Newsletter Week 1 Term Three

Principal's Message

NEWSLETTER WEEK 1 TERM 3 2026

I hope all of our children have enjoyed their holidays. The weather was excellent for our winter break, and the children have settled back in and are all set for another productive term full of learning.

We have an exciting term ahead, starting with our Cultural Dinner on Thursday and our school production at the end of the term. Children auditioned for parts in The Wizard of Oz at the end of last term, and the cast has now been finalised. Those with main parts have been given their scripts. All of our children will be involved in the show, whether they have a lead role or are part of their class dance.

As we move into the second half of the year, the term is starting off very busy. Student reports will go home this Friday. As explained during our last parent interviews, the report layout will look a little different from our previous reports.

Parent interviews are scheduled for Tuesday, July 28th, and Wednesday, July 29th. The booking schedule has been open for a few weeks to allow parents to reserve a time. I strongly encourage all parents to attend. If you are unable to make these dates, please reach out to schedule an alternative time with your child’s teacher .https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/pjq52

Our 13th Annual Cultural Dinner is this Thursday at 5:30 pm in the school hall. Past dinners have been a wonderful success and a lot of fun! All families are invited to bring a main course dish to share—ideally a plate representing your culture. We will provide dessert: a delicious steamed pudding with lashings of cream or custard. We hope you can join us for a great night!

A quick reminder: please ensure your children bring their completed holiday reading logs back by THIS Friday so they can be entered into the draw at next week’s assembly.

Finally, we were very pleased with our student attendance last term, with 84% of students attending for more than 90% of the time. Please keep in mind that regular attendance matters, as extended absences can impact learning and achievement.

Have a great week!

TERM 3 DATES:

July 23rd, Thursday: Matariki Cultural Dinner

24th July, Friday: School Reports sent home

28th July, Tuesday: Parent interviews

29th July, Wednesday: Parent Interviews

3rd August, Monday: Cook Islands Language Week

7th August, Friday: Mary MacKillop Mass

14th August, Friday: Assumption Mass

17th August, Monday: Tongan Language Week

21st August, Friday: Interschool Gymnastics Competition

26th August, Wednesday: Tough Guy and Gal Challenge

13th September, Sunday School Parish Mass

14th September, Monday: Māori Language Week

22nd September, Tuesday: School Production

23rd September, Wednesday: School Production

25th September, Friday: Last day of Term 3.

2026 Production - Wizard of Oz

🌈 Sponsorship Opportunity – St Mary's School Production: Wizard of Oz 🎭

Our talented students are busy preparing for this year's school production of Wizard of Oz, and we're looking for local businesses and community members who may be able to support this exciting event.

If you or your business are in a position to sponsor our production, we would love to hear from you. Sponsorship of any size is greatly appreciated and will help make this a memorable experience for our students.

As a thank you for your support, your business logo will be featured:

In our production programme
On the big screen during the production
On the TV display in our school foyer
In our school newsletter
On our facebook page

If you would like more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact the St Mary's School Office.

🎤 We also need your help!

We are currently looking for someone who can assist with lighting and sound, or who may be able to provide equipment for the production.

If you have experience in this area, or know someone who does, please get in touch with the school office.

Thank you for supporting our students and helping bring Wizard of Oz to life! 💙

Director of Religious Studies

Have you noticed the Beehive outside the office? This special memorial is a lasting tribute to the Sisters of St. Joseph. Inscribed with their names, it ensures that the women who founded Catholic education in Rotorua and spent their lives serving God and our local community are always remembered. Why a Beehive? Community & Harmony: Just like bees working together in a hive, the Josephite Sisters showed us how to work as a team, putting others first to care for our community. Sweetness of Faith & Good Works: Honey is sweet, just like the kindness, learning, and love the Sisters shared with everyone around them.

This week, students will take their RE books home to share their progress with their families. We invite you to write a brief note of encouragement on the designated comment page inside! Please ensure all books are returned to school by next week.

On Thursday, 23rd July at 12:10 pm, Kākano 8 & 5 are excited to host our Matariki Liturgy in the school hall. We’d love for you to come along and share in this special celebration with us!

