Tēnā koutou katoa St Michael’s Catholic School Community,
“E hara tā kutoa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini” My strength is not as individual, but as a collective
Welcome back to school, I hope you all had a safe and happy break. Thank you for all the lovely messages that I have received with regards to me leaving at the end of this year. I have truly loved being part of this beautiful school community but I know that the decision to put my health and wellbeing first is right for me.
We have a busy term ahead so it is important that you take note of the upcoming events.
Term 3 Reports
These were sent to you in the holidays, please let Genevieve know if you did not receive your child/ren’s report. If your child has been at our school less than 10 weeks they would not receive a report.
Parent/Teacher Interviews
Our upcoming Parent/Teacher interviews will be held on Wednesday 23 and Thursday 24 October - Week 2 of Term 4. These interviews will run for 15 minutes each. You will be able to make a booking through the Skool Loop app from today.
Wednesday 23 October:
Rooms 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10: Interviews run from 1.30 - 7.30pm.
Supervision for children in these classrooms will be available in the School Hall until 2.55pm.
Rooms 1, 2, 3 and 6: 3.15 - 7.30pm
Thursday 24 October:
All Rooms: 3.15 - 5.30pm
Book your Interview on the Skool loop App.
To download the Skool loop APP:
To make your Parent/Teacher booking:
1. Click on your “Interviews” tile (you may need to 'refresh' the App) 2. Select “Select Interview” 3. Select your child’s teacher 4. Select day/date 5. Select your time preference 6. Click “Select” 7. Enter student's details and sign at the bottom 8. Select “Book Interview” 9. A confirmationemail will be sent to you with your bookings details
Attendance Dues
Attendance Dues must be paid in full each year. Attendance Dues are compulsory and a condition of enrolment at a Catholic school. Attendance Dues are charged for all students who attend Catholic Schools in New Zealand. It is a legal charge and not a donation.
The compulsory Attendance Dues for 2024 are $516. Regular payments help to ensure that your children's fees are paid in full. $516 yearly or $129 termly. Thank you to our families who continue to make regular payments.
Unplugged Rebels Notice
Are you wondering about when to give your child a smartphone? Or feeling alone and unsure about how to navigate this, including access to social media?
The Unplugged Rebels are hosting an online webinar on Tuesday 12th November at 7:30pm and would love for you to join them.
Laura Massey and Katrina Colombié will facilitate the discussion, including the risks of smartphone use in adolescence, ideas around what alternative norms we might agree to for our children, as well as connecting with each other as parents and providing support for one another in this tricky space.
This is relevant for parents at any stage and might particularly appeal to those with year 5+6 students nearing the move from SMCS.
Webinar access details to follow, but if you’re interested in finding out more, you can email Jacinda Calkin at jacindacalkin@gmail.com
We would like to welcome the following families this term to SMCS: the Nagasawa-Curtis family (Eleanor), the Leong family (Eleanor) her older sibling previously attended SMCS, the Nithin family (Lionel), the Rinoy family (Kane), the Pham family (Hanh & Vi) and the Sauner family (Wilmar).
Monday 21 October - Baradene Testing Day (Year 6 Girls); Board Meeting
Monday 21 October and Tuesday 22 October - Kai Kitchen
Tuesday 22 October - PTA Meeting at 7pm
Wednesday 23 October - Parent Teacher Interviews
Thursday 24 October - Parent Teacher Interviews
Monday 28 October - Labour Day - School Closed
Tuesday 29 October - Teachers Only Day - School Closed
Friday 1 November - Gumboot Friday (Gold Coin Donation)
Monday 4 November to Friday 8 November - Book Week
Friday 15 November - SMCS Athletics Day at Glover Park
Monday 18 November - SMCS Save Day for Athletics
Monday 18 November - 3:15pm - 2025 Year 6 Camp Meeting
Friday 22 November - PTA Mums' Night Out 7pm
Wednesday 27 November - Athletics Prizegiving 2pm
Monday 28 November - 9:15am - Jesse Tree Mass
Friday 06 December - Year 6 Graduation Dinner; Second Hand Uniform Shop Open 2.30pm - 3.15pm
Wednesday 11 December - 1:30pm - Christmas Concert
Thursday 12 December - 9.15am - Year 6 Thanksgiving Mass and Special Character Awards and at 11:30am - End of Year Prizegiving
Tuesday 17 December - Term 4 Ends (at 12:30pm)
Director of Religious Studies News - Whanau Faith Discussion
Theme: ‘ Attitude of Gratitude’
Gratitude is a heart skill. It needs to be learned, practised often – doing it your way but doing it authentically and from your heart. In time, gratitude becomes part of you. It becomes a mindset and a heart set.
Questions:
What are you grateful for?
Who am I grateful for?
What beautiful gifts from God am I grateful for?
Find yourself a quiet space and a quiet time and simply make a list of what you are grateful for. Then simply sit! Simply sit and allow all that you are grateful for to wrap arms of peace around your spirit. Share your list with each other and be grateful.
‘My gratitude to God for all that is done for those I love’ Mary MacKillop 1867.
School Rosary: Fridays at 1:15pm at the reflective area (Church if wet).
School Masses - 9:15am
Thursday 24th October - Room 9 & 5
Friday 1st November - Whole School All Saints Mass
Thursday 7th November - Room 7 & 3
Thursday 14th November - Room 10 & 2
Thursday 21st November - Room 4 & 1
Thursday 28th November - Whole School Jesse Tree Mass
Thursday 12th December - Thanksgiving Graduation Mass
Religious Education Term 4 Overview
For Year 3-6
Week 1- 4: Strand - God
Week 5 - 7: Strand - Communion of Saints
Week 8- 10: Advent and Christmas
The themes in our Religious Education Programme are broad categories of knowledge and learning that overlap, weave together and build upon each other.
For Year 1-2
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 from the new Curriculum from this year. The term 4 theme is Kia Noho Hāhi Being Church . This theme focuses on I belong.
I am the wheat of God, and am ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of God. I long after the Lord, the Son of the true God and Father, Jesus Christ. Him I seek, who died for us and rose again. I am eager to die for the sake of Christ. My love has been crucified, and there is no fire in me that loves anything. But there is living water springing up in me,and it says to me inwardly: "Come to the Father."(https://columban.org/article/prayer-st-ignatius-antioch)
Manaaki ki te Atua,
Ann McKeown
Principal Tumuaki
PTA NEWS
Welcome back to school everyone, hope you had a wonderful break!
Next week Tuesday 22 October we have our PTA meeting in the staff room for those who can come in person and via zoom for those who want to join online (details below). Meeting is at 7pm and we would love to see you there!
Bumper issue with lots of specials and great Christmas gift ideas! Make sure you get your order in so you don’t miss out! Orders close on Thursday, 31 October.
Our scholastic book shop is also back during the book week (4-8 November). We need some help to open it before school (8:30-9:00am) and at pick-up (2:45-3:15). You can sign up to help here: https://volunteersignup.org/CDBRD
Mums’ Night Out
Save the date for our Mums’ night: Friday 22 November at 7pm. More details coming to the newsletter next week.
Second-Hand School Uniform Shop
The Second-Hand Uniform Shop will be open Friday, 1 Novemberfrom 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm.
Pizza Fridays
Please remember to order your pizzas by 9am on Friday mornings to avoid your child having no pizza for lunch.
Thank you to Room 2 for helping this Friday.
Have a lovely weekend
Gio & Sam
Community Notices
Lewis Eady Music School
ENROL FOR MUSIC LESSONS IN TERM 4!
We are now accepting new enrolments for individual or group music lessons at St Michael’s School for Term 4!
