PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Kia ora e te whānau
We have come to Week 11 and the last week of Term One!
How did that happen so fast?
It's been another term where we have had to cope with further lockdowns, COVID scares and remote learning, but through our faith and the resilience that we develop through our faith, we have come through.
In this newsletter, I would like to celebrate our school community of faith and the bonds that keep us focused on the faith development and academic success of our children. Our community has been through many ups and downs over the years and we have learned that, besides the love of Christ, the only constant in this world is change. We certainly have seen lots of change over the years and our school is evolving to adapt to new developments in education, technology and our community. I want to express my admiration and thanks to everyone who has contributed and continues to support our wonderful school as it morphs into the St Mary's of the future. We will continue to hold on to our traditions and our rich history as we find our special place in the future. We are given confidence in our success by the well known scripture in the Book of Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."
As usual, our newsletter is filled with evidence of our students' activity and successes over the last fortnight. We were unable to have our annual Holy Week liturgies at school last year, so we are grateful that we were able to commemorate this special time on our Church calendar as a school community, this year.
As we celebrate the season of Easter and the resurrection of the Saviour, Christ Jesus, we would like to congratulate and welcome those who were baptised into the Church over the Easter weekend. It was wonderful to see how many parents, staff and students were from our school community. We will continue to celebrate the Easter season this week, as we turn our classrooms yellow. All children and staff are invited to wear a yellow ribbon or lei on Wednesday to commemorate this celebration.
Our teachers are busy with their beginning of year assessments at the moment, so Week 11 is a busy one, interspersed with special events and curriculum programmes. We will use this assessment data to identify students' learning needs in order to plan authentic and effective Term 2 learning and teaching programmes. Our new concept for Term 2 is "Earth and Beyond". Our staff are busy in the planning stages of this concept and we will share further details in our next newsletter.
As we prepare for the new term and the colder weather, a reminder that winter uniform is to be worn from day one of Term 2. There have been some changes to the uniform prices at SAS SPORT, which you will find posted in this newsletter. Please note these if you plan to replenish uniforms for your children.
Finally, I would like to wish all of you a wonderful Term One school break. We are looking forward to recharging and returning to provide the best we can for our wonderful children.
Arohanui
Audrey Kippen
Tumuaki/Principal
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Jerusalem Team - The Resurrection Liturgy | Emmaus Team - Jesus lies in His Mother's arms for one last time before his burial. | We worship a Risen Saviour - Death has no hold on Him |
Jerusalem Team - The Resurrection Liturgy
Emmaus Team - Jesus lies in His Mother's arms for one last time before his burial.
We worship a Risen Saviour - Death has no hold on Him
From Our PTFA
Our PTFA is hosting a special Parent "Meet 'n Greet" on Wednesday 14 April. Please join us from 7.30pm to 9pm. We would like to take the opportunity to welcome new families to our school and hear fresh, new ideas to raise funds to support our school vision and to provide extra special events and experiences for our children. Please set some time aside to join us for a chat over drinks and nibbles.
I look forward to catching up with you all on Wednesday night.
Mrs Audrey Kippen - Principal
RSA - Poppy Day - Friday 16 April 2021
The St Mary's Student Council will be promoting ‘Poppy Day’ within our school community. The Council will be going into classrooms each morning this week to collect donations for our local RSA. The funds raised are used for current and ex-service men and women. Please send your child to school with a gold coin donation.
The Student Council will be fundraising in our local community with RSA Members on Friday 16 April. Thank you for your support!
Travelwise and Road Safety
Park and Walk 400m to School Day - Held on Wednesday 24 March 2021
Thank you for supporting our Park and Walk Travelwise Campaign to keep our children safe at the school gates during drop off and pick up.
Please remember not to park on yellow lines, do U-Turns or park in our neighbours' driveways to drop children. Our school community appreciates your support!
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Thank You Counties Manukau Sports
Students from Bethlehem and Nazareth have had a lot of fun with Lauren from Counties Manukau Sports. Every week students have participated in a range of high energy games and activities. The activities each Monday are designed to help students develop a wide range of fundamental movement skills. In this photo, students from Mrs Butler's Whanau are working in teams. One team is trying to knock over all of the cones, whilst the other team is trying to put them back upright as quickly as possible.
St Mary's Way
The St Mary's Way is to be like Jesus in our words and actions. Issa Abdulahhad has been working hard towards this goal. Issa is the first students to have achieved 60 tokens, earning him a Kahi & Rosy sticker, as well as 100 tokens, earning him a special St Mary's Way postcard sent via mail to his home. His family will be very proud of him. We are certainly bursting with pride! Ka rawe, Issa!
Jerusalem Team Assembly
Student Welcome
We look forward to getting to know you and making you welcome at our school.
TE REO
Have fun practising these words at home:
(Word of the Week)
Kia tau te rangimarie
"Peace be with you"
Kupu o te Ra
(Word of the Day)
Harikoa
"joyful, happiness, delighted, cheerful, ecstatic".
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Initiate Dance Holiday Programme - April 2021
Initiate Dance Holiday Programme April 2021 - East Auckland
27-30 April 2021
Tuesday-Friday, 9am-4pm
Fencible Lounge (Howick Library)
$75 for the full four days
Open to 8-12 year olds
Book online at initiatedance.wixsite.com/home
For enquiries contact: initiatedance@gmail.com
Dance away the holidays and join in the fun! Over one week, 8 to 12 year old students learn a variety of dance techniques and routines with fun games and team building activities. The dance programme is about engaging young people in a positive way during the school holidays. Students finish the week with a fun performance for family and friends. No dance experience is needed.
Young At Art Holiday Art and Craft Workshops
A variety of holiday fun including papier mache, acrylic painting, mixed media and craft workshops available. We also offer Children, Teenage and Adult Art classes in Pukekohe. Our Term Two Art Adventures classes are open for booking in groups for children aged 6 - 9 years, 9 - 12 years and 13 years+ on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This term we are also offering an 8 week 'Crafty Cats' course (6-12 years). For more information or to book, please check out: http://www.youngatart.co.nz or email: admin@youngatart.co.nz or telephone: 0297 712 923. Bookings are essential, as places are limited.
Upcoming Events
*** Our school assembly has been moved to the last day of term (being Friday 16th April 2021. Time (tbc) with more details to follow ***
Monday 12th April - CMS Fundamental Skills continue - Nazareth/Bethlehem
7.00 p.m. – PTFA Meeting
Poppy Day – This Coming Friday 16 April 2021
The St Mary's Student Council will be promoting ‘Poppy Day’ within our school community. The Council will be going into classrooms each morning next week to collect donations for our local RSA. The funds raised are used for current and ex-service men and women. Please send your child to school with a gold coin donation.
The Student Council will be fundraising in our local community with RSA Members on Friday 16th April. Thank you for your support!
Wednesday 14th April - Aussie Rules Coaching (timetable below):
11.10 - 11.50: 2 x Year 3/4 classes
11.50 - 12.40: 1 x Year 3/4 class and 1 x Year 5/6 Class
1.35 - 2.10: 2 x Year 5/6 classes
2.10 - 2.45: 2 x Year 7/8 classes
St Peter’s College 2022 enrolments close at 4pm
PTFA ‘Meet and Greet’ - All parents and friends of our school welcome.
Join us for drinks and nibbles from 7.30 p.m. to 9.00 p.m.
Friday 16th April - Poppy Day
Special School Assembly (details to be confirmed)
Last day of Term One finishing at the usual time of 2.55 p.m.
Term Two begins on Monday 3rd May 2021.
A reminder that the school winter uniform is to be worn from Term Two. Thank you.
Children's Community Dental Service - Information for Parents
https://www.waitematadhb.govt.nz/home/ards/
Our website will always contain the most up-to-date information for our services at each alert level.
St Mary's Parish, Papakura - Contact
Parish Priest - Fr Iosefa Euese
Assistant Priest - Fr James Mulligan
52 East Street, Papakura 2110
Parish Office - (09) 299 6056
Presbytery - (09) 298 5134
Email: office@stmaryspapakura.co.nz / www.papakuracatholic.org.nz
Facebook - search: St Mary's Parish Catholic Church Papakura
