Newsletter Week 3 Term 4

Principal's Message

NEWSLETTER WEEK 3 TERM 4 2026

What a pleasant weekend weather-wise—a lot of those outside chores could be ticked off!

It was great to see so many Year 4 parents at the Year 4 assembly on Friday. The assembly showcased the children's different talents, and I certainly got a kick out of seeing them perform in various ways. Some parts were hilarious!

We held another Open Day yesterday, with forty educators visiting our school. We received excellent feedback; they were very impressed with our children’s learning and the way our teachers teach.

Next Wednesday, Erica Stanford, the Minister of Education, will be visiting our school alongside Ministry officials. We are very excited about this visit and can’t wait to show off our school.

We had another great uptake for our Holiday Reading Programme. Totara 8 and Kakano 10 had their classes drawn for a pizza and chips lunch. This will take place next week, so please keep an eye on your child’s Seesaw for the exact day.

Our Chess Team—consisting of Evin, Joe, Ceana, Aaron, Cooper, and Evaan—placed sixteenth at the Chess Power Nationals in Hamilton over the weekend. Congratulations to the team and to the parents who travelled to Hamilton to support them.

Rex Olsen competed in the North Island BMX Titles over the weekend, taking out a second-place finish in the 8–10 Year Old Cruiser Class. Well done, Rex!

Our Grandparents and Grandfriends Mass will be held on Friday, 13 November at 9:00 am. We would love to see as many grandparents and grandfriends join us as possible.

Our annual Athletics Day for Year 4 to 6 students will take place on Wednesday, 25 November. If you haven’t filled out the permission form yet, please do so here: Athletics 2026.

Have a great week!

David

TERM 4:

Friday 30th October: CBOP Tennis Champs

Friday 6th November: Legends of the Peak

Friday 13th November: Grandparents' Day Mass and Kakano Fun Run

Saturday 14th November: Pasifika Festival at the Village Green

Wednesday 18th November: Students’ Celebration

Thursday 19th November: PTA School Disco

Friday 20th November: JPC Orientation Day for Year 6 students

Tuesday Nov 24th: Ahurei Performance

Wednesday 25th November: Athletics Day for Totara Team

Friday 27th November: Year 6 Retreat and Year 5 Leadership Day

Tuesday 1st December: Year 6 Big Day In

Wednesday 2nd December: Kakano team and Year 4 Big Day In and Totara team picnic

Thursday 3rd December: Interschool Athletics

Monday 7th December: End of Year Mass

Wednesday 9th December: Year 5 & 6 Lake Day

Friday 11th December: School Prize Giving & School Tryathlon

Monday 14th December: Missioning of our Year 6 students and the last day of school. Also meet your 2027 teacher.

School Calendar - Click Here to View

St Mary's School Board Vacancy

A vacancy has occurred on the St Mary’s School Board. Under s.23 of the Education and Training Act 2020, the Board has taken the decision to fill this vacancy by a process of ‘Selection’.

While the School Board has opted for a ‘Selection’ process, members of the St Mary’s community eligible to vote in School Board elections also have a voice in this decision. If you disagree with the 'Selection' process, and would prefer that a by-election be held to fill the vacancy, please communicate this in writing to election@stmarysrotorua.school.nz by 4 December 2026. If 10% of those eligible to vote in St Mary’s School Board elections write in support of a by-election to fill the vacancy, then a by-election will instead be held.

If you would like to put your name forward for consideration for selection to the School Board, please also do so in writing to election@stmarysrotorua.school.nz by 4 December 2026. Please note that if the community instead opts for a by-election, all interested parties will then need to complete a formal nomination form.

MARG'S SWIM SCHOOL

Learn to swim recommences Monday 19th October 2026

At St Mary's Primary School with heated pool.

Non Confident - to - Confident Swimming and Water Safety

Phone Marg 0274599286

Email boiellem3@gmail.com

Please include your phone number with an email.

Director of Religious Studies

Rosary & Mass – This Friday, the Tōtara team will lead the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary in the church starting at 8:30 am, followed by Mass at 9:00 am. All families are warmly invited to join us.

A big thank you to the Kākano Team for leading a beautiful Liturgy for the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary last Thursday!

All Saints & All Souls Liturgy – Thursday, 29th October, tomorrow at 12:15 pm, Tōtara 5 will host our All Saints & All Souls Liturgy in the school hall. As we prepare for this special time, we invite our school families to take a moment to remember loved ones who have passed away.

Please send a slip of paper with your child containing the names of any family members or friends you would like remembered. We will collect these names and hold them in our prayers as a community during our celebration. All families are welcome to join us as we honor and pray for those who rest in peace.

Save the Date: Grandparents & Friends Mass. Mark your calendars! On Friday, 13th November, we will hold a Whole School Mass to celebrate our wonderful grandparents and special friends of our school. We would love to see you there for this special occasion.

I hope you have a blessed week.

God bless

Lorna Dobson

DRS

Steam Pressure Cleaner REQUIRED

We are after a Steam Pressure Cleaner for our Bouncy Castles. Also if anyone is able to help us with this Job that would be fantastic. Please get in touch with our school office if you are able to help.

Have you got our school app?

Our school often posts alerts with information for families. We encourage all of our community to install the SchoolApps app and then link to St Mary's Catholic School Rotorua. Please subscribe to your children's classes and any sports teams to keep informed.

Year 6 Orientation Day

Year 6 students are to come to school as normal. Parents are responsible for organising transport for their children to and from John Paul College.

If transport is an issue, please see the school office, and we will do our best to help find a ride for your child.

SPORTS NOTICES

Term 4 Summer Sports Registrations:

Summer Sports registrations are open. Information is up on the website. Please remember to register so your child does not miss out on a team and remember our values and fair play.

Term 4 Netball

Registrations are closed please see office, we may have space in the teams.

Term 4 Touch Rugby

Registrations are closed please see office, we may have space in the teams.

Term 4 Futsal

Registrations are closed please see office, we may have space in the teams.

Term 4 Cricket

Smashplay - Years 1- 3

SmashPlay is an updated version of our previous SuperSmash programme and will be held at Smallbone Park on Thursday evenings.

SmashPlay Registration - Please No Payments to school

Incrediball - Years 3-5

Our popular Incrediball programme is back for another season at Smallbone Park on Thursday evenings.

Incrediball Registration - Please No Payments to school

Harrows - Years 4-6

Registrations are closed please see office, we may have space in the teams.

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

Golf

This term we will not be taking students out to golf on Tuesday afternoons during learning time. However, we will continue to organise school teams for events, such as the Fluro Golf Fun Days, CBOP Golf Competition, Girls' Golf Fun Day, throughout the year. Please regularly check the school newsletter for these events.

There are coaching sessions after school if your child is interested in playing golf at Lakeview, Rotorua and Springfield golf courses. Also, Future Geyserland Hub, is a junior membership to play at all three courses here in Rotorua. Please contact your local golf course for more information.

Aquabots Update

Thank you for the fantastic support for our ice block fundraiser. We appreciate all the support from our St Mary's community. We hope to do our school proud when we represent St Mary's Catholic School at the Nationals in Blenheim next month. We'll update you on our progress after the event.

Thanks,

Patrick, Jamie, Tristan, Charles.

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: