 Newsletter No 37 2 December 2020 |
Kia ora Parents/Whanau The end of the term is always a busy time of year with lots of activities going on. Please look at your diaries and pencil in the End of Year Mass, Prize-giving and Missioning of the Year 6 students. Our Kapa Haka group performed at their absolute best on Monday night. All those who were present at the Ahurei were very proud of our children. There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes, so a huge thanks to Koro Tini and Sylvia Dunkley who prepared our children for the festival. This is Koro’s twelfth year as our Kapa haka tutor; we are indeed blessed to have such a talented man tutoring our tamariki. We had a lovely Advent Liturgy yesterday, thanks to Sara Mines and Kakano 4,5,6,7 and 8. Just a reminder that our End of Year Mass is Friday December 11th at 9am. It is a time we give thanks for the awesome year that we have had. It is also a chance to farewell our Year 6's. Bernie Hall, our show director, staff and of course the children, have been working very hard on the Peter Pan Musical. Not long to go now with the opening show at 1pm on Tuesday. I am really looking forward to it. Tickets have all sold out but we are hoping that we might be able to put some more chairs out once the grandstand is up. We will know by Friday morning and we will advise those people on our waiting list if more tickets are available. Wednesday 9th December at 1:00 pm The main cast are performing in all four shows. **See schedule at end of newsletter for arrival times required for students for production.** Our Aquabots team travelled to the Wairarapa in the weekend to compete in the National Competition. They were placed 2nd in NZ which is an awesome result. Congratulations to Maclyn Smart, Jo Gentle and Sean Keeling. Thanks to the Smart family who organised the weekend for the boys. Mr G had a Chess team participate in an online Australian Chess Tournament on Monday and Tuesday. They played well and were placed 20th overall. Great effort and well done to Niksham, Ann Joseph, Alice Konyves, Yuri Ramos-Solicito and Sebastisn MacDonald. Tuesday I hosted fifty students to a special ‘Principal’s Morning Tea’. These morning teas are highlight for me and I love seeing children enjoying the occasion. Children also receive a special letter telling them why they were invited. Our Christmas decorations are starting to go up around the school this week. I invite children to write to Santa Claus again this year and for those children who write a letter, they will get a reply from him. Santa’s letterboxes will be scattered around the school again. Children’s younger brothers and sisters can write a letter and big brothers and sisters can drop the letter in Santa’s mailbox. We will start collecting goods to put in Christmas Hampers for needy families and also food items we can donate to St Vincent de Paul Foodbank. If you have food items you can donate please get your child to bring them to class or they can put them under the tree in the foyer. We are publishing a school magazine again this year, and this will be available during the last week of this term. At this stage there will only be 100 magazines printed. It will be a great memento of 2020. Orders are now being taken with the cost for the magazine being $10.00. Please note that another student has chicken pox. Please be proactive if your child/children is showing symptons and report to class teacher. And finally a heads up regarding purchase of sports tops. For all sports, except Netball and Basketball, you will be required to buy your own shirts for the 2021 season. PE shirts can be purchased from our School’s Uniform Shop. Upcoming: Tuesday 8th December School Production : 1.00pm and 6.30pm Fundraiser for the Show : $4.00 Pita Pit - tomorrow only.  We would also welcome any other businesses or individuals who might be keen to sponsor our production as there are always costs involved in putting on a show this size. (Your business logo will be on the programme and digitally displayed at both performances). Have a great week Regards TERM DATES FOR 2021: TERM ONE TERM TWO TERM THREE TERM FOUR FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES: Kia tau te rangimārie kia koutou – Peace be with you.  Classes are beginning their study on Advent. Advent is the preparation for Jesus coming and the lead up to Christmas. It is a very significant time in the Catholic Liturgical Calendar. We are reminded to take time to reflect on the things we want to be forgiven for, and how we can be better people moving forward. Symbols you will see at this time include the Wreath which is circular (signifies God’s infinite love), and purple cloths will be on classroom prayer tables to symbolize repentance and hope. Manaaki te Atua, BERNIE HALL SCHOOL LUNCHES : PITA PIT : Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays FRIDAYS: Sausage Sizzle and Juicies available. $1.50 each item. Order from your classroom teacher. MUDDY FINGERS Gardening Group: Calling all keen gardeners, would be gardeners and those who just like being in the garden!!! Are you looking for a fun activity to do during the school holidays? Our St Mary’s garden is overflowing with tasty morsels, and Mr Guilford would love to have some helpers over the school break to help him with… When- Tuesdays 11.00-12.30pm If you think you might be interested, you can leave your name at the school office, or you can email Mrs Holmes- brigitteh@stmarysrotorua.school.nz to get your name on the list. SPORTS NEWS UPCOMING SPORTS EVENTS: WINTER SPORTS PHOTOS TOUCH RUGBY WEETBIX TRYATHLON Whaea Leanne - School Sports Coordinator SPECIAL MENTION:    |
