Kia Ora,

It was our fifth Matariki Cultural Dinner last Wednesday evening. Thanks to Sylvia Dunkley and our Whanau Roopu for organising a very successful evening. I just want to say thanks for coming and making it an enjoyable night. The food you brought to share was delicious too. We had over 40 flags on the walls of the hall. Some of those flags represented countries where children were born and others represented some of our parents' home countries.

Matariki has been launched and the classes have been busy doing many great activities around Matariki. We have our Matariki Liturgy on Thursday in the school hall at 10.00am. You are invited to join us for this. Tomorrow night is the PTA's Matariki disco from 5.30pm to 7.00pm. The theme is "A star is born" and there will be glow sticks, hot chips and other snacks available on the night. The admission cost is $2.00.

I always like to highlight when the shortest day is and this Friday is the shortest day; Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere. The good news is that from Saturday the days will start getting longer again. Bring on Spring……

Today a number of our students competed in the Interschool Cross Country I hope our students enjoyed themselves. A lovely day for it. Some results to hand - Ariel Muchirahondo 2nd place in 10 year old boys,Madeline Smith 2nd place in 11 year old girls,Josh Richardson 7th place in 11 year old boys and Ella McCashin 4th place in 11 year old girls. Well done!

Last Friday we had another group of gymnasts at Te Puke competing at a Gymnastic Competition. These competitions are a lot of fun and our students performed particularly well. These are some of the results:

Thanks to Kelley Kemp and the parents who helped with transporting our gymnasts to Te Puke. Please see sports news for competition results.

Next Friday 28 June we have the Mass of the Sacred Heart at 9.00am at St Mary’s Church. We would love to see you all there. Friday 28th is also our Junior Cross Country. Children from Years 0, 1 and 2 will be participating. It starts at 11.00am so you are all welcome to come along and cheer the children on.

Have a great week.

Kind regards,
David Macmillan, Principal.

Do you want some help keeping your child/ren safe on the internet at home?

Family Zone is New Zealand’s leading provider of cyber safety and digital-awareness tools and services. They can help keep your kids safe when accessing the internet through unsafe networks, such as mobile phone networks and your home WiFi. Through the school's relationship with Family Zone, parents are able to download and activate Family Zone's Mobile Zone software on up to 6 devices for a special price of $48.40 incl. GST per year (normally $59.00). This software then provides you with filtering, visibility and management over those devices.

If you would like to find out more and/or take advantage of this offer go to the following website
https://www.familyzone.com/stmarysrotorua-nz

Showquest 2019 is coming up fast on the 27th June.

Please keep an eye out for notices and check blog please as we will keep updating the blog from now. Please make all practices - show is next week.

Dates & Practices to remember:

Thursday 20th June - 7.30am practice for - Disco, 9/11 Hip Hop, Lyrical, Backstage and Drama

Sunday 23rd June - Everyone for dress rehearsal

Monday 24th June - In school practice from 1.30pm to 3pm

Tuesday 25th June - 7.30 am practice for EVERYONE

Thursday 27th June - Show Day!! Be at school by 8.30am

Thank you
Bernie Hall and Shanelle McCashin

Catholics Returning Home:
You are invited to attend a refresher course for Catholics wanting to return to the practice of their Catholic faith. This will run weekly at 7.00pm on Thursday nights commencing 4th July 2019 for four weeks, until 25th July at St Mary's Church, corner of Seddon and Ranolf Streets.

For further enquiries please email Fr Eamon Kennedy freamonkennedy@gmail.com

FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES:

Kia Ora Everyone,
On Thursday we have our Matariki Liturgy to be held at 10:00am in our school hall. As we celebrate Matariki we think about what Pope Francis said ...

”to care for our common home...all creatures (and flora alike) are connected and need to be respected”.

Matariki signals new beginnings and is a time, also, to gather together as a family and be grateful for all we have. Matariki is seen as an important time to celebrate the earth, and show respect for the land on which we live.

Lord, grant us the grace to grow deeper in our respect of and care for your Creation. Lord, help us to recognize the sacredness of all of your creatures as signs of your wondrous love. Lord, help us turn from the selfish consumption of resources meant for all and to see the impacts of our choices on the poor and vulnerable. Lord, hear our prayer.

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..check it out today!

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

SCHOOL VEGE GARDEN .... For a donation you may help yourself to kale from the school vege garden. Please see or phone Michelle Strathern 022637 5800.

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 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 - NO GAMES this Wednesday or Friday as the sportsdrome is unavailable.
DRAWS are up on the school website
DRAWS for the season are available to view on the Rotorua Basketball website

Netball - DRAWS are up on the school website

Football - DRAWS are up on the WaiBOP website

Hockey - DRAWS are up on the school website

GYMNASTIC RESULTS FROM TE PUKE COMPETITION DAYS:

FLYERS BOYS TUMBLING:
Olly Atkinson and Samuel James 1st equal
Josh Richardson 3rd
FLYERS BOYS' TRAMPOLINE:
Olly Atkinson 1st, Sahr Kortequee 2nd, Samuel James & Josh Richardson 3rd equal.
FLYERS GIRLS' TUMBLING:
Eliza Chapman 2nd, Kyrah Johns 3rd.
FLYERS GIRLS' TRAMPOLINE:
Annie Neilson-Annett 3rd
TWISTERS TUMBLING:
Kymani Waititi 1st, Rosa Hingston 2nd, Sophie Kemp 3rd.
TWISTERS TRAMPOLINE:
Rosa Hingston 2nd, Sophie Kermp 3rd.
ARTISTIC BOYS:
Sahr Kortequee 1st, Olly Atkinson 2nd,Kyle Hall 3rd.
ARTISTIC GIRLS' FLYERS:
Francesca Hall, Madeleine Jensen & Kaya Waititi came 3rd overall as a team .

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

Isabel McCashin competed in a Trampoline competition in Auckland. Isabel won Gold in synchro and made the finals for double mini and trampoline. WOW, congrats Isabel!

Isabel has made nationals and as a fundraiser to help get her there she is selling first aid kits. If you would like to buy one to support her please text or call Shanelle on 02102657995. Big first aid kit is $39.95 and small is $15.00.

A colouring competition for FREE tickets for this show, is being forwarded home with all students today. If you want to enter we need your finished competition by Monday next!