Newsletter - Week 8 Term 4
Newsletter 37 7 December 2022
Principal's Message
Kia Ora,
What a week we have just had: a Disco, the Inaugural Guilford Holmes Inter School Golf Tournament where our teams came 1st, 2nd and 3rd, and Interschool Athletics. It was all go and the week finished nicely with the Totara team’s assembly. It was great to see the Senior Kapa haka tamariki acknowledge Koro Tini at our assembly on Friday. Koro has been our kapa haka tutor for thirteen years and we hope that he will continue to tutor for many more years.
We are now into December and there is a real Christmas feel around the place. It is great to see the Christmas trees that classes have decorated, completed and placed around the school. I see children at break times looking and admiring the different designs on the trees. I am hoping to put some of these trees in the church foyer over Christmas.
Kakano had its triathlon on Tuesday and it was great to see all our Junior Children participate in this. It was also fantastic to see so many parents and grandparents who came and supported the children.
Rooms 12 and 14 were out of school on Monday with their Surprise end-of-year activity and Kakano had their Great Day In. What a great success these events both were. Thanks to the support we got from parents.
The weather for our Year 4, 5 and 6 triathlon/swimming sports does not look great and as a result, we have cancelled the event. It is not a decision we have taken lightly and I know our children will be disappointed but it does look like an unpleasant day, weatherwise.
On Monday we have our End of Year Mass and Prizegiving at 9.00am. You are welcome to come to this. It would be fantastic to see parents of our Year 6 students there as it will be the Year 6’s final Mass.
Tuesday is our BIG FUN DAY for our Year 6 students. There will be a number of activities preparing them for their transition to John Paul College. Year 6 St Michael students will also be involved in the fun. Year 6 students will be given lunch on this day too.
On Wednesday, Class Awards and Sports Awards will be presented. You are invited to this prizegiving also. It will start at 9.30am and will last about an hour.
Thursday at 11.00 am we will be Missioning and farewelling our Year 6 students. All students are expected to be at school for this and then students will be released at 12.30pm for the Christmas Holidays.
Your child’s report, class placement for 2023, stationery lists, reading log, a letter from Father Thomas and some preparation for your whanau for our Korero Mai which will be held at the start of the year will be sent home with your child this Friday. Korero Mai will take place on Thursday, February 2nd, and Friday, 3rd February. You will be able to book your Korero Mai time for your whanau by logging into school interviews event code 8xadh. Your family will be able to meet with your child’s teacher for 20 minutes and we would like you to fill in your Whare Tapa Wha with your child and bring it to the Korero Mai.
It is really important to have your child reading over the holidays and I have some really cool prizes. Reading logs will be sent home on Friday. The top class of readers will also win a pizza lunch.
We are publishing a school magazine again this year, and this will be available during the last week of this term. At this stage, there are only to be 100 magazines printed. It will be a great memento of 2022. Orders are being taken now with the cost for the magazine being $5.00.
Please send your child to school each day. The last day of school is Thursday 15th December.
Kind regards
David
Term Dates for 2013
Term 1 Korero Mai 2nd and 3rd February
February 7 - 6 April
Term 2: 24 April - 30 June
Term 3: 17 July - 22 September
Term 4: 9 October - 15 December
DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Today is the feast day of St Matthew. Matthew was a tax collector and was despised by lots of people. Pope Francis once encouraged people to pray for tax collectors. He said they would not win any popularity contests but were vital for the functioning of a fair society.
Within Kakano the children have been learning about fairness too, and to think of the ways in which they display fairness at school or at home. Some examples the students came up with were: helping with the dishes or sharing toys with a friend. Pope Francis encourages all children to use the talents God has given them and not to be afraid of dreaming great things!
Thank you from the Christmas Box Appeal ...
We took 349 Christmas boxes from Rotorua to Hamilton for sorting.
The total for New Zealand was 13,000 boxes and they have left our shores for Fiji.
A huge thank you to all of you who have generously helped yet again. There will be many excited children receiving boxes shortly. Your help was much appreciated.
Best wishes for a restful and blessed Christmas, Jan.
God bless,
Sara Mines and Lorna Dobson DRS
News from the Parish
Meaning of Advent Candle -
In week 1 a purple candle is lit. This is a symbol of Hope that Jesus is coming.
Week 2 another purple candle is lit. This is to symbolise Faith and remembers Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.
In week 3 a pink candle is lit. This is known as the candle of Joy. It is the joy the world experiences at the coming birth of Jesus.
In week 4 another purple candle is lit and this symbolises Peace. It reminds us of the message from the angels, ‘Peace on Earth and goodwill to all men’.
On Christmas Day a white candle in the middle is lit. This is known as the Christ Candle and celebrates the birth of Jesus.
Important dates to note -
St Mary's School Mass 12 December 9.00am
Reconciliation Rite II Tuesday 13 December 7pm in St Mary's Church
Special Mass for the Elderly - December 18 at 12.05pm.
Christmas Mass Times:
24 December Saturday (Vigil)
5.00pm St Michael's Church
7.00pm St Mary's Church
10.00pm St Michael's Church
12.00pm (midnight) St Mary's Church
25 December (Sunday)
8.00am St Michael's Church
10.00am St Mary's Church
No 5pm Mass on Christmas Sunday
Young Vinnies Group
St Mary's Chess Club
Great to have them so keen.
A couple of great websites they can learn and practice on are:
Chesskids.com (especially for beginners) and Lichess.
Both websites are safe for children to use. The more practice they get the more fun it is for them at any tournaments they may play in next year.
Happy Chessing, Mr G.
Holiday Gardening Program
vegetable garden needs tending as well as looking after the orchard so as to have it ready for next year.
Want to spend a fun 1 - 2 hours, then come along (for all or just some of the time).
Will involve weeding, watering, planting, harvesting and maybe even some EATING and / or COOKING of produce.
Schedule : Tuesdays 9.00am to 11.00am. All welcome !!
December 20th, Jan 3rd, Jan 10th, Jan 127th, Jan 24th.
Mr G.
The Uniform Shop will be closed as from Friday 9th December. Re-open 2 February 2023.
School Library Books to be returned
ALL BOOKS ISSUED TO STUDENTS TO BE RETURNED TO SCHOOL.
School books have a "yellow" St Mary's School Library, Rotorua sticker on the front cover and a St Mary's School Barcode on the back cover.
As there are a number of books still to be returned, please search your homes and return any books belonging to our library.
Invoices will be issued to Year 6 students who have outstanding books, prior to the end of term.
With thanks for your co-operation.
Enrolment for Sacramental Programme 2023
Confirmation - Reconciliation - First Holy Communion
(only for children who are baptised catholics)
Enrolment forms are now available at the Parish Office, 8am to 2.30pm on Tuesdays through to Fridays. If your child is not baptised in Rotorua please bring along your baptismal certificate at the time of enrolment.
Children are required to be 7 years old by May 25, 2023, to qualify to enter this program.
The Sacramental Programme will be starting February 5th 2023.
Any queries please phone the Parish Office 07-3480289.