuesday, 25 June. Games are on Tuesday evenings from 4:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fraser High or the YMCA. The cost to play each term is $50. The Term 1 basketball teams will continue to play in Term 2. There’s also an opportunity to register more teams, depending on how many parents can coach or manage a team. The practice times will vary depending on the availability of coaches. Contact Tash Strother for further information. tstrother@maeroa.school.nz
Winter Hockey
The winter hockey season runs from 3 May to 30 August 2024. Games are on Friday evenings from 4:30 p.m. at different venues around the Waikato, including Gallaghers, Dio School, St Paul's School, St Peter's School, and Matamata. The 2024 hockey fee is $140. We have a range of player abilities, so if you want to try a new sport, this might be a great opportunity. To enter teams, we need a coach, a manager and an umpire for each team. Practise times will be confirmed once we have these roles confirmed Contact Rachael Dyer: rdyer@maeroa.school.nz
Indoor Cricket
Indoor cricket is offered to interested students during Terms 2 and 3. Games are on Friday afternoons, usually between 4 pm and 6 pm, at the Action Sports Centre in Duke Street, Frankton. The 2024 Indoor Cricket Fee is $60. Experience is optional; we will organise practice one day after school each week. Interest letters will be sent out in about Week 8 of this term. Contact Raewyn Hollinger: rhollinger@maeroa.school.nz
Futsal
Games are played in a Friday evening competition at Action Indoor Sports (Inflatable World) on Duke Street in Frankton between 4 pm and 6 pm in Term 2 and Term 3. The cost is $45 for the term. Contact Mel Rye for more information. mrye@maeroa.school.nz
Volleyball
We will seek interest registration for winter volleyball in the next few weeks. Entering teams will depend on player interest and coach availability. Please contact Karyn Grey kgrey@maeroa.school.nz
Netball Trials
We have Netball trials here at Maeroa next week for the Saturday morning competition that starts next term. All Players should have registered for these by now. Players should bring appropriate footwear to trial.
Year 7 Netball Trials - Tuesday 19th March, 3.15 to 4.45
Year 8 Netball Trials - Thursday 21 March 3.15 to 4.30
If you know of anyone that would be keen to coach, manage or umpire please get them to contact the school as we are expecting to enter approximately 10 teams and need all the support we can muster.
Thanks, Amanda Taylor ataylor@maeroa.school.nz
Koru Badges
Congratulations to the following students who have earned their badges over the last few weeks:
Bronze: Boston Singh, Lucy Walters, Shaelyn Berry, Stan Mills.
Silver: Maddison Siemonek, Lile Tangataevaha.
Gold: Rickaya Coleman, Sasha Duthie, Annabell Hardie, Ekkham Khaira.
Platinum: Joshua Stevens, Keira Wright-St Clair.
Star: Amberli Sio Lealiifano.
Well done to these students who have set goals and worked hard to achieve them.
NZEI Union Meeting
Wednesday 27th March
These are paid union meetings as set out in the Employment Relations Act. NZEI Te Riu Roa members covered by the primary and area school teachers collective agreements are entitled to be released to attend.
This will be held at 1:30 pm on 27 March.
Our students will be going home at 1 pm that day.
If you want your child supervised at school rather than go home at 1:00 pm, please email their teacher. We will supervise students who stay behind in our auditorium.
Teacher Only Day - Term 2
Our school will have a teacher-only day on 31 May 2024. It will not be open for instruction that day, so students cannot attend.
These teacher-only days provide schools and kura with dedicated time to understand, prepare for, and engage with changes across The New Zealand Curriculum refresh and the redesign of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.
They are opportunities for teachers to share ideas and expertise and to grow their confidence in implementing the upcoming curriculum and assessment changes.
Schools were given permission by the Ministry of Education to have four teacher-only days available for primary and secondary schools and Kura, two in 2023 and two in 2024.
Maeroa Policy Review
The school board is reviewing Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Board Responsibility, Documentation and Self-Review Policy.
Parents/caregivers are invited to be a part of this review.
- Visit our school website
- Go to the 'About Us' button.
- Scroll down to Trustees and Policies
- Go down to our policies
- Username: maeroa
- Password: intermediate
- Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
- Read the policy.
- Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
- Select the reviewer type "Parent".
- Enter your name (optional).
- Submit your ratings and comments.
If you don't have internet access, school office staff can provide you with printed copies of the policy and a review form.
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