Me Whakakotahi, Kia Maarama, Kia Pono, Ki Te Karakia

Together We Learn, We Pray, We Serve

Kia ora koutou katoa

As we move towards another two weeks of Level 4 restrictions during these very cold, wintery days, my mind goes to thoughts of those who are homeless and living rough out there in the streets of our community. I look around my home and enjoy the warmth of internal heating and the glow of the oven baking yet another fresh home-made loaf. I look at my children snuggled under warm blankets, easily able to connect with the world of learning and work via an easy internet connection. I am thankful for God's blessings. I am thankful that we are safe in our bubble, as most of our school families are.

Today, spare a thought and a prayer for those who don't have what we have in these scary, anxious and uncertain times. How can we show the love of Christ to those who are struggling to meet their children's needs for food, warmth and access to education, or those who are suffering with illness, including the families of those infected by COVID-19? How can we still be the hands of Christ even during this lockdown?

I am keenly aware of the fact that even some of our own beloved school families and students are experiencing struggle of some kind right now, from illness and bereavement, to serious lack of income, food and warmth.

Please open this link:

https://assets.education.govt.nz/public/Documents/School/SchoolsBulletin/2021-Bulletins/2021AUG23/Access-to-food-or-essential-items.pdf

for information about the many ways of getting food and other essential items. It covers:

• food delivery
• what to do if you can’t get food delivered
• staying safe when getting food delivered
• financial help to buy food
• foodbanks

Please note, some foodbanks have been experiencing high demand. If there is a need for financial help to buy food, Work and Income may also be able to help.

Please pass this information on to your networks, or contact our parish for support via the St Vincent de Paul Society.

Daffodil Day was scheduled for Friday 27 August. It is still possible to support the Cancer Foundation with your donation. Please go to their website, daffodilday.org.nz to do so.

Language Week Celebrations at St Mary's

Tongan Language Week (5 -11 Sept) and Te Wiki or Te Reo Māori (13 - 19 Sept) are two language weeks which we normally celebrate. It is still important to celebrate these language weeks. Teachers will provide activities for children via their online programmes.

Our Online learning programme kicked off last week, after we were able to give all families an opportunity to collect devices from school. Thank you to our wonderful staff who took personal risks to step out of their bubbles to prepare and distribute devices. Thanks also to the parents who supported us so well in keeping to the pick up regulations under Level 4 when they came out to collect devices for their children. Further in this newsletter, you will find our "Home-based" Learning Document which explains how we partner with you in our shared responsibility for supporting our children's learning while at home. We have had good uptake of online learning opportunities so far, with 79% of our students engaging in some way with their teachers and completing set tasks daily. All our children should have access to their teachers and their learning opportunities but we still need to see more children engaging. There are 57 children on our roll who we have had no contact with as yet. Please check in with your child to ensure that they are working on set tasks and contact their teachers, Mrs Buckley or myself if you are concerned about their engagement levels or you need some support to connect with the online/home learning programmes.

Please join me in continued prayer for the safety and wellbeing of our whole school community, as well as our entire country as we navigate through this Delta outbreak. May our thoughts, words and works be guided by the Holy Spirit and may the heavenly angels cover and protect us all.

Mā te Atua koutou - God bless you all.

Arohanui

Audrey Kippen

Tumuaki/Principal

Lockdown

I hope you are all keeping safe and enjoying the blessing of family time with your children and other family members in your bubble. It’s so special to start the morning with our children in prayer via zoom and having you present in the background. Thank you for getting the children ready for their morning sessions with the teachers and for using the prayer bag every day. Remember you could also go for a prayer walk around the neighbourhood and pray for everyone living in your street or block. To all our essential workers, we pray that you will be strengthened to carry on with your mission to serve our country in an extraordinary way.

Sacrament of Baptism

We were so excited to celebrate this very important Sacrament with our families but unfortunately, like so many other important events, this is now on hold. We continue to pray for our children and their families who will definitely receive their Baptism later in the year.

Annual Can Drive

We have signed up for a second year to contribute cans to St Vincent de Paul in the wider Auckland community. The new date for collecting cans is on the 5th November (Week 3 of Term 4). As we did last year, we will run a house competition again to see which house collects the most cans, so please support your children’s house to contribute cans for a very good cause.

