Newsletter No: 8 24 June 2009
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
As Term 2 draws to a close we reflect on another successful term. The Senior Exams are now complete and reports will be issued early in Term 3 followed by a Parents evening. These will be held for all levels on 6 and 11 August. (More details later)
Middle School (Years 7 – 10) reports will be posted home in the last week of this Term. Academic Excellence is a constant focus of our school and some students will need to look closely at their reports and to adopt a strong work ethic in the second half of the year so that they can achieve their academic potential.
The co-curricular programme continues in earnest with some superb results. The U15A Girls Football and Girls Barbershop group have gained notable achievements as reported in this newsletter. The Boys Basketball team and the U15 Boys Football continue to do well.
Our Debating Teams continue to have success and remain unbeaten in their respective competitions. We look forward to continued success in Term 3.
With the Year 12 and Year 13 School Ball this Saturday, I remind parents that a high standard of behaviour is expected. The school does not condone preballs or afterballs and takes no responsibility for the students once they leave the Ball at 12 midnight. Any student who arrives at the Ball in a state where it is clear that they have consumed alcohol or drugs prior to the function will be refused entry, parents will be contacted to pick them up and they will face the Disciplinary Subcommittee of the Board of Trustees next week.
We are expecting the occasion to follow last years’ most pleasant Ball with everyone enjoying this special event. Over 30 staff and 240 students are attending the function.
I hope you all have a relaxing holiday and return for Term 3 ready to face the challenges of the second half of the year.
God Bless
Paul Daley
Principal
SWINE FLU PANDEMIC
With term holidays approaching and a number of families planning to travel, both overseas and around New Zealand, Sancta Maria College is aware of the threat posed by the swine flu epidemic, particularly the risk posed by travellers returning as potential carriers.
At this stage, the Ministry of Health’s advice is, that if staff and students are well and symptom free after returning from an affected area overseas, they can return
to school and do not need to remain at home for any period after arriving back in the country, or back to the home town. However, this may change in the coming weeks and families need to plan for this possibility. The risk is that if an infected student returns to school, and is in contact with other students and staff for even a day, the whole school could be closed for a week. The Board of Trustees asks you to carefully monitor your family’s health closely as you return from overseas, or your trip within New Zealand, and if there are even the slightest flu symptoms, do not send your son or daughter back to school until you have first telephoned to check with your doctor, or alternatively check through the Ministry of Health Line 0800 611 116.
SPECIAL CHARACTER – Mrs G Devoy
June continues to be a busy month at Sancta Maria College. A group of senior students has put their names forward to be commissioned as Ministers of the Eucharist, to assist in weekday Masses and also special Feast Day celebrations. The number of students volunteering for this role is a tribute to the spirit of service that is alive in our school community.
This is very important to our school, as at the beginning of the year, the theme of the opening Mass was that of service. Fr Ezio, our chaplain, spoke of the importance of service for and at the College. Over the last six months, as a school community, we have seen how so many of our students have responded to this by volunteering to participate in a wide range of activities.
Fr Ezio also spoke of the importance of the close relationship between the school, the home, and the parish, and stressed the importance of students attending Mass, whether it be at their own parish or at the St Lukes Faith Community Mass (which is held every Sunday morning at 10.30 in the auditorium). Attending Sunday Mass is a large part of being a Catholic but only a small part of a week. Mass is also celebrated every Wednesday in the school chapel and all students and family members are most welcome.
The next celebration as a school community will be the Family Day Mass, which will be celebrated on the 2nd August. Students will be involved in a variety of roles and it is a great opportunity for staff, students and families to come together to celebrate the Eucharist.
Richard Rohr is a visiting Franciscan priest and author. He will be offering a variety of lectures in Auckland and all are worth hearing. He will be speaking at St Peter’s College about bringing up boys and the importance of male spirituality. This lecture will be held on Tuesday the 23rd July at 7.30 p.m.
If you are interested in any other details, please feel free to contact me at the school.
