Newsletter Term 2 Week 9
St Mary's School Blenheim Monday 27th June 2022
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Kia ora koutou te Kura O hato Mere whānau,
A short week last week as we enjoyed the first recognised public holiday for Matariki, we must not let this significance pass us by. We are all a part of an exciting part of history in this country, a first, as we recognise the significance of the Maori New Year.
This incredible occasion comes soon after Pentecost and the birthday of the church. There are similarities between both as we celebrate new life, rejoice in planting seeds for growth and the possibilities of what can come in the future.
The weekend was all about whanau, taking time to be together and have a chance to catch up and reset for the last two weeks of term.
Have a blessed weekend and enjoy the extra day to recharge your batteries.
May God bless you all,
Your’s ‘In Christ’s Light’
Paddy Dowling
TE WHETU O TE MOANA l STAR OF THE SEA - MARLBOROUGH CATHOLIC PARISH
Parish Newsletter - No.20. 12 June 2022
Parish Newsletter - No.21. 19 June 2022
Parish Newsletter - No.22. 26 June 2022
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Matariki Public Holiday - 24 June
- St Mary's Cross Country - 1st July
- Mufti Day for Cure Kids - 7th July
- Teacher Only Day - 8th July
- End of Term - 8th July
- Start of Term 3 - 25th July
- Parent and Teacher Learning Conversations - Tuesday 16th August
- Parent and Teacher Learning Conversations - Wednesday 17th August
- Board of Trustees Meeting - 22 August
- 150th Jubilee - 21-23 October 2022
TEACHER ONLY DAY - FRIDAY 8TH OF JULY
Just a quick reminder that there is a teacher only day on the last day of term, that is Friday 8th July. The teaching staff will be engaged in Day 1 of a 3 day professional development. The paper is TH504 which is focused on The Catholic Social Teachings. We will once again be working in partnership with Te Kura O Hato Hohepa, Kaikoura (St Joseph’s School, Kaikoura)
HERO - OUR STUDENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Hero is our student management, school reporting and communication system. Hero enables you to keep up-to-date with all school communication and your child’s progress with their learning through a modern computer browser or through the Hero app.
Click Hero login instructions.
If you need any additional help, feel welcome to email Tracy at tracy@stmb.school.nz.
Our reporting to parents is now available on the Hero platform. By the end of Term 2 your child’s updated progress report will be available to view.
During Term 3 there will be a parent information session at school to support parents with this transition.
LEARNING CONVERSATIONS (PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS) TERM 3
We have spent a long time not being able to connect in person. We are looking forward to giving you all the opportunity to come into school in Term 3 and spend some time with your child’s teacher.
The Learning Conversations will occur in Term 3, Week 4 Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th August.
The link will be available to book a time to meet with your child’s teacher from Thursday the 7th of July. All bookings must be made by Friday 12th August, the link below will be closed at 5pm.
WHAT'S BEEN HAPPERNING AT TE KURA O HATO MERE ?
THE MATARIKI TU RĀKAU - WITHER HILLS TREE PLANTING
17 Schools, and hundreds of tamariki from around the region will converge on the Wither Hills Farm
Park to take part in a community tree-planting project to celebrate this year’s Matariki. They will be
planting one hectare of the farm with 3000 native trees between 21-23 June 2022.
The event has been organised by the Smart + Forestry – Forestry Group in conjunction with
Marlborough Forest Industry Association and the Marlborough District Council. Funding for the
event has been provided by The Matariki Tu Rākau Programme led by Te Uru Rākau New Zealand
Forest Service.
Since June 2018, the Matariki Tu Rākau programme has enabled communities across the country
plant up over 600,000 trees. Te Uru Rākau encourages communities to work together to plan their
local Matariki Tu Rākau projects, choosing suitable public places for trees to be planted, and the
appropriate species. Whether large or small, these stands of trees will create a living memorial that
marks Matariki.
CHECK OUT THIS AMAZING STORY ABOUT ST MARY'S ENVIRO GROUP - ORCHARD ACTION
2022 NYLD - NATIONAL YOUNG LEADERS DAY
The student leadership Team went to Christchurch this year for NYLD. Mr Dowling and Miss McCone drove us to Christchurch where we stayed at St Thomas’ College for the night before NYLD. It was at the Christchurch Town Hall. Schools from all over Canterbury attended also schools from further away such as Westport, Buller,Timaru, Marlborough, Nelson and, Hokitika.
It was amazing to see all of the Year 7 and 8 students there.
The theme for this years NYLD was
Resilience
The whakatauki for the day was - Kaua E Mate Wheke, Mate Ururoa - Do not die like an octopus, die like a hammerhead shark
William Pike
William Pike is an inspirational speaker. He lost his leg in a Volcanic Eruption on Mt Ruapehu when he was climbing it with his mate. The eruption happened in the night and trapped William in the hut.
After William recovered in hospital he finished his studies to become a teacher,he also started to climb again. He has climbed the highest mountain in Antarctica and has gone back to conquer Ruapehu with his friend.
He started the William Pike Challenge awards. This is for school children and challenges them on different levels in the outdoors
His message to us all was, ‘never give up on your goals’
Georgia Latu
Started a company at the age of 12 called Potiki Poi. Georgia began the company after a school fundraiser where she made Poi to be sold. It was so popular and people were asking for more. The company began soon after.
All poi are made from sustainable, eco-friendly materials. Georgia talked to us about having a few key things that make her business a success.
Firstly, have values and stick to them, no matter how old you are you can still make big changes and a big difference and that you should always keep good habits.
