Kia ora koutou,
As the winter season takes hold, this time of year signifies the beginning of Matariki, the Māori New Year and the celebration of culture, language and people. As part of our school celebrations our Kapa Haka Group will lay a traditional hangi, food wrapped in cabbage leaves and cooked slowly in the ground. This is a special event for our Māori school community where our Kapa Haka will also perform for their whānau.
MRI Matariki Celebration and Hangi – Tuesday 13th June – 5pm, MRIS Hall (Please note you will need to RSVP for this event)
The morning of our Matariki Celebrations, we will be officially opening our upgraded Ahuru Mōwai Whare – Tuesday 13th June – 9am.
You are welcome to join us for these special school events. Please RSVP to the office to assist with the planning if you would like to join us for the Hangi or Whare opening.
Also coming up this term is our ‘Art Week’. This is where your child will opt into an art activity. This is a great opportunity to celebrate the Arts, fostering creativity which is an important part of a child’s education. An Art exhibition of the work will be held on Friday 23rd June to share with you the wonderful work created. Please come along and experience our exhibition. (Please see the Flyer below with times)
With mid year fast approaching, teachers are currently writing progress reports. These communicate your child’s progress in their learning against their goals, their strengths and achievements in learning. Reports go home on Friday 30th June.
Coming up early next term are our School Open Days. This shows prospective families the many and varied opportunities that we have to offer at Mount Roskill Intermediate School. If you know of someone who may be interested, please see the attached information below for more details.
Attendance; With the winter bugs and a resurgence of both Rheumatic Fever and Covid-19 it is important to please monitor your child and test for Covid and have sore throats checked by your doctor. Attendance at school is important and directly relates to your child being engaged in their learning, with peers and progressing in their learning. If you are having issues with getting your child to school, please let us know so we will help. Attendance = learning = opportunities. We are all responsible.
The School Board is excited to announce that we have appointed Mr Carl Maskell as an additional Deputy Principal, to support the work that we are doing as a school. Mr Maskell attended MRIS as a student a number of years ago and is passionate and committed to the Mt Roskill Community. He has supported our Pastoral Care work in the school as a Team Leader and will retain his leadership of School Sport as he moves permanently into the Deputy Principal Role to work alongside our other Deputy Principals. We will be celebrating and welcoming Mr Maskell into his new role with a special Whakatau this Friday 9th June.
In 2019, for the 2020 school year, I was fortunate to be awarded the APPA (Auckland Primary Principals Association) Traveling Fellowship to undertake an educational sabbatical and research for a term. A few weeks out from this taking place the world changed with the COVID-19 lockdown, making the sabbatical impossible to undertake. The APPA and MRIS Board are now supporting me to undertake this Sabbatical/Travelling Fellowship, which will take place early next term, for 10 school weeks, after our MRIS Open Days. Deputy Principal Mrs Tracey Hughes will be Acting Principal in my absence. I am excited to undertake this wonderful opportunity and look forward to the refreshment and learning that it will bring. I know the school is well placed to continue to function highly in my absence.
Finally, a child who is happy, feels safe and valued will learn better than one who has a worry or concern. We encourage all students to speak up and let us know so that we can work with them to resolve it. We ask for your support in letting us know if your child has concerns that we are not aware of.
Thank you again for your ongoing support and encouragement over this last term.
Ko te Pae Tawhiti, Whaia kia Tatu, Ko te Pae Tata, Whakamaua kia Tina
Reach for distant goals, so they seem close for you to grasp, But hold fast to those that are close to you, so you can attain them
Ngā mihi nui
Kristen Walsham
Principal – Tumuaki