Newsletter Week 5 Term 2
Newsletter 15 - Week 5 Term 2
Principal's Message
Talofa
This week is Samoan Language Week. Samoa Language Week, Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa, is organised by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples to maintain and promote the language and culture of Samoa. Gagana Samoa is the second most spoken language in some cities like Auckland and Porirua, and the third most spoken language across New Zealand.
Samoa Language Week celebrates the identity, language, and culture of students from Samoa and students whose families are from Samoa, supporting this group of learners to engage and achieve success. This special week helps all New Zealanders journey towards shared cultural understandings.
I was fortunate to see JPC’s performance of Chicago, the High School Edition. Gee, it was certainly a very slick performance. So entertaining and with so much talent; I think it is one of their best shows. It was held in JPC’s new Performing Arts’ Centre, The Thurston Theatre. Some of our former students were in the cast or working behind the scenes. Congratulations John Paul College.
Pentecost was celebrated by the school last week with Kakano 4, 5, 6 and 7 leading our liturgy. The rest of the Kakano classes had a Pentecost breakfast with parents invited.
Children from our Chess Club competed in a tournament in Taupo today. I hope they had a fun day. Students are also competing in tournaments in Tauranga and Rotorua soon. We are certainly fortunate to have Mr G organising this and tutoring our students.
It is not long now until a group of students will be competing in Showquest. A large group of Years 5 & 6 students have been practising over the last few weeks with Mrs Jane Trask. The theme of the dance is around the Zones of Regulation Thanks to Bernie Hall who has been coordinating this and also to the parents who have been helping with costuming.
A reminder that on the last day of term, Friday July 9th, is a Teacher Only Day. Our school will be closed on that day so staff from Catholic Schools in this region can come together for Professional Development.
Tofa
Message from DRS Bernie Hall
Classes are attending parish Masses each week. Check with your child's teacher to see when your child’s class is scheduled for Mass. Families are invited to the Mass and to join in a light morning tea afterwards in the Church hall. Father is always happy to see our students at Mass. Classes have begun their focus on the Church strand now. We will look at our local Church and how it came to be the great church it is today.
PB4L is a Ministry of Education initiative which was developed to help NZ schools build a culture where positive behaviour and learning is a way of life. A key part of this for our school is having our school values at the very heart of the way we live and learn at St.Mary’s.
We have talked about J.O.Y. COURAGE, RESPECT , EXCELLENCE,..
WONDER - We are Curious and Creative
Be curious about everything around us
Explore, investigate, discover and imagine
Parent Meeting 29 June - A Values Based Approach to Digital Wellbeing
Our school is offering a session for Y3-4 classes and a couple of sessions for Y5-6 classes of a programme called Te Iwi Matihiko™. This awareness building programme helps young people and their families understand how to reflect on and care for their own wellbeing while learning about the positive and negative impacts that digital spaces play in their lives. Our workshop covers the topics we have spoken about with your children and will highlight key challenges in the social media and gaming space while sharing their respective benefits. We will also speak about pathways into digital and creative tech by better understanding the gaming/esports ecosystem.
We are offering a parent workshop about Te Iwi Matihiko - it provides a foundation on which key values; mana (respect), manaaki (caring for others) and kaitiakitanga (guardianship) can be explored and activated.
It is critical that we ensure our children and their caregivers understand the key values that underpin social interactions, know how to deal with cyberbullying, stay safe online, understand how to think critically, manage their emotions and make good choices.
Put this date in your diary. We encourage anyone interested to attend on Tuesday 29 June, 5.15-6pm in R14.
Showquest
We have students performing at Showquest Bay of Plenty 2021 on 9th June!
We're very pleased to let you know that ticket sales are available:
Ticketek here
The Facebook event is live here with more event information -
Events
The event will run from 7.00pm at Trustpower Arena, Tauranga with doors open from 6.30pm.
Door sales will be available on the night, but tickets may sell out so we would strongly encourage whānau and friends to buy tickets online in advance.
Upcoming School Events
Monday 31st May -Samoa Language Week
Monday June 7th - Queen’s Birthday Weekend.
Wednesday June 9th - Showquest
Monday 16, 17, 18 June - JPC Interviews at St Mary's
Friday 11 June - Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass
Wednesday - 16 - 17 -18 June - JPC Interviews at St Mary's
Monday 28 June - School Photos
Tuesday 29 June - Parent Meeting on Digital Wellness, R14 5.15- 6pm
Friday 9 July Teacher only Day (last day of Term 2)
Sports News
FOOTBALL:
Duty Club Days:
Saturday 9th July (first weekend of School Holidays)
Saturday 28th August
ST MARY’S CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS 2021
Well done to everyone who took part in our annual school cross country. It was fantastic to see so many giving it ago and crossing the finish line strong and with lots of smiles too.
Congratulations to those who placed in the top 3 for their age groups.
Note: students' age for this event is their age at the beginning of Term 2 - Monday 3rd May.
Link to : CROSS COUNTRY RESULTS
Special Mention
Sean Keeling recently competed in the 2021 CBOP Junior Residential Tennis Championship held in Rotorua. This event is for players from the Rotorua Tennis Club, Lynmore Tennis Club, Whakatane and Taupo Clubs. Sean played very well finishing with the Runner-Up medal in Boys 10 and under singles event. Congratulations Sean!
Upcoming Sports Events
Interschool CBOP Cross Country - this event is only for those aged 8yrs and older.
We will be participating at the Rural Cluster Cross Country being held at Kaharoa School.
Tuesday 22 June (postponement date is Friday 25th June).
A notice will be coming home to those children who have qualified to attend the interschool cross country by Friday this week.
Special Mentions
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