St. Mary’s School, Monday 25 March 2013 Newsletter No. 5 Welcome

We welcome to our St. Mary’s School community— Holly Lawson and Georgia Fischer. With open arms, minds and hearts we accept them into our community and pray God’s blessings on them.

OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE PAILATE FAMILY Koe api ako o St Mary’s komuniti oku kei manatui ae family o Pailate he oku si’i malolo a Amelia, oku mau kei lotu pe kia mau tolu.

The St. Mary’s School Community is thinking of the Pailate family in the loss of Amelia. Our prayers are with them. Hastings Regional Sports Park Track Opening Our students enjoyed the opportunity to walk, run and cycle around the new track at the Percival Road Sports Centre?/Park, to showcase its opening. Thank you to all those parents who were able to assist us on this day and well done to our cyclists and walkers on using the road and footpaths so responsibly, when making their way to and from the venue. School Leaders visit District Court Judge Our School Leaders spent time with District Court Judge, Bridget MacKintosh as part of their focus on

exploring leadership. Judge MacKintosh shared her advice, experience and knowledge, on leadership qualities and practices, particularly so, on the importance of ‘being of service’ to your community.

YOUNG VINNIES We have started the year with a group of forty plus keen students. Our President is Sarah Fraser, Secretary Hana

Thompson and Treasurer is Evie Oliver. So far we have made Easter Cards for the people at Gracelands, and we held a very successful Bake Sale where we raised $180. This money will be used to buy something special for the residents of Gracelands. We have also been practising items for our visit there. Today we visited Gracelands, gave out our Easter cards and an Easter egg to each resident, and performed a small concert. Well done to all the enthusiastic Young Vinnies. Paola Minehan and Vicki Crozier

Catholic Character Rice day was on Friday. Once again we con-gratulate our students who without a ‘grizzle or a groan’

willingly had just that handful of rice for lunch. Holly in Room 15 had only been at school two days and was able to

participate fully in this learning experience. Because that’s what it is – a learning experience. They, for a very

short time, become aware that there are people starving in

this world and that through the Catholic Agency Caritas they are able to help by giving to the Lenten Appeal. Once

again we thank the Jensen Family who so generously do-nate the rice on Rice Day. We hope you will all support

their business “KIWI ‘N Curry” in Heretaunga Street when

having an Indian takeaway over Easter. Samuel Thompson from Room 5 chose Louis Gaffaney to go to MacDonald’s

for a Happy Meal. I want to put the record straight – when I take the winners to MacDonald’s I do not have a meal

with them! Not even a coffee! What I did experience were two delightful students who engaged in good conversation

while happily munching on their burgers. Well done boys.

Teresa Neilson D.R.S.

Religious Education This week is Holy Week and the students are learning

about the events leading up to the death and resurrection

of Jesus Christ. On Thursday at 11am our Year 8 students and the Junior classes will act out Palm Sunday and the

Gospel of Palm Sunday. We warmly invite you to join with the school for this Liturgy. Teresa Neilson D.R.S. First Holy Communion Dates for 2013. For those children who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time in 2012, preparation for First Holy Communion will be on the following dates in Term 2 of the school term. 13 May – Parents Only Meeting for First Holy Communion 7p.m at St. Peter Chanel. 19 May Children’s/Parent Meeting at 9am at St. Peter Chanel followed by Mass at 10am. 26 May 2nd Children’s/Parents Meeting at 9am at St. Peter Chanel followed by Mass at 10am. First Holy Communion will take place on 2 June, at the 10am Mass at St. Peter Chanel followed by a celebration in the parish hall. Please diary these dates now. God bless you, The First Holy Communion Team BAPTISMAL PREPARATION PROGRAMME This programme runs at Sacred Heart Church on the first Sunday of every month at 3pm in Sacred Heart Church foyer. Contact the Sacred Heart Parish office for further information.

YEAR OF FAITH As it is the ‘Year of Faith’ this term our fortnightly newsletters will feature a Faith Fact for families to read and talk about. What does the word “Catholic” mean? Catholic means “universal” or “general” and it was applied to the Christian faith believed ‘everywhere, always and by all’. St Ignatius of Antioch first used the word around 35 AD. It was used to distinguish true believers from false ones (known as heretics). Teresa Neilson, D.R.S ‘MoveIt’ at St Mary’s! Well done everyone on the great response over the last three weeks. You will need your cards for the next 2 Wednesdays – 5 clicks needed to be in the ‘MoveIt’ draw!

GREAT COMPREHENSION STRATEGIES When I am reading, I will stop frequently and THINK…- What did I just read about? What are my thoughts, wonderings and opin-ions?

