St Teresa's School Newsletter

Kia ora e te whānau,

This term has already been full of exciting opportunities for our students, and there’s still so much to look forward to!

We are especially excited to be celebrating Catholic Schools Day next week, with the theme “Called to be Peacemakers.” All Catholic students in our Parish will be gathering at Chanel College for a special Mass and celebration—a wonderful chance to come together in faith and unity. This celebration holds extra meaning this year as we welcome the new Pope, Pope Leo XIV, and pray for his leadership of our global Church.

We’re also pleased to share that we’ve received a generous $16,000 grant from Pub Charity towards the purchase of our school minivan—thank you! We’re now just $8,000 away from reaching our goal and are awaiting the outcomes of further grant applications. If you know of a potential sponsor or funding opportunity that might help us close the gap, please do get in touch.

In other exciting news, we have also been awarded a grant from Air New Zealand to support further development of our He Māra Garden Projects. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to deepen their understanding of sustainability and care for creation.

A reminder that school will be closed on Monday 2nd June for King’s Birthday, and again on Friday 6th June for a Ministry of Education curriculum day.

Lastly, enrolments for 2026 are now open. Spaces are very limited, so we strongly encourage families to get their applications in as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Ngā mihi nui,
Lindsey

Monday 26th May

Tākitimu Technology

Wednesday 28th May

Catholic School's Day

Whole School @ Chanel College

Thursday 29th May

Feast of the Ascension

Tākitimu National Young Leaders Day

Friday 30th May

Tauwharenīkau Assembly 9am

Monday 2nd June

School Closed - King's Birthday

Tuesday 3rd June

Samoan Language Week

Thursday 5th June

World Environment Day and Arbour Day

Donald's Creek Planting

Friday 6th June

School Closed - MoE Curriculum Day

As part of our ongoing work with the Enviroschools programme, Tākitimu class was fortunate to be offered a complimentary overnight experience at Pūkaha National Wildlife Centre, thanks to funding from the Ruamāhunga Restoration Trust. The visit provided a meaningful opportunity to deepen our learning around conservation and the protection of our native species.

We were able to see juvenile kiwi that are being raised at the centre before being released into the wild, and in the evening, we ventured into the bush with guides to listen for and try to spot wild kiwi. Feeding the longfin eels, exploring the forest on a tramp, and learning about tracking and trapping pests were all highlights.

The trip also included engaging talks from experts working in conservation, who shared their knowledge and helped us understand the importance of protecting our natural environment. The new accommodation facility was a fantastic space for our group and added to the overall experience.

We were pleased to have some of our Year 5 and 6 students join us for the day, contributing positively to the activities and learning.

A sincere thank you to all the adult volunteers who supported the trip—we really appreciated your time and help in making the experience possible.

Today our students took part in the annual cross-country event, hosted by Kahutara School. It was a beautiful sunshine-filled day, perfect for racing through the fields and giving it their all!

A huge thank you to Kahutara School for welcoming us and putting on such a well-organised event. We also want to acknowledge the incredible support from our volunteers and the enthusiastic cheers from friends and whānau on the sidelines—your presence made all the difference.

Ka pai to all our runners for their determination and effort—you did yourselves and our school proud. We look forward to finding out the placings for the Wairarapa event next week. Well done, everyone!

Kia ora parents and caregivers,

I'm delighted to let you know that St Teresa’s School photographs are now available to view and order online. Please use the link below to access the gallery and locate your child’s album:

🔗 View Photos

Password: Your child's surname (with a capital first letter). If you’d prefer a more secure password, feel free to email me and I can update it right away. If you have trouble accessing the gallery, I’m happy to assist.

Photo Options and Pricing:

🖼️ Individual / Studio / Sibling Prints:

• 5x7 inches – $14

• 6x8 inches – $20

• 8x10 inches – $28

👫 Class Group Photo Prints:

• Standard (11x5 inches) – $18

• Large (14x6 inches) – $30

💻 Digital Files (emailed to you):

• Individuals / Studio / Sibling – $13 each or 3 for $38

• Class Digital Group – $18

How to Order:

1. Open your child’s album and click on one of their photos.

2. Click "Buy Photo".

3. Use the "Packages" tab for the $38 digital package or the "Items" tab to select individual items (including class photo prints).

Payment Details:
Please transfer your payment to:

Account Name: Lisa Preston
Account Number: 02-0500-0971452-001
Reference: Your child’s name + St Teresas

⚠️ Note: Some banks may not verify the account name due to recent security changes, but as long as the number is correct, your payment will go through.
Credit card payments are not available at this time. Cash payments (correct change only) can be dropped off at the school office.

Order Deadline for Printed Photos:
🗓️ Wednesday, 11 June 2025
Orders will be processed after this date and delivered to school. If you need a payment plan, just email me—I’m happy to help.

When you receive your digital files, please make sure to download them promptly as the link will expire after a few months.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact me directly rather than the school office:

📧 Lisa Preston – smile@lisaprestonphotography.co.nz

It was a pleasure to photograph your beautiful tamariki again—thank you for your continued support!

Ngā mihi,
Lisa Preston Photographer

Welcome to Maddie Rout, our new Hub Club supervisor! Our fabulous support staff will join Maddie to bring you all the usual fun in our safe and caring environment.

BOOKINGS JULY 2025

• Monday 30th June 2025 - Friday 11th July 2025

• 8.30 am to 3.30 pm

• $40 per day (full days only)

• Open to all children in Years 1-8

• Places are limited to 20 children per session

• OSCAR accredited

Bookings are open until 3pm Friday 27th June 2025 and all payments must be made before the start of the programme. Your booking will only be confirmed once payment is received.

For more information about the OSCAR subsidy CLICK HERE

Term 2 is shaping up to be full of fantastic fundraising opportunities, and we’ve kicked things off with a bang! Our Booktown Marketplace was a huge success, with each class running a vibrant stall to raise funds for exciting class trips and valuable classroom resources. Thanks to the incredible support from our school whānau and wider community, we raised an amazing $3,500!

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed — whether you made curries, preserves, or baking, or helped out on the day, your generosity made all the difference. Special thanks to our wonderful FOSTA team for supporting teachers and students with their stalls and helping make the event run so smoothly. And finally, a huge shoutout to our dedicated staff, who went above and beyond to make this event such a memorable one. Your hard work and enthusiasm are truly appreciated. We’re already looking forward to next year!

Coming up, we’ll be adding sparkle to Term 2 with our Matariki Disco, featuring a Snack Shack, face painting, and temporary tattoos — fun for all our tamariki!

And don’t forget — our biggest event of the year is just around the corner. We’re already buzzing with ideas and excitement as we prepare for the Spring Gala, a highlight on our school calendar!

If you’d like to get involved, join the FOSTA team, or lend a hand at any of our upcoming events, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at fosta@teresas.school.nz or come along to our hui on Tuesday.

Change and loss are a natural part of life, but they can be challenging for children to navigate. Seasons for Growth is a small-group programme designed to help young people understand and respond well to experiences of change, loss, and grief.

This programme is suitable for children who have faced changes such as family separation, the loss of a loved one or pet, moving to a new home, friendship changes, or other significant life events. Through discussions, activities, and peer support, children will develop emotional resilience, coping skills, and a sense of belonging.

Lindsey, our principal, will be running Seasons for Growth in Term 3. If you feel this programme would benefit your child, please contact principal@teresas.school.nz to enrol.

Unfortunately due to limited numbers across the Wairarapa region, the parish have decided not to run the sacramental programme this year.

School Board Elections are taking place in Term 3, and we warmly encourage members of our school community to consider standing for election. Being part of the Board is a meaningful way to contribute to the governance and future direction of our school. We are looking for people who reflect the diversity and values of our community and are passionate about supporting our tamariki to thrive.

If you’re curious about what’s involved, you are very welcome to attend our next Board meeting on Tuesday 10th June at 6pm to get a feel for how the meetings run and the kinds of discussions we have. If you're interested in standing or would like to nominate yourself, please get in touch with Zoe in the office for more information. We’d love to see some new faces stepping forward!

Email: office@teresas.school.nz
Website: https://www.teresas.school.nz/
Location: St Teresa's School Bell Street, Featherston, New Zealand
Phone: 06 308 9064
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/St-Teresas-Featherston/100057033717170/