Week 5 term 4 2024
Principal's Message - Week 5, Term 4, 2024
Kia ora e te whānau,
Last weekend, I was privileged to attend the regional Tainui Waka Kapa Haka competition, where our students showcased their incredible talent and commitment. Their performance was outstanding, and I couldn’t be prouder. A special thank you goes out to our dedicated teachers Rena Turinui-Jones and Luz Rietbrock, and to our talented tutors, Rau Aroha Turinui and Levi Ngawaka, who have worked tirelessly with our students.
I’d also like to extend heartfelt gratitude to the wonderful group of mothers who have supported Te Puawaitanga over the years. Their invaluable help with noho, competitions, and the care and feeding of our students has ensured that our young performers are well looked after. Additionally, I acknowledge our former Te Puawaitanga students who returned to help with noho and preparation for the competition. It is inspiring to see the legacy of Te Puawaitanga continuing through their support.
Our Pasifika group will perform this coming weekend, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing the results of their hard work. They have been practising diligently, and I know they will make us all proud. I know that Mrs Tawake and Mr Tudreu have been working hard with these students to prepare them for this day.
Our Jump Jam team also represented us with flair last weekend in Tauranga at the Jump Jam competition. They looked fantastic on stage and brought such energy to their performance! Well done to all involved. Thank you especially to Mrs Sasso and the girls for your commitment and dedication in preparing for this event. If you want to watch the Maeroa Misses, follow these instructions - Please copy and paste this into your browser. It is not a hyperlink. Look for the three horizontal dots and click those to locate the download option. Then download.
I thank our parents and whaanau for your support during our recent teacher-only days. We know that these days can require families to make alternative arrangements, and your understanding is greatly appreciated.
Our Teacher Only days are valuable for our teachers.
Here’s an update on our proactive work aligning with the upcoming curriculum changes to ensure that Maeroa students are prepared and supported for success:
Mathematics Curriculum: The newly refreshed mathematics curriculum for Years 1–8 has been officially released. Our use of the Prime Maths resource, known for its structured and comprehensive approach, fits perfectly with these updates. Prime Maths is among the resources endorsed by the government for 2025, helping us to bring clarity and consistency to our maths teaching.
English Curriculum: The curriculum for years 7 - 13 will be rolled out in Term 1 of 2025, which gives us some time to review, plan, and prepare our approach so we’re ready to support students in this transition.
Structured Literacy Approach: Our structured literacy program, supported by Learning Matters’ IDEAL format, continues to prioritize direct, explicit instruction in reading and writing. This aligns with the government’s new emphasis on structured literacy, an approach to strengthen literacy outcomes across New Zealand schools.
Professional Development: The government has allocated $20 million specifically for teacher professional development in structured mathematics to support these curriculum changes. This funding represents an important investment, helping to ensure our educators have the skills and resources needed to deliver high-quality math instruction. We hope our school will be included in all of this.
We’re committed to adapting to these curriculum changes and ensuring our school remains at the forefront of educational best practices. With these proactive measures in place, we’re well-positioned to support your child’s learning in a way that aligns with New Zealand’s evolving educational landscape.
Ngaa mihi nui
Susan Wood Principal
Colour Run 22 November 2024
We have a colour run next Friday, 22 November, at 2 pm. The Colour Run is a fantastic event for building school spirit and providing students with a fun, memorable experience! All students are expected to participate; it is not a race but a fun activity. Students will not be permitted to participate in their school uniforms; we can not be sure that the paint colours will come from clothing. They will need to wear alternative clothing - old shorts and a T-shirt. Some students go all out and wear their team colours, which is also great for building school spirit.
Our students have already raised $3500, which is fantastic. We will use the money to purchase equipment for our whole school camp in 2025, including team-building equipment, sit-on kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. Sun shelters and class PE equipment are also on the shopping list. In the past, the fundraising was used to buy our tents and camping equipment. Please support our school in this event. There are prizes for students who fundraise. All of this information is in the email sent to whaanau.
Families are welcome to come along and watch at 2 pm.
Koru Badges
Congratulations to the following students who have been awarded their Koru badges over the last two weeks. We know that these students have worked hard to achieve their goals.
