St Mary's School Term 2 Week 5
Te Kura O Hato Mere
Newsletter - Thursday 2 June 2022
PRINCIPAL'S VIEW
Talofa lava
On Tuesday and Wednesday this week we had a visit from two reviewers from the Education Review Office. They talked to many people in the school and spent several hours with me gathering information about our school and how it operates. This initial visit enables them to make a statement to our school community about our school. I was very pleased with how the visit went. The reviewers, Mrs Juliette Hayes and Mrs Megan Cassidy, spoke very highly about how our school operates and the tremendous teaching and learning taking place. They commented about the fact that our teachers are improvement-focused and that our students are at the forefront of all decisions we make at school.
One of the groups they spoke to was a year 8 group. They particularly enjoyed speaking to this group who were very effusive about being at St Mary's School and the learning that takes place. The reviewers commented that they are our best advertisement for the wonderful education they receive here at St Mary's. The reviewers will write an interim statement to the community in the near future and will continue to be engaged with the school in the coming years as part of the new review process. Their visit left me feeling very proud of our school and it affirmed all the wonderful things we do for our students.
Have a great long weekend.
Tofa soifua
David O’Neill
Principal/Tumuaki
Monday 23 May
PRINCIPAL'S AWARDS
Monday 30 May
Welcome to St Mary's School
A.J. -Room 1
Sayuri -Room 5
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS
06/06 Monday
VENUS Rm5
11/06 Saturday
LOLA Rm2
15/06 Wednesday
MALIA Rm4
NO SCHOOL NEXT MONDAY 6 JUNE- QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HOLIDAY
Samoan Language Week
NZ Curriculum Refresh
In Aotearoa New Zealand, let’s have a future where every child experiences success in their learning. Over the next five years, we’re refreshing The New Zealand Curriculum. It’s vital that all ākonga experience a sense of wellbeing and belonging in their schooling. This refresh will support teachers to design curriculum that fits the uniqueness of every learner - so that every child’s progress and achievement is responded to and celebrated. The refreshed national curriculum will provide a greater sense of what progress looks like, and the learning that matters. We will all have clarity about the learning that ākonga should experience across the curriculum – what is important to understand, know, and do. This clarity will strengthen partnerships between teachers, kaiako, and leaders to work with ākonga, their family and whānau, and the wider community including hapū and iwi to develop rich and relevant local curriculum.
Special Choir Singing at Mass - Sunday 26 June - 9.30am Mass
Year 7 & 8 Thursday Winter Sport Competition
Our netball teams played Ellesmere College and Our Lady of Victories Schools.
The football team we were supposed to play defaulted so our football team had a practise here at school.
Dental Van Visit
Click here to read a notice from the Community Dental Service for further information.
First Holy Communion 2022 - Starts 14 June
Our First Holy Communion Programme for 2022 is set to start on the 14th of June. Children can be part of this programme from year 4 upwards in preparation for this special sacrament. Our programme this year consists of 3 parent and 3 child sessions. The First Holy Communion date is 28th of August.
If you have a child who is interested in being part of this programme or have any questions, please email me on churdle@cathedralparish.nz. The closing date for registrations is the 5th of June.
Teacher Professional Development
- UC Early Writing Success: Focus for Teaching and Assessment for Years 1-2
- Te Ahu o Te Reo
- Just in Time Maths PLD
- Teaching Sexuality in a Catholic School
Our Catholic Faith Fact
Pentecost Sunday
Pentecost is the Feast where we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit to guide and sustain the Church after the death, resurrection and ascension to Heaven of Jesus.
Pentecost is hugely significant to us as members of the Church because:
Without the presence of the Spirit Jesus’ mission could not have continued and the Church would not have been born.
The Spirit poured out gifts on people that enabled them to live as Jesus lived and build his kingdom here on earth.
The coming of the Spirit fulfilled Jesus’ promise to be with his followers always.
Pentecost enables the Spirit to live in the world, in the Church and in our hearts guiding and prompting us to make Jesus alive in the world.
Do you or your child want to be baptised?
