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Get Connected Interviews

Please remember to book your Get Connected Interviews for Monday.  If you have problems doing this please phone the school office from 8:15am on Monday.

Welcome Back to 2023!

We are really excited to be welcoming both current and new families to our kura for the 2023 school year. 

Class lists have been finalised and are on display in the windows under the main canopy. Please wander down to school and have a look, then go online and book a ‘Get Connected Day’ appointment with your child’s new classroom teacher. This is on Monday and is a great opportunity for students, parents and teachers to meet one another, to have a look around your child’s new classroom, to drop off stationery orders and to collect digital access codes. This all helps to make for a smooth start into the new school year.

To book your time go to:

https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/hfa4h

or scan the QR code alongside the class lists on display.

– Enter your details

– Select your child’s teacher

– Select a time that works for you

We highly encourage ALL families to book an appointment time and we look forward to seeing everyone on Monday, with everyone back at school to start the new year on Tuesday 31 January. 

Note: Please DO NOT post photos of class lists online. 

Reminder – School stationery orders

just a quick reminder to make sure you have ordered your stationery online through OfficeMax so that it arrives in time for the start of the school year.

Looking forward to seeing you all in a few weeks.

Final Newsletter for 2022 – see the Notices section of the app

Very warm wishes for Christmas and the summer holiday period. We look forward to seeing everyone back in the new year.

Notices

Last day of Term 4 – Tomorrow is our last day for the year. A reminder that school finishes at 12.00pm.

Final assembly is at 11.30am.

We wish you all a safe and happy summer break and look forward to seeing everyone back in the new year.

2023 Class placement, Term dates and Stationery information – see an update in the notices section of the app

Notices

Water bottles and Sunscreen – Big Day Out

Mōrena koutou,

What a beautiful day out there today. As you know we are all out in the sun today for our big day out. Please ensure that your child has a water bottle today. 

We will have sunscreen with us, however is your child needs a particular brand due to allergies please bring that too. 

STATIONARY ORDERS

Apologies – we have just realised when you order your child’s stationary at Office Max it only gives you a class option not year group for Years 1 and 2. We will get in touch with them to get this changed.

Please keep an eye out on the School App and we will let you know when its been changed.

Big Day Out – Bull Rush

Kia ora e te whānau o Merrilands,

Many of the Year 3 – 6 children have requested to play tackle bullrush at Merrilands Domain tomorrow. Initially, there was a discussion that only the children with mouth guards could play, however we have decided that there is too much risk of injury because of the age differences of the children. Whilst the children will be supervised while playing bullrush, it will only be touch NOT tackle.

Also our police education officers will be attending, and running a FREE sausage sizzle. 

Nga mihi,

Matua John 

Kapa Haka Shared Kai

Kia Ora e te whānau Kapa Haka, 

Tomorrow is our last Kapa haka practice for 2022. To celebrate the successes and the hard work put in by our tamariki we will have a shared kai. This won’t be lunch as such, but more of a afternoon tea. 
Nga mihi,

Matua John 

ASEEMBLY INFORMATION

MONDAY 12th @ 10.30 Trophy Assembly All Welcome.

WEDNESDAY 14th @ 11.30 Final Assembly.

A reminder school finishes after final assembly at 12pm.

SPORTS UNIFORMS

Please return all Sports Uniforms back to school before our last day on Wednesday. Thank you!

School Stationery Packs for 2023 – information on how to order school stationery packs for next year has been sent home with your children

All orders are to be done by parents online (except for New Entrants packs which are to be purchased at the school office when school starts back next year).  Most of the stationery lists are done by year group so most of you can start placing orders now.  There are different payment options available which are on the information that went home with students and online.  There are prizes to be won for orders placed in December.

If your child did not bring home the OfficeMax flyer please call into the office and pick one up before school closes next week.

TOUCH FINALS DRAW

U10 Merrilands Karaka v Bell Block Bandits 4.35 field 5A

U10 Merrilands Kauri v SJB Bandits 4.35 field 4A

u12 Merrilands Miro v Fitzroy Fireballs 4.35 6A

City Touch are collecting non perishable items for the Food Bank if you would like to donate.

U12 Touch draw change

5.10 Merilands Miro v BBK Blast on field 5A

TOUCH Wed 30/11

U10 Merrilands Karaka 4.35 v Fitzroy Lightning Lions field 5A

U10 Merrilands Kauri 4.35 v Puketapu Magic field 4B

U12 Merrilands Miro 5.10 v Fitzroy Fireballs field 5A (Semi Final).

Please let coaches know asap if you will not be there!

Road Patrollers

This years Road Patrollers are bringing home a notice today. They are having a fun day out on Wednesday, organised by Constable Gary Toa,  in recognition of their mahi.

Athletics Day – Friday 2nd December. Please see timetable for the day below. All welcome.

– Junior and Senior Rotations start at 11:20am

– Break for Lunch at 1:00pm – 1:50pm

– Middles and Senior Relays start 2pm

– Parents can walk around and encourage/support their child at each event

Latest School Newsletter

Kia ora whānau

Please find attached in the Notices section of the app, the latest school newsletter.

