Newsletter No: 9 June 2008
Dear Parents / Caregivers
The Special Character of Sancta Maria College is our ‘reason for being’. This was strongly reflected in our Feast Day Mass held on the 30 May. The Mass was celebrated by the Bishop of Auckland, the most Rev Pat Dunn. He was assisted by Fr. Raphael and Fr Francis (St Marks), Fr Bill and Fr Terry (OLSOS) and Fr Ezio (St Lukes and Sancta Maria College). At the commencement our ICON specifically ‘painted’ for Sancta Maria College was unveiled by the Bishop and the Board Chairman, Mr Michael Stride. The Bishop then blessed the ICON. This magnificent presentation of the Madonna and Child now hangs in the school chapel. It will remain there in recognition of our first year as a full Year 7 – 13 school.
The plaque recognising families that have contributed to the cost of the ICON will be finalised at the beginning of Term 4 and will be erected before the end of the year. We are still accepting contributions. The students, as usual, responded magnificently to this special occasion and contributed significantly to the atmosphere of the whole day. In the afternoon we had our annual Talent Quest. This was a most enjoyable experience. Not only are we continually amazed at the courage and the talent demonstrated by the performers (including for the first time, staff!) but also at the mature way the audience responds to enable the performers to feel comfortable. I greatly appreciate all the hard work that went into making the day so successful.
HEALTHY EATING: From 1 June all schools were required to have healthy food options in their canteens and to limit the availability of pies etc.
Healthy menu options have been implemented in the Sancta Maria canteen over the past few months to meet the Food and Beverage Classification Guidelines as set by the Ministry of Education. There has been some confusion over the requirements – basically they are:
Everyday: Appropriate for everyday consumption and should be encouraged as a healthy choice.
Sometime: For restricted provision. Can be offered as a regular menu item, but should not dominate the food
choices available.
To this end we now have a very wide choice of hot food items. We have Heart Tick and compliant pies available and these and pastry type products have been restricted to 3 days per week. Increasing the menu with wider choices of food served has enabled us to meet all the guidelines as required.
There has been no notable change with sales through this period. The students are enjoying the changes and the food served.
Paul Daley
Principal
Key Dates
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Thursday 12 – Wednesday 18 June |
Senior Exams |
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hursday 19 June |
Senior Students back at school |
Normal Timetable |
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Friday 20 June |
Staff Professional Morning |
10am start for students |
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In Zone Howick Eastern buses will operate 1 hour later, however please remember that they may get around a little quicker with reduced traffic. Students arriving prior to 10am will be supervised. They must have school work to do or a book to read. |
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Friday 20 June |
Year 7 – 10 Reports home |
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Thursday 26 June |
Parent Interview Evening Yrs 7 – 10 |
Surnames A - M |
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Saturday 28 June |
PTFA Car Boot and Book Sale |
(see note further on) |
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Tuesday 1 July |
Parent Interview Evening Yrs 7 – 10 |
Surnames N – Z |
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Friday 4 July |
End of Term 2 |
3.15pm finish |
SCHOOL UNIFORMS
Parents – please ensure that every item of school uniform has your child’s name clearly marked on it. It makes returning found items so much easier.
CHANGE OF INFORMATION – for school records
It is extremely important that the school is informed about any changes of address, telephone / mobile numbers etc. If you have had a recent change of information and are unsure whether you have notified the school, please email your new details to: admin@sanctamaria.school.nz
SICK OR ABSENT STUDENTS
If your child is sick, parents are asked to call school each day that they are away. This saves the office staff a lot of time checking on absences.
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BOOK AND BOOT SALE - 28th June 2008 9am - 12noon
Second Hand Books Needed! Clear out your unwanted books and please donate them for our Second Hand Book Fair PTFA Fundraiser, which is going to be held on Saturday the 28th June at the school. Please drop off your books / items at the school during 8am - 8.30am starting every day from the 17th June onwards.
There will be a container situated at the front carpark and PTFA members will happily receive your books! Books, comics, magazines, DVDs, videos, CDs all accepted. All languages accepted.
A CARBOOT sale is also being held on the 28th June 9 - 12 noon. Please contact Hennie Bonniface (ph: 021 250 08648 )if you would like to register as a carboot seller! This is also a PTFA fundraiser.
We need helpers for the Book Fair to set up on the evening of Friday 27th, so please contact Francie Morgan 0274902243 or Tracey Monaghan 021 658 700 if you can assist or email through the PTFA page on the college website.
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CYCLING - teams make outstanding start
Our two Junior cycling teams have made an outstanding start in the ASS Waterfront Time Trial Series.
The races start at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday mornings, once every 3 weeks. Regardless of the weather the riders are meeting to warm up in Parnell at 6:00 a.m.!
The race is over a 17 Km course from the Port of Auckland to St Heliers and back. The fastest time logged so far this year is 20 min 48 sec, set by a Senior boys team (5 riders, under 19yrs) from Grammar. Our Junior A riders (4 riders, under 15 yrs) are sitting on 15th place in their Junior Boys section with a best time of 26mins 26 sec., while the Junior B riders are in 27th place with a best time of 30 mins 21 sec. With over 100 teams competing each of the mornings our teams are doing very well.
Junior A Team Josh Cammell (Capt ) Josh Holldaway Elliott Bennetts Scott Ambrose
Junior B Team Waldron Martis Chris Danbrook Brad Holdaway Corey Ford
New riders are welcome to join the cycling group- we train at 6:00 a.m. at SMC on Tuesday and Thursday, and ride as a Bunch on Sunday afternoons at 2:00 p.m. If you are not participating in a school sport, this is for you! Next year we hope to have Senior teams and Girls teams as well as Junior teams.
Teacher in charge- J David.
MUSIC
The Concert Band and Jazz Bands will be going to Epsom Girls Grammar School on Friday 20th June. Students will leave school at 3.15pm on a Murphy’s Bus. There will be sound checks until dinner provided for students at 6.00pm. The concert begins at 7.30pm. Tickets are $5.00 each for parents and friends and can be purchased from SMC office cashier. Concert will finish approximately 8.45pm. Parents are to take the students home.
2nd July – Year 11-13 music students are doing their performance assessments.
This will be held in the Staffroom at 7pm. All welcome.
DRAMA - ART
Come and celebrate our evening culture with us. Year 11 Drama Assessment – “Living with Lady Macbeth – Rob John” and Year 7-13 “Fine Art Exhibition” – 3rd July. Starts at 6.30pm, Drama performance begins at 7.30pm in the Staffroom.
KIDS LIT QUIZ AUCKLAND REPORT - Held at St. Cuthbert’s College Friday 6 June 6pm
“Kids Lit Quiz success for Sancta Maria College: both teams in Auckland top10”
That’s the headline result after a nail biting and close finish for the Sancta Maria College Kids Lit Quiz teams in the Auckland competition. The A team [Daniel Badenhorst, Hannah Horne, Chelsea Sloan and Jessica Wilkins] gained 76 points for 6th place [out of 50 teams] only 2 points behind 3rd place. The B team [Stephen Fletcher, Emma Morgan, Francesca Osten and Jordan Sim] gained 73 points for 8th place. Both teams achieved top scores and won book prizes for their chosen double points category due to the A team knowing that a creature with a lion's head, a goat's body, and a serpent's tail is a Chimera and the B Team’s extensive knowledge of God’s and Goddesses. At the half time interval Sancta Maria College A team was in 2nd place, but the cats and book spelling bee category lost them vital points. However according to our A team students the quiz was amazing fun, the buzz around the room was wonderful and what they really liked and felt was special was the help that our senior student leaders Stephanie Morgan and Christina Walker gave. They now aspire to emulate them and help Sancta Maria College win the Kids Lit Quiz next year.