Newsletter Week Nine Term Four

NEWSLETTER WEEK 9 TERM 4 2025

Our Junior and Senior kapa haka performed very well at the Ahurei. I’m very proud of them, and I think that this year’s performance was one of the best. The children looked relaxed, smiled, and performed their hearts out. It's always great to see them enjoying themselves while performing. I have had so many positive comments about both kapa haka. Thanks to Koro Tini, Wiki Hill, Liz Macaskill, Sany-Joy Maeroa and Lorraine Thompson for preparing our tamariki for the festival. We have kapa haka every week, where all our students participate.

I loved Totara 6, 7 and 8’s assembly last Friday. The children were fantastic, and all those who spoke could be heard clearly. They were very confident. I loved the local history performance; it was well done. It was also awesome to see almost everyone dressing up for ‘Wear Purple for Ollie’ Day. Thank you, parents, for supporting this by sending a donation to the school for Sanfilippo Research.

Our Year 6 students had a great day at Retreat on Friday. The weather was perfect this year, and our students behaved excellently. Thanks to Ellie McLanaghan and Delwyn Bowen for facilitating the retreat. Our Year 5 students remained at school for a leadership day.

Our Advent Liturgy was also a lovely occasion for our students. Thanks, Harriet Fenwick and the Kakano 10 students, for leading this.

Our choir, with Lorette Tiedt, performed for the residents at Glenbrae during the week. By all accounts, the residents enjoyed the singing and interacting with the children.

I am looking forward to hosting thirty-six students at the Principal’s Luncheon on Thursday. is scheduled for Thursday. Children who have been invited do not need to bring their lunch to school on this day.

Yesterday we had the Year 6 Big Day In. Year 6 students from St Michael’s joined us for this. It was an excellent day and the purpose of the day is to make the transition from St Mary’s to JPC for our Year 6s much smoother. Students from JPC, the Year 7 Dean, SENCO and the Deputy Principal who will be looking after the powhiri at JPC at the start of next year came to talk to students about what to expect at JPC.

We still have several school events over the next week. On Friday, we have our end-of-year Mass. Mass starts at 9:00 a.m., and you are very welcome to attend. We ask that each child bring something for the food bank. We will collect this before Mass and give it to the St Vincent de Paul Foodbank. Previously, we presented major awards after Mass, but this year we will present them at the class and sports prizegiving on Monday morning. This will start at 9.30 a.m. in the school hall. It should last just over an hour, and you are welcome to attend.

Tuesday is TRYATHLON DAY. Year 4, 5, and 6 students will start at 9.30 am. If your child has a bike, please bring it to school; bikes can be placed against the long wooden fence on the edge of our field. If children don’t have a bike, they just swim and run. The Year 0, 1, 2, and 3 students’ Tryathlon starts at 11.30 am. They will just swim and run, so they don’t require a bike.

On Thursday, we will commission our Year 6 students at a final assembly in the school hall at 12 noon. Everyone is invited to attend. School finishes at the conclusion of the Missioning.

Your child’s report goes home today along with Information about 2025, uniform and stationery lists, and the name of your child’s teacher for next year. You can be assured that class lists were carefully put together with input from parents who returned their class placement requests, classroom teachers and senior management. We believe we have made the best fit for your child.

On Friday, your child will also bring home information about reading over the holidays. It would be great if children READ, READ, READ during their time away from school. Some children’s progress can go backwards if they do not continue to read over the holidays! There will be a lucky draw again when the children return in Term 1. There will be many summer prizes: boogie boards, books, Smiggle stationery, soft toys, a pair of skates etc.

Enjoy the week

David

TERM 4 DATES.

Friday 5th December End of Year Mass

Monday 8th December School Prizegiving

Tuesday 9th December School Tryathlon

Wednesday 10th December. Students meet their 2026 teacher and their 2026 classmates.

Thursday, 11th December, Missioning of our Year 6 students and the last day of school

2026 Dates. Term 1

January 22nd Team Meetings

January 27th TOD

January 28th TOD

January 29th and 30th Korero Mai days

February 2nd, First Day of School

February 6th Waitangi Day (Holiday)

February 23rd to 27th, Totara team camp week.

March 7th Gala Day

April 3rd school holidays

Easter is in the Autumn Holidays this year.

Last week, Whaea Harriet and Kakano 10 led our Advent Liturgy, where we explored the meaning of Advent, the Advent wreath, and the significance of the candles.

This week, we are preparing for the second Sunday of Advent. The candle for this week is called The Bethlehem Candle, which reminds us to think about peace. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and when the angels visited the shepherds on the first Christmas, they proclaimed, “Peace on earth.”

Jesus spoke about peace many times. During the Sermon on the Mount, he taught that peacemakers are blessed and will be called God’s children (Matthew 5:9). Later, at the Last Supper, as he prepared to leave his disciples, he comforted them with these words:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Jesus’ peace is a deep, calm feeling that comes from trusting God, even when life is difficult or scary. It reminds us that we are never alone, God is always with us.

We warmly invite all families to join us on Friday, 5th December, for our final school Mass of the year. At the end of this special celebration, our Year 6 students will be presented with a Bible as a gift from the school, marking an important milestone in their faith journey.

I hope you have a wonderful week.

God bless.

Lorna Dobson DRS