We will be honoring Saint Mary MacKillop on her feast day with a whole school Mass on Friday 7th August at 9 am. Families and friends are warmly invited to pop in and celebrate with our school whānau.

On Friday, 14th August, please join us at St Mary's Church for 9:00 am Mass as we commemorate the Feast Day of the Assumption. All are welcome to pray and worship together with our students.

I hope you have a wonderful week.

God bless

Lorna Dobson

DRS

𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐭. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲’𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡!

Is your child in Year 4 or above and has received their First Holy Communion? St. Mary’s Parish warmly invites them to become an Altar Server!

It is a wonderful way for young people to build confidence, make friends, and serve our community. Training is completely flexible and done by appointment to suit your family's schedule.

To register your interest, simply scan the QR code on the attached poster, or contact our coordinator, Kyree Catena, directly at altarserverrotorua@gmail.com or 027 618 4885.

Lucky books

Lucky book orders due back 7 August noon, no late orders please. Please ensure that your child’s name and classroom number are on the order form otherwise the order will remain in the office. There are 2 ways of paying either

1) through the loop system which is on web page LUCKY Book Club Scholastic New Zealand and selecting the parent’s tab, or

2) paying cash and sending the money and order form to the school office.

If the order is a gift, then please mark this clearly and you will be contacted to collect the order from

the office.

Lucky books donate the school 15% of the total amount spent to purchase extra books or on

classroom resources.

Thanks

Jenny

PhotoLife

Photos ordered before the cut-off date have now been delivered to students' classrooms.

If you have any issues with your photos, please contact PhotoLife directly.

It is still possible to order photos online using your unique access code, which was emailed to you. If you can't find your code, please contact the school office and we will be happy to help.

Please note that any orders placed after the cut-off date will incur a delivery fee and will be sent directly to your home address.

Term 2&3 Winter Sports Registrations:

Winter Sports registrations are all closed. Information is up on the website. Good luck to all participating in a sports this term. Please remember our values and fair play.

Please see the office if you are interested in any sports and we can see if we can fit you into a team.

Term 4 Touch Rugby

Click here to register

Tuesday 13th October 2026 - Yr5 to Yr8

Wednesday 14th October 2026 - Yr0 to Yr4

The fee for Term 4 $35.00

Golf Fluro Fund Day

Click here to register! REGISTRATIONS CLOSE 11TH AUGUST

📍 Where: Rotorua Golf Club

📅 Date: Monday 24th August

💸 Cost - $5 per person

Tough Guy and Girl Challenge

When: Wednesday 26th August 9.30am - 12.45pm
Where: Lakes Ranch, 79 Rotokawau Rd, Rotorua
Who: Years 3 - 6 children only
How: Own transport / carpool if possible (note: we can not guarantee transport for your child)

Cost: $30
Click Here to Register
Registrations and payment due by: 3.15pm Friday 31st July 2026

SPORTS PHOTOS

Please keep sending in and taking photos of our children playing sports. We love to see them and they all get used for the magazine pages at the end of the year. Please send to schooloffice@stmarysrotorua.school.nz

UNIFORM SHOP & OPENING HOURS

We need you! If you have time to spare half hour before school on a Monday/Friday 8.30-9am or Wednesday 2.30-3pm, we would love to have you volunteer in our uniform shop.

All training would be given and if we get enough helpers we can alternate week to week. Please contact the office if you are able to help.

Online Uniform Orders:

Just a reminder that there is a 3 day turn around for online uniform orders.

Orders will be sent home with your child when complete - unless other arrangements have been made.

Uniform orders can be done through the school website only. (Private messaging and emailing staff are not options). The uniform shop is open Monday and Friday 8.30 - 9am, and Wednesday 2.30-3pm - and is looked after by very kind volunteers.

Pola Fleeces can be brought from the Warehouse, click the link below:

https://www.thewarehouse.co.nz/p/schooltex-st-marys-rotorua-polar-fleece-top-with-embroidery/RM110109095_BURG-1M.html

The Ezlunch and Kindo Team

We’re excited to share some tasty news with our St Mary's Catholic School family!

From this week, school lunches are available 4 days a week through Ezlunch — giving you even more choice when it comes to healthy, convenient lunches for your tamariki.

Here’s what’s on the menu: