Welcome to the very special learning community that is St Matthew's Primary School.
December 6 Update
I am in the process of working out likely class placements for the 2018 school year. Because of our roll growth we will be starting with 7 classrooms for next year—this is very exciting!
Getting the right mix of children across the school and balancing out class sizes is certainly a mission—but we are getting there.
Our school often has an influx of children just before school starts that can drastically alter our class plans.
Can I ask a big favour? If you have
pre-schoolers who are likely to be starting next year can you let us know in the
office—it really is important for us to know. That includes any friends or relations that you know might be starting next year—again it helps us enormously to know when they are due to start.
Parent Packs that have the application form are available from the school office.
If you have any particular enquiries or concerns for your child next year, can you please contact me with them—email might be the easiest way tim@ourplace.school.nz.
Class lists will be available at the start of the school year.
Tim Anderson, Principal
Our End Of Year Final Assembly is at 6pm on December 19th in the church. If you have any of the trophies at your place, can you return them please ?
School closes at
1:30 on Dec 20th
Disco- This Friday
The School Student Council have arranged a Christmas Disco for this Friday evening from 6 to 7:30. $2 admission—in the Parish Hall.
School Service
This term’s School and Parish joint service is at 1:40 on Friday 8th. If you are available to join us, we would love to see you there.
This month’s Family and Friends meeting is this Thursday at 7pm in the staff room. We are having a debrief after the Fair, looking at some exciting grounds development plans and planning events for next year. It would be great to see you there on Thursday.
Happenings
Saturday Dec 9, 4:00pm to 6:00pm– Messy Church– all welcome.
Monday Dec 11 to 15– W2 Camp, Weka Point. W2 are away at camp for the week.
Wednesday Dec 13, Optimist Yachting, W2 and W4, for the day. B1, B2, B3– Farmyard Zoo visit.
Thursday Dec 14, Board of Trustee meeting. 5:30pm in the staff room. All welcome.
Monday Dec 18, B3/W2 singing in town, Year 8 Leavers surprise function, 5:45pm to 8:30pm.
Tuesday Dec 19, W5 at Flip Out. End of Year Breakup and Prize Giving, 6:00pm to 7:30pm in the Church.
Term dates for 2018
They are as follows:
Term 1 1 Feb to 13 April
Term 2 30 April to 6 July
Term 3 23July to 28Sept
Term 4 15 Oct to 19 Dec
Sugary Drinks at School
The board of trustees passed a new policy at the end of last year following our community consultation during Term 3 and 4.
Only water and the school milk are available for children to drink at school and at school activities.
Other types of drink need to have no sugar or sweetener added to be allowed at school.
Breakfast club
Breakfast Club is up and running, in the Hall from 8.10 until 8.45 every morning. All pupils welcome for Weetbix and toast. We will no longer be offering sugar for Weetbix. Milo will be served in Terms 2 & 3 when a warm drink is a great start to the day in colder weather! In Terms 1 and 4, children will have a choice of milk or water to drink.
Canteen and Hot Dogs
We have American Hotdogs on a Wednesday for $2.00 each and Canteen on a Friday.
Canteen forms available from the office foyer. These both start in week 2.
Your Chatterbox
Many people get the Chatterbox by email and enjoy reading it on a device. If you would this by email, please let Mr Coyle know at admin@ourplace.school.nz
If you would ONLY like an email version (and not get a paper copy) also please let Mr Coyle know at admin@ourplace.school.nz.
Picking Your Child Up
A reminder please that if you are dropping off your child to school after 9:00am, make sure they come in via the office to sign in.
It would be best if you accompany them.
If you are picking up your child
early from school or for an appointment, please do this from the office as well.
Your child will meet you in the school office.
It is not OK to just meet them in the carpark, you need to let the office know.
Music Opportunities
Guitar/Ukulele—These are held here at school on Thursdays and are taken by Brendan Hooper. These proved very popular last year and we have some talented children come through. Brochures available from the office or phone Brendan on 870- 8522.
Instrumental– at Heretaunga Intermediate. These lessons cover drums, cello, flute, violin and brass. Brochures available from our school office. Places fill very fast so if you are interested please contact Ngaire Shand 876 9388 within the next few days.
Instrumental here at school. This year there will be an opportunity for students to learn Flute, Piano, Fife or Recorder. The lessons will be taught by Kathy Fletcher B.Mus (hons) LTCL who has returned to the Bay after many years of music teaching and performing in Wellington. If you are interested or have questions please contact Kathy on e-mail thekains@gmail.com or (027) 8242669
Parish Junior Choir– There are a few places available to join this choir. Practices are on Fridays at 4:00pm and they sing at various Sunday Church services. See Mike in the school office for contact details.
Weekly Events
We have a number of things that happen regularly every week.
Wheels day, Skateboards, unicycles, scooters etc, is on Tuesdays, with helmets required.
Waiapu Kids-Early Childhood Centre St Matthew’s Early Childhood Centre is now taking enrolment's for 2017. There are still places available for 2016. The centre is open from 8:00am to 5:00pm and they cater for children from 0-5 years. Children can attend full time or part time and it is open all year except for three weeks over Christmas. The centre is ideally situated for Mum’s and Dad’s working in the city centre. There are a few vacancies for this year available.
St Matthew's Primary School is an Anglican state integrated school, catering for students from Year 0 to 8, situated in the heart of Hastings. Since its inception in 1995 it has grown to become a small school of just over 130 pupils.
Our motto is "teach our children to use the right path, and when they are older they will remain on it" (Proverbs 22:6). We achieve this by offering high quality values and curriculum based education within a special character context.
We have an open door policy and we encourage all members of our community to be involved in educating our children.
St Matthews Primary School has students from around Hawkes Bay, as well as from around the world.
Our website is aimed at the whole community, students, parents and parish members, to make it an information site to find out what is happening in the school.
Tim Anderson (Principal)