Newsletter Week 8 Term 3
Newsletter 27 - Week 8 Term 3, 15 September 2021
Principal's Message
Tena koutou katoa
This week is Maori Language Week: "Kia kaha te Reo Māori" - Make the Māori language strong. This week tamariki have been involved in a number of different activities focusing on te reo.
It is wonderful to note we have most of our children back to school this week with very few children away. Thanks to everyone for helping to make the transition back to school very successful.
Thank you also for following our before and after school drop off/pick up protocols. It is great to see that you are following the arrows in the carpark and school grounds. We are following safety protocols inside the school gate.
WHAT WE ARE DOING AT SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN AT LEVEL 2
Children sanitise hands on entry to school
On entry children go straight to classroom
Wash hands on entry and exit of classrooms
Sneeze/cough into elbows
WHAT STAFF ARE DOING AT SCHOOL
Cleaning surfaces in classrooms
Door handles and bathrooms are cleaned by the caretaker during the day
Door handles and bathrooms cleaned by cleaners at the end of each day
WHAT PARENTS NEED TO DO
Sanitise hands and register on contact register if coming into the school grounds.
Do not enter classrooms
If picking children up from the church car park please follow the protocols above
Presently we are unable to have full school assemblies but we still want to recognise Superkids and Principal Awards, so we have virtual assemblies and these you can find on your child’s class blogs.
Masses at St Michael’s and St Mary’s have resumed during weekdays only. You will need to book in and here is the link: Please follow this link
There are no Sunday Masses but you can join Bishop Steve in a livestream Mass on Sunday. Here is the link: Catholic Diocese of Hamilton, NZ - YouTube or a weekday Mass for that matter.
Some fantastic news from our Chess Club. We over qualified for the teams event for the NZ Chess Nationals in October. Thirteen students qualified but we are only permitted to have eight players in our team competing in the face to face tournament, but we will be able to have a team competing online so none of our qualifiers will miss out. St Mary’s also had ten students qualify for the Individual Championship which is more than any other school in the country. To qualify for the Championship students needed to finish in the top three in one of the tournaments that they played in during the year. Well done children and a big thanks to our Chess Coach Mr G and also to Nick Gentle who has also been helping with the coaching.
For Parents who have a child in Year 2 this year, I am letting you know that 2022 Year 3 students are not required to have a chromebook until they are in Year 4.
On Monday students will take home class placements for 2022. These forms need to be returned to the blue box in the school foyer by the last day of term. If you have a preschooler aged 4 years, and you intend to enrol him/her at St Mary’s, please fill in an enrolment form which you can pick up from the office.
Students are to start Term 4 in full summer uniform. Our Uniform Shop is open Mondays (8.30-9.00am), Wednesdays (2.30-3.00pm) & Fridays (8.30-9.00am) during term time. The girls’ summer dresses are currently only available from our school uniform shop.
Summer uniform is:
Boys - Grey drill shorts and a royal blue short sleeved polo shirt.
Girls - Blue check dress.
All students need a royal blue sunhat.
Feilding Red woollen school jersey
Black sandals for footwear (no socks to be worn with sandals).
We also sell school uniforms via our school website. You can order and pay online and pick up your uniform from the school reception after you have been notified by email that the uniform is ready to pick up. Hopefully this will be easier for those parents who find it difficult to get to our uniform shop.
Have a great week.
Ngā mihi
David Macmillan
Message from DRS Bernie Hall
Prayer for Afghanistan
O God of mercy and of peace,
We hold before you the peoples of Afghanistan.
Be living bread to those who are hungry each day
Be healing and wholeness to those who have no access to health care amidst the ravages of pandemic
Be their true home to all who have been displaced
Be open arms of loving acceptance to those who fear because of their gender, ethnicity, religious or political views
Be peace to those engaged in armed conflict and those who live within its shadow.
Turn our hearts and minds to your ways of just and gentle peace,
Open our eyes to see you in all acts of compassionate care
Strengthen our hearts to step out in solidarity with your suffering people and
Hold us all in your unfailing love.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, who emptied himself of all but love in order to bring life in all its fullness.
Amen
This prayer was written by Ramani Leathard- Christian Aid's Head of Region for South East Asia and Afghanistan.
