 Newsletter No 38 4 December 2019 |
Kia ora, Wow, what an awesome week we have had! Our Kapa Haka group performed at the Ahurei Maori Festival last Friday and I must say they were stunning. Our group performed beautifully. It was really awesome to have JPC and St Michael’s performing on the same night. We are hoping that our Year 6’s moving onto JPC next year join the JPC Kapa Haka group. Thanks to their tutor, Koro Tini and Sylvia Dunkley who have been tutoring the group since the beginning of the year. Thanks also to our Kaumatua, Rangi who has been supporting the group at practices. Thank you to you all. A big thank you to all who assisted and participated in the Christmas parade last weekend. The children looked wonderful in their costumes. It was great we could have a Christian presence in the parade . A special thanks to Bruce from CLAAS Harvest Centre who supplied the truck, and Wiki Hill who drove the float truck on the day. Thanks also to Michelle Strathern for running around picking up the hay bales and coordinating the stable build, Sara Field who lent us the hay bales, Madeline, a year 2 student, for riding her horse in the parade and her mum Charlotte for transporting the horse to the parade, Palmers Garden Centre for loaning us the palms and the parents who helped prepare the float on Saturday morning and dismantled it after the parade. Thanks also to the parents who dressed their children for the parade as well as to staff member Bernie Hall, our DRS who helped on the day, and to the parents who walked beside the float during the parade. A huge THANK YOU to you all. As you can see it does take a big effort to get a float ready for the parade. On Sunday, a good number of children participated in the Weetbix Tryathlon. It was great to see them participating, so well done children. Thanks to Leanne our Sports’ Co-ordinator for getting a gazebo organised at the event. Tomorrow we have the Advent Liturgy in the hall at 10.00am, and at 1.30pm we are hosting a Franciscan High School from Brisbane. You are welcome to come to both of these events. Also tomorrow we are hosting the “Coaches’ Thank You” evening. It starts at 5.30pm in the school library and it is a special night when we can thank all our coaches. All coaches and managers are invited. We would love to see you all there. Year 6’s have their retreat this Friday. Bernie Hall, Bevan James and Isaac Fransen are facilitating the day and we wish them well on this special day. Also on Friday the Kakano children are performing their Nativity Play at midday followed by a shared lunch. I am really looking forward to the play. Also on Friday the Kahikitea team are hosting a celebration morning tea. Parents would have received an invitation for this. Next Tuesday from 3.10pm the children from the Totara team will be hosting their parents in their classrooms to show them the work they have been doing this term. A number of our students are to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation at the 10 o’clock Mass this Sunday. Bishop Steve will be here to celebrate Mass and confirm our students. Confirmation is a sacramental ritual practised by several Christian denominations. The word means strengthening or deepening one's relationship with God. We wish our students well. The students being Confirmed are: Next Friday is our End of Year Mass and Special Awards Presentations. This starts at 9.00am and as this is a very special occasion, we hope that you will be able to join us. This is the final Mass for our Year 6’s, so it is a very special one. Looking forward to seeing you there. Prizegiving is the following Wednesday 18th Dec at 11.00am. You are very welcome to attend both occasions. Next week your child will bring home information about reading over the holidays. Children must READ, READ, READ during their time away from school. Some children’s progress can go backwards if they do not continue to read over the holidays. Please keep your child reading. Books also make great Christmas gifts! We have some exciting prizes for the lucky draw which will be drawn as soon as the children return for Term 1 next year. Next Thursday 12th December, the whole school is involved in our school’s tryathlon: 11.00am - years 3-6, 1.30pm - years 1&2. Children can ride trikes, three wheelers and bikes, swim in the school pool and run around a course. We need parents to help with marshalling etc, so if you can help please let your child’s teacher know or email Lorna on lornad@stmarysrotorua.school.nz Some children will receive an invitation to my Principal’s special morning tea, which is to be held on Tuesday morning in the staffroom. At the end of each term three hard working children have been nominated from each class to come along and enjoy a tasty morning tea. An invitation will come home with your child.. Once again we have produced a school magazine. It is a fantastic record of the year. The price is $5.00 and it is certainly good value. Thank you to Ricoh Copiers who sponsor this book. The magazine will be available during the last week of school, but you must pre-order from the school office if you want a copy. Last year we ran out of magazines and some of our children missed out on getting one, so get your order in to avoid disappointment. Have a lovely week Some important dates for this term Thursday 5 December Friday 6 December Sunday 8 December Tuesday 10 December Thursday 12 December Friday 13 December Wednesday 18 December Friday 20 December FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES:The season of Advent has begun. Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at the Second Coming. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning "coming". View-Advent in 2 minutes. Our Year 6 students have their Retreat on Friday. This is a special opportunity to reflect on our journey at St Mary’s and what values they will take with them as they move forward. Tomorrow, (Thursday) we have an Advent Liturgy at 10:00am hosted by Kakano Team; we would love to see as many of our parents and caregivers as possible if you can make it.  Bernie Hall-DRS SCHOOL LUNCHES : PITA PIT : Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays  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. For parents who want to order boys' winter shorts with buckle. link here Change of Address/Contact Phone numbers: Change of Address/Contact Phone numbers: To advise School Absences Sports NewsSUMMER SPORTS UNIFORM - RETURN WEETBIX TRYATHLON SUMMER SPORT - Term 4 2019All information regarding summer sport including the weekly draw can be found on our school website Touch Cricket registrations have closed. Flippaball registrations have closed. WATER POLO  SWIM SCHOOLSOrange Swim School enrolments for term 4 are open, both at St Mary's (Thursday and Saturday) and Holdens Bay (Monday-Friday) 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 MARGS LEARN TO SWIM CLASSES St Mary's Primary School SWIM ROTORUA SPECIAL MENTIONIf your child has achieved something special, sporting or otherwise, please email Leanne with a blurb and photo sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz On Saturday Lakes Performing Arts Company had an amazing show. After the big finale they had their prizegiving. Anaia received the award for 2019 Junior Drama Award for Lakes Performing Arts Company. She has been attending drama classes all year, and was presented this due to her commitment, participation and development over the year. Congratulations Anaia, your hardwork has clearly paid off.   Lakes Performing Arts:  Atawhai Childcare is a small whanau based childcare centre that has been running ECE at Te Toi Ohomai Campus for the past year. We are extending our services by opening our centre to 5-13yr olds. We have been running quality OSCAR programmes for over 15 years in Hawkes Bay and are excited about the opportunity to cater to the Rotorua community.     |
