Tumuaki/Principal News
Tēnā koutou katoa St Michael’s Catholic School Community,
Goodwill towards others is a precious treasure
Congratulations to all of our 34 SMCS students who made their Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday 19th August.
There have been a lot of excited students this week with the Senior Field Day on Tuesday and the Junior Museum trip on Wednesday. Thank you to all our parent helpers who supported us with these events.
We have had a number of staff sick (two of whom had COVID). Finding relievers have been difficult and at times we have had to split classes (something we do not like doing).
Last Friday, we were lucky enough to have Michael Mangan play a concert at school. Michael is an Australian Teacher/Performer/Liturgist. He has composed over 250 songs, some of which we use in our school Liturgies and Masses. The children thoroughly enjoyed his visit, singing along to all their favourite songs and learning some new actions. Scroll further down to view the photos.
Last Friday, we were lucky enough to have Michael Mangan play a concert at school. Michael is an Australian Teacher/Performer/Liturgist. He has composed over 250 songs, some of which we use in our school Liturgies and Masses. The children thoroughly enjoyed his visit, singing along to all their favourite songs and learning some new actions. Scroll further down to view the photos.
Parking on Bassett Road - Not on Yellow lines or in Driveways
We are still getting complaints from our neighbours with people parking across driveways and on the yellow lines. The Health and Safety committee are currently looking at ways that we can stop parents doing this. We have contacted the Council to send Traffic Wardens but they cannot come on a regular basis to ticket those offenders.
SMCS Cross Country - Friday 25th August at Monte Cecilia Park
Children should come to school dressed in PE gear/ house colour t-shirt if they have one. Children take backpacks with them and pack something to stay warm/dry, extra lunch, and a drink bottle. NO Pizzas on Friday.
Here is the proposed schedule for race times and the lead teacher who is caring for these children. Please note that times may change depending on traffic, and lead teacher may change due to illness:
Race Scheduled Time and Lead Teacher:
Year 6 Boys -16 students Louise Spora @ 10:30
Year 6 Girls - 26 students Louise Spora @ 10:45
Year 5 Boys -18 students Rebekah Capon @ 11:00
Year 5 Girls -14 students Rebekah Capon @ 11:15
Year 4 Boys -19 students Kate Howard @ 11:30
Year 4 Girls - 23 students Emma Cotterell @ 11:40
Year 3 Boys - 22 students Lauren Carleton @ 11:50
Year 3 Girls - 26 students Lauren Carleton @12:00
Year 2 Boys -14 students Claire Stirrat @ 12:10
Year 2 Girls -16 students Christine King @12:15
Year 1 Boys -15 students Izzy Anderson @12:20
Year 1 Girls - 21 students Sue Tapene @12:25
Year 0 Girls -11 students Izzy and Sue @ 12:30
Flags to be displayed in the Hall
Luckily, flags have been found. Please read the list of flags that we currently have:
Australia, Canada, Croatia (2), Denmark, France, Italy, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Nauru Island, Philippines, Scotland, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Wales, and Zimbabwe.
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 beginning of Week 10. All donated flags to Genevieve in the Office please.
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.
25/08/23 - SMCS Cross Country at Monte Cecilia Park (Rain Day 28/08/23)
27/08/23 Sunday 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. At the conclusion of Mass, students will be taken back to the Parish Centre to be collected by their parents.
30/08/23 - ICAS Mathematics 9am to 11am
31/08/23 - Photolife - Class and portrait photos
01/09/23 - Photolife - Sports Photos
04/09/23 - 08/09/23 - Tongan Language Week and Social Justice Week
05/09/23 - Catholic Cross Country (Rain Day 07/09/23)
08/09/23 - SMCS Disco - 5pm to 7pm
11/09/23 to 15/09/23 - Māori Language Week
18/09/23 to 22/09/23 - Cultural Week (note change from week 9)
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)
“The Faith Amid Secularity research revealed that the young people in the study “demonstrate a strong Catholic sense of the presence of God, exhibiting a Catholic conviction of the goodness of humankind as part of a created order understood to be fundamentally good”. They claim a Catholic identity and claim Catholic values, but “in the everyday engagement of faith with life, there appears to be a disconnection” (Page9, 32)
Religious Education Term 3 Overview
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. At the conclusion of Mass, students will be taken back to the Parish Centre to be collected by their parents.
07/09/23 - Rooms 4 and 5
14/09/23 - Rooms 1 and 9
21/09/23 - Feast of St Michael - All families welcome
St. Bartholomew Feast Day
“Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Bartholomew as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You he showed by answering the call of Jesus to be an Apostle. St. Bartholomew, you were one of the twelve men specially chosen by Christ to serve as His Apostles. You followed Him willingly and grew close to Him throughout the time that you spent with Him. Amen” (https://www.praymorenovenas.com/st-bartholomew-novena)
Manaaki ki te Atua,
Ann McKeown
Principal Tumuaki
