Kia Ora,

Welcome back to Term 3. We have an action packed term planned with great learning experiences for our students. Our concept for this term is Taonga and the key understanding is 'what is of value'. Classes will study the concept in different learning contexts.

We are very pleased to welcome Sara Mines who has started teaching with the Kakano team (Kakano 5). She is a very experienced teacher who has previously been teaching at St Michael’s for many years. Her two sons, Campbell and Mitchell have also started with us this week. Sara started the week with eleven new students in her class so I would like to welcome Braxton Capper, Zoe Haines, Jerome Haines, David Stahlhut, Simon Stahlhut, Jackam Sakalia-Zoing, Lianessa Sakalia-Zoing, Christian Harding, Holly Taylor, Abhijot Bhatti, and Katie Adams. We now have five sets of twins in Kakano. That is certainly amazing.The following students also started with us this week. Welcome Claire Delos Santos, Carl Delos Santos and Luke Stolz. We hope these children and their families enjoy being part of the St Mary’s community. Please make them feel very welcome.

Our Holiday Reading Programme has been running over the holidays. I really enjoyed the photos parents sent in over the holidays with their children reading in different places. My hope is that we have had over 90% of our students participating in this programme. If you read to your child, log it on the child’s reading log. Logs need to be brought back to school by tomorrow. We have lots of cool prizes for the lucky draw. All those children who participate are eligible to go in the draw for a prize.

Three Way Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Monday 29th July and Tuesday 30th July. To book an interview time please see below.

Reports will be sent home with your child on Friday. Our reports look a bit different this time with National Standards gone. You will notice on the front of the report we have outlined our school values. Teachers have focused on these when writing comments about your child. On the back of the report, teachers have indicated your child’s progress in Reading, Maths and Writing. Bring your child’s report to the conference if you would like anything clarified from the report.

In partnership with the NZ Police, all our children will be involved in the Keeping Ourselves Safe Programme. Keeping Ourselves Safe enables children to learn and apply a range of safety skills that they can use when interacting with others. Students recognise the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships, and those who have been or are being abused are encouraged to seek help.

We will be holding ‘Keeping Ourselves Safe’ parent information meetings on Thursday 25th July at 2.00pm in the School Staffroom and the meeting will be repeated at 5.30pm in Room 14. You are encouraged to attend a meeting to hear more about the programme.

Kind regards,
David Macmillan, Principal.

THREE WAY CONFERENCES

Three Way Conferences ( for Parent/Student/Teacher) will take place for all our classes next week.

Monday 29 July 3.10-6.20pm

Tuesday 30 July 3.10 - 5.20pm

Bookings are now open. The time allowed for each conference is 10 minutes. Please be considerate of the teacher (who needs to keep to the appointment schedule) and other parents who have made bookings. If you feel you need more time for discussion, please organise another time to meet with the teacher.

To make a booking for your child please go to www.schoolinterviews.com.au
and enter the event code gdr2j

You can also make a booking by going directly to https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/code?code=gdr2j

GENERAL SCHOOL FEES:

Student invoices for fees will be sent home with your child this week.
As we are now mid year, we would like fees paid by the end of term 3 at the latest, unless you have a automatic payment plan in place.

If you need any information regarding setting up a payment plan, or if you have difficulty or a query with your invoice, please email Margo Mason - admin@stmarysrotorua.school.nz or call into the office.

LUCKY BOOK ORDERS:

Lucky Book orders are due back 2 August at 12 noon. NO LATE orders please.
If paying by cheque please make payable to NZ Scholastic.
Please remember to put your child's name and classroom number on the order form.
If the order is a gift please write this on the order form and it will be held in the office for collection.

Programmes at St Mary's Church - completed registration forms to Parish Office direct:

FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES:

Selamat siang,

It is great to see our students back excited for another term of learning. This term our classes will study Jesus and the Church strands. We celebrate Mary of the Cross Mackillop this term, and we will acknowledge the virgin Mary’s parents, Anne and Joachim, and also St Vincent De Paul as new Liturgies this year.

For term 3, we pray our teachers have a blessed and happy term as they teach God’s ways, that our students feel respected and happy. We pray our support staff feel appreciated and supported in the work they do.

Our RE leaders are also busy organising The Great Art Challenge! As part of celebrating what we believe as a Catholic school and what we value. This challenge is open entry. BIG PRIZES up for grabs. Details below:

A piece of art that represents an image, icon or a quote from our Catholic teachings
A child’s creation

Any medium may be used from one of the following categories: painting, clay, sculpture, mosaic, fabric, sketch, or digital art

Submit a short description about the art piece and what inspired it
Art may be submitted individually or in the small group category
Entries must be received by the end of week 6 (30th August) to be announced on Mary Mackillop Day.

Blessings,

BERNIE HALL,
DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES.

SCHOOL LUNCHES :

PITA PIT : Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
orders online via www.luncheonline.co.nz

PITA PIT have updated their menu options. You may call their helpline on 0800 565 565 if needing updates.

FRIDAYS: Sausage Sizzle and Juicies available. $1.50 each item. Order from your classroom teacher.

