St Mary's School Term 1 Week 10
Te Kura O Hato Mere
Newsletter - Thursday 7 April 2022
PRINCIPAL'S VIEW
Kia ora koutou, kumusta, talofa lava
It has certainly been a challenging few weeks for our school community! Covid 19 has disrupted all of our lives in some way and caused a great deal of anxiety for some.
I am pleased to say that St Mary’s has ‘weathered the storm’ and bounced back strongly. We have very few cases of Covid 19 in our school community now and the vast majority of students are back at school playing and learning happily with their friends. I would like to thank the staff for their resilience and their dedication to doing their best to keep educating our students in difficult circumstances. We have had to adapt and be flexible in delivering the curriculum. First and foremost we have had our students' emotional and physical health at the forefront of everything we do.
Thanks to all of our parents/caregivers and whanau who have been so positive and supportive of us during these challenging times. Together we have weathered the storm and together we go forward into hopefully a positive, enriching and much more relaxed time of learning in term 2.
Have a great holiday break and a very Happy and Holy Easter.
Mā te Atua koe e manaaki, e tiaki
May God bless you and protect you
David O’Neill
Principal/Tumuaki
Welcome to St Mary's School
Brooklyn-Room 1
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE FOLLOWING STUDENTS
11/04 Monday
LIANA Rm5
EDDIE Rm3
13/04 Wednesday
AGNEL Rm2
20/04 Wednesday
BENEDICT Rm2
Term 1 Ends On Thursday 14th April at 3pm
Term 2 Begins Monday 2 May at 9am
Winter Uniform To Be Worn In Term Two
Please ensure your child wears the following
uniform next term.
Girls (Terms 2&3)
Standard red / blue tartan pinafore
White blouse
St Mary's School Polar Fleece or royal blue woollen cardigan/ jersey
Navy blue tights or navy blue knee high socks
Shoes black/brown
Boys (Terms 2&3)
Plain navy blue track pants (no logos) or standard grey winter shorts
Standard grey winter shirt or royal blue skivvy
St Mary's School Polar Fleece or royal blue woollen jersey
Grey Socks
Shoes black/brown
Changes To Outdoor Mask Use At School
Parents /Caregivers and Whanau are no longer required to wear a mask entering the school grounds.
We do ask that parents and caregivers wear a mask inside classrooms if you are visiting please.
Covid-19 Update
Positive Covid Cases in our school have dramatically decreased and 95% of students are attending school now. We have not had new cases of Covid appear in the school for over a week.
A Reminder to be vigiliant:
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/
Stations of the Cross
During Lent, Catholics often undertake the Stations of the Cross. It is a walk that allows for reflection and re-enactment of Jesus' final journey, when he carried his cross to Golgotha, the place of his crucifixion.
Holy Week Next Week
Palm Sunday
Read this part of the Holy Week story in a Bible: The Lord’s Entrance into Jerusalem -Mark 11:1-11
Want to find out more about Palm Sunday.
Watch this video clip
Holy Thursday
Read this part of the Holy Week Story in the Bible: Jesus eats the passover meal with the disciples- Mark 14-12-26
Watch this video clip on The Last Supper Or this video
Good Friday
During the morning, read this part of the Holy Week Story in the Bible: Jesus is put to death on the cross. He gave his life for us - Mark 15:1-41
In the evening read, read this part of the Holy Week Story in the Bible: The Burial of Jesus - Mark- 15: 42-47
Easter Sunday
On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. For Catholics, Easter Sunday comes at the end of 40 days of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving known as Lent.
Alleluia Alleluia He has risen!
First Holy Communion 2022 - Now Commencing Later
To register your child for First Holy Communion please click on this link to fill out the registration form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSft-yYB0OLO5DwFGv6mT8UPyVwBvHjzka8ULrOk4KPWabqRJw/viewform
TERM DATES and TEACHER ONLY DAYS -2022
Term 1: Wed 2 February - Thurs 14 April
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
Do you or your child want to be baptised?
Our Catholic Faith Fact
Notable missionary anniversaries Pope Francis said that 2022 sees several notable anniversaries in the Church’s missionary spirit. The first is the 400th anniversary since the establishment of the Sacred Congregation De Propaganda Fide, now the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. This year also marks the 200th anniversary of the foundation of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith by a young French woman, Pauline Jaricot, who will be beatified in 2022.
School Polar Fleece
Sunhats must be worn Term 1
School Sun hats are compulsory during Terms 1 and 4 and are available from the school office at a cost of $12.00.
Royal blue, Aussie style wide brimmed hat.
Please note payment may only be made by cash or internet banking. Our bank account number is:
03 0855 0436803 00
Pre Enrolment of Siblings
Closing of School Gate
Carpark Safety
Student Absence
Attendance Dues increase for 2022
Upcoming Events
APRIL 2022
- Benediction - Tuesday 12th April
- Last Day of Term 1 - Thursday 14th April
- Good Friday - Friday 15th April
- Easter Sunday - Sunday 17th April
MAY 2022
- Term 2 Begins - Monday 2nd May
Lunchonline - Subway or Sushi on Fridays
School App
Please email the school office to obtain a secure link to download the app.