Week 3 Term 4 2022
Kia ora Koutou,
It is wonderful to see the amazing weather we have had this week, with our students able to go outside and enjoy the sunshine during their break. A reminder that we encourage our students to wear school sunhats or caps in terms 1 and 4. The sun is fierce, and our students need to take responsibility for looking after themselves outside. We do provide sunblock for them to use.
We have been meeting with our incoming Year 7 students for 2023, we look forward to these students and their whaanau being part of Maeroa Intermediate in 2023. It has been a delight meeting them all and hearing about each of them through our interview process. To help with our planning, we would appreciate it if you could please advise the office as soon as possible if you have a current Year 7 student at Maeroa who will not be returning to Maeroa as a Year 8 in 2023.
Last week it was a privilege to attend the Waikato Altrusa Award Ceremony and the other schools from around the Waikato. Zoe Stewart from our school was presented with an Altrusa award by Hamilton Mayor Paula Southgate. This award recognises outstanding all-around students who take up opportunities, challenge themselves, and succeed in all areas of school life. Congratulations Zoe!
Kapahaka Festival at Maeroa
Maeroa Intermediate students will gather in a celebration of community and kapa haka next Thursday, 10 November. This is all about celebrating the value of Kapahaka in our school and the value we place on it. Kapa haka is a tangible experience of collaboration, teamwork, and sharing something special. It has a lovely feel — the opportunity to present the Tikanga Maaori and kapa haka with all of our students involved.
It brings a sense of togetherness — that sense of community learning together.
Fun Run - Colour Run
On Thursday, 10 November, we will have our school Fun Run, Colour Run. A big thank you to everyone that has got sponsorship we have nearly $9000 raised. However, this has been raised by only 87 of our students. Many students have set up fundraising profiles but have received no sponsorship, so with under a week to go, it would be great even if those with a profile to $5 sponsorship work towards our goal of $10,000. The money is being put towards camping equipment for next year's camp and an end-of-year fun activity for classes.
Students will be bringing home a detailed newsletter about the event however, the main points are;
- The event will start at 2 pm if families want to come and watch.
- Students will come to school in their school uniforms for the morning.
- Students will get changed at sports break - light coloured top preferable.
- The colour will wash out; do not wear your best clothes just in case.
- Students will not be allowed to participate in their school uniform.
- Students will be going home in their coloured clothes from the event.
We look forward to a successful remainder of the term and celebrating our successes at the end-of-year assembly on Wednesday, 14th December.
Ngaa Mihi
Susan
Tainui Waka Primary Schools Kapa Haka Competition
“To promote, foster, develop and encourage participation at Primary and Intermediate Schools level, in all aspects of traditional Maori Performing Arts and associated Maori Cultural art forms, particularly Kapa Haka!” - Tainui Waka
Our school Kapahaka group has been practising intensively for the competition coming up on 12 November at Te Wharekura o Rakaumanga. This group of students and their tutors, Whaea Rena and Whaea Rau, along with the ex-students and amazing parents that have supported them by preparing kai for our students, have been giving up weekends and school holidays to practice for this prestigious event. Best wishes to our group on 12 November.
School Athletics 2022
A large group of students who qualified to attend our school athletics travelled by bus to Porritt Stadium on the 18 October to run, jump and throw and participate to their highest level of attainment. Students will be chosen to attend the Waikato Intermediate Athletics Day this term from the placings and times achieved on this day. We were very proud of the way our students managed themselves and participated at our school athletics. Everyone had a great day and we look forward to sending our school athletics team to the Inter Intermediate Competition later this month..
Athletics 2022
The Amazing Race 2022
Maeroa Intermediate entered two teams into the Amazing Race event held at the Gallagher Hockey Centre on Wednesday 26th October.
This event brings teams from schools across the Waikato to compete in several leadership challenges.
Our two teams, in the year 7&8 section competed for 3 hours in a variety of activities from navigating an obstacle course blindfolded to flipping bottles of water..
To be successful involves utilising lots of teamwork, forethought and strategy.
