St Mary's Catholic School

Tēnei te tū mihi mahana ki a koutou

I hope you enjoyed the long weekend and managed to make the most of the weather, enjoying all that is on offer in the beautiful Bay of Plenty. It’s promising to feel warmer with the little glimpses of summer that we are experiencing. On that note just a reminder that sun hats are compulsory from this week. If a child does not have their sun hat during outside play they must play in the shade to avoid the rays of the sun.

We are in the process of placing students in classes for 2025, which as you can imagine is an important and focused task. There are many factors to consider, such as class size, balance of girls and boys, variety of learning styles and combinations of students. To help with the process if you know that you and your family may be leaving our St Mary’s community (excluding Year 6 students) at the end of the year please do let us know. Also if you have a child who will be turning 5 next year please do begin the enrolment process.

On Thursday 31 October we will celebrate our Mass for All Saints here at school in our Blessed Anne-Marie Javouhey Centre. Mass will be at 9.15am and you are all very welcome to attend.

We are looking forward to our Colour Run Fundraiser on Friday afternoon. This is always a successful event, which our children love and enables our PTA to raise funds that help our school significantly . A big thank you to our PTA members and helpers who work tirelessly to provide such events for our community. If you are interested in finding out more or volunteering your time do make contact with our PTA who always welcome new members: pta@stmarystga.school.nz.

Please see below for more important information about the Colour Fun Run.

Last Friday our senior kapa haka rōpū performed at He Paku Whakangahau at the Holy Trinity Church. What an incredible performance! The dedication and hard work this group has put in throughout the year culminated in a highly polished and captivating display.

We are so grateful to Matua Mana for his leadership and for sharing his gifts and talents with our tamariki this year. A big thank you to Lisa Broadmore too for her organisation and dedication to our rōpū.

You can view our performance here.

On Saturday (2nd November) our Pasifika group will perform at the annual Pasifika Festival in the Bay at Katikati College. Now in its tenth year, it is a vibrant celebration of the unique cultures of the Pacific islands. There will be cultural performances from up to 35 schools, and market stalls with authentic foods from the islands. The festival begins at 10.00am so please come along if you are free. We wish our Pasifika all the best with their performance.

Please see the message from Tauranga City Council regarding the work being carried out on Harvey Street due to begin this week.

HARVEY STREET FOOTPATH, AND KERB AND CHANNEL IMPROVEMENTS

Fulton Hogan has been contracted by Tauranga City Council to undertake footpath, and kerb and channel improvements on Harvey Street. This work will be done during the day and will involve upgrading the footpath as well as the kerb and channel. This will have a duration of approximately 5 weeks.

This will be done in two stages as the works require a one-way road closure.

• Stage One will have Harvey Street closed from Grace Road. Please enter via Fraser Street.

• Stage Two will have Harvey Street closed from Fraser Street. Please enter via Grace Road.

We will monitor resident entry/exit. Pedestrians will be shown the safest path to follow at all times and we will endeavour to keep noise to a minimum where possible.

LOCATION: HARVEY STREET

DATE: TUESDAY 29TH OCTOBER TO TUESDAY 26TH NOVEMBER 2024

(Weather dependent) WILL BE CONFIRMED LATER IN THE WEEK

TIME: MONDAY TO FRIDAY – 7AM TO 5PM

Additional Information

WEATHER this work is weather dependent, should the weather not be favourable, the works will rollover to the next available day.

ACCESS may be temporarily affected due to the operations being undertaken. Please cooperate with our traffic control staff when needing access in and out of your property.

PARKING will be affected during the concrete curing processes. Anyone requiring on-road parking during these times will need to park in adjoining streets or find alternative street parking.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our school community.

Ngā mihi nui

Fay Warnock

Tumuaki/Principal

Last week we had a lovely celebration with our Parish community, Cluny Sisters and St Mary’s school community at St Mary Immaculate Church. Sister Allison shared about the early life and vision of the Foundress of the Cluny Sisters, Anne-Marie Javouhey, and how she listened and responded to God’s call. Anne-Marie Javouhey lived out her life by choosing to always ‘Do the Holy Will of God’ and Sister Allison explained that this is the basis of our motto at St Mary’s School - ‘To Do A Little Good’ - each and every day.

Sister Emeli shared the history of how the Cluny Sisters came to share their mission in the Pacific and in particular in New Zealand. She also shared a little information about our Cluny Sisters who reside at our St Joseph's Convent in Tauranga and the amazing service they have given and continue to give as Cluny Sisters following their Charism to “Do the Holy Will of God.’ Our St Mary's school choir also performed beautifully during the evening, sharing our school song “O Blessed Anne- Marie & Ka Waiata Ki A Maria”.

We are very blessed indeed as a community to have such a vibrant living charism.

“May God be glorified! In everything and everywhere may His Holy Will be done!” BAMJ.

Please watch this video about what our students shared about our foundress Blessed Anne-Marie Javouhey.

Last week during our school Liturgy we prayed the Holy Rosary together - The repetitious prayer of the Rosary helps us to be still and quieten our minds. When we pray the rosary, we go in a circle and end up where we started. Through the rosary, we meditate upon the mysteries of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.

The Apostles Creed is said at the beginning when we hold the cross, this is a summary of our Baptismal Promises. Next, we say the Our Father which is the prayer Jesus taught us to pray. The Hail Mary is derived from the Biblical text where the Angel Gabriel asks Mary if she is willing to become the Mother of God.

The Glory Be prayer gives praise to the three persons in one God. Each of the decades in the rosary corresponds to a period in the life of Jesus and his Mother Mary. There are 4 mysteries of the rosary, Joyful, Sorrowful, Luminous, and Glorious.

Congratulations to Annette, Glenwill and Andrea who celebrated their First Holy Communion recently with the Syro-Malabar community at St Mary Immaculate Church.

All families are invited to come along and enjoy a celebration evening at St Mary Immaculate Church at 6pm for an All Saints Day Party.

Come along and dress up as your favourite Saint and join us for our ‘Saints Parade’ and an array of fun-filled activities that will bring delight to both children and adults alike. After the activities all are welcome to join in sharing soup and buns and other food.

“May this celebration strengthen our bonds of faith and bring us closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Fr Arnold

• Whole School Mass - All Saints Day - Thursday 31st October 9.15am Blessed Anne-Marie Javouhey Centre

• New Families Liturgy - Tuesday 12 November 10.30am Blessed Anne Marie Javouhey Centre

• School Parish Mass - Sunday 17th November 10.30am at St Mary Immaculate Church followed by a cup of tea and a biscuit.

• End of Year Mass and Y6 Graduation - Tuesday 17th December 9.30am at St Mary Immaculate Church.
  

God bless

Ngā mihi maioha

Donna Vincent

DRS / AP

The Board of Trustees are reviewing the following policies and would like your feedback.

• Finance and Asset Management Policy
• Managing Income and Expenditure
• Financial Conflicts of Interest
• School Donations and Student Activity Payments / Attendance Dues and Other Income
• Expenditure
• Asset Management and Protection
• Property Planning and Maintenance
• Prevention of Bribery, Corruption, Fraud, and Theft

To comment on these reviews go to; https://stmarystga.schooldocs.co.nz/1893.htm

- Enter the username (stmarystga) and password (1959).

- Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.

- Read the policy and review.

Talofa lava, Kia orana, Mālō e lelei, Fakaafofa lahi atu, Bula vinaka, Namaste, Mālo ni, Halo ola keta, Mauri, and warm greetings!

Our St Mary’s Pasifika Group is excited to perform at the Pasifika Festival in the Bay this Saturday at Katikati College. Our performance is scheduled for approximately 10:30 a.m.

We are incredibly grateful to Emily from Ōtūmoetai College for generously sharing her time and talents with our children as they prepared for this special event.

Vinaka vakalevu,
Lisa Broadmore

To be held on the Tika Deck on Friday 8th November 2024.

Funds raised will be used for gardening equipment for next year’s Garden to Table programme.

Seedlings for Sale:

Tomatoes, lettuces, peas, corn, pumpkins, cucumbers, chillies, swan plants, flowers, seeds and herbs as well as a variety of condiments made by our Garden to Table students.

Individual Plants $2

6 Plant Punnets $4

Our Young Vinnies group will also be selling ‘Juicie’ iceblocks for $2 each as an after school treat.

The Year 6's recently enjoyed some learning from the Waterline Education Programme provided by the Tauranga City Council. Our students learned how Tauranga City Council collects and treats wastewater from our homes, schools and industry. Students explored the world of microbes and their ability to perform cleaning tasks for us so treated wastewater can safely be returned to the ocean. They also looked at historical and alternative wastewater treatment processes. To conclude this, year 6 students had a visit to the WasteWater Treatment Plant in Chapel Street. We would like to thank all the parents, grandparents and caregivers who helped out on the day.

Speech and Drama Enrolment forms for 2025 are now being taken, if you would like to enrol your child, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/UpDnc4aNnfFcgN2E8 , or collect an enrolment form from the office. Year 6 Speech and Drama Scholarship Applications can also be collected from the office.

Speech and Drama lessons are taught by our resident Trinity College Speech and Drama teacher Dee Ellwood. All areas of the Trinity Speech and Drama and Communication Skills syllabuses are covered across the year: voice modulation, poetry/prose, characterisation, public speaking, theatre performance, reading at sight, improv, mime and much more. Students have the opportunity to enter Trinity College Speech and Drama exams, Tauranga Performing Arts Comps and perform in Term 3’s Speech and Drama Concert. Classes are held during school hours, once a week, for all four speech terms.

Class sizes are small and places limited. Enrolments must be filled in via Google form, or paper enrolments handed into the office by Dec 6th – no later, and Dee will make contact with you before end of term.

Jayce recently competed at the WBOP Primary School Tennis Championships. He played very well but unfortunately he retired in the semifinal's due to injury (7-6; 0-2).

Term 1

Thursday 1 February to Friday 12 April

Term 2

Monday 29 April to Friday 5 July

Term 3

Monday 22 July to Friday 27 September

Friday 16 August - Teacher Only Day

Term 4

Monday 14 October to Wednesday 18 December

Friday 22 November - Teacher Only Day

Public Holidays

Waitangi Day - Tuesday 6 February

Easter: Good Friday - 29 March, Easter Monday - 1 April, Easter Tuesday - 2 April (a school holiday)

King’s Birthday – Monday 3 June

Matariki – Friday 28 June

Labour Day – Monday 28 October

Term 1

Monday 3rd February (Ra whānau mai), children
begin back Tuesday 4th February – Friday 11th April.

Term 2

Monday 28th April – Friday 27th June.
Tuesday 3rd June Kahui Ako day – Teacher only day

Term 3

Monday 14th July – Friday 19th September.
Friday 15th August – Teacher only day

Term 4

Monday 6th October – Thursday 18th December.

Public Holidays

Waitangi Day – Thursday 6 February

King’s Birthday – Monday 2 June
Matariki Friday – 20 June
Labour Day – Monday 27 October

In addition to the core curriculum requirements, money raised through our Gold Group sponsorship contributes to the many extra opportunities that we run as a school. Please generously support the Gold Group Sponsors as they generously support us.

Email: office@stmarystga.school.nz
Website: https://www.stmarystga.school.nz/
Location: 11 Thirteenth Avenue, Tauranga South, Tauranga 3112, New Zealand
Phone: +64 7 578 8066
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stmarystga/