Kia Ora,

Wasn’t the weather perfect for our children’s school holidays? I hope children were able to get out and enjoy their time on holiday. I heard many stories of the different and exciting things children got up to in the last two weeks. I hope that children were also able to get plenty of reading done during the holidays and have entered their stories onto their holiday reading logs. Children are to bring their reading logs back to school by tomorrow (May 2nd) to go in the lucky draw for a prize. The draw will take place this Friday 3rd May.

Join us for our Scholastic Enchanted Forest Book Fair in our school library, starting on Tuesday, May 7th and running through to the following Monday. It’s a delightful opportunity to enrich your child’s reading journey and to support our school. Browse through a wonderful selection of books and, on our big Family Day, enjoy deliciously enchanted, forest themed cakes and snacks. Every book you purchase will help earn our school valuable educational resources. See you at our BOOK FAIR!

We were well represented at the ANZAC parade and Civic Ceremony on ANZAC day. Thanks to the parents who also joined us for the event. Five of our students laid a wreath on our behalf at the ceremony. Thanks, everyone. We had our own ANZAC liturgy at school on Monday and I was very impressed with the respectful way our children conducted themselves during the ceremony.

With Katherine Smith’s departure on maternity leave last term, we welcome back Annie Russell to our staff. Annie will be taking over Katherine’s Room 12 class. It’s wonderful to have Annie back and I know you will all make her feel very welcome. It’s also fantastic to have Lorraine Thomson back, starting a new class in Kakano. Welcome, Lorraine. We have also had ten new entrants start. Welcome to them and their families: DAVID CANNING, JULIAN SMITH, MADELINE LIDDICOAT, ARYAA PATEL, HAYDEN LIU, NICKLAUS RAWTINI, JAMES SAVILLE-WOOD, AGNES EDER, ARABELLE TAPSELL, RIAN FRAMP and ALEX AND LIAM SMYTH FROM PUKEKOHE.

This Friday we have over 150 students participating in the Mini Marathon (see below for more information about the day). I hope our children enjoy running in this event. Thanks to the parents who will be down at the Events Centre supporting the children. Good luck to all those parents who are participating in the Rotorua Marathon this weekend.

We are pleased to be entering a Ski Team in the North Island Ski Champs again this year. Please see below for more information if you think your child may be interested.

This Tuesday, May 7th, Australian religious songwriter and singer, Andrew Chinn, will be visiting our school to share his songs with our children. Andrew’s songs, such as “These Hands”, “Rainbow”, “An African Blessing” and “Rise Up!” are used in classrooms and for liturgies around Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada. Parents/parishioners are warmly invited to be a part of the celebration of faith and fun. The concert will take place in our hall, at 6.15pm until 7.15pm. We would like every child at the concert. We look forward to seeing you there

During the holidays, JPC sent us the enrolment packs to distribute to our Year 6 students. The forms will be sent home today. You do not need to download the forms from the JPC website. Please return the enrolment forms to St Mary’s School office, not JPC, by Friday, May 31st. We hand over the enrolment forms when you and your child have an interview with the principal Mr Patrick Walsh.

The OPEN NIGHT AT JPC is on THURSDAY 23rd MAY commencing with tours of the campus between 4.30 and 5.30pm, followed by the 2020 enrolment information presentation in the Edmund Rice Centre. Please put this date in your diary if you or someone you know is considering enrolling a child at JPC next year.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES PARENT TRIENNIAL ELECTIONS 2019 are to held in June.
We will soon be calling for nominations for vacancies on the Board of Trustees for parent representatives. Being a School Trustee is an important role and we seek a range of skills and experiences within applicants for this role which will suit those who believe in making a positive difference to our children’s learning. More information will be in next week’s newsletter.

Some important dates for the coming weeks:
Tuesday, May 14th Year 3 to 6 children have their Goal Setting Conferences. You will be able to book a time next week. More details in next week’s newsletter

Thursday 16th School Photos. Information was sent home yesterday.

Monday, May 27 6.00-8.00pm. Neil MacKay, a speaker with an international reputation and at the cutting edge of research on Dyslexia will be speaking at JPC. All are welcome. Gold Coin donation.

Monday 27th May is our School Cross Country at the Redwoods. It is only for our Year 3 to 6 students. The event is to start at 1.00pm. More details will be sent home later.

Have a great week everyone.

Kind regards,
David Macmillan, Principal.

SCHOOL PHOTOS - PhotoLife packs have been sent home with your child. Please check school bags! Sibling envelopes can be collected at the office if required. If you wish to purchase photos please have forms and payment to the office by next Friday the 10th May.

