Hello Everyone, Gala Day has unfortunately been postponed. A new date has been set and it now will take place on FRIDAY 19 MARCH, which is also the day we celebrate ST JOSEPH'S DAY. We will have a new Gala Countdown sheet out soon. Our Kahikitea students have been involved with water survival skills with Henk Gruepink from the Orange Swim School. Each class received ten lessons. This is Henk’s last week with us. Thank you Henk for the awesome coaching you have provided to our students. Susan Nelson has resigned her teaching position here to take up a Learning Coordinator role at JPC working with St Michael’s and Bishop Edward Gaines schools. Thank you Susan for the great work you have done with our children over the years and I wish you well in your new role. Last Thursday we had the Year 6 Leaders’ Ceremony. It was a very special ceremony and now the children are all set to go to lead in their chosen areas. We look forward to seeing our leaders serve in our school. Congratulations Year 6 children. Mr G and Mrs Sara Mines took 3 teams of students to compete in the Agrikids Day in Tauranga on Sunday. Our children had a great day. One of our teams made the finakls : Victoria Underwood, Ben Fredericksen and Maclyn Smart. Thanks to Sara, Mr G and the parents who travelled with the children. Mr G and Mrs Brigitte Holmes have started a Golf Club at school. A group has worked with Mr G and his son who is a professional golf coach. A large group had a go playing golf at Springfield Golf Club yesterday. I believe the one and only hole they played was quite a challenge for some. They will be 'pros' by the end of the year. This Friday is MacKillop House Day and children who are in this House are encouraged to come to school dressed in their House colour which is blue. Last night at our BOT meeting, Dirk Stahlhut was voted as our new Board Chairman and Ed Judd was elected Vice Chairman. We thank them both for offering themselves for these important positions. Have a great week. Please pray that our Totara Team has a safe and enjoyable camp.
Regards,
David Macmillan, Principal. Mackillop House Colours Mackillop House won the draw and get the opportunity to dress up in their BLUE House colours all day on Friday. They also get to spend Golden Time with their House group and have some fun. IMPORTANT DATES FOR TERM 1: 19th March GALA DAY
24th March Caritas Rice Day
9th March Tuesday Rats Duathlon
8-17th March. Totara classes on camp
19th March Friday St Joseph’s Mass. 9.00am St Mary’s Church
22nd March Swimming Sports
25th March Thurs Annunciation Liturgy
30th March Tuesday Donkey Parade at school
1st April Thursday Washing of the Feet Liturgy
2nd April Good Friday (Holiday)
4th April Easter Sunday
5th April Monday Holiday
6th April Holiday
15th April Thursday Totara Art Exhibition
16th April Last Day of Term 1 FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES:
Kia ora everyone! Our year 6 students were commissioned into their leadership roles last week. This means they have agreed to be positive role models and uphold their leadership duties for 2021. We pray they enjoy their roles and opportunities for leadership.
Here is part of Pope Francis’ 2021 Lenten message:
“In our Lenten journey towards Easter, let us remember the One who "humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:8). During this season of conversion, let us renew our faith, draw from the "living water" of hope, and receive with open hearts the love of God, who makes us brothers and sisters in Christ. At the Easter vigil, we will renew our baptismal promises and experience rebirth as new men and women by the working of the Holy Spirit. This Lenten journey, like the entire pilgrimage of the Christian life, is even now illumined by the light of the resurrection, which inspires the thoughts, attitudes and decisions of the followers of Christ.”
Prayer during the 'YEAR OF ST JOSEPH'
(which will be prayed at the beginning or end of every Mass) Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
To you God entrusted His only Son; in you Mary placed her trust;
With you Christ became man.
Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father, and guide us in the path of life.
Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage, and defend us from evil.Amen.
Kia manaaki atua koutou BERNIE HALL
Director of Religious Education SCHOOL LUNCHES: PITA PIT :Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays
orders online via www.lunchonline.co.nz FRIDAYS: Sausage Sizzle and Juicies available. $1.50 each item. Order from your classroom teacher ON FRIDAY MORNINGS.
Online Uniform Sales: Uniforms are available online via our website using paypal. NO BANKING THIS WEEK as Credit Union are observing Covid restrictions in visiting schools. CHESS CLUB: Fundraising for the Chess Club - still wanted -
all your scrap metal (even any old car/truck batteries) nuts, bolts, electric wiring etc.
