Newsletter Week Eight Term Four

NEWSLETTER WEEK 8 TERM 4 2025

Totara 1, Kakano 5 and 7 had a wonderful assembly on Friday. It was a lot of fun. We were treated to our Pasifika Dance group performing at assembly as well, and they were fantastic. Thanks to the whanau who came to watch on Friday.

Thank you to the parents who came to the Celebration of Learning on Friday. I hope you enjoyed spending time with your child and seeing what they have been doing this year.

Last Thursday, because there was a lot of surface water on parts of the athletic stadium due to heavy rain the day before, we were unable to stage our athletics there. Our students were able to participate in some field events back at school, so we were able to select an athletics team to compete in the Interschool Athletic Sports next week.

We are having a busy week this week. Today our year 6s are on Retreat at Tyburn Monastery, while the year 5 students remain at school for a leadership day. Girls’ Golf Day also went ahead today. Tomorrow we have our Advent Liturgy at 12.15 pm and you are welcome to attend.

Friday evening, we held a “Thank You Coaches” event. It was nice to be able to acknowledge and thank coaches and managers for their support of our sports programme. We are very fortunate to be able to call on our community for help with coaching and managing. It was also an opportunity to thank Shanelle McCashin for the great work she does coordinating our sports and Jill Dinniss for organising the major sports events we participate in.

The World San Filippo Mufti Day Fundraiser is planned for this Friday. We encourage children to wear purple for ‘Ollie” on the day and donate a gold coin, which will go to the charity (see poster below).

The Young Vinnies are collecting cans for the St Vincent de Paul foodbank. We would appreciate help with this. For each can brought to school, children earn a token for their house. The top class will receive ice-blocks.

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 have 200 to be sold so first in first serve, please see the office.

Enjoy the rest of the week

David

2025 Dates Term 4

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

2026 Dates. Term 1

January 22nd Team Meetings

January 27th TOD

January 28th TOD

January 30th and 31st 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.

On Thursday, 27th November, Kakano 10 will be hosting our Advent Liturgy, and we warmly invite you to join us at 12:15 p.m. in the hall.

We will also celebrate our final school Mass on Friday, 5th December, at 9:00 a.m. We would love to see you there.

This year, Advent begins on Sunday, 30th November 2025. Advent is the start of a new year in the Church. It is a special time when we get ready both in our homes and in our hearts to celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas.

The word Advent comes from a Latin word that means “coming.”

Advent is a season of hope, peace, joy, and love. During this time, we think about Jesus coming into the world and how we can get our hearts ready for Him. There are many ways we can prepare for Advent with our children. You might like to: ask them to help at home, spend some moments together in prayer, read a story about Jesus, Listen and sing along to a Christmas carol, do something kind for someone else, or take a peaceful walk and think about God’s wonderful creation.

Try to start the day by remembering that Advent is a time to get ready for Jesus. When we do this, it can change how we act, think, and care for others. The first week of Advent is very special. During Advent, we use an Advent wreath with four candles to help us get ready for Christmas. Each candle has its own meaning. The first candle is called the Prophecy Candle or the Hope Candle. It reminds us that God promised to send a Saviour and that we wait with hope for Jesus to come.

Have a blessed week.

God bless.

Lorna Dobson DRS