Newsletter No: 5 April 2009
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Welcome back to Term 2. We are again looking forward to a successful term as we encourage our students to grow in all aspects of their lives. Over the holiday break there were a number of notable occasions. The most significant of course was the Easter celebrations where we recalled the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Christ our Saviour. The Resurrection is the reason we are here. It is the basis of all that we do at Sancta Maria College. I hope and pray that you all did your part in ensuring that for your children Easter was more than chocolate eggs and bunnies.
Anzac Day is a most important day in the lives of all New Zealanders. Sancta Maria College was represented at the Howick RSA’s Anzac Parade and Service at Stockade Hill at 11am. Prefects, together with staff representatives gathered in memory of those who fought and for those who gave their lives so that we may live in a free country. “We will remember them”.
You all will have received the Term 1 Progress Reports. If it has not arrived by post please contact the school. You will have noted that there is an opportunity for you to book a time electronically to meet with teachers at our Parent Teacher Meetings on Thursday 30 April or Tuesday 5 May. We encourage all parents / caregivers to attend. School will finish at 2.30pm on both these days. In Zone buses will be rescheduled to pick up students at this time. Other buses will arrive at the normal time.
The co-curricular programme over Terms 2 and 3 is extensive. Students have already made commitments to teams through the winter terms. I wish to emphasise that we take this commitment seriously and we ask for parental support that all students meet their commitments right through to the end of the season. It is unfair on fellow team members and on staff / adults who give up their time to coach and manage if individuals start making themselves unavailable.
Newsletter Distribution
I wish to give more structure to communication with the community. The main newsletter will be distributed on Tuesday of Week 1 and Wednesdays of Week 3, 6 and 9 each term. For this term that will be on Wednesday 29 April, 13 May, 3 June, 24 June. The newsletter will be placed on the school website on the same day. Interim newsletters will be sent home between these key dates should the need arise.
Invitation
Finally, I invite you all to our
Feast Day Mass at 10.30am on Friday 29 May.
This is a very special annual occasion in the life of our school! Put it in your diary now!
May God Bless You All
Paul Daley
Principal
SPECIAL CHARACTER
On Friday 3rd April, SMC held a Mufti Day and a ‘Bring A Can Day’.
The money raised from the Mufti Day was in excess of $1,100. This money will go towards victims of the Victorian bush fires and also to Caritas, as part of the Lenten giving appeal.
The ‘Bring A Can’ drive was very successful. These were collected by volunteers from the St Vincent de Paul Society, who were very impressed by the generosity and sincerity of our students and school community.
I would like to thank the community for their generosity in supporting these initiatives. As a result of this, families in our near community have had an easier Easter.
On Holy Thursday, students were involved in a Liturgy that portrayed Christ’s trial and death. At intervals during this liturgy, the audience was asked as to who they would have been. Would they have been his disciples or the people who so willingly came forward to testify against Christ, or called for his crucifixion? I feel this is an important message that we can ask of ourselves in our daily life. What would we have done and said had we been there on that Friday?
During the holidays, I attended a memorial service for the students and staff member from Elim College who lost their lives so tragically last year. In this service, I was humbled and privileged to witness the faith and courage of their family members. The Easter message of the resurrection and the firm belief that we will be one with Christ was evident in this moving liturgy.
This term promises to be busy. From June 2009 to June 2010 it is the Year of Paul the apostle. To commemorate this year, there will be a number of competitions being held on the theme of Paul. Please encourage your children to involve themselves in these worthwhile projects. Also this term, there will be retreats for Years 11 and 12, our Feast Day- The Feast of the Visitation and the Pompallier Shield. We look forward to positive participation from all our students.
STUDENT REPORT
THE JOB SUMMIT – by Callan Jaffar
The Job Summit was a parliamentary event held to discuss improvements in employment and create jobs for New Zealanders through the economic recession. It was held at the Telstra Clear Events Centre last Term and I was lucky enough to go. It all started at 7.30 that morning. Mrs Bassi and I walked into the Centre, greeted by camera crews and photographers( we felt like celebrities). I, and some other students from the other schools in Manukau had to practise the Waiata we had learned especially for the opening of the ceremony. I had the opportunity to talk with the Mayor of Manukau City, Len Brown and even get a picture with him! As we waited to practise our Waiata, none other than JOHN KEY walked in and started chatting with a colleague. I had always imagined the Prime Minister with a party of security guards surrounding him at all times and a PA responding to every whim of his. However, I felt extremely humbled by his presence.
8am came around and it was time for our debut. We filed in neatly and waited for Mr Brown to complete his speech. We started out a bit shaky but got the hang of it by the second line. Might I add, Mr Brown has quite voice on him!
The experience for me was amazing. I never thought I would have the privilege to share the same stage as the Prime Minister and am very grateful to be given this opportunity.
ENTERTAINMENT BOOK FUNDRAISER – PTFA
Entertainment books have now been distributed to the eldest child attending the College from each family. This has been a very successful PTFA fundraising event in the past and the school stands to make $13 per book sold this year. The final date for purchase is Friday 8th May. Please ensure you take the opportunity to purchase one of these books as they offer great discounts to many restaurants, cafes and leisure activities.
YEAR 7 AND 8 HEALTH PROGRAMME
You may have noticed that we have the Life Education caravan parked in the school grounds (Chapel Road side). Life Education Trust will be delivering a special Health programme to our Year 7 and 8 students in the first three weeks of Term 2.
The Year 7 focus is Healthy bodies and Nutrition. The Year 8 focus is Hauora and Making Positive Choices.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Congratulations to the following students:
Katie Cammell was awarded the Bronze Medal for the Non Spinnaker Sailing Division at the Mistral Class Jubilee Championships recently.
Benny Suen was selected by Northern Region, New Zealand Badminton to play in the June Bevan Carnival, an Under 17s team event and the Australasian Under 17 Badminton Championships earlier this month.
Cameron Martin, Ryan Martin, Calvin Opperman, Callum McKenzie and Danielle Hareb represented Auckland at the National Football Tournament .
Sonya Morragh and Candice Stalls have been selected for the Counties Manukau Under 17 Rep Netball Team.
KEY DATES
Term 2
|
Thursday
|
30 April
|
Parent Interviews 3 – 6pm
School Finishes 2.30pm
|
|
Tuesday
|
5 May
|
Parent Interviews 3 – 6pm
School Finishes 2.30pm
|
|
Wednesday
|
6 May
|
Y12 Retreat – All Day
|
|
Friday
|
8 May
|
Photolife Summer Sport \
Photos including Netball
Year 9 – 13 Cross Country
|
|
Tuesday
|
12 May
|
Y11 Retreat – All Day
|
|
Wednesday
|
13 May
|
Newsletter Home
|
|
Wednesday
|
20 May
|
Staff PD Workshop 8am – 10am Students to arrive by 10am
|
|
Thursday
|
21 May
|
School Social Y7 – 13
|
|
Wednesday
|
27 May
|
Numeracy Mtg for Parents 6pm
|
|
Friday
|
29 May
|
School Feast Day
10.30am Mass
|
|
Monday
|
1 June
|
Queens Birthday – no school
|
|
Wednesday
|
3 June
|
Newsletter Home
HPV Vaccination – Dose 2
|
|
Wednesday
|
10 June
|
Senior Exams Start
|
|
Wednesday
|
24 June
|
Newsletter Home
|
|
Thursday
|
25 June
|
NZ Curriculum Day School Closed
|
|
Saturday
|
27 June
|
School Ball
|
|
Friday
|
3 July
|
End of Term 2
|