Ask myself questions and read to find the answers

Predict what might happen

Vocabulary : Think about what unknown words might mean—read the whole sentence to work out the meaning of the work, what other word/words would make sense in that place? Use a dictionary

Identify the main idea/The key facts.

SAUSAGE SIZZLE HELPERS: Friday 30 –No BBQ—Good Friday school closed Friday 5 April—Anna Summerfield and Maree Warne

Week 9 Happenings at St. Mary’s...

Monday Holy Week

Tuesday

Wednesday Assembly

Thursday Easter Liturgy Yr 8

Friday School closed for Easter. Back Wednesday 3 April

Important Upcoming Events ...

Week 10 School reopens after Easter break– Wed Mass R 3,1,2

3 Apr 5 Apr

Week 11 HPV vaccinations Yr 7 and 8 Mass R 6,4,5 Learning Portfolios home

9 Apr 12 Apr 12 Apr

Week 12 Marble Week Mass R 10,9, 7 Last day of Term 1

15 Apr 19 Apr 19 Apr

School Sores

We have noticed a sharp increase in the number of stu-dents with school sores currently. We ask that

these are covered when students come to school and that sores are cleaned and dressed daily to

aid healing. Our School Health Nurse Mrs Sandy

O’Shea is happy to provide advise and support with this condition.

School Blog ‘Anonymous’ Comments

It’s good to have so many families reading the school blogs and interested in everything that goes on! We love to read

your comments! Just one request – when you make a

comment, we need to ask that you do not use “anonymous” to sign it – just a first name, or something

other than “anonymous” please. The reason for this is that the blogs are being vigorously spammed by all manner of

websites (think gambling, online pharmaceuticals etc) and

comments that come from “anonymous” automatically go into the spam filter. The only other option is to add those

dreadful word verification things, but at the moment that can be avoided by using any option other than

“anonymous” on your comment.

PERNEL ORCHARD

We wish to thank Pernel Orchard for their generosity in donating apples and

peaches for our children to eat. It is most appreciated.

Healthy Wednesdays Snack Ideas for home and for school.

Fruit Kebabs Rice crackers with tomato salsa

Vegetable sticks(celery, carrots, cucumber)

Mini Pizzas Bite size corn, kumara or courgette fritters.

Pottle of yoghurt(freeze the night before. Check out www.fuelled4life.org.nz for more great snack

ideas. Stephanie Shaw, Junior Department Reading

We would like some parents, or grandparents to come to school on a

Friday morning, 9am to 10am, to read to and discuss the story, to 2 or 3 children at

a time.

Stephanie Shaw, Junior Department

MAKING A VISIT TO OUR CHAPEL If you wish to “make a visit” and pray in the Madonna Maria Chapel during the day, please call into the school office for a key. Marbles Week’ last week of term - 15-19 April Timetable Marbles can be played before school, at morning tea and at lunch time (NOT on Monday morning before school—as the lawn mow-ing tractor will be coming). Playing Areas The field and all grass areas (except the front of the Church). No playing on the concrete or bike track Marbles are to be brought to school in a named container and kept in your school bag, (not in your desk). Players Juniors to play—Juniors (Yr 1—2 and NO KEEPS) Middle School to play Middle School—(Yr 3—6) Senior School to play Senior School (Yr 7—8). Rules

Play marbles of the same size.

No throwing of steelies

Remember to pick up all your marbles when the game is finished.

If marbles rules are broken, marbles will be confiscated.

R 4 R. 5 R. 6

Teweti Tieka; and Ben Woodburn Hana Thompson and Dylan Springer Kobe Deacon and Neila Story

R. 9 R. 10 R. 7

Lucas Epplett; Caity McDonald, Michaela Symonds; Oliver Tuanaki; Jolie McLean; Scarlett Dellar Tyler Heesterman; Jeremy Gaffaney Alex Coull; Thomas Flashoff Charlotte Lyall; Chimera Healing

R 15 R 14

Holly Masterton; Tayla Hampton

Reuben Sunny

Well done children.

ACHIEVERS OF THE WEEK

EASTER HOLIDAY WEEKEND School will be closed from Good Friday through to Easter Tuesday inclusive. School resumes Wednesday 3 April at 8.45am.

APRIL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES

The Mad Hatter Tea Party—Holiday Programme

Apr 22—26, 2013 9-3pm $160;

9-5pm—$185. Ages 5 through to 12 years.

Phone Stephanie 021 0445136

http://www.fuelled4life.org.nzhttp://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=pernel+orchard+logo&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=RzFCu7AyYJzUJM&tbnid=Dpi-w9LgoovBMM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hawkesbaynz.com%2Findex.php%2Ffood-wine%2Fwineries-and-cellar-doors%2Fpernel-fruitworld&ei

‘Celebrating our Cultures’ - Tokolaean Hello – Malo ni Good bye – Towha Have a good day—Manuia te aho Izaac Moti

The Heretaunga Intermediate Board of Trustees has kindly agreed to allow St Mary’s to use their Hall for our annual Quiz Night. A Friday night in June will be confirmed shortly. We look forward to another fun evening of competitive head scratching and pencil chewing. Wishing everyone a happy and safe Easter break. Next Meeting – April 8th in the Staff Room at 7.30pm. All welcome (especially secretarial types). Fought Knightly Prize Question. Complete the Shakespeare quote: All that ------ is not gold. Bonus prize question: In the book Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Goldilocks was known to gamble in the woods? True or False? (Answers in a sealed envelope may be given to the Head

Girl. Congratulations to last fortnight’s winner C. Robin;

Charlotte’s middle name is Aranea which was changed from

the original, Epeira).

Meg Frater, Home and School Association

NEWS FROM ROOMS 4, 5 and 6 are learning about the

sea this term. We were fortunate to have Mr Godwin and his assis-tant, Mrs Godwin, come to the school with their boat and fresh fish to show the children in rooms 4 and 5. The children were shown how to fillet a fish and prepare it for eating. Afterwards they were allowed onto the boat to have a look. Thank you very much Mr and Mrs Godwin for sharing your time (and fish) with us. It will be an experience the children will always remember! Tracey McKinley-Smith, and Renee Jackson. Class Teachers

Middle Team's Aquarium Visit A big thank you to the parents who helped transport and supervise children from rooms 4, 5 and 6 at the aquarium in week 7. The chil-dren are enjoying learning about the sea and it proved to be an informative and valuable learn-ing experience for the children. Tracey McKinley-Smith, ReneeJackson, Robyn Windley, Class Teachers

VISION HEARING TECHNICIAN—Visiting school on Tues 16 April. Routine screening of New Entrants and Year 7 chil-

dren will take place. NZEI Stopwork Meeting Staff would like to extend their thanks to our parent/whanau community for their support, by collecting their children promptly, so that teachers were able to attend this important

meeting. Your support is much appreciated.

SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS

The School Photographer—Shayne Jeffares will be visiting school on

Friday 12 April for class and individ-ual photos of the children Prepay

envelopes will be sent home after Easter.

HOME & SCHOOL COMMITTEE NEWS

CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS OUTBREAK The Hawkes Bay DHB have advised of an outbreak of Crypto infection. Please see your doctor if you or your child develop persistent symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting accompanied by stomach cramps. Symptoms can come and go but have usually stopped within 4 weeks. To prevent spread of this infection please keep sick children home until symptoms have been clear for 48 hours.

2013 Board of Trustees Elections Have you considered becoming a Board of Trustees mem-ber? The triennial Elections are to be held on 30 May. If you are

interested in becoming a Board member please feel free to speak to our current Board members about their roles:… Catherine Wroe—Bishops Representative Gemma McIvor - “ “ Brent Miller “ “ Helen Greaney “ “ Paul McArdle—Chairperson Tamara Cavaney Angela Mentzer Donna Cameron—Treasurer A School Trustee flyer is attached with this newsletter for your information. Carolyn Thorburn and Catherine Yates, Returning Officers.

BOARD OF TRUSTEE MEETING—MARCH At the March meeting Ms Crowley presented the PAT reading Com-prehension and Vocabulary tests for years 5 – 8. Data from track-ing the children from 2011 to 2013 was also shown. Year 3 and year 4 Star tests data was also presented by Ms Crow-ley. A draft e-Learning Planning Framework was also given to the board to read. Elections for the board are coming up. If you are interested in standing for the board you are most welcome to come to the next board – April 17th at 7 PM. in the staff room meeting and see what is involved. BOYS WINTER SHORTS We stock good quality warm winter weight navy shorts in all sizes for the boys, at the school office. Prices range from $25—$35.

125 Years Reunion 7th, 8th, 9th February 2014 Registrations of interest are now

being taken to give the Reunion Committee an idea of numbers. Forms available from the School or Sacred Heart Parish Office. $5-00 Registration Fee If you know of any people who you think we could contact, please do let us know. All enquiries to: Sandra Connor Phone: 878-7262 (St Joseph’s School)

Enjoy the week . Liz Crowley, Principal