ENVIRO GROUP

This week the Enviro group investigated 'who's been there' with a Hutt Science Kit. Water samples are often investigated as part of monitoring what species are in catchment areas through DNA sampling (eDNA). The Enviro group used different water samples which had different glitters in them, running them through a filter paper and then looking at the glitter that remained. Each of the glitter colours referred to a different species' DNA that exist in the catchment areas - both predators and native species. Identification of DNA in the environment can be used to monitor biodiversity and assess ecosystem health.

STAFF FAREWELLS

This term we are saying goodbye to some staff members. Sasha, who has been a teacher aide and has done an amazing job supporting different tamariki across the school. Thank you for everything you have done for our school, Sasha. We will definitely miss not having your smiling face at our kura.

Annie Cunningham is also leaving us. Annie has been working with the junior team and is off to do something outside of teaching. We wish you all the very best Annie, thank you for the energy and artistic talents that you have brought to our Kākano team.

Trish Cherry is leaving us today to be the Deputy Principal at Epuni School. Trish has been an amazing teacher to many of the students at our school and team leader of the Kākano team. She will be greatly missed, but we know she is a huge asset to Epuni School. We wish Trish all the very best in the next chapter of her teaching journey.

MATARIKI 2023

Matariki falls on Friday 14th of July, which marks the new year in the Māori lunar calendar. This falls in the second week of the school holidays.

Term 3 will begin with each syndicate providing learning experiences based around Matariki. Some classes have begun some learning around Matariki this side of the holidays. If you have expertise to share or access to expertise in areas that are related to Matariki, could you contact Sam Blandford on sam.blandford@maungaraki.school.nz e.g. astronomy, storytelling, knowledge of Māori kai (Rēwena bread etc). Alternatively you could contact your child's teacher as this may fit into their classroom programme.

There will also be a schoolwide celebration on the evening of Thursday 27 July (week 2) which will consist of sharing kai and celebrating the mahi the tamariki have done. This will include a hangi fundraiser which is through a local business, CJ's Hangi. We will hopefully raise some money to enable us to order more kapa haka uniforms. We have pre-ordered 100 Hangi packs to arrive on Thursday the 27th of July. If you would like one please complete the Signmee notice that will be sent home, it will be first in, first served. You will be able to pick these up ready to eat at our school Matariki celebration 6pm-8pm.