Newsletter - Week 9 Term Two

Greetings Parents,

The Matariki Holiday was a special day with much celebration around the country. The three-day weekend was also a chance to recharge the batteries, as we come to the end of term. There have been many sicknesses over the last few weeks in our community. Thank you for keeping children home if they are sick.

Our Sacred Heart of Jesus Mass was great. Our children sang and read well. It’s lovely to be able to celebrate Mass together again. Thanks to the parents/whanau that were able to be with us for this celebration.

Thanks to Jill Dinniss-Simpkins and Jason Finnerty for coaching our Rippa teams at the Regional tournament, Mr G for taking the Chess team to their competition and Brigitte Holmes for taking the golfers away for their ‘give it a go’ day. All students acquitted themselves very well by all accounts. Thanks also to Shanelle McCashin for doing all the support work so these trips can go ahead.

Yesterday two of our students represented the school and the Central Schools in the Bay of Plenty Cross Country event. The event was gruelling and our two runners acquitted themselves very well. Congratulations to Mateo who was placed 10th out of 40 runners and Xavier 35th from 40 runners. Thanks to Mateo’s Dad, Michael, for managing our team.

We have a group of new Entrants who started this week in Room 11 and Mrs Melissa Elvidge is their teacher. Melissa comes to us from Otonga and she is a very experienced, talented teacher. I look forward to Melissa joining our staff and I am sure you will make her feel very welcome. Welcome also to these students and their families:

Ivar O'Connor, James Compleza, Fern Churches, Jevon Hepi, Kaelan Bacal, Aylah Jardine, and Cassidy Evanson.

Today we are having auditions for our school production "Little Red Rocking Hood" It is fantastic to see so many of our students who want to be involved. Thanks to Jane Trask who is doing a great job as the Director for the show. She has already put in many hours of planning.

We have our Matariki Cultural Dinner on Thursday evening at 5.30pm. It would be awesome to see as many of you there as possible. All families are welcome to come along.

I have received fantastic feedback from teachers about the Breakfast Club running in the classrooms each morning. The toast is the most popular with children. If you are able to donate a pot of honey, jam or any spread to your child’s breakfast club it would be much appreciated.

Have a great week.

David Macmillan, Principal.

Thank you to the families who joined us last Thursday for our Sacred Heart Mass, and a special “Thank you” to Father Thomas who was happy to say Mass for us on a different day and time. We also would like to “Thank” Moira from our parish community who always helps out at our school Masses.

The children displayed beautiful Church manners and showed how well they know the songs and parts of the Mass by joining in with the responses and the singing. It was a real treat listening to the beautiful singing in our church.

Please keep an eye on the school newsletter and your child’s class blog for times when you can join us for either a class Mass or a School Mass.

This term the children will be bringing home their Religious Education Learning books. Please take the time to sit with your child to see what they have been learning in RE over the past two terms. There will be a page for you to reflect on your child’s learning with them.

God bless,

Sara Mines and Lorna Dobson

Term 3 - Week 10 : "Little Red Rocking Hood" - A Rock Opera full of singing, dancing and humour. This is a lively, modern retelling of Little Red Riding Hood - designed to be performed by 5 to 12 year olds as a rock opera.

Holiday Steam Camp

Please see poster below. If you are available please message me as soon as possible. So far we just have Y5/6 students attending but will offer to Y4 as well if no more registrations come in.

We will explore technology, including drones, robotics and other technologies. Scan the QR code on the poster or click on this link to register.

Enter this competition today.

TOUGH GUY AND TOUGH GIRL CHALLENGE

Registrations close 5 August. Years 3 - 6 $25 per entry. Forms are at the office.

If you are attending your child/childrens' sporting events and have some good photos to share, please send to sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz with a notation about the occasion.

Please regularly check our school website for information about the sport/s your child is playing. If you have any sports queries please do not ring the office. Contact for the Sports

Co-ordinator is : sports@stmarysrotorua.school.nz. or mobile 0272857579

We have lots of paraphernalia being held in the office - bits & bobs found in the playground, hair clasps, small toys etc etc. Please come and view items if you think they might be yours.

Raincoat left by student on front steps after school. Light grey with white spots. Hanging in the school foyer.

Sticker sheets available from the School office.

Rotorua Lakes Volunteer Coastguard is looking for new volunteers!

Our Coastguard Rescue Vessel volunteers are out on the water across Aotearoa saving lives and supporting our boating community. Here in Rotorua we cover all the lakes, and some of the Waikato River. We train on Monday evenings, in our two high-spec dedicated Coastguard Rescue Vessels. Coastguard provides all online and practical training to help you become an operational crew member.

If you have an interest in helping make a real difference to peoples lives, even if you have no prior boating experience, please consider joining us. Go to https://volunteers.coastguard.nz/ or phone Jonathan 022 4364292, email Jonathan@geohazard.co.nz