Can be dropped at school by the caretaker's shed any time on Tuesdays. CAMP PAYMENTS
A big thank you for the camp payments/donations we have received to date. Some parents have credits from 2020, so please check with the office or email Margo: admin@stmarysrotorua.school.nz if you have any queries, or if you want to check the balance of your account. Don't forget your payments/donations are enabling us to provide the resources to run our camps for your children SPORTS NEWS UPCOMING SPORTS EVENTS:
Tuesday 9th March - RATS Duathlon
Monday 22nd March - School Swimming Sports (Y3-6) Thank you to those who have registered for this event. Information will be emailed to parents by Friday. Please check you junk/spam folders if you haven't received an email. SCHOOL SWIMMING SPORTS - 22 MARCH 2021
Information For Parents & Caregivers of our Middle and Senior school students - Years 3, 4, 5 & 6.
Please complete the following form for Swimming sports School Swimming Sports Form - Swimming sports will be held at the Rotorua Aquatic Centre on Tarewa Road, Rotorua.
- Years 3 – 6 students need to be dropped off at the Aquatic Centre on the day to meet their teacher by 8:45 am.
- Swimming sports will finish at approximately 2:30 pm.
-Children may come to swimming sports in their house colours, they may wear their togs under their clothes.
TRANSPORT:
-Children need to be collected from the Aquatic Centre by 3:00pm at the latest.
-If your child attends After School Care or they usually catch the bus home they will be picked up from the Aquatic Centre at 2:30 pm.
-If you are unable to drop off or pick up your child from the Aquatic Centre please email Lorna Dobson.
CHILDREN WILL NEED:
togs & towels, sunhat, sunblock, warm clothes, lunch & a drink.
Should the event need to be cancelled this information will put on our website by 7:30am and a notification sent via Facebook, Educa and the school phone app.
Whanau support will be needed on the day to help especially in the pool. Some of our children are reluctant swimmers and your help would be greatly appreciated.
Please contact Lorna Dobson if you have any queries: lornad@stmarysrotorua.school.nz SPORTS UNIFORM RETURN:
ALL School issued sports uniform - singlets and short sleeve tops, must be returned by 3.15pm FRIDAY 26th MARCH. Any uniform not returned will lose their Sports Bond and/or be invoiced for the missing item/s. SCHOOL APP - SPORTS ALERTS
Please make sure you are subscribed to the sports your child is currently playing and would like to play as well as any sports events coming up. Alerts specific to these sports/sports events will be sent to these groups rather than whole school school alerts. Whaea Leanne - School Sports Coordinator
sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz
027 285 7579 or via School Office 07 348 1701
All information about sports can be found on our school website www.stmarysrotorua.school.nz/oursports SPECIAL MENTION
Last weekend, Sean Keeling was invited to join the 11&under BOP Tennis Rep Team who competed in the Waikato Bays Intra Regional Tennis Competition in Papamoa.
Sean’s team played against teams from the Waikato, Western Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay/Poverty Bay).
Sean played really well and also won 2 out of 3 single matches he played.
Outstanding effort Sean and well done on your continuing achievements in tennis! We love celebrating your child's successes outside of school, please share them with us. Email a small blurb & photo (optional) to Whaea Leanne at sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz LOST & FOUND:
Brand new uniform items, small sizes left behind at after-school care at the end of last year. If you think they may belong to your child, please call the school office 07 348 1701. Kauria Te Moana – Free Children’s Swim Clinic When: 13/03/2021
Where: Rotorua Aquatic Centre and Lake Okareka
Cost: Free
Included: Each child will receive:
Entry to the pool & lake swim safety clinic
A free Kauria Te Moana t-shirt
Lunch and snacks on the day of the clinic
Free entry to the Legend of the Lake event taking place on 20/03/2021 https://oceanswim.co.nz/ocean-kids/
Swimming Requirement: Children wanting to attend the clinic must to be able to swim 100m competently in a pool without stopping.
To Register: https://event.registernow.io/KauriaTeMoana Alternatively, you can request a paper application form from the School Office. Paper forms need to be returned to the Rotorua Aquatic Centre by Friday 26 February 5pm and placed in the box at reception. |
