Newsletter 13 April 2022
Marian Catholic School
Move to Covid Level Orange
This afternoon the Government announced that New Zealand will move to Orange from 11:59pm tonight Wednesday 13 April.
The decision to move to Orange has been made based on public health advice and reflects that New Zealand is showing clear signs that Omicron has peaked.
Although the change to Orange is taking place tonight, the Ministry of Education has stated we should retain our current settings at school tomorrow so that we have time to plan for any changes. For example, we should maintain the expectation that students in Years 4 and up (and staff) continue to wear masks until the end of the term.
Further information about school at Orange will be shared before Term 2 starts.
Principal's Reflection
Tena koutou katoa e te whānau
Me mahi tahi tātou mo te oranga o te katoa
We work together for the well being of all

This whakatauki captures how we have worked this term. COVID has presented many challenges for all schools this term managing high staff and student absences, distance learning, face to face learning, pastoral welfare of staff, students and families, while maintaining our high quality teaching and learning. I can honestly admit there were a couple of times this term I needed to draw from the depths of my leadership experience to face the next day. As we faced the many challenges of this term we were united in our commitment to ensure we supported each other, our students and their families.
I want to acknowledge our outstanding teaching team and support staff. We are indeed blessed with their care, hard work and the resilience they have shown this term. Thank you to our parent community. Thank you for your kind appreciative messages and your understanding. As a school community we can feel very proud of the support we have and show for each other.

Yesterday we celebrated Holy Week with a beautiful moving liturgy. The liturgy was held in the Cathedral and live streamed to the classrooms. There were videos showing Palm Sunday enacted by the students in LC1-2, and the Washing of the Feet and the Last Supper enacted by students in LC3. Our Special Character leaders completed the liturgy with Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Congratulations to all the students and their teachers for their work enacting our most important week in our Catholic Liturgical year. May I wish all our families a blessed Easter filled with love and joy.
Thank you all for your ongoing support. May you have a refreshing holiday break, keep safe and well and I look forward to working with you all next term.
Ma te Atua koutou e manaaki
God’s blessings on you all,
Arohanui,
Debra
Gospel Reflection
Palm (Passion) Sunday Luke 19: 28-40
Jesus chose a donkey to ride on into Jerusalem to show the crowds that he was not a soldier but a king of peace. The crowds waved branches from the palm trees to welcome this king. They shouted “Hosanna, Hosanna!” to praise him and “God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God! ”
Jerusalem was very crowded at this time as many Jews had come together to celebrate the Passover. This was a special meal celebrated every year by the Jews to remind them of how God had saved them from slavery in Egypt.
Let us pray together that peace will spread throughout our world, especially in Ukraine and that this peace will touch the lives of everyone.
Charism Focus
Our Charism focus for this term has been LIVE LOVE. This week we are looking back over the term and all the learning that we have done about LIVE LOVE.
We have learnt what it means to be a good friend: to be kind, trustworthy and to include others. To think about how we can live our lives in Love. Using both our words and actions
Following in the tradition of Marcellin Champagnat and Euphrasie Barbier, our two founders, we have learnt about the importance of showing respect for the dignity of each person - helping us to make our world a happier place by sharing that love and peace with each other.
We have followed the model that Jesus has given us -To Love One Another. We need to spread that joy and love with all those we meet so that we are able to LIVE LOVE - both at Marian School and everywhere we go. To LIVE CHRIST by being the hands, face and voice of Jesus.

DRS News
Term 1 has been a very busy yet rewarding term, filled with lots of learning about the importance of prayer, our school charism, Jesus , Holy Week, and most recently Easter. Our students have had opportunities to deepen their knowledge about their faith and have enjoyed many learning activities and liturgical experiences to encounter Jesus.
During this week as part of Holy Week students in their different Learning Communities led the school in a very moving Liturgy. They brought to life the final stages of Jesus’ Tūrangawaewae story on Earth.
Masses this Holy Week
Times for live stream Masses from the Cathedral are as follows:
www.youtube.com/CatholicDioceseofHamiltonNZ
Holy Thursday - 7pm
Passion of the Lord: Good Friday - 3pm
Easter Vigil - 7pm
Easter Sunday - 10.30am
Wishing you all a blessed and happy Easter with your families.
God Bless
Nicki Whyte DRS
Welcome
We warmly welcome into our school community the following children and their families; Leah Rasmussen Shawyer (Rm4), Molly Gaines (Rm1), Joshua Joy (Rm4), John Varkey (Rm4), Airin Rejith (Rm8) and Senitha Kularatne (Rm5)
Sharing of Learning / Reporting
This week you will receive a post on Hero of learning your child has done around our concept of ‘Tūrangawaewae’. This sharing of learning across the school includes students sharing their pepeha, their reflection around their Tūrangawaewae and writing about a special place they feel connected to.
Room 2 parents please note as Mrs Bullen has been away sick, Mrs McKoy has posted a comment for the students in this class.
Heritage Context for Term 2
Ka mua ka muri - Looking to the past to inform the future is the overarching idea for our learning this year. Building on from the wonderful learning around Tūrangawaewae in Term 2 our schoolwide concept is ‘Heritage’.
We want our students to understand; Our heritage is shaped by the stories, objects and actions of the past and together will inform the way we build a faith based community for the future.
We want to know what is important about the idea of ‘Heritage’ to your whānau / family. This will help shape the learning for the students and help us learning about the Heritage stories of Māori, as first settlers, and other settlers in our community.
We will be encouraging students to find out about their Heritage stories. At the start of the term we will send a letter home. Please send the note back to school letting us know your thoughts or how you could help the students with their learning.
Hot Cross Buns - Bakers Delight
PTFA Fundraiser
Thank you to the many parents who supported our fundraiser.
The children will be coming home today with your orders.
Please check their bags
Information
Dates to Remember
13 April - Hot Cross Buns delivered
14 April - Last Day of Term 1 (3pm)
2 May - Term 2 begins
Before School and After School Care
Before School Care: bsc@marian.school.nz If you are wishing to enrol your child at Before School Care please use the email above.
After school Care : asc@marian.school.nz For casual bookings please email the Friday before the following week. This is essential for our planning.
Second Hand Uniform Shop
Our Second-Hand Uniform shop is open Fridays from 2pm to 2:45pm. The shop is located in the Whare (situated on the edge of the church car-park)
All articles are from $2.00 to $10.00, the proceeds of which go to the Welfare Fund
Sport
Marian Sport News
Years 1-6 Online registrations still open for Netball, Basketball and Hockey.
Go to Marian School Website, Sports Registrations
If you are interested email me: sportscoordinator@marian.school.nz
Adriana Cubillos
Marian School Sports Coordinator
Notices
Sacred Heart Girl's College, Open Evenings
Kia ora Koutou,
We look forward to meeting new families seeking enrolment at our College next year. We have delayed finalisation of our Opening Evenings to ensure that we will be able to progress this important event without potential postponement.
Open Evenings:
Dates: Wednesday 18th May and Thursday 19th May.
Time: 4.30pm until 7.00pm (last booking).
Format: Small group tours. Registration will be required.
Duration: 70-80 minutes.
The tours will ensure that we are able to maintain Covid protocols, whilst creating a positive and personalised experience. Staff and students will show families our learning spaces and share with them why Sacred Heart Girls’ College is the best choice for their next step in education.
We look forward to welcoming future students and families to our College in May.
Kind regards,
Catherine Gunn
Principal/Tumuaki

St John's Information Evening

Term 2 Gymnastics