STUDENT REPORT
MUSIC
SMC Female Barbershop Update - By Callan Jaffar
On 5th June, the female barbershop group, the ‘7.45ers’ competed at the Young Singers’ in Harmony Regional Competition.
When we heard our names called to stage nothing but excitement filled our hearts! Being nervous was not an option for us as we had practised for over 3 months and were ready to show Auckland what we had. The performance ran smoothly and all our time and effort was definitely worth it. We took home 5th place and a heap of experience for the future of barbershop in our school.
So, all in all, the first female barbershop group has done the school proud – and none of it would have been possible without the dedication of Miss Sutherland and Mrs Stickland. Their enthusiasm inspired us to keep singing and better ourselves.
Keep an eye out for the ‘7.45ers’! We will be back with our soulful harmonies and smiling faces…Watch this space! J
DRAMA DEPARTMENT
Come and support our Drama Department who have put together two fabulous shows for your entertainment
David Campton’s
“The Cagebirds” & “Niu Sila”
on 24 July at 7pm
and
Shakespeare’s
“A Midsummer Nights Dream”
on 25 July at 7pm.
Both showing at the
Harlequin Theatre – Howick
SMC AT SMOKEFREE ROCKQUEST!
– by Thomas Cho
On the 7th of June, the Auckland East heats were held at Botany College. Our school had 3 bands entered. Shana Llorando and her band, Brendon Agnew, Jaedon Gascoigne, Ryan Wood and Keegan Melville. "The Alliance" (Pictured) with Amadeus Vincent, Matthew Henkin and Ronan Mooney and Kody Hedder from Pakuranga College. "Output" with Thomas Cho, Paul Cho and Hansol Choi (Rangitoto College) and Steve Moon (Senior College). "The Alliance" and "Output" made it into the regional finals. They ripped it up on stage and
did Sancta Maria College proud!
DEPARTMENT REPORT
ENGLISH
A large group of approximately 170 students saw the recent film version of “The Merchant of Venice” at the Academy Cinema in the city on Friday 19 June. The school was lucky enough to secure the theatre at a special rate which we are grateful for.
The Scholarship class continues to meet fortnightly at the early hour of 7.30am.
National Poetry Day will be celebrated on Friday 24 July.
FOOD TECHNOLOGY
Activate
As mentioned in our Newsletter No: 4 (April), Sancta Maria College Students competed with 15 other schools at the Avalon Studios, in Lower Hutt where they were filmed preparing and cooking given recipes.
The TV series starts on TV2 at 9.30am on 20 June. Sancta Maria College will feature in the second programme on 27 June.
PTFA
Trivial Pursuit Night – 15 August 2009
Tickets $12 each or tables of 10 - $100
Donations Required:
We are looking for donations for our Trivial Pursuits night. If you have access through your company or contacts we want to know. For Trivial Pursuit we are looking for donations for prizes which may include food, meat packs, items for a raffle, entertainment or gifts. We also need to hire tables, so if you know someone that can better the Carlton Party hire prices, please contact us.
Helper List:
Are you able to go on to a helper list? We are often asked by the school if we can help out at socials, sausage sizzles, lunches, providing teas and coffees, either through the day or in the evening. You may be able to help out only once, but every little bit of help is wonderful, so please add your name to our list and lets build our school community together.
Please check out the school website – PTFA link, for more information on what’s happening on the PTFA and how you can be involved.
For more information of any of the above please contact one of our committee members or Tracey Monaghan on 5357609 / 021658700. or Matthew Caldwell on 2999761 / 0272240998.
ASB COLLEGE SPORT OPEN LETTER
To All College Sport Players, Coaches and Supporters, from College Sport.
The Auckland Secondary Schools Headmasters Association Executive Board (ASSHA) wishes to remind all players, coaches and supporters of their expectations around conduct and behaviour in College Sport competitions.
In 2008 to the widespread dismay of (ASSHA) members some unsavoury incidents involving players and coaches went unreported to the respective sports bodies and the ASSHA. One particular case played out extensively in the national media. These incidents brought the respective schools, team members, coaches and the sport into disrepute, and in doing so by implication the ASSHA, particularly as there were limited steps that the respective sports body and ASSHA could take, as the incidents went unreported and were not notified by way of complaint.