TERM DATES and TEACHER ONLY DAYS -2022
Term 2: Mon 2 May – Fri 8 July
Term 3: Mon 25 July – Fri 30 Sept
Term 4: Mon 17 October – Friday 16 December
Teacher Only Days
Friday 25th March 2022
Thursday 23rd June 2022
Monday 14th November 2022
Covid-19
If your child displays some of the symptoms please keep them at home and test for Covid-19. If your child tests positive please send me an email to let me know. office@stmaryschch.school.nz
What does it mean if I am a Household Contact?
If you are considered a Household Contact you must follow these steps (whether you are vaccinated against COVID-19 or not):
- Self-isolate from the day that the first person in your household receives their positive test result, until they complete their 7 days of self-isolation and are released.
- When the first case in your house gets to days 3 and 7 of their isolation, you need to get tested using a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).
- If symptoms develop at any stage, you need to get tested using a RAT.
- Avoid or minimise contact with the person with COVID-19 as much as possible during your isolation period.
- You can end your self-isolation on the same day as the first ‘case’ in the household, provided you have no new or worsening symptoms and your tests were negative.
- Your isolation does not restart if additional members of your household are identified as cases during the first case’s isolation period.
- After the initial isolation period ends there is a 10-day window during which no Household Contacts of the original case can be re-classified as Household Contacts. You only need to begin isolation again during these 10 days if you test positive yourself.
- 10 days after the original isolation period ends the usual rules apply. If a new household member (not the original case) tests positive, they and all other Household Contacts (who have not yet become cases themselves) must isolate for 7 days.
A recovered case is exempt from becoming a Household Contact for 90 days after their recovery.The factsheet below provides helpful information on COVID-19 and precautions you can take to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. The fact sheet should be read together with the advice on self-isolation or staying at home (viewable at Advice for people with COVID-19) and any specific advice that may be given to you by your doctor, Healthline (0800 358 5453) or public health official.
Symptoms of Covid-19
- A new or worsening cough
- Sneezing and runny nose
- A fever
- Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
Less common symptoms include diarrhoea, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, malaise, chest pain, abdominal pain, joint pain, or confusion/irritability.
For more information, go to https://covid19.govt.nz/health-and-wellbeing/about-covid-19/covid-19-symptoms/
School Polar Fleece
Pre Enrolment of Siblings
Closing of School Gate
Carpark Safety
Student Absence
Upcoming Events
JUNE 2022
- Year 7&8 Winter Sport Competition Begins- Thursday 2 June
- Queen's Birthday Public Holiday- Monday 6 June
- Benediction- Tuesday 21 June 2.30pm
- Jubilate- Tuesday 21 June 7pm - 8.30pm
- Teacher Only Day- Thursday 23 June
- Matariki Public Holiday- Friday 24 June
- Special Choir sing at Mass- Sunday 26 June 9.30am
JULY 2022
- Term 2 Ends- Friday 8th July
- Term 3 Begins- Monday 25th July
Lunchonline - In Situ Cafe on Wednesdays and Subway or Sushi on Fridays
Jubilate 2022: the Series Begins
Many of you were in the Christchurch Town Hall for Jubilate 2021. This year, the diocese hosts a Jubilate series. The Cathedral and Waimakariri parishes kick us off, bringing their talented parish and school choirs together for a good sing. Come and join your voice in fervent core singing and support our featured choirs.
Where: St Mary's Pro-Cathedral.
When: Tuesday 21 June from 7.00 to 8.30pm.
All welcome and admission is free.
Ken Joblin, Sacred Music Advisor, Christchurch Diocese.
Change of Policy – Attendance Dues Debt Recovery
Please be advised that at the May Cathedral Parish Finance Committee, the committee signed off on a new Attendance Dues Debt Recovery Policy. This enables the parish to engage an external debt recovery company (Under Control Collections). This will always be used as a last resort, when we have been unable to get a family to engage with us in relation to their outstanding Attendance Dues.
Any queries should be directed to Kirsten Tester – Attendance Dues Administrator - Ph (03) 595 1053 or ktester@cathedralparish.nz
School App
Please email the school office to obtain a secure link to download the app.