10 February 2006
Newsletter No: 3 March 2008
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students
It is wonderful to report that students have quickly settled into the life and expectations of Sancta Maria College. The academic focus has again been emphasised and feedback from teachers suggest that students are responding well. The co-curricular program is well under way with volleyball, softball, tennis, cricket, cycling, rowing, swimming, kilikiti and touch, already training and competing. The Saturday sports have been disrupted with 2 consecutive Saturdays being washed out with bad weather. We are hoping for a start this week! No sooner have we got the summer programme up and running we find ourselves organising musters for the winter sports. Netball have had their muster and other winter codes will be holding registrations over the next few weeks. If your son or daughter wishes to make a commitment to the co-curricular programme it is imperative that he / she listens carefully to the school notices each day as the musters are called.
As usual, we appreciate any assistance from the community for the running of these programmes. If you are able to assist as a coach or manager, please ring our Sports Director Mrs Jan Cummings on 274 4081 ext 217.
Property
The remaining 4 relocatable classrooms should arrive on site within the next 10 days. This will take pressure off the school as we currently have some classes timetabled into small ‘break out’ rooms which limit the use for which they were designed.
The construction of St Anne Block is progressing well and is on schedule for an August completion date. The contract has been let for the extension and development of the front car park (including a separate entry and exit) and the construction of carpark / drop off zone in the area on the right hand side of the driveway. Hopefully this will be completed before winter sets in.
School Financial Contributions
A reminder that if your option to pay school financial contributions is on a term by term basis that term 1 fees are now overdue. If you are not paying by automatic payment can you please ensure that these are received by 14th March. If you have not set up your automatic payment yet please contact Margaret Littlejohn as soon as possible in order that this can begin in March. All accounts paid in full by 31st March receive a 5% discount on the school fee components only.
All receipts will be sent out with your financial statement at the end of term 1. Please ensure that these are kept in a safe place for your tax return. We will not be sending any receipts prior to this or with students.
Special Character
Our Opening Mass (Thanksgiving and Requisition) was held on Thursday 28 February. It was a wonderful occasion that was concelebrated by Fr Ezio Blasoni, Fr Raphael Lobo, Fr Francis Poon and Fr Bill Fletcher. Students and staff involvement was a feature of the liturgy and there was a genuine feeling of ‘family’ as we prayed together as a school community.
The behaviour of the students was exceptional. It is times like this that make us so proud to be part of Sancta Maria College.
I reminded the students at assembly on Monday that Masses such as this emphasises that we are Catholic. However, going to Mass is not enough if we do not ‘live’ what it means to be Catholic or Christian. Masses and other liturgies are the times when we focus and ‘refuel’ ourselves so that we can live our lives both within the school and the wider community in a manner that reflects the reason that we are at Sancta Maria College.
Harassment, inappropriate use of technology, alcohol abuse, involvement in drugs, inappropriate language are all examples of activities that do not reflect why we are here. The young people must develop a sense of what is right and wrong and support one another in the living out of our Christian Values. They should be modelling themselves on what they know is right and not on what they see in television programmes, videos and computer games.
We, as adults must continue to work together to give them the guidance that they require. Only then will we produce future leaders of our country.
Paul Daley
Principal
Wednesday 12 March Staff Professional Learning 8am – 10am
Students are not expected at school till 10am on this day (we have 2 such days per term – the next one is on 16 April).
Howick / Eastern buses will run 1 hour later but may get to stops a little earlier as the traffic is less congested. Students who arrive earlier than 10am will be supervised.
Parents, Teachers, Friends Association Meeting (PTFA) Thursday 13 March School Reception Area 7.30pm
This is the first meeting of the year. We cordially invite past members and in particular families who are new to Sancta Maria College to become involved in our variety of ‘fun’ activities. We are always keen to have ‘new faces’ join our team. Come along and find out what it is all about.
Congratulations
Lucy McGall Year 11, recently competed in the Pole Vault event at the Auckland Athletics Championships. Lucy won the event and is the under 16 Pole Vault Auckland Champion.
Hunter Curran Year 7, won 2nd place in the North Island Colgate High Jump Championship with a jump of 1.35m. Late last year he also won 1st place in the Auckland High Jump Championship.
Sancta Maria College Athletic Champions
Danielle Hareb Junior Girls Kevin Crowe Junior Boys
Anna De Jong Intermediate Girls Liam MacKenzie Intermediate Boys
Patria Harris Intermediate Girls Phillip Moody Senior Boys
Tori Shrimpton Senior Girls
The following students will represent Sancta Maria College at the Counties Manukau Secondary Schools Athletics Day which will take place on Tuesday 18 March.
Angel Avei Malia Wolfgramm Aiden Creamer Bon Koon Wai You
Phillip Moody Scott Crowe Joseph Kelly Augustine Taliauli
Kevin Crowe Bradley Tuck Jordan Clark Danielle Hareb
Patria Harris Nic Osten Lucy McGall John Rata
Liam MacKenzie Anna De Jong
AUSTRALASIAN COMPETITIONS
All students have been issued with a letter about the Australasian Mathematics, Science and English competitions. The entry fee and entry slip are to be returned to the cashiers office by Friday 28th March.
Competition entry fees and dates of the competitions are:
· The Australasian Schools Mathematics Competition on July 29th entry fee $6.50
· The Australasian Schools Science Competition on May 29th entry fee $6.50
· The Australasian Schools English Competition on August 12th entry fee $6.50
Co-Curricular Programme
Expectations As a member of a sports team, Sancta Maria College staff expects that students will show:
Commitment to attending competition games and trainings
Responsibility to inform Teacher / Parent in charge of an absence for a game or practice prior to the event
Respect for officials, team mates and opponents by Fair Play
Effort 100% at trainings and games
Encouragement of your team members
Pride in representing Sancta Maria College
This includes wearing the correct competition uniform. If there is a problem players will need to inform their coach or manager well in advance of a game. Penalties may be imposed against the team if members play in incorrect uniform. Disregard and non adherence to the above expectations may result in a student receiving impositions or being stood down from competition.
Return of Important Information Forms
At the beginning of each sporting season, all players receive an information and fees sheet. The commitment slip must be signed by Student and Parent / Caregiver and should be returned the following day. Fees and uniforms required will be invoiced through the school accounting system. These return forms contain information on medical conditions and emergency contact details which may be important in the case of accidents at training or games. Fees allow the school to enter teams in Auckland Secondary Schools and Eastern Zone Competitions and purchase and maintain quality equipment and facilities for players.
Help
To offer a Sporting programme, which encourages participation and offers the best opportunities for our students to be prepared and compete well in interschool competition, is not possible without the support and help to Teachers from Parents / Caregivers and the Community. We are encouraged by offers for coaching, managing, umpiring / referring and transporting. If you would like to offer help please phone the Sports Coordinator, Mrs Jan Cummings on 274 4081 ext 217.
Nutrition
When competing in sport it is important to eat well and drink plenty of water. It is recommended that players bring a named drink bottle of water to all practices and games and players should at no time share drink bottles.
A Successful Season
Sancta Maria College looks forward to a successful sporting year with 19 teams competing across the following summer sports codes – athletics, cricket, cycling, kilikiti, rowing, softball, Special Olympics athletics, swimming, tennis, touch and volleyball. This week registrations will also be called for winter sports codes – badminton, basketball, football (soccer), gymnastics, hockey, netball and rugby and table tennis.
TEAM-UP UPDATE see www.team-up.co.nz for more information
Now the year is well and truly underway it’s a great time to think about helping your teen make sure they are getting a good balance of school and out of school activities.
Helping with Homework
Secondary students have homework nearly every day and while your teen may not need your input directly, there are still things you can do to help them manage the increased workload and help them achieve their best.
- Help them set a daily routine for homework time
- See if they work better with music or background noise, but turn off the TV!
- Get young siblings to play in another space, or doing a quiet activity
- Be available for your teen to ask your opinion or for help
- Talk to the teacher, if your teen regularly struggles to complete homework
Some questions you could ask include:
- What’s your assignment today?
- When is it due?
- Do you need special resources, for example, a trip to the library or access to a computer or special supplies?
- Is it a long term assignment, for example, science project?
- For a major project, would it help to write out the steps or make a schedule?
- Would a practice test be useful
For more information please see the Helping with Homework page on the above website.
KEY DATES
Term 1 Monday 4 February - Friday 18 April
Term 2 Monday 5 May - Friday 4 July
Term 3 Monday 21 July - Friday 26 September
Term 4 Monday 13 October - Friday 12 December
TERM 1
Wednesday 12 March - 10am Start – Staff Professional Development
Friday 14 March - Year 7 – 8 School Athletics
Thursday 20 March - Holy Thursday Liturgy
Tuesday 25 March - Annunciation
Monday 31 March - Board of Trustees Meeting
Thursday 10 April - Open Day
- Progress Reports out to parents
Monday 14 April - Portrait / Class Photos
Tuesday 15 April - Year 11 – 13 Parent Evening
Wednesday 16 April - 10am Start – Staff Professional Development
Friday 18 April - End of Term 1
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKEND
4 – 6 April at Knock-Na-Gree, 581 West Coast Road, Oratia, Auckland.
Phone 0800 362 686 for more information or to book now.
MARIST COLLEGE (formerly Marist Sisters’ College),
Mt Albert, Auckland is holding its 80th Jubilee on 11-12 April, 2008. For further details please e-mail jubilee@maristcollege.school.nz or visit the website: www.maristcollege.school.nz/jubilee or phone the school on (09)846-8311.