Dear Parents,

Te Wiki o te Reo Māori (Māori Language Week) began on Monday the 12th of September/Mahuru. The theme this year continues from that of last year 'Kia kaha te reo Māori’ — ‘Let’s make the Māori language strong'. I enjoyed the documentary on television last night of Mike McRoberts journey to learning te reo, a language lost to so many; it was a moving story of both sorrow and empowerment. Our kaiako (teachers) have planned lots of activites to increase and improve our spoken te reo this week. This is an ongoing learning curve for us all. Te reo is taught every week in our classrooms, both in everyday conversation and as planned teaching.

It was certainly sad to hear of the passing of Queen Elizabeth after an exceptional length of duty and service. What a great example of a servant leader she was. Sometimes it is difficult to talk with children about death. Here is an article that might help when children ask questions. How to explain death to kids who ask about the Queen

This Friday we welcome many schools from across our Kāhui Ako (Community of Learning) for a STEM challenge day to be hosted by St Mary's. The schools involved are all Catholic Schools and come from Tokoroa, Putaruru, Opotiki, Mount Maunganui, Tauranga and Rotorua. There will be a number of children from Year 5 and 6 involved in this.

Good luck also to our Mini-marathoners and to our Gymnastics teams who are also competing this Friday. All our gymnastic competitors have been emailed with your instructions for Friday. Also to any parents who are competing in the Rotorua Marathon on Saturday we wish you fine weather and a chance to blow off those covid cobwebs.

SPONSORSHIP REQUEST

Our school production is shaping up very nicely and we are excited for all the children who are participating. As you can imagine there are a number of costs involved in running an event like this. If you would like to be a sponsor, we would gladly advertise your business on the programme for the show.

Please contact David or myself if you are keen. No amount is too big or small. Grateful thanks to those who are able to contribute towards this, it is much appreciated. principal@stmarysrotorua.school.nz sylviad@stmarysrotorua.school.nz

Have a great week, lovely to see some sunshine between the clouds.

Sylvia Dunkley

Deputy Principal

After careful consideration and consultation with our staff, we have decided to make mask wearing optional at school. If you would like your child to continue wearing a mask while at school, please have this conversation with your child at home. We will support your decision as best we can.

Thank you for your support with the mask wearing. We appreciate the team effort to keep our community safe.

Kia noho haumaru

Please take time to look at the lost property items displayed outside the school hall. They will be on display all this week (weather permitting).

The RE team spent Thursday and Friday of last week visiting schools in Nelson and Blenheim. We were able to observe RE in other schools as well as share with one another what Religious Edcuation looks like in our own spaces.

It was a wonderful opportunity to work alongside passionate catholic teachers as we continue to grow our capabilities and knowledge of the new RE curriculum “Te Tatou Whakapono”. Moving forward, we will begin to brainstorm what RE teaching and learning will look like at St Mary’s school in 2023 and will share our new learning with the rest of our staff.

We still need items for our Operation Shoe Box appeal. Thank you to those who have already donated. You can send your donations to school with your child. All classroom teachers are collecting items. Donations can include - toys, school supplies, hygiene products, clothing, hair accessories etc.

Items NOT to include are: Toothpaste, sweets, lotions and liquids; used or damaged items; war-related items; seeds, gum, chocolate or food items; religious or political literature; medicines, aerosol cans, sharp or fragile items.

Would your child/children like to be trained as an Altar Server for St Mary's / St Michael's?

• Your child/children must be baptised Catholic and completed the Sacramental Programme (First Holy Communion and Confirmation) to be able to be trained.
• Please email the details of your child/children to the Parish Office if interested catholicrotorua@xtra.co.nz
• Please include your name and phone number together with email address.
• Father Prakash is looking at either Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays. Please indicate what day suits best on your email.
• Father Prakash will begin training next week straight after school.

PRODUCTION UPDATE:

If you have already purchased tickets for a particular show, and now find you have made a mistake, we may be able to swap them for you. Place your tickets in an envelope with your name and phone contact on the outside, and nominate the performance you do want. We will contact you if a swap has been sorted. All the evening performances have been sold out, but you can still purchase for the daytime performances via Eventbrite.

Wednesday show classes: Rooms 1, 3, 5,14 and 15, and Kakano : K2, K5, K7 and K8

Thursday show classes: Rooms 2, 4, 12, 16 and 17, and Kakano: K1, K3, K4 and K6

Main Characters for the Wednesday Shows:

WOLF: Mahaki LITTLE RED: Freyja GRANNY: Kaya CHIEF OF POLICE: Makahae

Main Characters for the Thursday Shows:

WOLF: Lucas LITTLE RED: Rosa GRANNY: Ivansha CHIEF OF POLICE: Rushil

All POLICE PEOPLE, BOY BAND, JAZZ DANCERS and ROCK N ROLL DANCERS are required for BOTH DAYS / NIGHTS.

TICKETS ON SALE NOW - CLICK HERE

In Term 4 we will be taking our Year 5 & 6 students to Taupo Christian Camp. The cost this year is $240.00 and is tax deductible.

We rely on parents/caregivers' contributions to enable us to hold this camp. Without your help camp is not possible.

Many thanks to those parents who have paid their contribution already. If you would like to start a payment plan, or have any queries, please email Margo Mason admin@stmarysrotorua.school.nz, or call into the office.

On Friday October 21, we will be holding our sponsored event,

the School Fun Run!

Are you Fundraising?

The effort and enthusiasm from students this far has been fantastic but, as we are still a little way off reaching our goal, we are reminding families that there is still time to participate. The easiest way to do this is through online fundraising, where there is no limit to what can be achieved.

Go to schoolfunrun.co.nz, create a student profile page and share your online fundraising link via SMS, Email and Social Media.

If you are currently fundraising, THANK YOU! We hope you will continue to share your link and fundraising for the school.

Top Class for Week 2 of the Promotion -

Be the class that raises the most money for the week

and win ice cream sundaes for your class Golden Time

Please return your sheets with Yummy Stickers - full sheet, half sheet, whatever you have collected. These need to be with us by 23 September for processing. Funding goes to buying new sports equipment.

Mini Marathon

This Friday is the Mini Marathon! Please have your children at the event by 9.15am and for those children travelling by bus, please meet in the school hall at 8.30am.

Children need to be in their St Mary's PE uniform and running shoes.

Good luck to our 201 participants from St Marys.

Summer Sports Registrations

Please keep an eye out on our website for summer sports registrations. This will be found under the sports tab under registrations.

We will be offering the following sports: Netball, Touch Rugby, Cricket and Futsal

Touch Rugby

Touch registrations are online! Please go to our St Mary's website and under sports you will find the registration tab. This needs to be done and paid for by the 15th September.

Please note grading games are Saturday the 24th of September.

If you are attending your child/childrens' sporting events and have some good photos to share, please send to sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz with a notation about the occasion.

Please regularly check our school website for information about the sport/s your child is playing. If you have any sports queries please do not ring the office. Contact for the Sports

Co-ordinator is : sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz. or mobile 0272857579

SPECIAL MENTION :

CONGRATULATIONS to Beaude and Mateo on their karate progress -

Beaude yellow to orange belt - Mateo orange to blue belt. Mumma is very proud!

After School learn to swim classes will re-commence in Term 4 :

Where: St Mary's Primary School

When: Monday 17 October

• Non-confident to all four strokes.
• Water safety skillsTo enrol please phone Margaret 0274599286 boiellem@hotmail.com