Newsletter - Week 2 Term 4

Mālo ni,

It is Tokelau Language Week. This year's theme for Te Vaiaho o te Gagana Tokelau – Tokelau Language Week is "Halahala ki vavau, kae ke mau ki pale o Tokelau" which means "To plan for the future is to understand the past."

The theme connects to the overall theme for this year’s Pacific language week’s ‘sustainability’ and the launch of the UNESCO Decade of Indigenous Languages.

Wow, what an awesome day we had on Friday. Everyone had fun and there are lots of photos on Facebook and you can see the joy on the children’s faces. Thanks to our PTA who coordinated the event, Delwyn Bowen for coordinating the publicity in updating us through the weeks preceding the run and Brigitte Holmes for her work in liaising with the PTA, planning and coordinating/setting up the event on the day. Thanks to the parents who helped with the running of the event and a special mention to Simon Luke who helped throughout the whole day. We will know the net profit after the prizes are claimed and the Colour Run people take out their commission. You are able to go online now and order the prizes. This needs to be done by October 31st. Prizes will be delivered to the school. https://schoolfundraising.co.nz/

I think the event was well worth it. It was an awesome afternoon.

Mr G has been busy with our Chess Players playing in the Chess Nationals in Rotorua on Saturday and Sunday. Thanks Ray. Thanks also to Leidy Monsalves who helped by managing a team. Our younger participants found the going tough this year but good preparation for next year.

This month is the month of the Rosary. Young Vinnies and our RE Leaders did a lovely job in leading us in prayer on Thursday. This week our Year 2 and 3 students are leading us. Rosary is at 12.15 pm in the hall. You are all welcome to join us.

Holiday Reading Logs are due now. We will have a lucky draw at our next assembly.

We had our Athletic Sports yesterday (Tuesday) at the stadium. We were lucky with the fine weather. It was a great event with our children participating in all the events. I think it was the best Athletic Sports we have had. The children were cheerful and participated fully. Thanks to Lorna Dobson for coordinating the event and also to the many parents who helped us on the day. You were awesome. We will now be selecting a team to take to the Interschool event. If your child has been selected they will be bringing a letter home informing you of this.

This Friday we have our Grandparents / Grandfriends' Mass, at 9 am at St Mary's Church. We ask that you find a seat at the church prior to 9 am as children will be sitting with their classes. We would love to have all our special Grandparents and Grandfriends at school with us on this day.

After Mass, Grandparents are invited back to the classes to share in morning tea with their grandchildren (there will be tea and coffee provided in the hall) We ask all children to bring a plate to share for morning tea.

We intend to have a Working Bee this Saturday, October 29th. There are a number of jobs that need to be done. If you are willing to help, please let the office know. The projects include painting, spraying the cobbles, painting wooden Christmas Trees, building two picnic tables, playground equipment maintenance, replacing a damaged panel on a classroom wall and maintenance work on our unicycles and putting together new unicycles. I’ve been amazed at the support we receive for our working bees and I would really appreciate your support with this one too, please. Come along and meet other parents and enjoy morning tea and a delicious lunch. Children are welcome also. For catering purposes please let Shanelle know in the office if you can assist, even if it is just for an hour or two.

We have a Teachers’ Only Day on Monday 7th November. There will be no school for children on this day. If you require after-school care you can ring Maryanne Roling from Glenholme Afterschool Care. Mary Anne’s contact number is 347 0709 or 0211 215599

A busy time for us all. Have a great week.

Tōfā ni

David

This Thursday 27th October at our Rosary liturgy (12:15 in the hall), all new children who have started at St Mary’s over the past year and a bit will be receiving their very own set of Rosary beads. Due to Covid we have not been able to do this as the children start at our school. Families are welcome to join us as we present each child with their beads.

The Year 2 & 3 children will be leading the Rosary on Thursday at 12:15 in the school hall, we welcome all whanau join us.

This Friday 28th October is our Grandparents and Grandfriends school Mass. Please extend an invitation to those special grandparents/grandfriends in your child’s life. Mass will start at 9am and be followed by a cup of tea in the school hall. Grandparents will have the opportunity to visit their grandchild’s classroom on the day.

Andrew Chinn is spending the day with us on Friday. Andrew Chinn is an Australian religious songwriter and singer. Andrew’s songs, such as “These Hands”, “Rainbow”, “An African Blessing” and “Rise Up!” are used in our classrooms and liturgies as well in classrooms across Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada. You can access Andrew’s songs on both Spotify and Apple Music.

Andrew will be providing the music for our school Mass on Friday along with Mrs Tiedt and the choir. He will also be working with children in different year groups and then the whole school in the afternoon. Please feel free to join us in these workshops.

We will be running Baptism classes over the next 4 Sundays for a number of families who have decided to have their children baptised. We will be attending parish Masses as the children prepare for the sacrament of Baptism.

God bless,

Sara Mines and Lorna Dobson

Book orders due back Thursday 3 November 12 noon – no late orders please. Please ensure that your child’s name and room number are on the order form otherwise there will be a delay in receiving the order. If the order is a gift, please highlight this, and the order will be left for collection in the office. This is the last book club offer before Christmas.

Thank you very much for your continued support for the school and the library through buying through the lucky book club.

RESULTS FROM INTER-HOUSE SPORTS TUESDAY-

Keep an eye on the sports section on our website. We hope to have results loaded later today.

PLEASE PAY ANY OUTSTANDING REGISTRATION FEES ONLINE OR AT SCHOOL OFFICE.

PLEASE RETURN ANY SPORTS GEAR FROM LAST TERM e.g. sports bags, mini ball singlets

as soon as possible.

Attention Tennis Players

Any year 5 & 6 Children wanting to participate in the Primary Tennis Championship?

When: Friday 11th November 2022, Thursday 17th November is postponement date.

Cost for this event is $12

Venue: Rotorua Tennis Club Courts, Manuka Crescent

Entries close: This Friday the 21st of October.

We also need at least one parent to supervise on the day.

Registrations close: 3.15pmThursday 27th October (no late entries will be accepted)

DATE: Wednesday 2nd November 2022 (No postponement date)

TIME: 8.30am registration opens, first race at 9.30am

VENUE: Waipa MTB Car Park, Whakarewarewa Forest
COST: $10 entry fee

Short Course: 500 m Run – 3 km MTB – 500m Run (Years 3/4, 5/6)
Long Course: 1.5 km Run – 8 km MTB – 500m Run (Years 5/6)

Age Groups:
Year 3 and 4 children must enter the short course.
Year 5 and 6 children can choose which course they would like to enter - short or long.

Please make sure bikes are serviced before the event. Helmets are compulsory.

PLEASE NOTE: You will need to transport your child and their bike to AND from the event.

RATS Kids Duathlon Registration Form