Tumuaki/Principal News
Tēnā koutou katoa St Michael’s Catholic School Community,
To live and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ
The highlight of this week for me was celebrating Mass for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is wonderful to know that we can always ask Our Lady to intercede for us when we are in need.
There is a lot of sickness around our school at the moment. We currently have five of our staff away sick. We are finding getting relievers for staff very difficult and at times we may need to split classes.
Planning for Classes 2024
If you know that you are leaving our school next year please let us know as soon as possible as we are currently planning the makeup of our 2024 classes.
Flags to be displayed in the Hall
Our Hall has been a wonderful asset for both the school, and for the wider Parish community. Following on from one such event, many of our flags have disappeared.
We still have the following flags: Scotland, Croatia, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Spain, Nauru Island, the Solomon Islands, and Switzerland.
It is important to us that all of the cultures present in our school are represented by their country’s flag. If your country is not currently represented and you are able to donate a flag, that would be much appreciated.
We would love to have these flags on display again by the end of Week 9 (in preparation for Cultural Week, Week 10). All donated flags to Genevieve in the Office please.
SMCS Cross Country - Friday 25th August at Monte Cecilia Park - Help needed
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.
NED Yo-Yos
Yoyos will be available for purchase at the School Office until Friday 25th August. The strings and the 'Zip' speciality yoyos will be arriving next week. The 'Spark' specialty yoyos and more String packs will arrive on Friday 25 August.
Lost Property
Our bins are again overflowing with uniforms. Many items have clearly been handed down, or resold through the Secondhand Uniform Shop and do not have current student names in them. Please ensure that your family checks these bins if you are missing items - there is one located at the top of the ramp in the Senior Block, and another between Rooms 2 and 3.
All unclaimed items will be donated to the Secondhand Uniform Shop at the end of this term.
SMCS Policies – all our policies are on SchoolDocs , please follow the next four steps.
- Go to www.schooldocs.co.nz
- Click Search for your school.
- Start typing the school name and then select from the dropdown list.
- Enter the community username and password: Username: smcs Password: mackillop
This term we are reviewing Inclusive Education, Māori Educational Success and Learning Support - Learning Support Coordination, Identify Learning Support, Gifted Learners.
Please click on the current review and then click on and read the policies. Next you click on under review and complete the survey. Your feedback would be appreciated.
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
18/09/23 - Board of Trustees Meeting at 7pm
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
18/09/23 - Board of Trustees Meeting at 7pm
OTHER NOTICES
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.
Excerpt from ‘The Catholic Education of School-Age Children’ (NZ Bishops, 2014)
“In 2011, research conducted by Dr C J Duthie-Jung for his doctoral thesis Faith Amid Secularity provided an insight into the Catholic identity of a group of young adult Pa ̄keha ̄ New Zealanders aged 18-28 years. The research was qualitative, involving young people selected to give a good spread of age, gender, geographical location and church involvement. The research is limited to Pa ̄keha ̄ so does not give insight into Ma ̄ori, Pasefika, Asian or migrant young Catholics. Not all the participants attended Catholic schools, although the great majority did.16.” (Page 8, 31)
Religious Education Term 3 Overview
Weeks 1 -6 – Sacrament Strand
Week 7-10 – God Strand
Week 8 - Caritas Social Justice Week
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
School Masses - Every Thursday at 9:15am (except on Feast Days)
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
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (15 August)
Manaaki ki te Atua,
Ann McKeown
Principal Tumuaki
