Tēnā koutou katoa St Michael’s Catholic School Community, 

Today we celebrate the Feast of All Souls and this month of November is named as the month of the Holy Souls. In this month we make time to remember those who have died. We pray for those whom we have loved in life on earth. We pray for those who have loved us. Each church will have a box where you can place the names of loved ones who have passed away so that the whole Church can together pray for them. 

Thank you for sending through your green and yellow stars. The Senior management and Board will review the stars and we will look at ways to implement your feedback.

A reminder to parents to please complete the Special Character survey. Please click on the this survey link to complete.

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. 

The table below gives an overview of student achievement against the expected Curriculum Level from Term 1 to Term 3 for the whole school. We are very pleased with the positive shift especially in Writing, as this was a focus for us.
 

Our Athletics Day will be held at Glover Park again this year. In order for this to run smoothly, John Hazel and Jo Petrie are looking for parent helpers to fill a range of roles. One of the key values of our school is to “do your bit” and we would love your support in ensuring the success of this event. If you are available to help on the day, please email John j.hazel@smcs.school.nz and Jo j.petrie@smcs.school.nz

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.      

To ensure a balance across all classrooms next year, teachers are currently identifying children’s academic, behavioural,  social attributes and friendships to support class placements. Due to the high number of Year 4 students in 2024, they will be split across three classrooms.

Please rest assured that we consider a range of factors and put a lot of time and thought into the class placement of each child to ensure they are in the right place for their learning journey.

**We respectfully ask that you do not make requests for particular teachers or for specific children to be placed together next year.     

The International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS) are independent skills-based assessments with a competition element. We are very proud of all the students who participated and wish to acknowledge and congratulate those who achieved High Distinction, Distinction, Credit and Merit results.

Year 6 - Shae Sequera, Taylor Sun

Year 5 - Ethan Cheng, Maria Petrus

Year 4 - Ella Ambrosio, Veronique Itoh, Suri Lee, Andrew Strevens, Elena Templeton

Year 6 - Arabela Barredo, Rebecca Houghton, Sasha Kravtsova, MacKenzie Porteous

Year 5 - Oliver Carter, Josiah Loming, Tom Valerio, Sebastian Yan

Year 4 - Athena Sequera

Year 6 - Holly Spora, Francis Wong, Zachary Yeung

Next week we are welcoming Harold and the Life Education Caravan back to St Michael's! Each classroom will have two sessions in the Caravan, where they will be covering Identity, Resilience and Conflict Resolution.

The Caravan will be arriving this Friday afternoon at 4.00pm, and therefore we politely request that parents do not park on the driveway by the church when they are collecting students from After School Care. This will allow for the maneuvering of the Caravan (and will ensure that no damage is done to any cars!). 

The year 5s have been busy planting crops over the winter months and we are now seeing the fruits of their labour. In the lower beds (below the junior playground) there are two varieties of potatoes, Agria and Nadine, which look very healthy. The soil has recently been mounded up around the plants to encourage the tubers to grow deeper and allow more potatoes to grow. We plan to harvest these towards the end of the year with the children and give them a cooking demonstration. There is also one bed of onions. These took two goes at planting; the wet weather hasn't been kind on little seedlings. The upper beds are filled with broccoli, silverbeet, courgettes, carrots and the strawberry plants are flowering. 

Generally we like the children to harvest the veggies they have planted as this allows them to see the full cycle of seed to crop. We also make sure the teachers take home some produce. However, parents are always welcome to pick any herbs, there is lots of parsley, thyme, chives and mint. Please help yourself! As there is surplus veggies this Term it would be great if the garden could also provide for any families in need. Jim has found one avenue for this already. Please get in touch with Lucy Carter (021 224 2502) if you know of any families that could do with a big bunch of greens. 

Monday 6 - Thursday 9 November: Life Education Caravan on-site

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)

“It is often proposed that the real effectiveness of Catholic education is like planting a seed, with the sense of Catholic identity developed during school years eventually prompting the re-entry of many of those who took “time out” in their younger years. However insights from Faith Amid Secularity indicate that resting on this supposition may be a risky strategy with regard to 21st century young Catholics. The participants in the study equated being a good Catholic with being a good person, with little else being required. They “held strongly to the conviction that each individual has the right to believe as they choose – the right to shape their own version of the Catholic faith”, which for most does not currently include participation in the faith community, and which may not include it in the future.” (Page 10, 40)

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,

The Parish of St Luke’s in Flat Bush is on the hunt for a Parish Coordinator to join the team.

As one of the largest growing parishes in Auckland, we wish to employ a person for 25-30 hours a week as the parish coordinator.

This role is to assist the Parish Priest to ensure that the pastoral and administrative needs of the parish are met.

The role provides pastoral assistance and is responsible for the coordination of the Parish Education Programs

(RCIA, RCIC, Baptism program, sacramental program & children’s liturgy) and assisting with Sunday

Masses. Ideally the applicant would have a good grasp of social media. 

Applicants should be active Catholics and able to partake in the full sacramental life of the church, with theological formation (preferred).

Good communication, strong planning and organization skills are essential. Applicants must have the right to work in NZ and have a NZ drivers licence. For more information, please contact the Parish Priest, Fr Craig Dunford by email ofice@flatbushcatholic.org.nz

We had our mum’s night out last Friday and we had a fabulous time. Thank you to Lindy  Peacock for organising this for us and to the Orakei Beach Club for hosting us. The food and the company were lovely. Please scroll down to view photos.

We have had a couple of volunteers let us know they are interested. The scholastic position is closed.

We still keen to have parents join our PTA so if you’d like to know how you can help or want more information please email us ptasmcs@gmail.com 

Just a quick reminder that Calendar Art orders close on Friday 3rd Nov 11.55pm.

Please order directly from the calendar art website kidsartworks.com with your child/rens individual code to get great Calendars, Diaries, Cards, and more. 

Samples of the products are available to check out next to the school office. They make great presents for Friends and relatives and also help to raise funds for the school at the same time. Orders are expected to arrive at the school in approximately 3-4 weeks from the close of orders.

Please contact the PTA email if you have any questions or issues and they will pass them onto the Calendar art team.

Please remember to order your pizzas by 9am on Friday mornings to avoid your child having no pizza for lunch.

Thank you to Room 10 for helping this Friday 3 November.
 
Pizza is cancelled on Friday 10 November due to athletics, please make sure your child/ren have lunch.

Our school uniform shop will be open on Friday 3 November from 2:30pm to 3:30pm.

We will also be selling some chips and sweets for $2 each.

The Chasers (Y3 and Y4) had a BYE - so no game.

Player of the Day - Grace Reyburn
Toucher of the Day - Himeth Fernando

Top Tip: A BYE in sports and other competitive activities can have two different meanings. Both mean that a participant in a competition is not required to compete while most of the other participants are. Its main use is in tournament competitions, when there are an odd number of participants, a BYE allows one or more to play in a later round.