Newsletter No: 15 23 November 2009
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Over recent weeks we have celebrated two very special occasions. The Thanksgiving Mass was a wonderful opportunity for the whole school to come together to give thanks for the numerous opportunities that are given to us at Sancta Maria college. Too often in today’s world we do not take the time to reflect on how fortunate we are. We all at times face challenges and in some cases these can be significant. However with strength and support we can overcome these and hopefully grow through the experience. The Mass was an opportunity to give thanks for all that we have and to pray for the strength to overcome future challenges.
The Senior Prize Giving was a wonderful celebration of the success of all our senior students. The formality of the occasion is a worthwhile experience for our young people. The music was superb and we congratulate all students particularly those who have been recognised for their achievements throughout the year.
Major trophy winners were:
St Catherine Trophy for Academic Excellence Yr 13 (Dux)
Annabel Arrowsmith
Proxime Accessit – shared by Victoria Shrimpton & Audrey Soegiarto
St Catherine Trophy for Academic Excellence Yr 12 – Samuel Vincent
St Catherine Trophy for Academic Excellence Yr 11 – Waldron Martis
Navigator Trophy – Senior School – shared by Roshni Mathew and Jonathan Nazareth
Sportsman of the Year – Senior School –
William O’Connell
Sportswoman of the Year – Senior School –
Jessica Danbrook
Cultural Trophy for Boys – Senior School – Thomas Cho
Cultural Trophy for Girls – Senior School – Callan Jaffar
We wish all students who are currently sitting examinations the success that they deserve. For the Middle School, the school year continues with the academic programme including homework. While we have some ‘activity’ days planned, I wish to emphasise the significance of the academic programme over the next three 3 weeks. We look forward to celebrating the successes of our Middle School students at the Prize Giving on 8 December. You are most welcome to attend.
God Bless
Paul Daley
Principal
STUDENT DRIVING / PARKING
Due to the increased congestion in the school car park, pickup and drop off area at the end of the school day, the Board of Trustees has decided to restrict student car parking to 32 allocated spaces. (as required by Manukau City Council Resource Consent) and to allocate these spaces on a first come, first served basis to Year 12 and Year 13 students only. Year 11 students are not to drive to school and park in the school grounds. These restrictions come into place from the beginning of 2010. All Year 12 and Year 13 students who wish to drive to school will need to make application at the start of the
school year and display the permit on the dashboard when parking in one of the allocated spaces. Year 11 students are strongly discouraged from driving to school as they will have to park outside the school grounds which is of concern to the retailers opposite the school.
Parents waiting for students at the end of the school day in Bishopgate opposite the school are requested not to park in the allocated spaces for retailers. We are receiving complaints from the retailers. Please wait on the main road (Bishop Dunn Place).
PTFA
Sancta Maria College
Cultural/Arts/Music Festival 2009
It was truly a ‘big day out’ for our school communities for 2009. We were blessed with the perfect weather and the food was an absolute ‘mouth-wateringly’ tasty! The student performances, as promised, have proven to be up-beat, heart-warming and festive as we celebrate the second Sancta Maria College PTFA Cultural/Arts/Music Festival.
We are currently compiling a digital photo album and a video of the event and they will be available for all to share in the first week of December 2009. We would mention a special thank Mr John Tiongco for the beautiful collection of photographs that he has taken for us of the event.
We would like to thank all our parent groups, students, staff and friends for all your hard work in making the event a success and for being there! And we look forward to supporting the next school community event.
SPECIAL CHARACTER – Mrs G Devoy
Recently, Sancta Maria College
celebrated its last full school Mass.
The theme was that of those who
trust in God are truly blessed. The
Gospel reading was Matthew’s
Beatitudes, which further supported
this message. In his homily,
Fr Ezio spoke on the importance of
the gift of life and how necessary it
is that we respect our lives and the lives
of those around us and that we celebrate
our gift of life. The Mass was a moving ceremony in that it was the last school Mass for our Year 13 students but also because of the respectful and heartfelt manner in which so many of our students participated.
