Newsletter Term 2 Week 1
St Mary's School Blenheim Friday 6th May 2022
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Kia ora koutou Te Kura O Hato Mere Whanau
Wow, wow, wow, wow, I am blown away!
Wow, what a stunning Easter we had. Beautiful services each day and a wonderful Catholic community in prayer together. In a state of mourning but also thanksgiving for the sacrifices Jesus made for us here on earth today.
Wow, for the stunning weather we experienced during the holiday period and the amazing experiences our children had thanks to you and your imaginations. Loads of the shared stories about building huts, going for walks, a day at the beach, going to the Taylor river or the Wairau River and building dams, swimming in the rivers and sea (brave children) or just enjoying time with whanau and catching up with the wider whanau now restrictions have been somewhat lifted.
It always amazes me that the free activities seem to have deeper and more eventful memories for our tamariki.
Wow, for the amount of preparation that occurred during the holidays with regards to our landscape. Marlborough Tree Care, Matt and his crew of merry men were working hard at the end of the first week removing the last of the trees to allow for our landscape plan to come to life and the next step in the plans to evolve.
Wow, to having your beautiful children back in our kura. Bringing their faith, their exuberance and their joy for life back into our lives and lifting everyone's spirits. It was fantastic to have the whole school together and singing in the Monday morning start of term prayers for the first time in a year.
One of the students shed a tear and commented on how beautiful the first song was after it was sung. The song is an all time favourite, ‘Hold my Hands’. The power of song and music was so moving as we came together as a large te Kura O Hato Mere whanau for the first time in 12 months.
May God bless you all,
Yours ‘In Christ’s Light’
Paddy Dowling
TE WHETU O TE MOANA l STAR OF THE SEA - MARLBOROUGH CATHOLIC PARISH
Parish Newsletter - No.15. 06 May 2022
Parish Newsletter - No.14. 29 April 2022
Parish Newsletter - No.13. 22 April 2022
JOHN DEW NEWSLETTER
5 May 2022 Issue No. 266
Kia tau te rangimārie ki a koutou
Greetings to you all from Rome. I am here for the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity, and have also been able to manage a few other visits to Congregations such as Causes of Saints and the Doctrine of the Faith.
Tomorrow we will be joined online by His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Ukraine which I am sure, due to the current crisis in Ukraine, will be a challenging and very interesting time. Please continue to pray that this war will come to an end and that there will be peace.
We will conclude on Friday afternoon with an audience with Pope Francis, which is always a highlight of these Assemblies. I know that the Pope will ask me how the people of New Zealand are, and will ask if he has the prayers of New Zealanders. I will assure him that he is always in our prayers as he faces the challenges of the Church in the world today. So please make sure you do make a special effort every day to offer a prayer for him.
Finally, please pray for me too while I am at these meetings.
Naku noa
John
Youth Group
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Mothers Day - Sunday 8th May 2022
- School Photos - Thursday 12th May 2022
- Water Skills for Life Programme Yr 3-8 - 23rd to 27th May
- NYLD - Christchurch, Student Leaders - 1st - 2nd June
- Teacher Only Day - 3rd June
- Queens Birthday Public Holiday - 6th June
- Matariki Public Holiday - 24 June
- End of Term - 7th July
- Teacher Only Day - 8th July
- 150th Jubilee - 21-23 October 2022
TEACHER ONLY DAYS
Teacher Only Days
This term we have two Teacher Only Days, days of professional development provided by outside agencies. The first is a continuation of the work we are doing with advancing our pedagogy in Mathematics. The second day is the start of a Religious Education paper through Tu Kupenga. We will be combining with the teaching staff from St Joseph's School, Kaikoura to complete the paper. We will be studying TH504 Catholic Social Teaching.
This is held at the core of who we are as a Catholic school, guides us in decision making and gives a solid grounding for all thinking and behaviour.
We are looking forward to working alongside another Catholic kura as we grow relationships and become closer partners in Catholic Education.
Dates:
Friday 3rd June - DMIC
Friday 8th July - TH504 Catholic Social Teaching
St Mary's School, Blenheim 150th Jubilee
Thursday 20th - Sunday 23rd of October 2022
For more information click this link - St Mary's School 150th Jubilee
2022 LANDSCAPING
Last term you were all made aware that we were having a Landscape plan completed by our Designer Emma Woods from Woodland Escape. The Draft plans are here! It is a very exciting time for our kura as we look towards a future of green spaces that are purpose built for our children’s learning and development now and in the future.A change of setting and environment that aligns with our values and curriculum will really help set the place alive. Community spaces, spaces for learning outside the classroom, spaces to challenge each individual socially, emotionally, mentally and physically. The plans below are the draft plans that Miss MCCone and I will discuss on Tuesday with Emma. If you have any responses or ideas with regards to the spaces identified please email me and we will consider them in our plans moving forward.
MULCH, MULCH and MORE MULCH !!!!!
What a cracker week it has been tons of mulch to be moved to prepare the ground for the trees to be planted and a border/boxing to be built. The mulch is from the trees that have been removed and extra mulch from around Blenheim as we build a good base for the trees and gardens to thrive once planted.
The children have been amazing in their support during morning tea and lunchtime. Some have even helped before school. This investment will pay huge dividends for the school in the future. Caring for and watching over the land in which we learn and aspire to be our best selves.
Below are pictures of the labour force from this week. We even have a young man who needs a wee rest because he has worked so hard.
Thank you to the teachers support as well allowing children to come and support the process in small groups at a time. Every little bit counts and is much appreciated.
The tree order is ready to go. We will receive over 100 tress between the months of June - August.
Very exciting indeed. We will keep you updated.
SPORTS NEWS
WINTER TENNIS
Winter tennis and coordination training in St Mary's hall after school on Wednesday and Thursday.
This is through terms 2 and 3.
For more details contact
Glen Cameron
0211157239
BASKETBALL
St Mary's School is looking for parents, caregivers or teen's who are passionate about basketball and would like to help with coaching or managing our fabulous teams in Term 3.
Please email lisa@stmb.school.nz
DANCING
SCHOOL LUNCHES
Subway Lunches on Wednesdays
If you would like to order, please bring the filled form and money into the office on Wednesday morning or you can order online!
Orders have to be done before 9.00am on Wednesday mornings.
Online order instructions here
Due to the minimum wage and the price of supplies increasing, all prices will increase by 50c starting in term 2.
OUR SPONSORS
CONTACT US
Email: office@stmb.school.nz
Website: https://stmb.school.nz
Location: St Mary’s School Blenheim 3 Stephenson St, Blenheim, New Zealand
Phone: +64 3 578 9494
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmarysschoolblenheim/