St Mary's School Term 2 Week 3
Te Kura O Hato Mere
Newsletter - Thursday 19 May 2022
PRINCIPAL'S VIEW
Kia ora koutou, kumusta, talofa lava
Every time I stand up in front of our school assembly each week I thank God for the wonderful students that we have at St Mary's. They listen so attentively and it makes it easy to teach them. One of the greatest things that I like to foster at our school is inclusiveness and our students display this daily by their words and actions. It doesn't mean to say we don't have times where there is disharmony or issues - we are human after all, but on the whole everyone looks after each other and cares for those in need.
At last Monday's assembly I mentioned the Gospel from Sunday when Jesus said, love one another as I have loved you. I gave them examples of how they could do this during the week and many seemed to take this on board as I have seen many acts of kindness and love in the playground over the course of the week. It would be great if you could talk about what loving one another looks and sounds like in your own families.
Mā te Atua koe e manaaki, e tiaki
May God bless you and protect you
David O’Neill
Principal/Tumuaki
PRINCIPAL'S AWARDS
Monday 16 May
PRINCIPAL'S AWARDS
Welcome to St Mary's School
Leonidas-Room 1
Mary Help Of Christians Feast Day- 24 May- St Mary's School Feast Day
On our school feast day next week (24 May) we will remember Catherine McAuley who founded the Sisters of Mercy in 1831. Our school was founded in 1894 and staffed by the Sisters of Mercy and we are proud of our rich history. To celebrate our feast day we will attend the 9.15am Mass at the Pro-Cathedral and have a Mr. Whippy Icecream after lunch.
Below is a timeline of Catherine McAuley's life.
1778 Sept 29 Catherine McAuley was born
1783 Catherine’s father dies
1798 Catherine’s mother dies
1801 Catherine has no money, so she goes to live with some relatives
1803 Catherine now moves into the home of Mr and Mrs Callaghan
1819 Mrs Callaghan dies
1822 Mr Callaghan dies. He left all his money and property to
Catherine, including his country estate called Coolock House
1824 Catherine decides to use her inheritance to build a house
in Baggot Street, Dublin, to help the poor
1827 Sept 24 The House of Mercy on Baggot Street opens. It is a school for
poor Irish girls, and also a home for homeless girls and women
1830 Catherine and two close friends begin their training to
become nuns
1831 The beginning of the Sisters of Mercy
1841 Nov 11 Catherine dies
Year 7 & 8 Netball
School Cross Country - Thanks for supporting
Thanks to the many parents and whanau who turned up to support our students in our Cross Country last week. Your support certainly spurred them on and we were really proud of every student's effort!
Two of our students qualified to compete in the North Zone Cross Country competition, David Yr 6 and Joseph Yr 7 which was held yesterday (Wednesday 18 May). We were very proud of their achievement and how they represented our school.
Dental Van Visit Soon
Click here to read a notice from the Community Dental Service for further information.
First Holy Communion 2022 - Starts 14 June
Our First Holy Communion Programme for 2022 is set to start on the 14th of June. Children can be part of this programme from year 4 upwards in preparation for this special sacrament. Our programme this year consists of 3 parent and 3 child sessions. The First Holy Communion date is 28th of August.
If you have a child who is interested in being part of this programme or have any questions, please email me on churdle@cathedralparish.nz. The closing date for registrations is the 5th of June.
Teacher Professional Development
- UC Early Writing Success: Focus for Teaching and Assessment for Years 1-2
- Te Ahu o Te Reo
- Just in Time Maths PLD
- Teaching Sexuality in a Catholic School
Our Catholic Faith Fact
The Blessed Virgin Mary is a beautiful, beloved, essential and pervasive figure in Christian life and in the Church’s calendar. She has been since the early days of the Church. Her feasts are as varied as the cultures of the world, with each having special traditions, customs, and habits of piety. Tuesday 24th May is the feast day of Our Lady Help of Christians. We observe it here in Aotearoa as a memorial. It dates back to the sixteenth century, which was not a peaceful time in Europe. In 1571, Catholics throughout the continent joined in praying the rosary in hopes of prevailing over military forces that had long sought to expand into Europe. These prayers were answered at the Battle of Lepanto on October 7, 1571, which is now the feast for Our Lady of the Rosary.
Do you or your child want to be baptised?
TERM DATES and TEACHER ONLY DAYS -2022
Term 2: Mon 2 May – Fri 8 July
Term 3: Mon 25 July – Fri 30 Sept
Term 4: Mon 17 October – Friday 16 December
Teacher Only Days
Friday 25th March 2022
Thursday 23rd June 2022
Monday 14th November 2022
Covid-19
If your child displays some of the symptoms please keep them at home and test for Covid-19. If your child tests positive please send me an email to let me know. office@stmaryschch.school.nz
What does it mean if I am a Household Contact?
If you are considered a Household Contact you must follow these steps (whether you are vaccinated against COVID-19 or not):
- Self-isolate from the day that the first person in your household receives their positive test result, until they complete their 7 days of self-isolation and are released.
- When the first case in your house gets to days 3 and 7 of their isolation, you need to get tested using a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT).
- If symptoms develop at any stage, you need to get tested using a RAT.
- Avoid or minimise contact with the person with COVID-19 as much as possible during your isolation period.
- You can end your self-isolation on the same day as the first ‘case’ in the household, provided you have no new or worsening symptoms and your tests were negative.
- Your isolation does not restart if additional members of your household are identified as cases during the first case’s isolation period.
- After the initial isolation period ends there is a 10-day window during which no Household Contacts of the original case can be re-classified as Household Contacts. You only need to begin isolation again during these 10 days if you test positive yourself.
- 10 days after the original isolation period ends the usual rules apply. If a new household member (not the original case) tests positive, they and all other Household Contacts (who have not yet become cases themselves) must isolate for 7 days.
A recovered case is exempt from becoming a Household Contact for 90 days after their recovery.The factsheet below provides helpful information on COVID-19 and precautions you can take to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. The fact sheet should be read together with the advice on self-isolation or staying at home (viewable at Advice for people with COVID-19) and any specific advice that may be given to you by your doctor, Healthline (0800 358 5453) or public health official.
Symptoms of Covid-19
- A new or worsening cough
- Sneezing and runny nose
- A fever
- Temporary loss of smell or altered sense of taste
- Sore throat
- Shortness of breath
Less common symptoms include diarrhoea, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, malaise, chest pain, abdominal pain, joint pain, or confusion/irritability.
For more information, go to https://covid19.govt.nz/health-and-wellbeing/about-covid-19/covid-19-symptoms/
School Polar Fleece
Pre Enrolment of Siblings
Closing of School Gate
Carpark Safety
Student Absence
Upcoming Events
MAY 2022
- Mary Help of Christians - School Feast Day- Mass 9.15am- Tuesday 24 May
JUNE 2022
- Year 7&8 Winter Sport Competition Begins- Thursday 2 June
- Queen's Birthday Public Holiday- Monday 6 June
- Benediction- Tuesday 21 June 2.30pm
- Teacher Only Day- Thursday 23 June
- Matariki Public Holiday- Friday 24 June
JULY 2022
- Term 2 Ends- Friday 8th July
- Term 3 Begins- Monday 25th July
Lunchonline - Subway or Sushi on Fridays
Join us for our FIRST Family Mass
On Sunday 29th at 9.30am the Cathedral Parish will be hosting its first Family Mass and we would love for you to join us.
Come and be inspired by a family orientated homily, hear some of our children speak and sing to lively hymns. Mass will be followed by morning tea in the Assisi Lounge where we will have time to connect and catch up.
Family Mass will be held monthly on the last Sunday of the month and will be focused on all thing’s family, from children and parents to aunties, uncles, grandparents, and Godparents. It will be the perfect ease back into Mass if you haven’t been for a while or a Sunday to look forward to if you’re a regular.
Why not make Family Mass extra special by inviting someone you love to share the celebration with you!! We look forward to seeing you there.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email me at churdle@cathedralparish.nz
Notice from Parish: Tax Receipts - Special Character Contributions
The Special Character component of your Attendance Dues invoice from the parish is tax deductible (i.e. you can claim 1/3rd of it back from IRD)
Should you require a tax receipt for your payments received during the 31st March 2022 financial year please send an email to ktester@cathedralparish.nz with the subject heading SC Tax Receipt
These tax receipts will be emailed out before the end of May.
School App
Please email the school office to obtain a secure link to download the app.