Kia ora Te Kura O Hato Mere Whānau,

My heart is filled with joy, happiness and I feel blessed to be the tumuaki of this kura. Your tamariki are so amazing. Their smiles, high 5’s, fist pumps and greeting each day make the school a place with generous love and filled with Christ’s Light through their actions.

Being yourself is the key and the tamariki here have that opportunity in spades letting their lights shine.

We have started !!!!! It has been incredibly busy here over the last couple of weeks with the builders and other tradesmen coming into school. We have had the wall removed between Rooms 4 and 5 to start the process of installing a door so we can open up the space and then close it if needed. This will allow more flow, tram teaching and space for the children to grow and learn.

The verandah (clearlite roof) that was damaged in the hail storm has been replaced up in the senior block. This covers all of the verandah space for Rooms 1 and 2.

Our water fountains have had their filters replaced and have been serviced. Still the cleanest water around!

The plumbers have been into school and diverted the water mains that go to the Church, Preschool and here so we can start the ground works once again for the Maxwell Road Playground development.

We have also had electrical cable laid for the signage that will be on Maxwell Road advertising our kura.

The new Citrus Grove - worked together on Monday to remove the old shrub garden in front of the staffroom, and yesterday thanks to Mrs Lamain, Miss McCone and Mrs Middleton we have 5 citrus trees planted in the space with a ring of Marigolds on the edge of the garden. Next steps are to paint the fence and put down mulch to keep nasty weeds away.

Staffing

We have 4 new staff members joining the team this year.

Mrs Annette Barron will be working as an ORS teacher in Room 8, Mrs Lawrelle Morrison who will be working in Room 4, Miss Carla Marshall who will be working in Room 6 and Mrs Amanda Aitken who will be our release teacher this year.

Please introduce yourselves to these ladies and make them feel a part of the te Kura O Hato mere whānau when you see them.

Congratulations from the whole Te Kura O Hato Mere hapori whānui to Miss Sara Gane, now Mrs Sara Middleton who married her wonderful husband during the Christmas Holidays. Welcome back to the New Year with a new identity.

Have a great long weekend. Please take a moment to understand and discuss the significance of Te Tiriti O Waitangi with your children and extended whānau. It is the guiding document for this country. The significance of such a document needs to be understood and knowledge shared.

May God bless you all,

Your’s ‘In Christ’s Light’

Paddy Dowling

Tennis

The competition will continue on Saturday mornings from the11th February to Saturday the 18th of March 2023.

The same teams will play together as Term 4 2022.

Tennis sports draw is available on our school website for Term 1 2023

Volleyball

For years 3-8

Games played on Fridays from 4pm at Marlborough Stadium

Cost $38

Dates: 17th February to 31st March 2023

All payments and permission slips to be received by St Mary's school office by Thursday 9th February.

Summer Football

JUNIOR SCHOOL LEAGUE (5 a-side) – Wednesdays

Starts – Wednesday 15th February.

Finishes – Wednesday 15th March (5 weeks)

Held at A&P Park.

4.15pm – 4.45pm: 5-6 year olds

4.45pm – 5.15pm: 7-8 year olds

5.15pm – 5.45pm: 9-10 year olds

5.45pm – 6.30pm: 11-12 and 13-14 year olds

Cost $15 per player

All payments and permission slips to be received by St Mary's school office by Thursday 9th February.

Summer Hockey

TERM 1 – 6 weeks

MONDAY 20th FEBRUARY – MONDAY 27th March 2023

Cost: $35 per player

Please find below information for the 2023 season’s Summer Hockey Competitions

• Hockey Marlborough will run the coaching on the night for each team
• 2 x 20mins halves, 2min half time break
• 6 aside on quarter field. Year 7-8 will be half turf

Summer hockey is a fun, skillful adaptation of our winter game.

There are no outs, more points and spot prizes.

It is a great way to get ready for the winter competition with the focus on fitness, skill development and teamwork.

1 YEARS 3 & 4 COMPETITION

· To be played on Monday afternoons

· First GAME on Monday 20th February 2023

· No coach is required for summer hockey, just an adult to manage the team

2. YEARS 5 & 6 COMPETITION

· To be played on Monday afternoons

First GAME on Monday 20th February 2023

· No coach is required for summer hockey, just an adult to manage the team

3. YEARS 7/8 & 9/10 COMPETITION

· To be played on Monday afternoons

· First GAME on Monday 20th February 2023

· No coach is required for summer hockey, just an adult to manage the team

All payments and permission slips to be received by St Mary's school office by Friday 10th February.

Rippa Rugby

Thursday 2nd March – Thursday 30th March (5 weeks)

TIMES:

3:45pm, 4:15pm, 4:45pm, 5:15pm

*Game times are dependent on team entries and are TBC.

Cost: $10

The below grades will be dependent on the number of teams entered.

• Y1/2 RIPPA (Parents are required to be on the field to assist/coach players)
• Y3/4 RIPPA
• Y5/6 RIPPA
• Y7/8 RIPPA (This grade will be split into Boys, Girls and Mixed)

PLAYER REGISTRATIONS:

ALL players must register online via the St Mary's school’s sporty link

All payments and permission slips to be received by St Mary's school office by Friday 10th February.

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