Kia ora,

We had another full-on week last week. Unfortunately, I was unable to be at the Grandparents’ Day but I did get some awesome feedback and it was great to hear the day was a success. Thank you Bernie Hall, our DRS, and all those who made sure the day was a huge success. The morning ended well with the Raffle Draw and the results are 1st Prize: $500 Noel Leeming Voucher - Norah Leatherland, 2nd Prize Trampoline - Christian Waititi and 3rd Prize $200 Pak n Save Gift Card - Rhys Fenton.Thanks to Kelley Kemp for the huge number of hours she put into the organisation of the raffle.

We hosted some wonderful visitors from Ecole Catholique de Dumbea Sur Mer, a Catholic School in New Caledonia. The group was made up of forty one students and they entertained us on Thursday and they spent time in our classrooms. On Friday they joined us for Mass and performed at our Grandparents’ Day Concert. They were certainly great ambassadors for their school and country.

The Hands On Water Expo was a hit for the students who participated in this Expo. This event was hosted by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Students from a number of schools in the Tauranga, Whakatane and Rotorua regions participated. The aim of the event was to raise awareness with students about water issues, give them some practical skills they can use in their own community and encourage students to network with the different water related agencies so they know where to go for relevant support.

A large group of students participated in the Marimba Festival in Tauranga. It was also a huge success. Thanks to Millie Locke and Angela Franks for teaching our students the marimba and thanks to Anne Cato for coordinating the day.

This week is busy too with the Making a Difference Swimming Programme starting for our Totara team. Three swimming instructors from Swim Rotorua and Rotorua Lakes Swim are providing the instruction.

The Blacksticks Hockey programme is working with the Kahikatea team this week. The programme is going very well.

A group of Mandarin Language Assistants are providing a Discover China Day on Thursday for our Totara team. Welcome to the Language Assistants and thanks for providing this opportunity for our students.

We have our Teachers’ Only day this Friday 15th November. There will be no school on this day. If you need to enrol your child in the Glenholme After School Care for the day, please contact Mary-Ann Roling on 021 215599. She will be running this at St Mary’s. Thank you for your support with this.

Some important dates for this term
Friday 15th November: Teacher Only Day
Monday 18th November: JPC Orientation (afternoon)
Saturday 30th November: Rotorua Christmas Parade
Friday 6th December: Yr 6 Retreat
Friday 6th December; Kakano nativity
Thursday 12th December: School Tryathlon
Friday 13th December: End of Year Mass
Wednesday December 18th: School Prizegiving
Friday December 20th: Missioning and last day of term

Have an enjoyable week.
Regards,
David Macmillan, Principal.

Prizewinners from the PTA Raffle:

1st prize $500 Noel Leeming voucher = Norah Leatherland
2nd prize Trampoline = Christian Waititi
3rd prize $200 Pak 'n Save Gift card = Rhys Fenton
Congratulations to our prizewinners, and many, many thanks for your support of our raffle.

REMINDER - MEETING TONIGHT :

Invitation to Parents of Students who will be in Year 3 in 2020

All Year 2 parents are invited, and encouraged, to attend a parent meeting to be held:

When : Wednesday 13 November
Where: Room 14, St Mary's School
Time: 7 - 8 pm
Parking: We will make sure the Church Carpark gate into the school yard is open so you can park in the Church Carpark if you wish.

Purpose:To help parents gain a better understanding of what a Chfromebook is and how Chromebooks are used at school.

URGENT REQUEST:

With only a few weeks left in this schooling year we must mention school fees again!

We understand a busy, expensive time of the year approaches, but it would be great if those owing fees of any sort could possibly make some headway to clear their outstanding balances.

Please come and see Mr Macmillan or Mrs Mason (accounts) if you need to discuss any financial matters. A regular automatic payment is a good way to make some headway with these expenses.

Thank you for your understanding and co-operation.

PTA MOVIE NIGHT: . School Hall -

Movie night for everyone - parents, students, grandparents, friends ...
22nd November Doors open at 5.30pm and movie starts at 6pm
Polar Express is the Movie and the project will be managed by "Night Flicks" with a screen the whole size of the back wall in the school hall.
$7.50 per person which includes some goodies!!
Burger, chips and Drink Combos $7.50 and other goodies.
Bring your beanbag, cushion or chair.
Tickets presold at office - CASH only.

FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES:

Nǐ hǎo everyone!

