Tēnā koutou katoa St Michael’s Catholic School Community, 

This week has been busy with our students going to the Auckland Botanical Gardens. The students learned so much there. Thank you to all the parents/ grandparents who helped on this trip. You are very much appreciated. 

I am attending “A Current of Grace Conference” in Canberra from Sunday 19th May until Wednesday 22nd May. This conference is focussed on renewing Catholic Schools as Centres of Evangelisation. While I am away Catherine Westwood will be acting Principal. 

As Sunday 26 May is the day in the Church’s calendar when we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. A special choir has been invited to sing at this Mass with all songs being sung in Latin. As this will limit our students' participation in the joint Mass, the Parish School is postponed. We will keep you updated on a new date for an opportunity to share a Mass together. 

On Monday 13 May, information will come home with each child about Home Learning. Your child’s teacher will also share some information on Class Dojo on Monday afternoon.

We would like to welcome the following family and student to our school: the Costuna family (Collin).

Monday 6 May, Tuesday 7 May, Thursday 9 May - School Trips (Auckland Botanic Gardens)

Wednesday 8 May - Room 4 and Room 7 Assembly

Monday 13 May - School-wide Dance Curriculum lessons begin

Monday 13 May - BOT Meeting (7.00pm)

Monday 20 May - PTA Meeting (7.00pm)

Thursday 23 May - Dance Curriculum Performance (for parents - time to be confirmed)

Friday 24 May - Grandparents’ Day

Tuesday 28 May - Year 6 Puberty lessons begin

Wednesday 5 June - Room 1, Room 3 and Room 8 Assembly (2.00pm)

Thursday 13 June - Talent Extravaganza (4.00pm)

Wednesday 19 June - Room 6 and Room 9 Assembly (2.00pm)

Thursday 27 June - Matariki Breakfast

Friday 28 June - Public Holiday (Matariki)

Wednesday 3 July - Room 5 and Room 10 Assembly (2.00pm)

Friday 5 July - YCC (Young Catholics Care) fundraiser, end of Term 2

The Catholic Education of School-Age Children This document of the NZ Catholic Bishops Conference is to guide those involved in the work of Catholic Education. Each week we will place Excerpts of this book. 

“In their transmission of knowledge all schools are a means of passing on culture to new generations. The education provided by the Catholic school differs from other schools in that: “Its task is fundamentally a synthesis of culture and faith, and a synthesis of faith and life: the first is reached by integrating all the different aspects of human knowledge through the subjects taught, in the light of the Gospel; the second in the growth of the virtues characteristic of the Christian” (P. 4).

Week 2: Liturgical Year - Ascension

Week 3: Liturgical Year - Pentecost

Weeks 4-8: Strand - Holy Spirit

Weeks 9-10: Strand - Church

The themes in our Religious Education Programme are broad categories of knowledge and learning that overlap, weave together and build upon each other. 

Over the last 4 years, a new Religious Education Curriculum,  To Tātou Whakapono Our Faith, has been developed. Level 1 (Year 1 & 2) students will be learning through the new Curriculum from this year. The Term 2 Theme is Te Rongopai - Good News. This theme focuses on Sacred Scripture. Children will learn that the Bible is filled with good news for us all. Learners are given opportunities to explore, grow in understanding, wonder about, reflect on and connect with stories from the Old and New Testaments. 

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)
16/05/24 - Rooms 1, 3 & 8; 

23/05/24 - No Mass; 30/05/24 - Rooms 4 & 7; 06/06/24 - Rooms 6 & 9; 13/06/24 - Senior School (Rooms 7, 8, 9 & 10); 20/06/24 - Rooms 5 & 10; 27/06/24 - No Mass; 04/07/24 - Rooms 1, 3 & 8

Save the date for our next PTA meeting, happening on Monday 20 May at 7pm in the staff room. Join us and help us continue to build the wonderful community we have at St Michaels. 

Monday 20 May is the last day to order. 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. 

 

Did you know that our school benefits hugely from the Scholastic book club? We get points that get turned into more books and educational resources for the school. 

 

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

Each classroom was asked to donate some sweet food for morning tea, please sign up if you can. 

 

All grandparents or significant people in your child’s life are welcome to attend our annual grandparent’s day. We will be running a raffle on the day, so advise grandparents to bring cash – raffle tickets are $5 and lots of prizes to be won!

Preparations for our quiz night are well and truly underway and we are close to selling out. Put your teams together (teams of 6-8 people are ideal!) and email us at ptasmcs@gmail.com. 

 

Want to come to the quiz but don’t have a table? No problem! Email us at ptasmcs@gmail.com to be put on a table and make new friends!

Thank you to Room 3 for helping with Pizza this week. We really appreciate your help.

Pizza Fridays are run with the support of parents from specific rooms each week and it is a great fundraising for our school – not to say the kids LOVE it.

If we don’t have volunteers we can’t provide this service. Please help us keep this service alive by replying to your class reps and volunteering your time whenever possible. It only takes 40 min, once or twice a term.

Keep warm everyone!
Gio and Sam

This year we are excited to announce the return of the St Michael’s Talent Extravaganza. This is an opportunity for the SMCS children to show the community their amazing talents. It will be held in the school hall at 4.00pm on Wednesday the 12th of June (Week 7, Term 2).

Some examples of talents: singing, dancing, magic, comedy routines, dramatic skits, juggling, yo‐yo tricks, mime, gymnastics, reciting poetry, playing an instrument… the list goes on!

Auditions will be held at lunchtime on Thursday the 30th and Friday the 31st of May (Week 5, Term 2). The sign up sheet will be available in Room 5.

We are currently on the hunt for a couple of guest judges who would be willing to donate their time to judge the competition, so if you know someone who is ‘NZ famous’ please contact Mrs Carleton.

If you have any further questions, please contact Mrs Lauren Carleton l.carleton@smcs.toschool.nz 

Please save the date in your calendar to come and celebrate St Michael's multi-culturalism. We look forward to seeing you all.