Newsletter - Week 8 Term Two
Newsletter 17 22 June 2022
Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
It is exciting that this year is the first year we celebrate Matariki with a public holiday. This is an important event to celebrate. Our Year 4 - 6 classes have been creating a variety of projects inquiring into our driving question, ‘How do we honour the stories of the past as we use them to shape our future?’.
To showcase our learning, Year 4 to 6 students invite our whānau to come in for a mini breakfast on Friday, July 1 between 7:45 - 8:45, for Rooms 12 and 14, and Monday, July 4 between 7:45 - 8:45 for Rooms 1 - 5. The students would love to see you and show off all their projects.
Thanks to Kakano 1 and Mrs Dobson for a great assembly focusing on talents and also to the Kahikatea team children for the Matariki liturgy. Lots of great Te Reo readings. It’s nice to be together as a whole school, almost like the old days!
Our Chess children played particularly well in the Rotorua Tournament: Claire Delos Santos was the top girl and second overall. Our team was placed second. Thanks to Mr G and the parents who helped with transport to the venue.
A group of children played at a golf tournament at Lake View Golf Club and had a fantastic day. It was really a ‘GIVE IT A GO DAY’. Thanks to Brigitte Holmes and the parents who helped with transport.
Two rugby teams were competing in the Regional rippa competition in Te Puke today, narrowly missing out on winning. They played very well.
It was remiss of me not publishing the results of our School Country Event. Congratulations to these students:
11 Year old Girls:
Rosa Atkinson 1st, Eunice Chikono 2nd, Ivansha Kumar 3rd.
11 Year old Boys:
Hugh Milligan 1st, Marlo MacDonald 2nd, Leonardo Spanbroek 3rd.
10 Year old Girls:
Alana Thomson 1st, Lea Gelid 2nd, Lydia Hardman 3rd.
10 Year old Boys:
Caleb Finnerty 1st, Oliver Smith 2nd, Henry Terry 3rd.
9 Year old Girls:
Sara Plummer 1st, Emma Doyle 2nd, Samara Jessen 3rd.
9 Year old Boys:
Max Schuster 1st, Xavier Parata 2nd, Alexander Marsh 3rd.
8 Year old Girls:
Mila Grant 1st, Wairanaki Ngawhika 2nd, Indie Fraser 3rd.
8 Year old. Boys:
Mateo Parra Rodriguez 1st, Ian Yoo 2nd, Louis Mathis 3rd.
Our Principal for a day, Lachlan, thinks being a Principal is hard work. He had a great day and met with lots of staff and children to discuss their needs for the school. Lachlan hasn’t presented these to me yet. The school might look a little different if all these ideas are implemented in the school.
We look forward to our Sacred Heart Mass on Thursday, tomorrow at 11.30 am. We would love to see many parents/whanau here with us tomorrow.
And last but not least - FRIDAY IS A MATARIKI HOLIDAY! Enjoy.
Have a good week,
David Macmillan,
Principal
DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES
You are all invited to join the whole school to celebrate the Sacred Heart Mass this Thursday 23rd June at 11:30 am. Father Thomas wants to see as many families as possible bringing their children to Mass on a Sunday. He fully understands that you may have other commitments and knows you might not be able to attend every Sunday. Father Thomas would like to see you at our School Masses, especially if you cannot commit to coming to Mass as a family on a Sunday.
Father Thomas is also hoping to set up a choir. He is hoping to take the group of children to practice the songs during school time. Father Thomas is very passionate about our young learners being a part of our St Mary's Parish community. Have a chat with your children to see if they would consider joining the choir at church.
Have a lovely short week.
Take care and God bless.
Sara Mines and Lorna Dobson
Matariki
On behalf of Matariki Rotorua, an invitation is extended to you, your families, and their families, to attend the first ever Matariki Rotorua ceremony.
Please dress warm and bring photos of loved ones who have passed, for a truly special celebration.
