Newsletter Week Seven Term Four

WEEK 7 TERM 4 2025

URGENT UPDATE: ATHLETIC SPORTS DAY HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO SURFACE WATER AT THE ATHLETICS TRACK.

Totara students to bring sports gear for Athletic Tabloids at school tomorrow afternoon.

Several significant events occurred over the week, and they all went very well due to excellent organisation.

Grandparents/Friends Day was a lovely occasion that our grandparents look forward to. Thanks, Lorna, for your organisation. A number of grandparents travel some distance to be with us. I was talking to grandparents from Palmerston North, and they have been travelling up over the last fifteen years to be with their grandchildren. This was their last Grandparents' Day because their last grandson will finish this year. They were very sad about that. Incidentally, I taught the two dads at St Peter’s College in Palmerston North. I know other Grandparents travelled from afar. There looked to be a ton of food in each classroom for the shared morning tea. Thank you for supporting this.

Friday afternoon, trying to dodge the wet weather, Kakano had its Fun Run. There were lots of smiles during the event. Thanks to staff who set up and put away the obstacles for the Fun Run. Thanks to the parents who supported this event.

Athletics Day has been moved from Wednesday to Thursday due to the wet weather. Thanks to Jill for organising this event. The weather forecast for Thursday looks OK, so it should be a great day. Students are expected to be at Athletics as it is a school day. It’s not only a fun day, their house will also rely on them for House Points. It is a standards meet, so students must try to beat times in running events and distances in field events to earn points for their House. Thank you to the parents who have offered to help on the day.

Information regarding the Athletic Sports:

• Who: Years 4, 5 & 6.

• When: Thursday, Nov 20th 8.45 am - 2.30 pm

• Where: Field 2, International Stadium, Devon Street West, Rotorua.

• Students need to be taken to / dropped off at the International Stadium, Ground 2, Devon Street West, Rotorua

• Students need to be at the stadium by 8.40 am and in their designated area by 8:45 am.

• The event will finish at approximately 2:15 pm.

• Children need to be collected from the International Stadium, ground 2, by 2:45 pm at the latest.

• Children may come to Interhouse Athletics in their house colours or their school PE gear.

• Children will need – sunhat, sunblock, warm clothes, morning tea, lunch & a drink.

• Should the event need to be cancelled, this information will be put on our Facebook page, School App and Seesaw posts by 7:30 am.

The Celebration for Learning was scheduled for Thursday, but because the Athletic Sports is now scheduled to take place on the same day, the Celebration of Learning will only be for the Kakano children. Kakano parents can come anytime between 8.00 am and 9.30 am to see what their children have been doing in class.

Our Year 6s are off to JPC for their Orientation visit on Friday. The visit is from 10.30 am to 2.30 pm. We won’t be providing transport for children so parents need to ensure their child arrives at JPC at 10.30 and pick up at the end of the visit.

The World San Filippo Mufti Day Fundraiser is planned for next Friday, 28th November. If possible, we would like children to wear purple on the day and donate a gold coin, which will go to the charity. Support Ollie and have your child wear purple.

Once again, we have produced a school magazine. It is a fantastic record of the year. The price is $5.00, and it is undoubtedly good value. Thank you to Ricoh Copiers for sponsoring this book. The magazine will be available in the last week of school, but you must pre-order it from the school office to get a copy. Get your order in to avoid disappointment: the magazines will sell out at $5.00 per copy. We will send an order form home this week.

TERM 4:

Thursday 20th November, Athletics Day for Totara Team - CANCELED

Thursday, 20th November Celebration of Learning (Kakano parents only)

Friday 21st November JPC Orientation Day for Year 6 students

Wednesday 26th November Year 6 Retreat and Year 5 Leadership Day (NOTE CHANGE OF DATE)

Friday 28th November Ahurei; Senior and Junior kapa haka perform.

Friday 28th November, Wear Purple for Ollie….Mufti Day.

Tuesday 2nd December Year 6 Big Day In

Wed 3rd December Kakano team Big Day In and Totara team picnic

Friday 5th December End of Year Mass

Monday 8th December School Prizegiving

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

A heartfelt thank you to all the Grandparents and Grandfriends who joined us for Mass last Friday. We were thrilled with the wonderful turnout, and the singing was truly beautiful. The children were delighted to share the morning with you. A special thanks to Fr. Mohan for celebrating such a lovely Mass and for the warm, engaging way he interacts with our students.

On Friday, 5th December, at 9 am, we have our final school Mass. You are more than welcome to join us for this special occasion.

Next Thursday,27th November, Kakano 11 is leading the Advent Liturgy. Advent is a special time of year that lasts for four weeks. It helps us think about the coming of Jesus and also remember that he will come again. People celebrate Advent in many different ways through prayer, reading the Bible, or lighting candles. No matter how it’s celebrated, Advent is a time of waiting with hope. It reminds us to follow the way of Jesus by being hopeful, peaceful, joyful, and loving.

I hope you have a wonderful week.

God bless

Lorna Dobson

DRS