Newsletter Week 3 Term 3
Newsletter 22 - Week 3 Term 3, 11 August 2021
Principal's Message
Firstly, our apologies for the newsletter not being emailed out yesterday.
You may have seen the discussion this morning on TV One’s Breakfast Show on Structured Literacy. Our school has opted in using the Learning Matters Programme that involves all the students in our school. Our Board of Trustees has committed $20,000 over two years for Professional Development for teachers and teacher aides and another $10,000 for the Decodable Texts that support our children’s reading and writing.
During the holidays teachers and teacher aides spent a day with the Learning Matter’s facilitator and our facilitator will be working with teachers and children over the next couple of years. On the Learning Matter’s website, ‘ We help Teachers and School Leaders implement Structured Literacy to ensure all students are successful. We believe in an education system that sets all students up for success from day one. Because the truth is, learning differences do exist. Some brains simply need more exposure, opportunity, explicit teaching and repetition than others. We know that if we can prepare our teachers to teach the neurodiverse brain, this will in fact equip them to teach every student in front of them.’
We are very excited about implementing this programme at St Mary’s. We have already started the programme with every child being tested. There will be a Parent Information Meeting offered at a later date to explain this Structured Literacy Programme.
On Friday we celebrate St Mary MacKillop’s feast day. Mary MacKillop started the religious order, the Sisters of St Joseph. It was these sisters who started St Mary’s Catholic School in 1903. The school, when it first started, was called St Michael’s and was next to St Michael’s Church at Ohinemutu. The school moved to its present site here on Carnot St in 1924 and was renamed St Mary’s in 1958. We have adopted a lot of Mary Mackillop's sayings on the outside walls of our school.
On Friday we celebrate Mass together and you are very welcome to join us at 12 Noon. During the day there are activities focusing on Mary MacKillop’s work that the children will be involved in.
Next Sunday, the parish has a Māori Miha (Māori Mass) at 10.00 am followed by a procession carrying the Statue of Mother Mary around the Church and our school. All students from the schools are invited to join the procession (in school uniform)with their parents at 11.00 am in front of St Mary’s Church. There is a shared lunch after the procession that everyone is invited to and families are asked to bring a plate to share. We want as many families in the procession as possible.
Father Isaac Fransen, you might just remember him as Isaac when he was here in the school and parish a few years ago as a Seminarian, celebrated his first Mass in the Parish on Sunday. He was ordained about a month ago. Please keep him in your prayers.
Thank you all for coming in and supporting your children in the 3 way conferences. The conferences are always a good time for parents to hear what their children have done and hear what the goals are for the next little while. If you missed your child’s 3 way conference please make another time with your child’s teacher.
Have an enjoyable week.
David Macmillan,
Principal.
Surveys
Covid 19 Vaccinations
Message from DRS Bernie Hall
This week we have our Mass to honour Mary Mackillop. All are welcome to join us at 12:05pm (this coming Friday) for this Mass. The school will also be involved in special activities around Mary Mackillop’s life and work.
Who was Mary Mackillop?
St. Mary MacKillop, in full Saint Mary Helen MacKillop, also called Saint Mary of the Cross, (born January 15, 1842, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia—died August 8, 1909) Feast day is August 8, she is a religious figure, educator, and social reformer who was the first Australian beatified by the Roman Catholic Church and the first Australian to be recognised as one of its Saints.
In 1866 MacKillop and Woods founded Australia’s first order of nuns, the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart, and also established St. Joseph’s School in a converted stable in Penola, providing a free education to children from the area.
In 1867 MacKillop took vows and became the first Mother Superior of the sisters. The following year the sisters opened schools in other Australian cities, as well as an orphanage and a refuge for women released from prison. MacKillop intended that the order be self-governed and devoted to teaching and charity. She and Woods, who composed the rule for the order, insisted that the sisters would accept a life of total poverty, trusting in Divine Providence.
In June 1995 MacKillop was beatified by Pope John Paul 11. In February 2010, after evaluating the testimony of an Australian woman who claimed that her terminal cancer had disappeared after she called upon MacKillop in prayer, Pope Benedict XV1 recognised MacKillop as a Saint. She was canonised that October.
Many of Mary Mackillop’s sayings can be seen displayed around our school. Ask your child which ones they know!
On Sunday 15th August the Novena culminates with Mass and a Procession after Mass. We want students present in uniform to represent our school for this. The procession starts at Ranolf Street, into Grey Street and then into Carnot Street. Finishing at the school grounds. A morning tea will be supplied afterwards. Pease let Mrs Hall (R3) know if you are attending.
Our senior students will also be participating in the Novena for the Assumption of Mary the Mother of Jesus on Friday. There will be Adoration and Rosary before Mass for this.
Congratulations
If you have ever wondered .....
What St Mary's School does to support wellbeing and good mental health
How St Mary's School manages student behaviour
What to do if your child isn’t feeling happy at school
PB4L is hosting a parent chat night. There are 2 sessions available to make sure that we can involve as many families as possible. Childcare will be provided for those who need it. Come along and enjoy some light refreshments and good conversation. Grant Gaston, an advisor from the Ministry of Education, will also be there to share ideas and help answer questions.
Thursday 19th August
3:15-4:15pm and 6:00-7:00pm.
St Mary's Chess Club
We competed in Regional Tournaments at Taupo, Tauranga and Rotorua, as well as on-line tournaments. Our results were outstanding both for the teams and individual players. Consequently we have qualified for the TEAMS NATIONALS (Rotorua, Saturday of Labour Weekend). Unfortunately we over-qualified as the maximum number we can enter for the team is 8 players, even though 12 players qualified. So, we are trying to enter in an ON-LINE NATIONAL Tournament as well on the same date to give other players a chance to compete.
We also have 7 players who have qualified as individuals for the CHAMPIONSHIP tournament on the Sunday of Labour Weekend.
SO, SO awesome .. keep playing and practising!!!
Housekeeping items
PITA PIT Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Orders must be in by 9am (ordering ahead is also possible). Orders online via www.lunchonline.co.nz
FRIDAYS: Sausage sizzle and Juicies available. $1.50 each item. Order from your classroom teacher on FRIDAY MORNINGS
UNIFORM SHOP AT SCHOOL:
Monday 8.30am, Wednesday 2.30pm, Friday 8.30am.
Online uniform sales : Uniforms are also available online via our website using paypal.
Upcoming School Events
Sunday 15 August Feast of the Assumption Mass & Procession
Thursday 19 August PB4L 'Focus on Family' presentation
Friday 10 September 2021 Grandparents Mass
Friday 12 November Teacher Only Day
Special Mentions
Sports News
Sports
End of Season Dates
Netball: Sunday 15th August (Future Ferns Netball Tournament - all grades)
Football: Saturday 11th September (all grades)
Hockey: Saturday 21st August (Y3/4 & Y5/6 - Funsticks has finished)
Miniball: Monday 27th September (Y1/2), Wednesday 29th September (Y3/4), Friday 24th September (Y3/4 & Y5/6)
Sports Fees
Please ensure your child’s sports fees are paid by 3.15pm Friday 20th August.
All sports fees must be paid or arrangements made before your child can participate in sports for Term 4.
Payments can be made via the School Office which is open 8.30am - 3.15pm or via internet banking - St Mary's Catholic Primary School ANZ 06 0209 0229658 00. Please use the sport as code (eg miniball) and your child's name as reference.
Queries to Whaea Leanne at sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz or 027 285 7579 or 348 1701.
JUNIOR TOUGH GUY & GAL CHALLENGE
Entries through school have now closed - if you have registered your child, please make sure you have paid the $25 registration fee by Friday 30th July.
You can still register your child directly through the Event Promotions website by clicking HERE. Important Information: Our school group is attending on Wednesday 18th August, please put ‘St Mary's Catholic Primary School’ as school and TEACHER for bib pickup, otherwise your child's race bib will not be available for us to collect on the day.
Miniball Players needed
We are needing players from Y1 or Y2 to join our miniball team for the remainder of the season. If your child is interested please contact Whaea Leanne ASAP at-
sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz or 027 285 7579 or 348 1701.
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