Dear St Michael’s School Community,

Enrollments for Siblings for the 2020 Academic Year

Families who have siblings turning 5 years next year in 2020, please ensure you have filled out an Enrollment Application form and handed it in at the school office, or, alternatively, email/scan to secretary@smcs.school.nz

Year 6 Camp 2019

The Year 6 camp was very successful and a big ‘Thank You! to all the parents who came to help look after the students.

Y6 Leaders 2019

A big congratulations to all our Y6 leaders for 2019. They are:

Student Council: Acaire Menzies, Antonia Urlich, Tom Went, Gabby Wooler
Catholic Character: Eva Houghton, Hans Jayamanne, Ashley Robins
Cultural Leaders: Mariah Pascual, Gian Pollaruste, Charlotte Woolley
Sports Leaders: Katy Radich, Sebastian Sarney, Luca Zalazar
IT Leaders: Audrey Gleeson, Zara Page, Skye Tong
Cluny Leaders: James Barrington, Amelie Chisholm, Mateo Zalazar
MacKillop Leaders: James Buyck, Georgia Facer, Jakub Wolski
Patrick Leaders: Ezra Balderas, Cameron Karpik, Dora Slavich
Pompallier Leaders: Mathew Flordeliza, Nathan Flordeliza
Library Leaders: Simone Crisostomo, Jonathan Luxford, Johnny Ryde, Vincent Yang
Outreach Leaders: Ava Barnett, Tom Browne, Ashby Cordtz, Lucy Morrison
Media Leaders: Angie Marques-Ruiz, Jake Pinto, Niko Purdie, Stavro Purdie
Enviro Leaders: Nevin Chan, Luca George, Diego Bagworth

Paid Union Meetings Tuesday 19 March 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Teachers at our school will be attending the paid union meetings and we have organised teachers’ attendance with minimal disruption to teaching and learning. All classes will be going to the Hall after lunch on Tuesday 19 March for Jump Jam and singing practice. These paid union meetings are a critical opportunity for us to come together as a profession, to hear the latest from the collective agreement negotiations and to determine next steps. Hopefully this will include considering a new offer from the Ministry.

Encountering CHRIST

Ash Wednesday Mass in the Church – 06/03/19 at 9:15am – All welcome to join us.

Parish/School Mass on Saturday 9 March is cancelled

This is due to a number of staff having other commitments on this date. I would like to encourage all of our community to attend Masses at St Michael’s Parish over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd of March (Sat Vigil: 5 p.m.; Sun: 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.). Please read details below from the parish newsletter.

Parish Newsletter – Parish Social Function – A function will be held right after each daytime Mass on the Weekend of 2nd and 3rd March A briefing will also be provided on current projects of the Pastoral Council and Finance Council. Attendance at one of these functions is a great way to catch up with friends, meet other parishioners and hear what is happening in the parish in 2019.

Preparation For Lent – Lent begins with Ash Wednesday 6 March“It is customary, Lord to give something up during the season of Lent. What would you have me do without? I who have so much. Chocolate? Cream cakes? Cigarettes? Sweets? Swearing? The list is endless and I could give up all those things for the span of 40 days quite easily and almost painlessly.
But what difference would it make other than making me feel ‘holier’ that my friend who makes no such sacrifice?

What would you have me do without? I who have so much Selfishness? Conceit? Envy? Pride? I fear before I ask, that the answer might be ‘yes’ and the giving up would be all too real, Lord. It would be difficult, painful, sacrificial, a real cross to carry for 40 days, and more?” (http://www.faithandworship.com/prayers_Lent.htm)

Sadly Wise Cicada has gone into receivership but we are looking into other lunch options.

I look forward to seeing you at our swimming sports tomorrow.

Manaaki ki te Atua,

Ann McKeown
Principal

BOT Chairman’s Update

I can’t believe that we are almost halfway through our first term. I hear that the annual Year 6 school camp was another huge success this year – it is such a wonderful tradition and really sets up the students for their big year in leadership roles. Thank you to Georgina and others who invest countless hours behind the scenes to make it such a huge success.

The Board of Trustees had our first meeting for the year this month and  focused on our core purpose of monitoring student achievement. This included spending time understanding how the various different year groups progressed against national standards last year, lessons learnt and focus areas for 2019.

Now that the school hall loan is behind us (this is such a game changer!) we also revisited our Masterplan to agree our next step on the journey of making our facilities the best we can for our students. The Board unanimously agreed to focus on improving the lower playing field with artificial turf so that our students can use the field throughout the year.  Please support the PTA with their fundraising efforts in the year ahead as they seek to make this dream a reality for our students.

Nga mihi
Mat Croad
BOT Chairman

Sports News

SMCS Basketball 2019

Welcome to the SMCS basketball programme. This is a great way for your kids to fine-tune their skills, practice good sportsmanship and have fun. Children in our programme learn about dribbling, shooting and defense. They also learn the values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility in a team environment.

Kids are more than welcome to join our 8 a.m. Tuesday sessions at the hall to have a go at a new sport and play some ball. Please remember to bring your water bottle and wear basketball / PE shoes. For more information, you can contact JR Ambrosio (jrambrosio@gmail.com) or Mike Cruz (mikoholic@gmail.com).

SMCS Inflatable Soccer 2019

SMCS (Remuera) Flyer T1 – Inflatable Football (Click to view)

PTA News

Scholastic Book orders

Reminder Scholastic book orders need to be completed by Tuesday 5th March for school delivery.

The St Michael’s Family Tree

Due to production constraints the construction of the replacement St Michael’s Family Tree Tile Wall in the foyer of the Hall has been delayed until Term 3.  Essentially what this means is that the period has been extended to purchase a tile.  Tiles will now be available for purchase until the 5th July.

Thank you to those families who have already completed their Tile Order Form and made payment, your Tiles are secured.  Those families still unsure about what to put on your tile, below is an example that may assist if you are a family of 2 or more children.

Tile 1 – $250
Smith Family
2015 – 2022
(the starting year is when your first child came to SMCS and the end year and is when your last child will finish at SMCS)

Or (if you would like to choose a tile per child for a family of 2 it would be $400

First Tile
Matthew Smith
2015 – 2021

Second Tile
Elizabeth Smith
2016 – 2022

By purchasing a tile or tiles your family will become a part of this unique artwork that brings together the past, present and future of our very special school community.   The new tile wall is now going to be constructed by Peata in September 2019.

Please see the attached file to see an image of the artwork being constructed.  Thank you.

St Michaels Motif-171109 Model (click to view)

A Night on the Tiles – Fundraising Evening is still going ahead on Friday 5 April 2019.

Keep an eye out for your unique invitation to this wonderful fundraising event to be held in the St Mary Mackillop School Hall on Friday 5 April from 7.30 p.m. to 11.00 p.m.    With the exciting announcement about the Board’s next project to turf the lower field, the PTA are forging ahead with this event to raise funds to potentially have the turf installed this year.  All money raised from the night will go towards the Turf project.  Purchase a ticket to help the school raise $50,000 this year.

The evening will consist of entertainment, auction items, raffles, canapes and a cash bar.  Tickets will be $45 per person and will be sold until Monday 1st April.   Your invitation to this fundraising social event will come home with your eldest child next week.   It will be a wonderful opportunity to meet other parents and have a fun night out with friends!

Other important information from the PTA

Second Hand Uniform Shop

Please note due to swimming sports on the 1st of March, the second hand uniform shop  will not be opened tomorrow and will be opened on Friday 8th March instead from 2.30 p.m. to 3.15 p.m.

Swimming Sports

The PTA will be selling ice blocks for $2 at the swimming sports tomorrow.  Please have the correct change for our volunteers selling them.  Thank you for your support.

Notices

Auckland Secondary Schools OPEN DAYS 2019

MARIST COLLEGE Open day 2019 (click to view)

St Marys College OPEN DAY FLYER 2019 (click to view)

St Peter’s College Fair 2019

SPC_Fair_Poster2019 (click to view)

LCF Fun Languages – French class 2019

St Michaels – LCF Fun Languges French (Click to view)