During the last lock down Georgia and her mate recorded some Hip hop Poi as a way to stay connected to people while not in person. You will find the dances on tik tok. Alongside her mother she also has become an author and wrote the book, Nga Mihi. This is in Countdown stores across the country alongside her beautiful poi.
It was pretty inspirational to have a 15 year old presenter talk to all of us. Georgia's last piece of advice was, ‘Do the mahi get the treats'
Sam Johnson
Sam Johnson taught us how to solve problems in our community using people with different skills. Sam used this message around New Zealand and across the world like helping people during the Christchurch earthquake and helping with the aftermath of the tsunami in Japan. His plan for all this was; find a simple problem, build a team with different skills than yours, act on it and reflect on what you did.
Georgia Lines
Georgia Lines is a New Zealand musician. She got her love for music by watching high school musical. She was worried about becoming a musician because she started later than most musicians. Georgia taught us about how you have to find a way to have a creative tap to fill your reservoir. Another thing she told us is that you can’t control everything but you can control how you act/react to things.
SPORTS NEWS
MARLBOROUGH FUN DUATHLON SERIES
Click the link to read the latest - Marlborough Netball News
June NewsletterCOMMUNITY NEWS
COMMUNITY ORAL HEALTH
Update for Community Oral Health Service
We hope this finds all our school communities doing well as things continue to change around us all.
Many of you may be aware that there have been significant disruptions to the Community Oral Health Service in recent years. COVID19 has unsurprisingly had the biggest impact. Lockdowns resulted in all but ‘Relief of Pain’ services being available and there are ongoing limitations to service to manage the COVID19 risks for the whanau/families and our staff in the confined, close-up clinic settings.
A number of other factors are having an increasing impact of the timeliness on Oral health Care for the tamariki/children of Nelson/Marlborough. Most recently staff illnesses have added to the impact of COVID19. In addition we are also experiencing an unprecedented shortage of Dental and Oral Health Therapists. We are working secure more therapists however this is challenging in a period of a national shortage of trained oral health professionals.
A number of strategies are in place to make the most of opportunities available to us to keep wait times for tamariki/children to a minimum. This includes changes to the mobile clinic calendar for site visits to rural areas, recommencement of some Saturday clinics and early discharge from the service. More details below.
Mobile Clinics
The Wairau mobile has been off road for repairs and a COVID19 upgrade since late 2021 and unfortunately we still await parts for the repair. The Nelson area mobile continues to operate but at reduced capacity.
We’ve prioritised outlying areas for the mobile service where access to town clinics is the most difficult. All whanau/families will be contacted by the nearest hub and alternative clinic appointments will be offered. We’ll endeavour to work with whanau/families from outlying areas to find a time that coincides with trips to town centres.
Our usual annual calendar is now changing frequently so we will endeavour to remain in contact with schools as the plan evolves. Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any concerns in regard to the mobile service.
Early Discharge Year 7 & 8 children
A large number of private dentists have generously agreed to take over the care of Year 7 & 8 children instead of the usual transfer to private dentists at Year 9.
Our clinics will be in touch with families as appointments come due (or are overdue) to make arrangements for those who wish to take up this option. Please work with your Community Oral Health Hub in the first instance to get this arrangement underway.
Saturday Clinics
Some of our team have kindly offered their time on Saturdays as an option for appointments. This is a very limited service and will be offered where it is available.
Urgent Care
As is our normal practice if your child has urgent needs please be in touch with your nearest clinic to make arrangement for an urgent appointment or contact Nelson or Wairau hospitals for dental afterhours information.
Ngā mihi mahana
Kirsty Rance
Team Leader
Community Oral Health Service
Nelson Marlborough Health
Ext: 8526 DD: 06 5393526 Mob: 027 246 0676
mailto:kirsty.rance@nmdhb.govt.nz
Respect - Integrity - Teamwork – Innovation
SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAMMES
BLENHEIM INDOOR SPORTS - HOLIDAY PROGRAM REGISTRATION
Let us do the entertaining
With school holidays coming around four times a year, it can often be difficult finding the kids something to do with all their spare time. However, here at Blenheim Indoor Sports we have the answer. Throughout the holiday periods we run a sports based programme 8.30am until 4pm every weekday. Ages 5-12 years old.
Get them active
If your child loves to be active and would like to make new friends, then don't hesitate to register them for our school holiday programme. They can take part in a wide range of sports, socialize and play board games in a safe and friendly environment. Blenheim Indoor Sports is the perfect place for your child to develop fine motor skills and an active lifestyle.
Play a variety of sports and games
Why leave them at home to play videos games, when they can have the chance to make friends, have fun and try their hand at a variety of sports. No day is the same, and the kids will play Indoor Cricket, Indoor Netball, Indoor Soccer, Handball, Dodgeball, Floorball, Badminton, Table Tennis, 10-Pin bowling, Pickleball and other fun games.
We provide the playing equipment
With so much on offer, Blenheim Indoor Sports is the place for your child to be during the holidays. All the sports equipment is provided, all they need to bring is a labeled drink bottle, a snack to eat and appropriate clothing and footwear for active play.
Holiday Programme Costs
All Day (8.30am - 4pm)$40 per child
Per Hour$6 per hour per child
Register your child now using online form or enquire for more information by phoning 03 5784851
SUBWAY LUNCHES - WEDNESDAY
ALL SUBWAY ORDERS ARE GOING ONLINE FROM TERM 3
If you would like to order SUBWAY, please order online Wednesday mornings
Orders must be done before 8.45am on Wednesday mornings.
OUR SPONSORS
CONTACT US
Email: office@stmb.school.nz
Website: https://stmb.school.nz
Location: St Mary’s School Blenheim 3 Stephenson St, Blenheim, New Zealand
Phone: +64 3 578 9494
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmarysschoolblenheim/