Dear Parents,

I hope you are finding our COVID updates helpful. We report to you the Covid cases at school each day via our SchoolApp, and where appropriate, an additional app notification is sent to the parents of the class affected. What you probably don’t know is that we do have a large group of students attending each day. Covid protocols are in place and we are doing our best to ensure that the learning spaces that our children are in are safe places to be. It is lovely to see that for children who are at school it is business as usual. Yesterday we had over 75% of children in class which is excellent. If your child is well and they are not a household contact of a Covid case, then they should be at school. Could you please let the School Office, Anne Cato or me know if you child attends St Mary's and at any time tests/or has tested positive to Covid. Thanks.

This year, so far, is very different from previous years with our Gala Day which was scheduled for last week cancelled, swimming sports and Totara team camp postponed until Term 4. A number of inter-school sports competitions have been scrapped. We will be trying to reschedule our school events so children don’t miss out on these worthwhile activities. I am hoping that we do have a school production this year but it might be shifted from Term 4.

Thank you to Mrs Todd and the Young Vinnies for organising the mufti day for the Ukraine cause. We were pleased with the amount of money that was raised considering the number of students who were at school on Friday. $522.90 was collected. and these proceeds will be sent to Unicef. It is really a ghastly situation in Ukraine and we do need to pray for a return to peace in the area.

At this time we usually have a Rice Day for Caritas and its purpose is to highlight that for some people in the world rice is all they get to eat. Instead, we are having a bread and water day. Children will be given bread and water for morning tea. Children can bring their normal lunch on Thursday.

Thanks parents, for working with us during these difficult times. You have been awesome. No wonder our students are fantastic as they have great role models.

David Macmillan,

Principal.

Message from our DRS

This Saturday the 19th of March is the Feast of St Joseph. This is a special feast day for us at St Mary’s school as we are a Josephite school which means we follow the example set by Joseph who was a foster father to Jesus and faithfully followed Gods plan.

An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you. For Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt. Matt 2:13-15

We learn through scripture that Joseph was prepared to take risks. He dreamed, listened to God and stepped into the unknown. Like St Joseph we are called to listen to what is happening around us, to dream, to take risks and accept challenges.

Pope Francis (Let us Dream: The Path to a Better Future) tells us “Let yourself be pulled along, shaken up, challenged... And then act. Call up, go visit, offer your service. Say you don’t have a clue what they do, but maybe you can help. Say you’d like to be part of a different world, and you thought this might be a good place to start.

Why not try these prayers with your family on the feast day of St Joseph -

We pray that, like Joseph, we may listen to what God is calling us to do and step out with courage and faith.

Spirit of God, hear us

We pray that, like Joseph, we relieve suffering and bring hope to those around us.

Spirit of God, hear us

We pray for courage to challenge rules and institutions that allow us to ‘pass by’ those who suffer.

Spirit of God, hear us

May you have a blessed and peaceful week.

God bless

Sara Mines and Lorna Dobson

PTA - Our next meeting is Wednesday 30 March at 7pm in the school staffroom.

Please join us - in person - or on zoom.

Our friends at Pita Pit are offering FREE delivery for families who are isolating at the moment. Order online at www.pitapit.co.nz go to the Rotorua Trade Central Store. Place your order and use the voucher code “stmarys” and Pita Pit will deliver your meal in a contactless way.

Please note that our school website has the majority of the information needed for each sport currently being played. Here you will find out when & where games are, costs/fees, cancellations, important links and equipment required (if applicable). Please go to https://www.stmarysrotorua.school.nz/our-sports-/

027 285 7579 or 348 1701

Whaea Leanne

School Sports Coordinator

sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz