Tēnā koutou katoa St Michael’s Catholic School Community,

We have an exciting term ahead with Matariki Breakfast tomorrow morning at 7:30am. Matariki brings communities together in joyful celebration and cultural appreciation. It will be lovely to catch up with you all. See details below.

This Friday, 28th July. We would love you and your family to join us for our very first Matariki Breakfast.

Please bring along a plate for sharing as we will have Kai together. Tea, coffee and hot chocolate will be provided by the school.

If children could please bring along a cup that is able to be used for Hot Chocolate we would appreciate it.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Miss Anderson or Mrs Capon.

Congratulations to the Philippine for their 1 nil win against the New Zealand Football Ferns. It was such an exciting game to watch. We hope both teams do well in their next games. This tournament not only showcases exceptional athleticism but also reminds us of the potential sitting within the students in our schools.

Thank you for your generous donations at the end of the term for YCC. We raised $508.60 to support Oecusse School in Timor Leste. 

We would like to welcome the following family who has started at SMCS this term: the Concepcion-Perez family (Emilia).

Congratulations to the Strevens’ family who welcomed a new baby boy in the Term 2 break, James Joseph Strevens.

Change and loss are issues that affect all of us at some stage in our lives. At St Michael’s Catholic School we recognise that when significant changes occur in our lives, young people may benefit from learning how to manage these changes effectively.

We are therefore offering a very successful education program called Seasons for Growth (commencement date TBC). This program is facilitated in small groups and is based on research which highlights the importance of social support and the need to practise new skills to cope effectively with change and loss. A trained Seasons for Growth facilitator will lead the sessions.  The program focuses on issues such as self-esteem, managing feelings, problem solving, decision making, effective communication and support networks. 

If you think your son or daughter would benefit from Seasons for Growth, we would encourage you to talk to him/her about participating in the program. Please email Philippa Barling p.barling@smcs.school.nz  by Friday 11 August if your child would like to do the programme. If you require further information, please contact Ann McKeown a.mckeown@smcs.school.nz 

This year our School Cross Country is being held at Monte Cecilia Park in Hillsborough. We would really appreciate and need parent help to make this event successful. Please email John Hazel j.hazel@smcs.school.nz or Jo Petrie j.petrie@smcs.school.nz if you are able to help out.                                                                   

Our bins are overflowing with lost property. Please ask your children to look in them if they have misplaced their uniform. 

24/07/23 to 28/07/23 - Bible-a-thon  
Bible-a-thon 2023 (St Michael’s Parish winter fundraising): Five minutes a day for St Vincent de Paul

Let us challenge ourselves this winter: Two weeks. Five minutes a day. 

Read a chapter or a story from the Bible, and fundraise for a good cause. For just $2 a chapter or story, we can collectively make a difference to help the less fortunate and enrich our own lives.
Registration starts on 17 July. Read the flyer for more details.

28/07/23 - Matariki Breakfast 7:30am to 8:30am

31/07/23 - BOT Meeting at 7pm

07/08/23 - PTA Meeting at 7pm

08/08/23 - Feast of Mary MacKillop - Mass at 9:15am

09/08/23 - Rooms 1 and 2 Assembly at 2pm

10/08/23 - The NED Show at 2pm

13/08/23 - St Michael’s Parish AGM at 11am to 12:30pm

14/08/23 - Museum Trip for the Senior School

16/08/23 - ICAS English 9am to 11am

18/08/23 - Michael Mangan Concert

22/08/23 - Winter Field Day for some Senior Students

23/08/23 - Museum Trip for the Junior School
23/08/23 -  ICAS Science 9am to 11am

24/08/23 - Daffodil Day - Yellow Mufti

25/08/23 - SMCS Cross Country at Monte Cecilia Park (Rain Day 28/08/23)

27/08/23 - SMCS and Parish Mass at 10am

30/08/23 - ICAS Mathematics 9am to 11am

31/08/23 - Photolife - Class and portrait photos
01/09/23 - Photolife - Sports Photos

05/09/23 - Catholic Cross Country  (Rain Day 07/09/23)

06/09/23 - Remuera Speech Finals

08/09/23 - SMCS Disco - 5pm to 7pm

11/09/23 to 15/09/23 - Cultural Week (N.B. Changed from Week 7)

Need Help? A registered Social Worker is available, on a part-time basis, to provide free consultations to families seeking guidance with accessing specialist support, or who may be struggling with more complex challenges. Please contact Annie on 021 240 6454 or email anniesummerfield@yahoo.com to make an appointment. All consultations are conducted in strictest confidence. 

A Family in Need of a Place to Live
A committed Catholic family is urgently seeking a 3 x bedroom rental property. Maximum rent: $550.00 per week. If you can help, please contact 021 240 6454. Many thanks. 

 

“There is plenty of data to show that Catholic schools have good academic standards and that their students receive a sound education. But provision of a sound education is not the reason for the existence of the Catholic school; such an education can equally be provided by state or private schools. The Catholic school is first and foremost “a place to encounter the living God who in Jesus Christ reveals his transforming love and truth.” Its primary goal is “above all a question of communicating Christ, of helping to form Christ in the lives of others”. That is the goal against which the effectiveness of Catholic schools must be assessed, because it is the reason for their existence. ”  (Page 8, 28)

Rosary Group Meet Every Friday at 1:15pm to 1:30pm at the Reflective Area (Church if raining)

St Michael’s Parish Website – Mass times - Sunday 8am, 10am & 5pm; Monday - Friday 7am & 12noon; Saturday 8am.

Adoration: Monday - Friday 7.30am-8.30am

Rosary: Monday – Friday 8.30am & 12.30pm; Saturday 8.30am

Bishop Barron CATHOLICISM Video Series - Venue and Dates - St Michael’s crypt for six weekly sessions beginning 3 August at 7.30pm. For more information and registration please click on the link above. 

03/08/23 - Rooms 2 and 7

Tuesday 08/08/23 - Feast of Mary MacKillop - All families welcome 

Tuesday 15/08/23 - Feast of the Assumption - All families welcome

24/08/23 - Rooms 6 and 10

Sunday 27/08/23 at 10am - School and Parish Mass - It is compulsory for all students to attend this Mass. Students wear their school uniform and meet in the Parish Centre (under the Church) at 9:40am

07/09/23 - Rooms 4 and 5

14/09/23 - Rooms 1 and 9

21/09/23 - Feast of St Michael -  All families welcome

Manaaki ki te Atua,

Principal Tumuaki

SMCS Family Film showing for Seniors 20 July
 
Thank you to students and parents who joined us at the film showing.  We hope you enjoyed both the film and the experience.  We are also very grateful to those who stayed to help clean and pack down. 

We are keen to hear what you think so we can improve for the next film showing for the Juniors.  If you could spare 3 minutes, kindly fill up the survey : Feedback : SMCS Family Film Showing "The War of the Vendee".  Thank you!     

                                                From : St Michael's Parish Community Committee & PTA

The Religious Education Committee invites you to gather on the 4th Friday of each month in our Church to pray for the needs of parish, diocese and country.

For our first Holy Hour we will pray for:

Please join us on Friday 28th July in the church at 7.00pm

Vacancy - Pastoral Services Group Administrator & Communications Officer

The Catholic Diocese of Auckland is seeking a methodical, cheerful, dedicated, and highly efficient person for the role of PSG Administrator & Communications Officer to provide administration and operational support to the Leader Pastoral Services Group and providing communications support for the Diocese.  This is a part-time role of 25 hours per week with flexibility of hours between 9.am and 3.pm. 

 

Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills, along with proficient IT competency in Word, Excel, Free Source Design e.g. Canva and knowledge of websites (WordPress), social media, Facebook. Can work under own initiative be creative and have a can-do approach to work and is efficient, accurate and organised.

 

For more details, and a full position description, please visit the Diocesan website https://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/staff-vacancies/

Thanks to all the dads that attended the dads’ night out yesterday! We heard they had a feast and many interesting conversations! 

 

The kids have voted for our school disco theme this week and we will share the winning theme next week, so keep an eye out! 

Orders must be completed online by Monday 31 July via the LOOP app. Books are delivered to the school the week after orders close and will be handed out to your children in their classrooms once they have been sorted.

 

 

Any questions please feel free to contact our Book Club Team on ptasmcs@gmail.com.

Thank you to Room 5 for helping with Pizza this week. We really appreciate your help.

We have until the end of term to collect as many yummy stickers as we can so the school can benefit from sports equipment to use at play times.

So, print your collection sheet or collect one from the school office (shelf besides the window) and help us.

Sheets can be put in the PTA box outside the Mrs McKeown's office – remember, they don’t need to be full!