St Vincent de Paul

During the lockdown the volunteers at St Mary’s church (and I am sure other churches too) are working behind the scenes to make sure that there are packed groceries for families in need. If you are in need of anything, please contact me (bernadettep@stmaryspapakura.school.nz) or Mrs Kippen and we can pass on your message to the church.

On a lighter note …

Not too sure how many of you follow Bishop Michael Gielen on Facebook? He shared a video recently of how he was baking a lemon drizzle cake. Just to confess towards the end of the video that he used the ready made box! Please check him out as he (and many others) share inspirational thoughts to keep our spirits up during lockdown.

Blessings and Aroha

Mrs Bernadette Paulse

Director of Religious Studies

A website has been created to help promote the bishops’ renewal of the dedication of the country to Our Lady Assumed into Heaven. The renewal project has the title Te Ara a Maria: Mary’s Way and runs for 12 months from 15 August.

Go here for the website: www.tearaamaria.nz

The website contains details of the project. It will be updated regularly to include the schedule of the nationwide hikoi of the artwork created for the project. The hikoi starts on August 18 in Invercargill.

Catholic Schools Office

Auckland Catholic Diocese

30 New Street

Private Bag 47-904

Ponsonby

AUCKLAND 1144

Below is a personal invitation from Bishop Pat to the Rejoice: Auckland Catholic Festival on Saturday 16 October.

It is a free admission, family friendly event. Enjoy the day and we invite families to make up a party with other families. There is also a young people focus throughout the day, and a Youth Festival in the evening.

For the most up-to-date information go to https://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/festival/

Dear Friends

I am writing to invite you to the Rejoice: Auckland Catholic Festival to be held on Saturday 16 October 2021 at Sancta Maria College, St Luke's Church, Flat Bush.

Come and gather to be affirmed, inspired, encouraged and strengthened as Catholics so as to continue to love and serve as missionary disciples in parishes, ethnic communities, schools and our wider society.

www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz

Team Bethlehem have been enjoying some wonderful learning experiences from home, these past two weeks. We have been involved in the kitchen, helping to make lunches and dinners. We've had more time to practise important skills like cutting and tying shoelaces.

Handwriting, reading, writing and maths activities have continued, as well as some fun fitness and music activities too. The children have explored their home environments, hunting for things beginning with every letter of the alphabet.

With the start of spring, we have had some budding weather reporters keeping us up to date with changes in the weather. Our creativity has shone in our maker activities, some using recyclable materials and some using their toys. It has also been great to have the extra time with our families, enjoying the outdoors and getting some valuable playtime together.

Mrs Tanya Rowe - Team Leader

Nazareth Experiences

We are so super proud of our students who could quickly slip into the home learning activities and online learning via zoom.

Lots of students are uploading very interesting activities with their families and lots of them turn up for zoom meetings every day. A huge thank you to all our parents and caregivers for your ongoing support while you juggle your own workload and family responsibilities. Thanks for all the lovely baking you do with the children and for sharing your family recipes with us. A reminder to take lots of breaks in between and use any offline opportunity as a learning opportunity. Enjoy the new season of spring as much as you can, instead of being stuck indoors in front of a screen.

There are a handful of children who are not engaged and we would like to encourage you to please get in contact with the teachers via Seesaw or email. If you need support with any technical issues, please let us know. Our children should be confident to access their plans in their Google Drive and their set tasks on different platforms, as we do this on a daily basis in class. We can also monitor from our end how they progress through their set tasks.

Below are a few photos of our lockdown activities...

Mrs Bernadette Paulse (Team Leader / DRS)

Photo of Prayer Focus by Charlie Bluck

Ehara taku toa e te toa takitahi engari he toa takimano (My strength is not that of an individual but that of the collective).

This whakatauki has truly been the Jerusalem Whānau's foundation. A warm and generous thank you to our teachers, students and parents alike - who have come together to make online home learning a continued success.

For the past week we have been exposed to a variety of interactive tasks - ranging from visual puzzles, brain teasers to outdoor pursuits, home based chores and baking. The pupils have been actively engaged, finding the activities refreshing and rewarding.

Our Seesaw platform and Google Classroom programme has helped foster self motivation, commitment and participation. There has been an active buzz of excitement and knowledge emerging amongst the children.

We look forward to continued success as we promote thought provoking and exhilarating learning amongst all of our students, connecting from home in a committed and responsible manner.

Mrs Jelinda Adams - Acting Team Leader

Overview:

Destination: Paradise Beach Phuket Thailand

Population: 69.63 Million

Capital city: Bangkok

Resort: Amari Phuket [Has Outdoor Pool and Spa]

Days Staying: 5 Days Not Including Flight Departure

Interests:

Scuba Diving

SUP Diving

Snorkelling

Kayaking

Luggage Arrangement

● 2 White Cotton T-Shirts.

● 1 Shirred, Top, Ivory

● 1 Floral Dress, Ivory

● 1 Distressed Denim Short, Blue Wash

● 2 Champion Script Jersey Short, Black

● 1 Tie-Waist Short, Honey

● 2 Distressed Jean, Blue

● 1 Tie-Dye Hoodie Rainbow

● 1 Kathmandu Black Puffer Jacket

● 1 Kathmandu Puffer Vest

● 1 Pair of Speedos Togs

● 5 Pairs of Socks

● 10 Pairs of Knickers

● 1 Pair of Lilac Mandalorian PJ’s

● 1 Pair of Satin Purple PJ’s

● Toiletries Eg: ToothBrush, Shampoo, Conditioner, Moisturizer and Hairbrush plus HairTies

Emmaus have been diligently working through our Lockdown Distance Learning Programme. I am very pleased with the children's engagement, motivation and commitment to their studies. Thank you to all Whanau for supporting your children.

We are continuing with our Enterprise theme, but with a lockdown twist, reviewing movies and, due to the children's popular demand, comparing and contrasting with reality TV shows. This unit requires that students use an analytical approach with a wider world lens to critically analyse features of movies and reality TV shows. This encourages their critical analysis skills and the knowledge of a target audience and how popularity is achieved, resulting in success of the 'end product'. These are curriculum level 4 expectations in both reading and writing and students will be assessed against these criteria.

Prior to lockdown, Emmaus were challenged to analyse advertising techniques and apply that to the world of advertising. The level of understanding was outstanding, with the students providing evidence of the learning through connections to current advertising.

The children are also using their graphic digital skills by creating mosaics in the application, Google Drawing. This involves following a process of using images and graphic skills to create a mosaic. Here are some of Emmaus's wonderful mosaics, digitally created.

Mrs Anneke Walker - Emmaus Team Teacher

May Josiah Mika's legacy live on in our hearts, as well as the lives of the children he will be impacting through this amazing foundation. Please support this worthy cause.

Malo Parents

The Covid Crush

As expected, a number of sporting events have been cancelled over the last fortnight. (NC Year 5/6 Cross Country, NC Year 7/8 Volleyball, Year 7/8 'Field of Dreams' Sports Camp). We are particularly disappointed that the 'Field of Dreams' Sports Camp has been cancelled. This Camp was set as a wonderful opportunity for members of our Emmaus Hub to join 200 other Year 7/8 students on a week long sports event at Camp Adair. I know that the organisers are looking to secure funding and establish this camp as an annual fixture for students from across schools in Papakura.

St Anne’s Shield

Whilst no decision has been made with regards to this event happening, as the Lockdown period continues, the likelihood of this event taking place decreases. I have spoken with Mrs Kippen about the situation and she is currently in contact with the other Principals, before a final decision is made. I really felt that after an absence of three years, the St Anne’s Shield was going to provide a great opportunity to celebrate sports with our Catholic brothers and sisters. I will notify the school community once any decision is made.

Looking Further Ahead - Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon

I have registered our school for this year's Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon. The link below will go live shortly and by registering through our school group, the entry price is reduced. Over the past few years, a sizable number of St Mary’s students (and teams) have taken on this challenge. This year the event will be held at Mountford Park so why not give it a go!

https://www.registernow.com.au/secure/Register.aspx?E=44533&G=138194

Feeling stressed?

Here is a link for those interested in Tai Chi. Every once in a while I pop onto Don Fiore’s tutorial and spend 8 minutes ‘hands waving clouds’. I've even invited the Emmaus students to join.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L43P1MY2KA

Keep safe and hope to see you all soon.

Mr J Frings - Sports Co-ordinator

McAuley High School offers a high quality Catholic education that challenges students to strive for standards of personal excellence. We provide a supportive environment in which our students are helped and encouraged to develop academically, physically, spiritually and emotionally.

Enrolments are open now. Contact us for an enrolment form and prospectus:

Telephone: (09) 276 8715

Email: office@mcauleyhigh.school.nz

Website: www.mcauleyhigh.school.nz

We have been advised by The Uniform Shoppe - SAS Sport that they are very low on the St Mary's sweatshirts at the moment (only have size 12 and up available). The shipment is on the water and has been delayed a few weeks.

If you urgently require a school sweatshirt, we do have a few 'second hand' items in stock at school. Please enquire at the school office. Thank you.

Due to the current COVID Lockdown situation, we are unable to provide confirmed upcoming events at this time.

We will be in contact with our school families via our school APP and emails with regards to changes/updates in our school calendar. Thank you.

Parents, please remember to name your child’s uniform items.

This will assist in reducing the amount of lost property. Thank you.

Catholic Schools Day on 29 September 2021 is another opportunity to celebrate the taonga of Catholic education for which we are kaitiaki.

The poster (below) displays the oldest, continually used Catholic church in Aotearoa New Zealand. In the Archdiocese of Wellington, St Mary’s Church, Ōtaki and the parish school of St Peter Chanel stand alongside the Catholic marae, Te Marae O Hine, all overlooked by the sacred hill of Pukekaraka.

It is within school and parish, and Catholic marae, that tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau, strengthen their sense of what it means to be Catholic and belonging to parish.

School and parish become Tūrangawaewae - A Place to Stand.

Please remember to let the school office know of any changes in your contact details i.e. postal address, telephone/mobile and/or email address. Thank you.

Please remember to download our school APP to receive regular updates and reminders.

Email: office@stmaryspapakura.school.nz
Website: https://www.stmaryspapakura.school.nz
Location: 54 Clark Road, Pahurehure, Papakura 2113, Auckland, New Zealand
Phone: +64 9 298 4450
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/St-Marys-Catholic-School-Papakura-109574014049059/?view_public_for=109574014049059

Parish Priest - Fr James Mulligan

52 East Street, Papakura 2110

Parish Office - (09) 299 6056

Presbytery - (09) 298 5134

Email: office@stmaryspapakura.co.nz / www.papakuracatholic.org.nz

Facebook - search: St Mary's Parish Catholic Church Papakura

Preference Certificates to be signed at the Parish Office

Thursdays Only from 10 a.m. - 12 noon AND 4 - 6 p.m. - No Appointment Necessary

Uniforms are available for purchase from the SAS Sport shop located at 28B Wood Street, Papakura. The shop hours are Monday to Friday 8.30 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. AND Saturdays 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. Shop Telephone: 296 6063 - or visit: www.theuniformshoppe.co.nz and click 'shop online'. WINZ Quotes are available through SAS Sport. Caps ($16) and 'Scrunchies' ($2) are available through the school office. PLEASE ENSURE ALL ITEMS ARE CLEARLY NAMED. THANK YOU.

See updated Uniform Price List below (which is also posted on our school website):

At St Mary's Catholic School - SIGN UP NOW for Term Three 2021! Our friends at MusIQhub are happy to announce that there will be new spaces available this term for Drum, Piano/Keyboard, Guitar and Ukulele lessons during school hours! Also, there will be Singing, Recorder and Flute lessons available! Please enquire now to book in spaces for quality music lessons taught by experienced professional musicians.

Drums, Piano/Keyboard, Singing, Recorder and Flute - Paul Barry 022 198 0044

Email: paul.barry@musiqhub.co.nz

Guitar and Ukulele - Lih Foo 021 2076 231

Email: lih.foo@musiqhub.co.nz

For information about the Children's Community Dental Service (Auckland Regional Dental Service) during COVID-19, please refer to our website:

https://www.waitematadhb.govt.nz/home/ards/

Our website will always contain the most up-to-date information for our services at each alert level.

Term 3, 2021 - Monday 26th July to Friday 1st October 2021

Term 4, 2021 - Monday 18th October to Wednesday 15th December 2021

TEACHER ONLY DAY

22nd October 2021

LABOUR DAY

Monday 25th October 2021

Please check out this link 'getting started' with easy step-by-step instructions on how to order on-line:

https://www.scholastic.com/parents/books-and-reading/reading-resources/book-selection-tips/scholastic-book-clubs-getting-started.html