Ngā mihi
Michelle Cronin
Principal

Notices

TOUCH DRAW

U10 Merrilands Karaka V SJB Bulls 4.35 Field 1B

U10 Merrilands Kauri v SJB Chiefs 4.35 Field 4A

U12 Merrilands Miro have a BYE

Board Policy Review

Kia ora koutou

The Board continues to review Health & Safety policies as part of the annual review cycle for 2022. This term’s topics of review and the review feedback form can be found by following the insturctions below.

Visit the website https://merrilands.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm
Enter the username (merrilands) and password (shine).
Click on ‘Current Review’ and 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.
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.

We really appreciate your feedback.

Ngā mihi
Michelle Cronin
Principal

TOUCH Wed 16/11

U10 Merrilands Karaka v SJB Crusaders 4.35 field 2A

U10 Merrilands Kauri v Fitzroy Comets 4.35 field 4A

U12 Merrilands Miro v Bell Block Boom 5.10 field 5B

*Please consider others and advise coaches if you will not be playing before game time.

Year 6 Water Safety Programme

The annual Water Safety programme at the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre is on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week. Sessions are for 1 hour.

Students all travel to and from the Aquatic Centre by bus and will be accompanied by their classroom teacher and Mrs Cronin. 

All students need to bring are their togs and a towel.

Once again, we are really looking forward to our tamariki being involved in this programme.

Ngā mihi

Mrs Cronin

Enrolments 2023

Do have a child turning 5 next year that is not already pre enroled with us, or any family or friends that you know of that intend to come to our school next year?

We are in the process of organising classes for 2023 so please contact the office to share this information and to ensure we are aware of who will be coming. This helps us to plan for who will be with us and what our class sizes and compositions will be.

Thank you, this information will be really helpful!

Ngā manaakitanga

Michelle Cronin

We’re still alive and kicking. Whānaungatanga, kotahitanga, and manaakitanga – what a great team of staff we have at Merrilands School!!!

Wero/Challenge 2023: Staff vs Community 😳

Melanie, from the office, our driver taking time out for breakfast and whaea Sarah our Mathematician… working out our estimated finishing time. 

While you are sleeping. Spare a snoozy thought for our staff racing round the mountain this evening 😊

They say it’ll be fun 😳😳

MERRILANDS ATHLETICS DAY

Friday 2 December – starting at 11.20. All welcome.

Kapa Haka note – tamariki are encouraged to bring a zip up top to wear to keep them warm in the morning. It doesn’t have to be navy blue.

Home and School meeting postponed to next week.

Reminder: Kapa Haka, meet in the Hall at 7:15am tomorrow morning. The bus will leave at 8:30am and return at 11am.

TOUCH DRAW

4.35 U10 Merrilands Karaka v Puketapu Magics field 2B

4.35 U10 Merrilands Kauri v Fitzroy Speedsters 3B

5.10 U12 Merrilands Miro v Puketapu Warriors 5B

Arohamai. Kapa Haka will be leaving school at 8:30am by bus to the Waitara War Memorial Hall. We will return to school at 11am.

Puanga Festival – Thursday 10th November

Kia Ora e te whānau, 

The Kapa Haka group will be performing at Puanga on Thursday at 9:20am. Your child will need to be at school by 7:15am to get ready for the festival. Girls will need to have their hair up, as they have done in the previous performances. (Half up and half down. 

Parents are welcome to come and will need to pay at the door. 

Nga mihi,

Matua John 

Last day to order Calendars AND Scholastic book club is today – Sunday 6th November. Get in quick so you don’t miss out.

Parihaka Day celebrations – coffee cart and cake sales will also be available for purchases throughout the day tomorrow.

In for the long haul. Come on down if you can spare some time to help

SCHOOL PHOTOS

School Photos are coming home today! Check your child’s Bag.

Parihaka Day Timetable

Please check out the details for Parihaka Day in the notices section of the app. 

Notices

Special request –

Whānau please ask your children to please keep off the wood and stone pile that’s been delivered for the hangi and is stacked in the corner of the field by the pool. 

While it might look like fun, it isn’t that safe. 

Ngā mihi

Michelle Cronin

Only 25 Hangi left to purchase if you wish to purchase one.

Thursday Helpers For Hangi Prep

Kia Ora tātou e te whānau o Merrilands,

Tomorrow prep for the Hangi will start at 10am. This will take us through the day. Come on down if you can spare some time to help us. We look forward to seeing you.

Thank you for all of the donations and your time to help.

Nga mihi,

Matua John 

Hangi Donations

Mōrena koutou,

Thank you for the generous donations from our community. As always we are so appreciative of your support. Tomorrow we will start our prep so the end of school today is the last day for any donations you would like to add. 

Also a big thank you to those of you who have offered to help tomorrow and Friday. Please watch out for the notification this afternoon for timings.

We are very excited about Parihaka Day on Friday.

Nga mihi 

Matua John