Newsletter - Week 6 Term 4

Tena koutou katoa, nau mai ki tetahi atu wiki.

Mr Macmillan is away on the Totara camps this week in Taupo.......He is having far too much fun by the sounds of it and would like you to know that everyone is having a wonderful time in spite of the weather.

Rooms 1, 2 and 5 left on Monday morning and are due to return this afternoon. The approximate arrival time for their return from camp is 4.00pm. They can be collected from the Church car park.

Rooms 3 and 4 were very excited to be embarking on their adventure this morning, and will return on Friday afternoon. Again, the approximate arrival time for their return from camp is 4.00pm.

Please continue to keep the Totara team in your prayers over the week so that they have a safe and joyful camp.

We would like to thank all the senior teachers for their hard work in preparing such an amazing camp and our whanau who have gone as support. We imagine you are all looking forward to getting back to your own beds for a good night's sleep.

Our Year 6’s had their Orientation Day at John Paul College last Friday. Thank you JPC for providing our students with this opportunity to begin their transition into high school. They got to experience a subject of their choosing. Drama, PE, Science, Robotics and Cooking were just a few of the options.

Our students were welcomed by the Year 7 Dean, Principal and Deputy Principal, and were able to catch up with the Year 7’s, our former students, who were excited to see them.It was wonderful to see the smiles on all of their faces.

Marion Kirby, from Learning Matters, our Structured Literacy provider, has been in the school this week. She has been looking at our assessment data and is pleased by our results. The children are making great progress.

The end of the year is approaching fast - do keep an eye on the class blogs to make sure you don’t miss anything. The calendar is starting to look very full, so make sure you note down any important dates so you don’t double book yourself.

Kia pai te rā!

Brigitte Holmes

Wednesday 30th November PTA School Disco

Monday 5th December Room 12 and 14 Mystery Trip

Monday 5th December Kakano Big Day In

Tuesday 6th December Junior Tryathlon 11.00 am Year 0 to 3 at school

Thursday 8th December Tryathlon/Swimming Sports for Years 4 to 6 at Aquatic Centre

Monday 12th December End of year Mass. 9.00 am

Tuesday 13th December Big Day In (Y6 students)

Wednesday 14th December Prizegiving - 9:30-11:30

Thursday 15th December Missioning - 11-12:00

Thursday 15th December Last Day of the term. School finishes at Midday.

Friday 16th December Teacher Only Day RE Planning Day for 2023

Monday 19th December Teacher Only Day. Pause Breathe Smile PD

Last week we came to the end of our Baptism classes. We had a small number attending, but it was a wonderful opportunity to really get to know our families. Also a large number of children in the Parish were Confirmed and made their First Holy Communion on Sunday. Let God shine down on all our students and their families and keep them in his care throughout their faith journey.

Thank you all so much for your donations to buy the ice blocks to pay for the postage of our Christmas Shoe Boxes. We had some money left over and decided with our RE Leaders to send this to Caritas. Usually we make a school contribution to Caritas earlier in the year. We decided not to do this as many of our families were hit with the Covid outbreak. Caritas is an organisation set up to end poverty and promote justice in countries throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, the Pacific, and the Middle East. Their work tackles global issues like food and water insecurity, national disaster readiness and gender-based violence.

It was lovely to see so many of our families gathering together to celebrate Mass on a Sunday. There are Masses held at St Michael’s and St Mary’s church on both Saturday and Sunday. Check out the parish website for more details and Mass times. Check out the parish Facebook page too! Try searching St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, Rotorua and click the like button. You will then have all the information and news from the parish as it happens. Fr. Thomas and Fr. Prakash are always happy to welcome you. We are very lucky to have such caring and considerate Priests.

Next week Kakano 4 and Kakano 1 will be leading the Advent Liturgy on Thursday at 12:15 p.m. You are most welcome to join us.

God bless,

Sara Mines and Lorna Dobson DRS

Our school library will be closing on Friday 3 December 2022, in order to commence work on the annual library stocktake.

ALL BOOKS ISSUED TO STUDENTS ARE THEREFORE TO BE RETURNED TO SCHOOL BY THIS DATE.

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.

Our St Mary's M.A.D (Making a Difference) Crew are running a Christmas craft stall at the Night Market on Thursday 1st December from 5pm. All proceeds will go towards a community group that needs some extra Christmas cheer. We would love our St Mary's school community to come down and support their stall. Mark your calendars!

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.

It’s Calendar Art time again!

The student’s have been busy creating artwork that can be made into affordable Calendars, Cards, Diaries, Mouse Mats and Sketch Pads.

Each product is made from your own child’s art.These make unique Christmas gifts for family and friends and are perfect for posting overseas.

Follow these instructions to have a look at your child’s artwork and to place your order online.

If you would like to purchase:

1/. Go to www.kidsartworks.com

2/. Use the Entrance Code: KZ1410

3/. Enter your child’s room & name when prompted

The order is open from 15th November 2022 until Wednesday 23rd November at 11.30pm.

Payment can be made over the website via credit card or account2account.

If you have any questions please contact the school brigitteh@stmarysrotorua.school.nz

Mobile 0272121206

Nga mihi

St. Mary’s PTA

Our Students continue to achieve in many areas of extra curricular activities. They are very fortunate to have these opportunities. Students Bourneton (Room 12) and Mateo (Room 12)

have been attending swim meets around the Bay of Plenty with good improvement in personal best times.

See below a picture of Kyree (piano) Ian and Mateo at the Rotorua Music School End of Year concert adding music skills to their sporting activities.

Work Opportunities : Office, data entry, accounts, lots of casual bus driver spots and private bus charter/hosting opportunity, mountain bike guiding and general guiding with pathwways in the workforce to upskill in quite a variety of areas in the tourism world. See link below.

Careers | Mountain Bike Rotorua | New Zealand

Careers | Mountain Bike Rotorua | New Zealand

Job opportunities