Kia ora koutou te Kura O Hato Mere whānau,

What a start to the term with stunning weather and plenty of movement around the school. 15 new students have started in the last week and have been warmly welcomed by the school and their new classes.

We have been able to have Friday morning prayer twice and bring our school hapori whānui together to reflect and share prayer together. Please remember that you are all invited to Friday morning prayer with us. Our arms and hearts are always welcome to those who wish to be in prayer and spend some time rejoicing in God’s name. Especially at the end of a long week.

Pope Benedict said something quite profound in his first mass as Pope. I have taken this from Cardinal John’s first newsletter of the year. Pope Benedict said,
“Each of us is the result of a thought of God, each of us is willed, each of us is loved, each of us is necessary. There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the gospel, by the encounter with Christ. There is nothing more beautiful than to know him, and to speak with others of our friendship with Him.”

Each Friday we as a school offer the opportunity of encounter with Christ as we meet together as a Catholic community. Please come and join us to be at peace and celebrate this gift that has been given to us all.

Prayers this morning were fantastic, led by the students in Room 8 the entire school sang and rejoiced together in the prayer garden.

First School Mass of the Year

We also have other opportunities for you to be a part of our faith community. This Monday coming, 13th February we will be holding our first School Mass in the hall at 11:10am. You are all invited and welcome to join us on this very special occasion.

Losses to our community and the impact on student learning and safety

It has been great to watch the apples grow on the trees in the orchard over the holidays. Watering the trees and seeing the apples come to maturity and be nearly ready to pick has been more than pleasing, it has been very rewarding indeed.

Unfortunately due to some students across the fence and some of our students these apples have been removed from the trees. They are not ripe yet or ready to pick although very large in size. This Is gutting as the first harvest was to go to our students, a reward for their labour and a gift of food as we eat in communion with each other.

Next year onwards the fruits (pardon the pun) of the children's labour will be distributed among our hapori whānui and also with the college. The concept is to engage the students at the college as well. The boys who are studying Horticulture and Agriculture and build that partnership between the schools.

This opportunity has been stolen from us. The learning involved in these projects is huge for the tamariki as they learn about being self-sustainable and working together for the benefit of others.

We hope the other trees produce enough fruit for the children, so they are an involved part of this process from 2023 onwards.

Speakers/ Sounders

We have once again had to replace our external speakers from the Administration block. This is the 2nd new set of speakers we have had to purchase. It is a real shame that people in our hapori whānui do not understand the impact they are having on the staff and tamariki here at Te Kura O Hato Mere. Both times they have been stolen at the time of large sporting events. We have had cages fitted as you can see and all of this is at a huge cost to the kura. So far we are out of pocket $3000. This is money that has been stolen from your child's education and taken from the teachers who are trying to purchase resources for the tamariki in their classes. The impact is huge and felt across the whole kura. The cost of new speakers, the electrician, the manufacturing of the cages all has a cost.

The system is critical for our students as it is also our emergency system. That is in case of a fire, an earthquake, a lockdown or any other emergency it sounds to identify the children and staff need to take action.

The consequences of these speakers going missing could have had dire consequences.

The speakers are engraved with the school's name on them so are easy to identify. If you know of their whereabouts, please contact me personally. We would like them to be returned.

Let us all feel safe and strong together as one hapori whānui rather than individuals after personal gain.

We have had significant progress to our building developments in the last week. Jake, our builder has completed all of the sub floor preparations for the door and has also completed the framing for when the door arrives. We are now in a holding pattern until the door is manufactured then we have the green light to proceed with completing the job.

Inspired, inspirational, flamboyant, loving, caring and living the Beatitudes is what was discussed in Room 1 today with our wonderful Year 7 and 8 students. I am looking forward to being a part of this groups growth this year and positively engaging in the impact they will have upon the rest of the school in 2023.

Leadership and tuakana teina was discussed this morning in class.

The last 3 years have been difficult but now it is time to move forward and lead from within.

Lastly a wee reminder of the words spoken by Pope Benedict above and summarised by Cardinal John Dew.

Every day this year, know that:

You are the result of a thought of God.

You are willed.

You are loved.

You are necessary.

I hope and pray that this year is one of abundant blessings, that you are surprised by the gospel and

you continually encounter Christ.

Enjoy your weekend,

God bless you all,

Yours ‘In Christ’s Light’

Paddy

Sports Draws Term 1 2023

You can check out the Get Ready Guide which gives you information about the course for all age groups, training plan and training tips, along with the TRYathlon pack info!

No experience needed.

Limited number of vacancies. Lessons held in Blenheim out of school hours.

Email Christine Holdaway, Marlborough School of Instrumental Music. trombone@xtra.co.nz

If you would like to order SUBWAY, please order online Wednesday mornings

Orders must be done before 8.45am on Wednesday mornings.

Online order instructions here