Newsletter Week 9 Term 4
Newsletter 38 Week 9 Term 4, 15 December 2021.
Principal's Message
Kia ora,
With the COVID restrictions we have been unable to have parents/whanau present at prize givings, End of Year Mass and cheering children at our Duathlon . I must say we have missed having you join us for these occasions. Hopefully next year we will return to our usual practices. We streamed prize givings for each team. Thank you for viewing these. They are still available for you to view if you use the link we gave you.
Congratulations to all students who received prizes. Thanks also to the staff who put the prize givings together. Photos of children receiving prizes will soon be available.
Tomorrow we will commission our Year 6 students at a final assembly at 11.00 am in the school hall. School finishes at 12 Noon. Please ensure you pick up your child promptly.
Today your child will bring home information about reading over the holidays. Children need to READ, READ, READ during their time away from school. Some children’s progress can go backwards if they do not continue to read over the holidays. Please keep your child reading. Books also make great Christmas gifts! There will be a lucky draw again when the children return in Term 1. Lots of summer prizes will be on offer at our lucky draw assembly.
Thank you to all of those who have donated to the St Vincent de Paul Foodbank.
Once again we have produced a school magazine. It is a fantastic record of the year. The price is $10.00 and it is certainly good value. Thank you to Ricoh Copiers who sponsor this book. There are still a few copies available for purchase. Call at the office.
We will still collect gifts for the Save Our Babies Annual Christmas School Bag Kaupapa. We are collecting some school bags for 12-16 year olds. You are welcome to donate a bag full or just a bag or just something to go in the bag.Some ideas are: -
a dress (to wear Christmas Day)
a pair of shorts and a t.shirt
a pack of underwear
toiletries and nice smellies
Game
chocolates/lollies/goodies
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE ITEM/ITEMS PLEASE LEAVE THEM IN THE SCHOOL RECEPTION. Thanks to those who have already supported this project.
To those staff members and parents who are departing our school community, go with our thoughts and prayers.
Farewell to Bernie Hall who has been our DRS, teacher in charge of the Arts, School Show Director and a Sports’ Coach. Bernie has been a very valuable member of our staff and I wish to thank her for her work over the 8 years she has been with us. I wish her well in her new role as Principal of Bishop Edward Gaines in Tokoroa.
Farewell also to Shayla Dixon who finishes her teaching role here to take up a teaching position at Rotorua Intermediate. Shayla has been doing a great job in the Kakano area. We are going to miss both teachers and we wish them well in their future endeavours.
Farewell and thanks also to Sophie Macmillan for her work with students as a teacher aide. All the best to her for 2022 and beyond.
Farewell to our Year 6 students. They have been a wonderful year group and we will miss them in the school. I hope they leave with fond memories of St Mary’s and that they continue to build on the skills and values we have nurtured in their time here at school. God Bless them as they continue their education at John Paul College and other schools.
I take this opportunity to congratulate all our students of St. Mary’s Catholic School. I wish them all a very happy, safe and enjoyable summer. Please be sure to take time as a family to talk, play, and pray together. I look forward to seeing you all in February.
Those families who are not returning to our school will continue to be in our prayers as you make your journey on to new places.
May Christ be in your Christmas and with each family in the New Year.
Ngā mihi
David Macmillan
Principal.
Upcoming School Events
Thursday 16 December: Missioning for Year 6 students (11.00am) and last day of term. School year finishes at 12 noon.
House points for 2021: Mackillop 1449, Whakaue 1448, Mill Hill 1257, Pompallier 1279.
2022 Term Dates
each child with their parent(s)has a 20 minute appointment on one of these two days
Term 1 classes 8 February - 14 April
Term 2 classes 2 May - 8 July
Term 3 classes 25 July - 30 September
Term 4 classes 17 October - 19 December ( final day to be confirmed)
Public Holidays during School Terms - 7 Feb, 6 June, 24 June, 24 October
Teacher Only Day confirmed for 7 June
Message from DRS
Let’s keep Christ in our Christmas.....
“But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people. For to you is born this day in the town of David a Saviour, Who is Christ (the Messiah)the Lord!’