The departing Year 13 students donated food items which were presented at the offertory procession. After Communion, a group of our Pasifika students spoke of their gratitude for the generosity of the school following the devastating tsunami. Leis were presented to members of the Senior Leadership Team for their part in the fundraising appeal.
At the conclusion of the celebration, the Head Boy and Girl and their deputies, handed over the Sancta Maria College candle to the youngest boy and girl in the school. This candle will be in turn, handed on to the new Head Boy and Girl in 2010. At the Opening Mass in 2010, the youngest students will then hand over this candle to the new Head Boy and Girl.
At a recent Middle School Assembly, Mr Jim Norrie from the St Vincent de Paul Society presented the school with an award for our generosity in donating to the tsunami appeal. As a school community, we made a significant donation to this appeal and hopefully have made a difference in the lives of others. Serving others was a challenge set out to the students at the beginning of the year and it is heartening to see that we have responded to this challenge so positively.
I wish the leaving Year 13 students well for the future and thank them sincerely for the fine contribution they have made towards the Special Character of the school.
DEPARTMENT REPORTS
English Department:
Junior students are reminded that they need to return all textbooks issued to them to their English teacher. The deadline for this is 3 December.
Competitions:
AUT have a short story competition open to young writers aged 15-24 years. It closes on 31st January 2010. Information is available from their website at: www.aut.ac.nz/creativewriting
The Consulate General of Ireland is holding the Rodney Walshe Ireland Essay Competition 2010. This is open to young writers aged 16 years or over on 31st December 2009 and it closes on Friday 16th April. Students must register BEFORE 18th December. See Miss Linley-Richardson in AM6 for more information
CAREERS DEPARTMENT
Gateway Programme 2009
A big thank you to this year’s Gateway students for their dedication and the extra work required to successfully complete the programme.
Thank you also to the parents for their unwavering support and commitment in assisting their children to achieve the set goals.
And last but not least thank you to this year’s Gateway host employers without whom the Gateway Programme would simply not be possible.
This years employers were:
APC Innovate
Eves Pantry
Rainbows End
Hotel Grand Chancellor, Airport
Teak Constructions
Physio, Sport & Rehab
Trelise Cooper
M. C. Motors
Accord Precision
The National Bank Botany
The Edge Radio Network
Linfox
Howick Historic Village
McDonalds Restaurants
R. P. Cabinets Ltd
Gateway Programme 2009
This is an appeal to our school community.
After having run the Gateway Programme successfully for 3 years we are offering the programme to yet another 20 students in 2010. Once again our selected students wish to sample and experience a variety of different industries.
If any parents or relatives are able to support the Gateway Programme by way of hosting one of our students in any of the following industries, please contact our Gateway Coordinator Mrs Anderson on Tel 274 4081 ext 244.
Accounting
Air-conditioning installation
Automotive
Baking
Building and Construction
Cooking
Early Childhood Education
Food and Beverage
Furniture/ Cabinet making
Hair Dressing
Hospitality
Retail Travel & Tourism
Security systems installation
Sports and Recreation
LANGUAGES
Assessment Language Competency Certificate
1, 2, and 3 results
The results for ALC Certificate level 1, 2 and 3 in French and Japanese for 2009 are once again most pleasing. We congratulate all the students who have participated in the exams and who have gained Credit, Distinction and High Distinction. As a school we are placed well above the international average scores.
