Welcome to the very special learning community that is St Matthew's Primary School.

Update September 20.

Suffrage Day

On 19 September 1893 the Electoral Act was passed, giving all women in New Zealand the right to vote.  As a result of this
landmark legislation, New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world in which all women had the right to vote in parliamentary elections.  Two of our students, Mikayla and Netika were asked to plant a Kate Sheppard Camellia plant at the Heretaunga Women’s Centre (The Women’s Rest), near the library.

 Our last day of the Term is next Friday, September 28 and our end of term assembly/prize giving is also on that Friday at 2:00pm in the church. 

Term 4 starts Monday, October 15 and this is also the time we change over to summer uniform. If your children have outgrown their summer uniform, new items can be purchased through SchoolTex at The Warehouse or we have a limited range of second hand items available here at school. All pupils will need to be wearing their hats from the start of Term 4.

Family and Friends have their next planning meeting on Tuesday, September 25 at 7:00pm in the school staffroom. This is an important meeting as it is for two of our biggest fundraisers of the year. We need your help!   Can you come along?

Mathletics. We had two teams of three pupils, Dave, Nicco and Rayhan for our Year 7’s and Jas, Mikayla and Netika for our Year 8’s attend the local Country and Small Schools Mathletics competitions this week. This involved problem solving as well as team competition. 

Sports Uniforms. Could we please have all sports uniforms returned to school including netball?

Canteen. A reminder for pupils to collect their canteen orders from the rear of the Guild Room.

Super Sixes

Over the past two days, our year six and year 5 children participated in the annual Super Six Competitions. These are
primarily for Year 6 children but can also include Year 5 for some of the smaller schools. We participated in the Netball, Tag Rugby, Soccer and T-Ball. Many thanks to the parent helpers and Marty for coaching the Soccer.

 

 Health

We recently received this information from the District Health Board.
Key points to remember about sore throats

· most sore throats are caused by viruses and need no treatment other than pain relief

· sometimes children can get strep throat (Group A streptococcus bacteria)

· a rare complication of strep throat is rheumatic fever which can cause permanent heart damage  [1]

· Maori and Pacific children are most at risk of rheumatic fever, and should see a doctor in the first 1-2 days of any sore throat

in communities where rheumatic fever is uncommon, seek medical attention if the symptoms are not improving after 48 hours or your child develops other symptoms that concern you

What causes a sore throat?
Sore throats are common in children. Causes can include:

infection by viruses - the most common cause

infection by Group A streptococcus bacteria (strep throat) which is the bacteria that can cause rheumatic fever

Less frequently, glandular fever (Epstein Barr virus) can cause a sore throat, enlarged glands in the neck, fever and tiredness, particularly in teenagers and young adults. Glandular fever is diagnosed with a blood test.

What puts my child at risk of getting a sore throat?
Sore throats caused by viruses are common in all children. Strep throat is more common in school-age children. Strep throats are rare in children under 3.

In New Zealand, Maori and Pacific children are at greatest risk of developing complications from strep throat. Rheumatic fever occurs throughout New Zealand but is more common in Northland, the Auckland region, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Tairawhiti (Gisborne and its surrounding area) and Porirua.  It is also common in Hawkes Bay.

When should I seek help for my child with a sore throat?

It's very difficult to tell the difference between a viral sore throat and strep throat. 

Maori and Pacific children and teenagers

If your Maori or Pacific child or teen has any sore throat, please take them to your family doctor or school clinic for a throat swab. Your child may need 10 days of antibiotics for a suspected strep throat to prevent rheumatic fever. 
Other children and teenagers

If your child with a sore throat is not Maori or Pacific, they have a low risk of developing rheumatic fever. Sore throats are usually viral. Most children with a sore throat do not need any tests but your child may have a throat swab to rule out a strep throat. 

All children

You should see a doctor urgently if your child has:

· drooling (dribbling)

· difficulty breathing

· a new skin rash or bruising

· extreme tiredness or drowsiness

possibly choked on a foreign object or swallowed a toxic substance

You should see your family doctor if your child:

· has symptoms that are not improving after 48 hours

· has been drinking poorly for longer than 24 hours, or you are worried about dehydration

· has great difficulty swallowing

· has increased snoring when asleep, or periods of stopping breathing when asleep

has tender lumps in the neck that are getting bigger (enlarging)

What is the treatment for a sore throat?

Infections caused by viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics. The body will clear out the virus on its own without treatment.

If your child needs take antibiotics for a strep throat, make sure they take all the doses for 10 days even if their symptoms have improved. Your child can return to school or daycare 24 hours after they start antibiotics.

Pain relief can help any sore throat. It will help your child eat and drink. You can relieve pain in the following ways:

· paracetamol (you must follow the dosage instructions on the bottle; it is dangerous to give more than the recommended dose)

· gargling with warm salt water (1 teaspoon of salt per glass of water)

· throat sprays can help but stop using them if your child doesn’t like them

· sucking on lozenges can help by increasing saliva production but don't give them to young children because of the risk of choking

· drinking warm liquids - honey or lemon is a common way of providing relief

cool liquids and ice blocks 

If your child has glandular fever (Epstein Barr virus), they should not take antibiotics because antibiotics don't work against viral infections. In fact, some types of antibiotics, especially amoxicillin, can cause a rash in children with glandular fever.

 

 

School Car Parking

  The school has been working hard with both the Parish and Waiapu Kids on the carparking, drop off and pick ups during the week. We have tried to make the drop– off in the morning and pick up in the afternoon better. Here are some ideas to make this busy time better...

· Please make sure you use a car park if you are picking up from inside the church grounds—please don’t stop in the driveway.

· If you are walking from somewhere else, please use another gate with your child—not the driveway.

· Consider parking a little further away and walking to meet your child.

· Meet your child at the library.

· Encourage your child to bike or scooter to school—maybe form work or a friends place if it is closer than your house.

· (AND PLEASE don’t honk your horn as you wait for your child!)

We are trying to reduce the walking traffic through the carpark and driveway before and
after school. Your help would be appreciated.

Sugary Drinks

 Just a reminder that 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.

Naming Clothing

Thank you SO MUCH to the people that have checked that their child’s uniform is named.

Please please please please please please name your child’s gear—sandals, shorts pinafore, skirt, blouse, shoes, hat,
jersey.

Name it in a place where your child knows to look. Make them responsible for checking they have the right clothing each day, but check it with them.
We can only return articles of clothing if they are NAMED!

 School Fees

We have two types of school fees here at St Matthew’s:

1) Attendance Dues $400.00
($100 per term).

(Paid to The Anglican Diocese of Waiapu) 

These are paid directly to the
Diocese. The fee is set by our
Proprietors and our school has no part in setting it.  This is a compulsory fee that must paid. This fee meets the capital costs of
alterations to school buildings and grounds (plus the building of our Waiapu block), and does not pay for resources.

2) Activity Fees/Voluntary Donation $275.00 paid to the school.  ($68.75 per term).

There is a reduction for multiple children as well, please check with Mr Coyle.
This is split into compulsory fees, e.g. to cover bussing to swimming at Flaxmere Waterworld ( for four weeks per year), also the likes of Technology at Heretaunga.
The voluntary  part covers the extra cost of resources that the Ministry do not fund us for and for the likes of local trips etc. If you have any questions about the School Fees, please talk to Mr Coyle in the office.

 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 are looking for more volunteers to help us in the morning—if you had a spare hour it would be most welcome!

 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

 Your Chatterbox

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