 

Online Uniform Sales: Uniforms are available online via our website using paypal.
Parents can also order uniforms from Schooltex (warehouse) direct at this link

For parents who want to order boys' winter shorts with buckle. link here

PTA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING:
Mark your calendars now :
AGM Wednesday 31 July, 7pm in school staffroom.
Any parent/caregiver is welcome to attend. Come and meet this lively bunch of parents who work so hard for our school.

ICAS INTERNATIONAL ASSESSMENTS:

Notices re 2019 ICAS Assessments will be made available to interested Year 3-6 students from today.

ICAS Tests we will offer this year:
Year 3 - 6 students: Science, Mathematics, Spelling, English
Year 4 - 6 students: Writing

The School Office will also have extra copies of the notice. Participation in these tests is optional and on a user pays basis. We suggest that they are only suitable/useful for very able students.

If you want your child to participate please encourage them to collect a notice from their class teacher. Please also note that the return slip, with payment, needs to be at our School Office by noon on Thursday 25 July.
NB NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE ACCEPTED.

Change of Address/Contact Phone numbers:
For change of personal contact details : Please notify the office or email : dorothyj@stmarysrotorua.school.nz
The school newsletter is available on Wednesday afternoons via email.

To advise School absences

Leave a message on the answerphone
Notify us via the school website (see quick links-absences)
Notify us via the School App - see absentee form

GYMNASTICS Tuesday, lunchtimes in the school hall.
Your child is welcome to come along and join in.

Sports News

WINTER SPORTS INFORMATION

SPORTS DRAWS click here

MINIBALL
Games start again this week!
DRAWS are up on the school website
DRAWS for the season are available to view on the Rotorua Basketball website

NETBALL
Next games are this Sat 27th July and Monday 29th July.
DRAWS are up on the school website

FOOTBALL
Games are ON this Saturday 27th July.
DRAWS are up on the WaiBOP website

We are the DUTY club again on Saturday 3rd August and September 7th. We will need many volunteers to help make this day a success. We need people to help set up the fields, run the BBQ, pack up the fields, transport the required equipment, collect food in the morning and manage the money on these days. Please let Catherine know if you are available to help. Email sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz or ph 07 3481701
"Many hands make light work"

HOCKEY

Thunder - you play this Sat 27th July.
Cyclones - you have a bye this Sat 27th July.
Funsticks - you start back again on Sat 3rd August

DRAWS are up on the school website

St Mary's are the DUTY CLUB on Sat 10th August. We will need many volunteers to make this day a success. We will, in particular, need a person or family to volunteer to oversee this fundraising day (in charge of the money, picking up the food and utensils needed etc), with all money made going straight back in to Hockey here at St Mary's. If you can do this or help on the day please contact Catherine, email: sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz

TOUGH GUY & GAL 2019 - Yrs 3-6

Wednesday 21st August 2019. $25 per child.

Information and registration forms have been sent home with children. Forms are also available to view on our school website click here or can be collected from the school office. Please ensure you make payment when returning your registration form.
Completed forms and payment must be returned by Wednesday 31st July 2019 to be registered by our school. No late registrations can be accepted at school.

WaiBOP Football GK Programme - Term 3 (2019)

WaiBOP Football GK Programme - Term 3, 2019 ( 7 weeks)

Rotorua, International Stadium, 9th-12th Grade players 4pm - 5pm and 13th -16th Grade players 5.15pm - 6.15pm, Cost $75 Aug 6th - Sept 17th.
For any further information please contact Seamus Casey seamus.c@waibop.co.nz or James Bannatyne james.b@waibop.co.nz

To register click here

TEAM PHOTOS

Please send any team photos you have to Catherine - sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz

SPECIAL MENTION

If your child has achieved something special, sporting or otherwise, please email Catherine with a blurb and photo sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz

73rd Annual Rotorua Speech and Drama Competition – Sat 3rd – Sun 4th August

FREE ENTRY all weekend, Energy Events Centre.

Over the two days more than 170 five to eighteen year olds will participate in rehearsed group drama items, reading recitals, Shakespeare, light verse, character recitals in costume, poetry recitals, impromptu performances and more.
The Premier event is the ‘Performer of the Year Award’ which takes place on the Sunday afternoon at 1pm with senior competitors taking to the stage to compete for this prestigious award.

Come along to see Rotorua's talented youth showcase talents at the 73rd Annual Rotorua Speech and Drama Competition.”

Facebook Event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/396349200999089/

Talent Wanted – Agrodome

Agrodome, New Zealand’s ultimate farm experience, is looking for 20 “models” to assist us in an upcoming photoshoot.

We are after people who:

Are over the age of 40
Enjoy laughing and aren’t afraid of the camera
Are available on Sunday, 1st September from 9:00am – noon at the Agrodome, Rotorua

Successful models will receive a $50 Prezzy card, lunch and a complimentary pass to the Agrodome Farm Show and Farm Tour!

If you’re interested please email james.greville-mattinson@agrodome.co.nz so we can add you to the talent list.