An important aspect of our Catholic school is pastoral care. Please do not hesitate to contact our Principal or DRS or our Parish Priests if you would like to chat, seek clarification, need assistance or spiritual support or any other type of support you or your whanau may need.
Philippians 2:4 “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others”.
We hope you are all keeping safe and well. Below are some useful links.
NZ Catholic Magazine September issue
Covid is certainly making things interesting for us. Moving between covid levels, juggling work, school and family commitments and life in general can be a little stressful. Feeling stressed is pretty normal in the hustle and bustle of life but it can take a toll. To manage the effects of stress we can call on the vagus nervous system. Essentially, the vagus nerve is part of a circuit that links the neck, heart, lungs, and the abdomen to the brain. It can also trigger relaxation responses. Try these simple strategies the next time you are feeling a little stressed.
Breathing = Breathe slowly and deeply from the belly. Breathe in for 7 seconds and out for 11 seconds
Vocal Cords = Loud gargling, humming or singing activates the vocal cords which can stimulate the vagus nerve
Cold = A very cold face cloth placed over the face stimulates the vagus nerve
Laughter = Having a good laugh lifts your mood, boosts your immune system and stimulates the vagus nerve.
Upcoming School Events
Grandparents Mass will need to be rescheduled
Tuesday 25 October currently the new date for Junior Tough Guy and Gal event
Friday 12 November Teacher Only Day
No school banking until Term 4
Sports News - Alert Level 2
Alert Level 2
Miniball - recommences today. The Y3/4 Lynx team do not have enough players so they have finished for the season.
Hockey - Maxi Grade finals on Saturday 18 September
8.45am St Marys Kakariki vs Mamaku Blue Magic ROTO 2H1
9.45am St Mary's Whero vs Glenholme Tarawera FINALS - 7th vs 8th ROTO 2H2
Football - Junior football has finished for 2021
The Rotorua Junior Football Tournament has been cancelled
Girls Spring 7s Tournament - Wednesday 29 September
Junior Tough Guy & Gal Challenge - Tuesday 26 October
MIGS Primary School Gymnastics Competition - Friday 12 November
SUMMER SPORTS REGISTRATIONS
It is now time to register your child for Term 4 summer sports. Unfortunately, there is no Flippaball, but there is water polo on Sunday afternoons run by Rotorua Water Polo. We will share more information about this once it's available.
Registrations close - Wednesday 22 September - Late entries cannot be accepted.
Fees must be paid by Friday 24 September. No pay, no play.
Our sports for Term 4 are Cricket and Touch Rugby.
Information about each sport and the registration form can be found on our School Website under Our Sports - Cricket/Touch. Click on the links below to view.
If you have any queries please contact Whaea Leanne, Sports Coordinator
Email: sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz Ph: 027 285 7579 or 347 1701
SPORTS FEES
All previous and current sports/event fees must be paid or arrangements made by the end of Term 3. We will be enforcing our ‘No Pay, No Play’ policy from Term 4 onwards. Children will be unable to participate in sports if fees are unpaid.
Payments can be made to the School Office or via internet banking ANZ 06 0209 0229658 00 please use your child's name as code and sport/s as reference.
We are aware of the financial impact the latest lockdown may have on some of our school whanau. If you need assistance with your child's sports fees please contact Whaea Leanne at sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz or Mr Macmillan at davidm@stmarysrotorua.school.nz
Can your child swim and survive in water?
Marg's swim school re-commencing 18 October - Term 4:
St Mary's Primary School Heated Pool
We teach:
- Confidence
- Water Safety
- All strokes
- Experienced teachers
Phone Marg 0274599286 -or email boiellem@hotmail.com .
"Our guarantee is your child's gift for life"
Special Mentions
Community Notices
Lockdown and Challenging Behaviours! Free Community Webinar for Parents next Thursday run by a psych and SLT for parents and professionals.
Migs holiday programme:
Contact Us
Email: schooloffice@stmarysrotorua.school.nz
Website: https://www.stmarysrotorua.school.nz
Location: 37 Carnot Street, Glenholme, Rotorua 3010, New Zealand
Phone: +64 07 3481701
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St-Marys-Catholic-School-Rotorua-870642283022074