School Production 2022
Term 3 - Week 10 :
"Little Red Rocking Hood" - A Rock Opera full of singing, dancing and humour. This is a lively, modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood - designed to be performed by 5 to 12 year olds as a rock opera.
This year Mrs Jane Trask will be directing and choreographing Little Red Rocking Hood alongside Musical Director Lorette Tiedt. Together with a production team of talented parents and volunteers we will produce this classic story with a twist.
Auditions will be held in Week 9 of Term 2. As there are minimal speaking main roles, most of these will go to Senior Students in Years 5/6. All classes will be involved. Stay tuned for more information. If you wish to offer any help or expertise, sponsorship or anything else, please email Jane Trask: janet@stmarysrotorua.school.nz
Production Alerts:
Years 5-6 Audition slips need to have been returned to the red box at the student counter by today (Wednesday). If you missed out on a slip please apply to the school office.
Years 3 to 6 - We will call for interest for the “rocking roll singers” group in week one of term three.
All years 3 to 6 students - there will be a signup sheet for interest in being one of the 12 extra dancers - next to the Redbox at the student counter. The dance audition will be separate to the main character speaking roles.
Chess Club
What a hectic 3 weeks - 4 tournaments with teams playing in Taupo, Hamilton, Tauranga and finally, Rotorua.
The children did so well with our team qualifying for the Team Nationals later in the year. We have already qualified for the maximum of 8 team players. (The first school in NZ to achieve this!)
Four students have ‘individually’ qualified for the National Championships. To qualify you need to finish in the top 3 individual standings or be top girl. Lucas MacDonald, Tamba Kortequee, Alvin Biju and Claire delos Santos are our current qualifiers. Claire was top girl at all four tournaments - an amazing feat for her first year playing.
Tournament Results:
Taupo -
-Teams finished 1st and 3rd
-Individuals were 1st, 2nd, 3rd.
Hamilton-
-Teams finished 3rd and 5th
Tauranga
-Teams were 2nd and 4th
Rotorua
-Teams were 2nd, 6th, 10th
As well there was a rookie section for those new to playing in chess tournaments. We had 12 children competing which augers well for our chess future. What was even more exciting was that we filled the top 5 positions.
A big thank you to all the parents who have helped with transport and supervision at these events. It is very satisfying and pleasing for all concerned.
Ray Guilford, CEO.
Holiday Steam Camp
Holiday Steam Camp
During the upcoming holidays we are hosting a FREE Steam Camp at school. Year 5/6 students are invited to register and attend the two days.
We will explore technology, including drones, robotics and other technologies. Scan the QR code on the poster or click on this link to register. Numbers are limited, so get in quick.
SPORTS NEWS
FOOTBALL CLUB DUTY this Saturday 25 June -
Help required please -
We are needing helpers to set up, bbq, and clean up.
There are time slots available from 8am to 12pm.
Please contact Shanelle in the office or David Macmillan, and let them know where you can assist. Thank you in advance.
TOUGH GUY AND TOUGH GIRL CHALLENGE
Registrations close 5 August. Years 3 - 6 $25 per entry. Forms are at the office.
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
Housekeeping
Raincoat left by student on front steps after school. Light grey with white spots. Hanging in the school foyer.
Eat Yummy Apples for new sports gear...
Rotorua Lakes Volunteer Coastguard service
Rotorua Lakes Volunteer Coastguard is looking for new volunteers!
Our Coastguard Rescue Vessel volunteers are out on the water across Aotearoa saving lives and supporting our boating community. Here in Rotorua we cover all the lakes, and some of the Waikato River. We train on Monday evenings, in our two high-spec dedicated Coastguard Rescue Vessels. Coastguard provides all online and practical training to help you become an operational crew member.
If you have an interest in helping make a real difference to peoples lives, even if you have no prior boating experience, please consider joining us. Go to https://volunteers.coastguard.nz/ or phone Jonathan 022 4364292, email Jonathan@geohazard.co.nz