Players, coaches and supporters are reminded that the highest levels of sportsmanship, fair play and conduct are expected in relation to opposition players, coaches and officials. Objectionable language, sledging and the entering of the field of play by substitutes, spectators and coaches is totally unacceptable.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
NETBALL
Congratulations to Senior 2 Team who were awarded the University of Auckland University Team of the Week signifying their commitment to fair play, striving, spirit and overall sportsmanship.
Team Members
Jemma Bicknell; Sarah Davey; Vanessa Fifita; Patria Harris; Michelle Heather; Emily Stonehouse; Angelaine Tanoai-Setefano; Paige Widelko; Brittany Wilson.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS – Cont’d…
FOOTBALL
U15A Girls Football Team have won the Counties Manukau Division, beating Macleans College 3 – 0 in the final. They now play in the Auckland Provincial Championship next term.
Team Members
Caitlin Papali’i; Kaajal Shirley; Olivia Davey; Amber Cooke; Sarah Cammell; Sari Ter Huurne; Jessica Valk; Brodie Brookland; Taylor Shrimpton; Cassandra Driessen; Nicole Tuyay; Gupriend Rajput; Aimee Leher; Amber Oosterhof; Emma Noble Campbell; Summer Brooke; Maria Castro; Hope Stewart.
BASKETBALL
Congratulations to U19 Boys Basketball Team who have qualified for Counties Manukau Semi finals.
HOCKEY
Both Senior Boys and Girls Teams have won every game. The Senior Girls are coached by student Elizabeth Cooper.
The U15 Girls Team which is a fairly new team responded well to the coaching given by student Kristen Dantas and have won the last two games.
The U15 Boys have also won all games except for 1 match which they drew.
MUSIC
Sancta Maria College’s Female Barbershop have qualified to perform in the National Young Singers in Harmony finals to be held at Telstra Clear Pacific Events Centre in September.
FRENCH
Sam Vincent won first prize in the French story writing competition. School for Young Writers, Jeunes Auteurs pour l’Europe.
UNIFORM SHOP
The Uniform Shop will be open Thursday 16th July 1pm - 4pm. In addition the uniform shop will open Monday and Tuesday before school for the first two weeks of the new term as well as being open at the usual times of Friday before school and Thursday after school. This is for the sale and purchase of socks, jackets, pantyhose and PE gear only. Elizabeth Michael uniform items can be ordered but will not be available for pick up from the school shop until the second week of the new term.
RECYCLING
This year with the assistance of Mrs McCreath and an environmental committee, we are endeavouring to promote recycling as much as possible within the College environment. To enable recycling in the classroom we want to put the old small green recycling bins (that were distributed to households) into each classroom. If you still have your old green bin at home we would be most grateful for as many of these as possible. Please send along to the office.
KEY DATES
| · Thursday |
25 June |
Teacher Only Day |
School Closed |
| · Friday |
26 June |
Stage Challenge – Aotea Centre |
|
| · Saturday |
27 June |
School Ball |
|
| · Wednesday |
01 July |
Mufti Day |
|
| · Friday |
03 July |
End of Term 2 |
School finishes at 3.15 pm |
| · Monday |
20 July |
Term 3 Commences |
|
| · Friday |
24 July |
Yr 11 Drama Production |
Harlequin Theatre |
| · Saturday |
25 July |
Yr 12 Drama Productio |
Harlequin Theatre |
| · Sunday |
2 August |
SMC Family Mass |
10.30am – Auditorium |
| · Thursday |
06 August |
Parents Evening |
|
| · Monday |
10 August |
T3 – Teacher Only Day |
School Closed |
| · Tuesday |
11 August |
Parents Report Evening |
|
| · Wednesday |
12 August |
Careers Night – 7pm |
|
| · Friday |
25 Sept |
End of Term 3 |
|
| |
|
|
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