Tumuaki/Principal News
Tēnā koutou katoa St Michael’s Catholic School Community,
Nurture the seed and it will blossom
It has been wonderful to read through your responses to our most recent community consultation. Genevieve has collated the feedback from your green “stars” and it has highlighted the priorities that our families have for the school and their children’s learning. Among the most common priorities for parents were homework, science, spelling, teacher consistency and anti-bullying programmes. However, it was great to see reference to such a wide range of goals including mindfulness, kapa haka, performing arts, better shade and increased opportunities for outreach. Please know that we are listening and taking onboard your feedback to assist in the direction of the school, as we plan for 2024 and beyond.
A huge congratulations to Miguel Chu and Taylor Sun who received the Lions’ Junior Citizenship Award on behalf of St Michael’s at Dilworth last night! Miguel and Taylor epitomise the ideals and concepts of the Junior Citizenship Code, and we are thrilled to celebrate this achievement with them!
Enrollments / Leavers for 2024
It is essential that you let us know if you have a child who is turning 5 next year so that we can add them to our list. Also if your child is leaving our school can you please let us know as soon as possible.
Athletics Day at Glover Park - Friday 10 November (Rain Date: 13/11/23)
Tomorrow we are headed to Glover Park for this year’s SMCS Athletics Day (weather permitting). A big thank you to the parents who have offered to support John Hazel and Jo Petrie - it’s wonderful to see everyone “doing their bit” to ensure that the students have a great day. The children will wear their house coloured T-shirt and running shoes to school. Please ensure your child has their drink bottle, hat, sunscreen and a jacket if it is windy.
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 Curriculum Student Achievement Policy; Student Achievement Information; Home Learning; Distance Learning; and Health Education
Please click on 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.
Friday 10 November: SMCS Athletics Day (Rain Date: Monday 13 November)
Wednesday 15 November: Room 3 and Room 6 Assembly (2.00pm)
Wednesday 15 November: 2024 New Families’ Evening (7.00pm)
Monday 20 November: Teacher Only Day (Staff completing First Aid course, and Curriculum PD)
Wednesday 22 November: 2024 Year 6 Camp Information Evening in Room 8 (7.00pm)
Monday 27 November: Board of Trustees Meeting (7.00pm)
Tuesday 28 November: Remuera Zone Athletics Competition
Wednesday 29 November: Athletics Prize Giving (2.00pm)
Thursday 30 November: Jesse Tree Mass (9.15am)
Friday 1 December: Year 6 Graduation Dinner (5.00pm)
Thursday 7 December: Thanksgiving Mass (6.00pm)
Friday 8 December: Year 6 Rainbows End Trip
Wednesday 13 December: Academic Prize Giving (11.30am) and Christmas Concert (1.30pm)
Friday 15 December: Last day of Term 4 - End of Year Mass at 11am. (School closes at 12.30pm)
Excerpt from ‘The Catholic Education of School-Age Children’ (NZ Bishops, 2014)
“Maintaining an authentic Catholic identity in the schools is an unending work. It requires constant initiative, both creative and traditional, if such an identity is going to enter into the human fabric of the school community. There are many ways in which Catholic identity can be eroded or diluted, as schools are constantly under pressure from the culture in which they are situated. “Safeguarding and strengthening” are perhaps better terms than “maintaining” to describe the constant vigilance that is needed in relation to Catholic identity.” (Page 10, 41)
Religious Education Term 4 Overview
Weeks 1 - 7: Communion of Saints Strand
Week 4: All Saints and All Souls Day
Week 8: Advent
Week 9 - 10: Christmas
This term the school focus for Religious Education is the Communion of Saints Strand. Across the school the students will be learning about the special role of Mary in our Catholic tradition; Saints and Inspiring People who continue to be role models for us today; How our Christian Hope, through the Resurrection of Jesus, supports our belief in life everlasting; and Developing understanding of Te Wa - the journey of life from a Christian perspective.
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 Feast days)
09/11/23 - Rooms 4 and 5
16/11/23 - Rooms 1 and 9
23/11/23 - Rooms 2 and 7
30/11/23 - Jesse Tree Mass - Whole School Mass
07/12/23 - Thanksgiving Mass at 6pm
15/12/23 - End of Year Mass at 11am
Manaaki ki te Atua,
Ann McKeown
Principal Tumuaki
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