- Bronze: Torez Rohorua, Zachery Moore, Leihana Tuapou, Noah Woods, Nate Turney
- Silver: Noah Lim-Sun, Connor Schou, Blake Kensington
- Gold: Alexei Govind, Ariel Dixon, Noah Lim-Sun, Sidney Alexander, Erik Graham
- Platinum: Iana Alibarbar
- Star: Jayden Ridgway, Prince Tomar
- Super Star: Jayden Ridgway
Year 8 Social - Wednesday 11 December
Year 8 Social: Out Of This World
The Year 8 Social is a much-anticipated evening where our Year 8 students can socialize, dance, and enjoy themselves as they celebrate the end of their time at Maeroa Intermediate. Social dancing lessons have already begun, and our students are enjoying them.
This social is by invitation only, and students know that they need to be able to manage their behaviour, participate in our social dancing lessons, and attend school to receive an invitation. Invitations will be sent out next week.
This is not a ball, so students do not need to spend money on new clothes, hairstyles, makeup, etc. Here are the dress expectations to ensure everyone feels comfortable and can fully participate in the night’s activities:
- Dress Code: We ask that students come in tidy clothing suitable for a semi-formal occasion.
- Boys: Shirt and tie, with dress pants or dress jeans.
- Girls: Wear a dress, skirt, and top, or dress pants and top. Dresses should have straps, as there will be plenty of dancing.
- Guidelines:
- No midriffs showing, gang colours, or hats.
- Sensible shoes are recommended, as the event will be held in our gym; please do not wear high heels to ensure safety and ease while dancing.
Tickets will be $15, and students/families will be on sale on Wednesday, December 4th, Thursday, December 5th, and Friday, December 6th. A light supper will be served. There will be no door sales as we need to confirm catering numbers.
We’re looking forward to a memorable night for our Year 8 students!
Fraser Day for Year 8 Students
Year 8 students who are planning to attend Fraser High School in 2025 are invited to an Open Day on Friday, November 29, from 9 am to 3 pm.
Parents/caregivers must drop their child off at Fraser to be ready for a 9 am start and pick them up again at 3 pm. They do not need to come to Maeroa before going to Fraser High for the day.
Year 8 students will be able to meet some of the Fraser High teachers, explore subject options, and sporting and performing opportunities.
Lunch will be provided.
Wear your Maeroa school uniform and take a water bottle with water.
Attendance at School matters - a lot!
Every school day counts in a child’s educational journey.
Attendance is when children are at school and in the class they are supposed to be in.
It all adds up. Children who miss a week each term will have missed out on a year of schooling by the time they are 16.
When a student misses a day of school, it’s not just an absence—it’s a missed opportunity to learn and grow. Research consistently shows that students who attend school regularly achieve more than those who don’t. In fact, students who establish strong attendance patterns from an early age are more likely to succeed academically and develop crucial skills and knowledge in reading, math, and general learning.
Even as early as kindergarten, regular attendance matters. Studies show that young children with frequent absences are more likely to continue this pattern, which can impact their performance in later years. By the time students reach high school, poor attendance can be a strong indicator of potential challenges in achieving qualifications, with high absenteeism linked to higher dropout rates.
Each missed day of school adds up, creating gaps in learning that are hard to bridge. For many students, missing school regularly means missing opportunities to engage fully with the curriculum and their classmates, which may limit their potential over time.
What Parents can do to support attendance:
We found that what parents do can have a big impact on your child’s attendance. Parents who are comfortable with their child missing a week or more of school per term are more than twice as likely to have a child who doesn’t regularly attend school. It is never too early to start. When children miss some school early on, it can lead to missing more later on too. When your child is at primary school, your input is even more important. You can help set up good habits that will last for the whole time they are at school.
Below are some things that you can do which help.
- It is your responsibility to get your child to school.
- Talk to your child about how school is important for their future, and how it is important to go every day. Be positive about school!
- Ensure your child knows you care if they are going to school.
- You should only take your child out of school for a really good reason, like if they are sick.
- Have a consistent morning routine, not too rushed.
- Help your child be prepared for school by making sure they have done their homework the night before.
Regular attendance is a foundation for success, and each day matters—it brings you one step closer to reaching your child reaching their full potential and achieving future goals.
Term Dates for 2025
Term 1: Monday 3 February - Friday 11 April
Term 2: Monday 28 April - Friday 27 June
Term 3: Monday 14 July - Friday 19 September
Term 4: Monday 6 October - Friday 17 December
Upcoming Events
- 22 November - School Colour Fun Run
- 29 November - Fraser Day for Year 8's attending in 2025
- 5 December - Meet the Teacher for 2025, 4 - 6 pm
- 10 December - Final Assembly
- 11 December Year 8 Social
- 13 December, the final day of term, finishing at 12 noon