Well done to both our teams, who worked extremely well throughout the day. It was loads of fun and very rewarding seeing our students encouraging and supporting each other to complete the tasks and building confidence in working together as a successful team.
The Amazing Race 2022
Japan Exchange with Makuhari Junior High School 2023
Maeroa Intermediate, along with other intermediates in the Waikato, have had a yearly exchange with Makuhari Junior High School in the past. With the pandemic, this has been put on hold for the last couple of years however, in 2023, we are planning to resume this exchange programme.
From 9 - 21 March 2023, Makuhari Junior High students will be visiting the Waikato, and we will have a group of 20 Japanese students based at our school. We are looking for host families for each student that is coming. Families receive a homestay fee for doing this - $355. If you are interested in hosting a Japanese student, please let me know via email swood@maeroa.school.nz
The trip to Japan for Waikato Intermediates will be 11-24 September 2023 at approximately $4500. This includes airfares, homestay fees, entry to all the sites we go to, and public transport around Tokyo; spending money would be on top of this fee. This is a trip for Year 8 students, and students would need to cope with living with a Japanese family for two weeks and will connect with the teacher at school each day. It is a requirement of the trip that if your child is going to Japan in 2023, your family will host a Japanese student during March 2023 when Makuhari are here. If you and your child are keen to be involved in the trip to Japan, please email me swood@maeroa.school.nz
There will be further information about the Japan trip early in 2023 when we have a parent meeting.
Japan Photos from previous trips
Waikato A & P Show
Last week a group of students from Maeroa visited the Waikato A & P Show. The Waikato A&P Show is a unique event that has brought urban and rural communities together for over 100 years, creating lasting memories. Students who attended engaged with a variety of organisations providing services to meet community needs in the Waikato Region. Organisations focus on protecting the environment, our physical well-being, and our geography, championing community learning and preserving the unique cultural interests of the Waikato Region.
Maeroa students visiting the Waikato A & P Show
Culinary Fare 2022
On the last day of Term 3, a group of talented and creative Maeroa students designed and presented cupcakes to be judged at the WINTEC Culinary Fare. Maeroa were awarded 10 medals! We were delighted with the fantastic results, with Naomi McKee and Sam Cabalit receiving Gold, and Naomi placing third overall by only 2 points. We are super impressed with the quality and creativity of their entries; well done to you all.
Gold Metal
- Naomi Mc Kee
- Sam Cabalit
Silver
- Kade Bridge
- Lucy Winter
- Isabella Hunter
- Rachel Walmsley
- Layla Mace
- Sophie Roa
Bronze
- Mila Andrews
- Zoe Fitzwater
Culinary Fare 2022
Police PCT Challenge
Last week two teams of students went with Mrs Piper to the Police PCT Challenge. There were many challenges that our students had to overcome to come out the eventual winners of this competition.
Well done to our two teams!
Police PCT Challenge
Ruru Box Design Competition
Congratulations to Poppy Turner, our winner of the Ruru Box Design Competition. Poppy wins a $40 pressie card and will also paint the actual Ruru nesting box before we put it high up in a tree and hopefully, some Ruru will nest in it.
Great work Poppy!
Congratulations - Koru Badges
A big congratulations to the following students who have earned their koru badges in the last two weeks.
Bronze:
Eva Wilson, Malaya Guysayko, Elsie Alexander, Zen Winter, Lucy Winter, Wato Sakai,
Siri Combs , Peyton Purves, Alina Stephens, Dallas Godsiff-Moulden, Lottie McMinn,
Matatia Ho Kum, Jessica Chand, Sadie Muhlmann, David Saunders, Shia Harnett.
Silver:
Liam Saxton, Lottie McMinn, Nikquita Herewini, Peyton Purves.
Gold:
Kyla Tierney.
Platinum: Alyssa Brandsma, Ian Lum, Siobhan Wallace, Rylee Frampton, Shelby Betts.
Star: Rachel Walmsley, Ehlana Miller, Rylee Frampton, Maycin Anderson, Jenna McMillan.
Super Star: Mathew George, Max Tottie, Beau Pye, Maycin Anderson.