SHOWQUEST - Practices have started up again this term, same days and times as last term. The dances are coming along and looking great. The Showquest blog is up and running again and we will update the blog with dances and notices as they come out. __**Tickets are now on sale - please see blog for more details.*

FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES:

Hello everyone, and welcome back! It is great to see everyone again after a restful holiday. A special welcome to all our new families and staff members who have joined us!
Term two learning in Religious Education will involve learning about the Sacraments and The Holy Spirit. We also have some special Liturgies coming up this term. We had an ANZAC liturgy on Monday led by Manuka team. We also have our Children’s World Day of Prayer in week 4. On this day all families are encouraged to dress in National Dress to represent their country of origin. The Ascension and Matariki Liturgies will also be this term.
Exciting news!! Andrew Chinn is coming in week 2! Andrew is a teacher/songwriter who has released 11 CD’s and several picture books around the world. His songs are favourites for our students and we sing them regularly. All families are invited to the school concert on Tuesday 7 May at 6:15 in our hall to watch our students sing and dance along with Andrew!

Congratulations to all members of our school community who were received into the Church at Easter Weekend.

BERNIE HALL,
DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES.

It's that special time of year again, where we celebrate all awesome Mums, including soon to be mums ... and yes, you teachers!

The wonderful PTA are selling gifts at lunchtime in the hall foyer next Wednesday 8th, Thursday 9th, and Friday 10th, for only $3 per gift.

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.

 

Online Uniform Sales: Uniforms are available online via our website using paypal.

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 has started again for the year. Tuesday, lunchtimes in the school hall.
Your child is welcome to come along and join in.

Sports News

SPORTS INFORMATION

For all information regarding Sports events you can look under the sports tab on our school website

Sports DRAWS click here - DRAWS for Miniball and Netball are now available to view.

Sports EVENTS click here

Sports RESULTS click here

TEAM PHOTOS

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

WINTER SPORT

All team lists are now available to view on our school website under the sports tab. Some teams still require coaches. If you can coach or know someone who can please contact Catherine asap sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz

Miniball starts today Wed 1st May for Middle C Grade, Friday 3rd May for Middle B Grade and Seniors and Monday 6th May for Juniors.
Please note then all grades will have two weeks off (due to the Sportsdrome being unavailable) before resuming games on Mon 20th May, Wed 22nd May and Fri 24th May 2019.

Netball starts this Saturday 4th May for Seniors and Monday 6th May for Juniors and Middles.

Hockey starts Saturday 11th May 2019 for all grades. Draw will be available next week.

Football starts Saturday 11th May 2019 for all grades. Draw will be available next week.

SPORTS UNIFORMS

Please return summer sports uniforms to the office asap. Touch singlets are used for Miniball and Cricket shirts are used for Hockey so it is important these shirts are returned please.

Children can collect their winter sports uniforms from the office.

ROTORUA MINI MARATHON

This FRIDAY 3rd MAY 2019 - Energy Events Centre (EEC), Government Gardens

Children need to wear their school PE gear and running shoes. They will need to bring something warm to wear (school polar fleece/jacket), lunch, water and any medication they require.

Parents taking their children to the EEC must have their children there by 9.15am. Look for the St Mary's Flag.
All children must be collected by 11.30am.

All children that have registered and paid to go on the bus must meet at school on the field by the church gate no later than 8.30am. The bus will bring children back to school at approx 12pm.

Many thanks to the parents who have offered to help on the morning. We have more than 150 children running so your help is appreciated.

Our school must provide a volunteer marshall for the morning. Please contact Catherine sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz asap if you are happy to do this.

North Island Primary School Ski Champs 2019

We are putting together the 2019 Ski Team (5) to represent St Marys at NIPS - North Island Primary School Ski Champs that take place on Monday 2nd September for the week. We would love to hear from families whose children are competent skiers - all mountain skiers that can ride a T bar.

Please contact Fee Teat ASAP 0212405334

SPECIAL MENTION

What a great term the Yr 6 Jaguars Flippaball team had. Consecutive wins throughout their season and an awesome final game. Well done guys.

Congrats also to the year 4 Lions Flippa Ball team. They also had a fantastic final, coming away with a nail biting win of 6-5. The team gave it 110% and all played with incredible passion. Their coach was super proud of their efforts.

Jade Moller danced for 3 very full on days during the second week of the school holidays, doing 11 dances (9 solo’s) and managed to win the ‘most promising local dancer under 12 years’ trophy. She’s been winning this trophy since 2015. Congrats Jade - that is VERY impressive!