(Luke 2:10-11)
Although we meditate on the birth of Jesus at this time of the year, His purpose in coming to earth was not to give us the sweet picture of a baby in a Bethlehem manger. That little baby was born to die for you and for me and thus pay for the forgiveness of our sins. He was born so we might be reconciled to God. Tolerance and forgiveness from God and among people, continues to be one of the best gifts we can give and receive, this Christmas and always.
Sacramental Programme - for children who are already baptised Catholics
Enrolment for the Sacramental Programme (Confirmation, Reconciliation and First Holy Communion) only for Children who are baptised Catholics.
The enrolment forms are now available at the Parish Office, 8am until 2.30pm Tuesdays through to Fridays. If your child / children are not baptised in Rotorua, please, bring along your baptismal certificates at the time of enrolment. The children are required to be 7 years old by June 12, 2022, to qualify to enter this programme.
If you have any queries, please phone the Parish Office 07 348 0289 ext. 2.
Annual Christmas School Bag Kaupapa
Kahira Olley, the founder of Save Our Babies Charitable Trust, runs an annual Christmas school bag kaupapa. This means that children get a school bag full of gifts.
If any of the St Mary’s community would like to support this she is hoping for some school bags for 12-16 year olds.
You are welcome to donate a bag full or just a bag, or just something to go in the bag.
Some ideas are - a dress (to wear Christmas Day)
- a pair of shorts and a t shirt
- a pack of underwear
- toiletries and nice smellies
- game
- chocolates, lollies, goodies
- Lastly, don’t forget the school bag.
If you would like to see some of the other wonderful work that Kahira does please look at her facebook page.
Any questions please phone Rachel Schuster on -027 446 1351
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE ITEM/ITEMS
PLEASE LEAVE THEM IN THE SCHOOL RECEPTION.
Holiday Activity...
Looking for something to do during the holidays???
Join the Muddy Fingers Gardening Club
Mr G will be gardening during the holidays for the Holiday Harvest.
Mr G will be at school on these dates...
11am -12pm on Tuesday the 21st and 28th of December 2021
11am -12pm on Tuesday the 4th, 18th and 25th of January 2022
Come and join him to do a spot of gardening and take home some of the goodies from the garden, students and whanau are welcome.
Also, metal recycling to support the Chess Club.
If you have anything metal, drop it off at school on the above dates. You can drop it by the caretaker's shed.
PB4L
PB4L group wish you all a Blessed Christmas. Draw on all those parenting skills you have learnt about this year. - if in doubt give yourself a break.
“Choose to be optimistic. It feels better. Just one small positive thought
in the morning can change your whole day.”
Dalai Lama
Uniform Shop
Please note that the uniform shop will be open 3 / 4 February 2022. This is also the days scheduled for the conferences. A note concerning this will be in your report envelope.
Sports News
SPORTS :
Reminder: SPORTS FEES & SCHOOL ISSUED UNIFORM
Fees: Statements were sent out late last week, payments are now overdue.Uniform: All school issued sports uniforms must be returned by 12pm Thursday 16th December regardless of having a sports bond in place.
*uniforms to be returned are netball dresses, ALL singlets, white collared PE tops.
Your child will not be able to participate in sports/events until all fees are paid and/or uniform has been returned.
THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!!
Unfortunately, we weren't able to have our annual Coaches & Volunteers 'Thank You' evening this term. It has been a challenging time for everyone involved in sports and events this year but with the help and support of our school whanau our tamariki have still been able to participate in a wide variety of activities. Thank you to our coaches, managers and all our helpers for volunteering your time throughout the year. Have a safe & happy summer.
Whaea Leanne
School Sports Coordinator
sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz
027 285 7579 or 348 1701
Swimming lessons
Private Summer Swimming Lessons!
I will be offering private 1 on 1 swimming lessons over the school holidays. Lessons will take place at the Rotorua Commercial Travellers club, 26 Moncur Drive. $25 for 15min lesson $45 for 30min lesson. For more information or to book yours now email: katemillington99@gmail.com
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