Thanks to all those who were able to come and join us last Friday for our Grandparents' Day and Mass. We enjoyed a lovely Mass, followed by a concert with our school groups - Our Pasifika group led by Miss Maguire, our Kapa Haka group led by Mrs Dunkley and our School Choir led by Mr Norman. Our Gymnastics group also performed fabulously, thanks to Mrs Hughes and Mrs Kemp for running this club also. It was great to have the visiting students from New Caledonia with us.

In a couple of weeks our school will host a DRS Day. DRS from around our cluster will be getting together for the last time for 2019. I am looking forward to showing our visitors our wonderful school.

Bernie Hall-DRS

SCHOOL LUNCHES :

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

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

Health & Safety : We ask that parents whose children are bringing scooters to school, also bring helmets. When the children are learning to use the ramps there are alot of mishaps so the children need to be protected. Thank you for your co-operation.

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

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 WEDNESDAYS - gymnastics has finished for this year.

Sports News

WINTER SPORTS INFORMATION

IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Sports uniform MUST be returned at the end of each season, even if your child will play the sport again next year. Unless your child is playing cricket or touch rugby, any sports uniform you have needs to be returned asap.

UNIFORMS
Any outstanding winter sports uniform will now be invoiced. However please return any items if you have them.
If you have any queries around this, please contact Leanne via email sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz or ring/visit the school office between 10am-3.15pm

WEETBIX KIDS TRYathlon 2019

Sunday 1st December 2019 -Kuirau Park, Rotorua
You must enter online, entries are now open!
Enter as part of our school group 'St Mary's Catholic Primary School Rotorua' by clicking here

SUMMER SPORT - Term 4 2019

All information regarding summer sport including the weekly draw can be found on our school website

Touch
Click here to view Touch Information.

Cricket registrations have closed.
Click here to view Cricket Information.

Flippaball registrations have closed.
Click here to view Flippaball Information.

ROTORUA TENNIS CLUB, Manuka Crescent

Junior tennis starts term 4. Club membership for a year only $70 and includes club days in terms 4 and 1 and all affiliation fees. For more information contact Debra at physiodeb@hotmail.com or 021335492 https://www.sporty.co.nz/rotoruatennis
Club night Friday. Fun games and matches. Primary age Hot Shots from 3.30- 4.15. Intermediate and High School 4.15-5.45.
Coaching with Club professional Justin Megraw and his coaches is available on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Book in through https://www.no1tennis.co.nz Taking bookings for term 4 now. Adult classes for beginner to advanced also available.

SWIM SCHOOLS

Orange Swim School enrolments for term 4 are open, both at St Mary's (Thursday and Saturday) and Holdens Bay (Monday-Friday)
Enquiries orange.swimschool@gmail.com and 027-2203470

Advance swimming at the Aquatic Ctr enrolments are open for term 4. Enquiries uas.swimming@gmail.com and 027- 2203470

United Aquatic Sports - Te Arawa Swimming - Orange Swim School
- delivering the full aquatic package -

MARGS LEARN TO SWIM CLASSES

St Mary's Primary School
Recommencing Monday 14th October 2019.
We have classes for all levels from non confident to advanced.
We coach on a Mon, Tues and Wed.
We have smaller classes, provide personal attention and a solid progression based programme.
Please phone Marg 0274599286 or email boiellem@hotmail.com and please provide your phone number

SWIM ROTORUA
Swim Rotorua is a friendly swimming club based at the Rotorua Aquatic Centre offering swim coaching on a daily basis for those who have already learnt to swim, but want to improve their technique and fitness for fun, water safety, flipper ball, waterpolo, triathlons, waka ama or to have a go at swimming competitions. We can take your swimming skills as far as you want – our club ranges from 8 year olds to those who win medals at national and regional competitions, right through to those who have swum for New Zealand. We have a range of squads and coaches and offer a free trial. Bring a friend and give swimming a go. Email swimrotoruaadmin@gmail.com or phone Tara on: 022 332 6922.

SPECIAL MENTION

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

Lakes Performing Arts:

BEAT THE CHRISTMAS RUSH : COMING SOON! n3, Noel Leeming and Torpedo7 bring you store-wide discounts from Wednesday 13 November - Tuesday 26 November 2019.

Noel Leeming: Get cost* +5% or cost* +7.5% on a wide range of items in-store only. Exclusions apply^.

Torpedo7: Save up to 60% on a large range of products with deals in-store and online on Bikes, Fitness, Water, Camping gear, and more. Exclusions apply*.