MUSIC
Recently our talented music students performed at the Summerset Retirement Village. Attending on the day were:
SMC Gospel Choir
Various Vocal Soloists/Small Groups
Guitar Trio
SMC Strings Orchestra
Jessica Wilkins – Violin Soloist with piano accompaniment.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
International Languages Week Competition Prizes
Congratulation to the following students for their winning entries:
Olivia Brown – Year 8 Haiku
Eliza Guerrero – Year 8 Haiku
Jonathan Murti – Year 9 Haiku
Canssandra Strydom – Year 9 Haiku
Katrina Sy – Year 10 Haiku
Jasmine Chan – Year 11 Haiku
Food Challenge Champion – Tiana Simpson-Croxford
Eiffel Tower Building Competition – Serena Owens and Zoe Kamsma
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JAPANESE: Assessment Language Competence Certificate One
(Year 9 Japanese) - Testing skill is LISTENING
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FRENCH: Assessment Language Competence Certificate One
(Year 10 French) - Testing skill is LISTENING
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High Distinction
L Kang
J Kim
P Lee
J Murti
DO’Brien
J Ramirez
G Tiongco
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High Distinction
L Bentley
E Cammell
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Distinction
G Alarcon
R Bae
F Guerrero
J P Guiang
P Hanna
A Ho
J MaCapagal
M Malto
G Rajput
C Strydom
E Tjhan
T Williams
L Yee
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Distinction
B Agnew
E Bennetts
O Dutmer
M Johnson
C Ormsby
J Wilkins
C Wright
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JAPANESE: Assessment Language Competence Certificate Two (Year 10 Japanese) - Testing skills are READING & LISTENING
Distinction
T Choi
E Lam Po Tang
K Ong
K Sy
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JAPANESE: Assessment Language Competence Certificate Three
(Year 12 Japanese) – Testing skills are
READING & LISTENING
High Distinction (Listening)
M Um
P Woo
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FRENCH: Assessment Language Competence Certificate Three
(Year 12 Japanese) – Testing skills are
READING & LISTENING
High Distinction
S Vincent
Distinction
O Ambrose
A Pearce
N Sheck
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NETBALL
Congratulations to Samantha Teinakore – U13 Auckland Cook Island Representative
TOUCH RUGBY
Term 4 has seen the culmination of a successful year of Touch Rugby for Sancta Maria College.
The Senior Mixed Touch Rugby squad continued Friday morning trainings throughout the year in preparation for the 2009/2010 Touch Rugby season. The squad are presently participating in the Pakuranga Module on Tuesday nights and have won their first two Mixed A grade games convincingly. The squad also play in the 360 Touch module in Papatoetoe on Monday nights. Sancta Maria College are also represented by a parents/teachers team; the Corna family, the Harris’, Oliver’s, Wood’s, Ikenasio’s, Stevens’ and Rob Wisnewski. The Sancta Maria College community spirit is alive and well!
The 2009 Year 7 and 8 Eastern Zones competitions saw our Girls Open and Mixed teams shine.
The Girls Open team played and won 6 pool games and narrowly lost in a thrilling semi-final to Bucklands Beach Intermediate. The final score being 2-1 in extra time. The team played for 3rd and 4th placing in their next game and won convincingly to St Kentigern’s, 4-1.
The Mixed team travelled to Point England and successfully played their way into the finals, where they beat Howick Intermediate, 4-3. Winning the Eastern Zones competition also gave the team the opportunity to play in the Auckland Championships at Avondale. Here, the team played themselves into the top of their pool and into the semi-finals against Glen Eden. Glen Eden took the honours of moving on to the finals and Sancta Maria College played off for 3rd and 4th placing against Auckland Normal. They won 6-2, in a match full of skill and determination! A gutsy performance and a 3rd placing in the Auckland Championships.
Raising the profile of Touch Rugby at Sancta Maria College has been the Sancta Maria player’s trialling successfully for Representative teams. Alex Corna has successfully made the U19 Men’s Counties Manukau team. Yvonne and Jessie Wilson are in the U17 Girls Auckland Team and Nathan and Trent Harris have been chosen for U15 and U13 Boys Eastern Teams.
To add to the strength of Touch Rugby at Sancta Maria College players have moved into coaching and refereeing. Jarrod Wood and Yvonne Wilson gave up many lunchtimes and periods to coach the Year 7 and 8 Girls and Mixed team. Jarrod Wood and Alex Corna are also referring module games throughout the week.
Touch is certainly on the up and up at Sancta Maria College.
YEAR 7 AND 8 MIXED TOUCH TEAM –
AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS – 3rd
Alex Corna – U19 Counties Manukau Representative
NETBALL
Trials for the Aotearoa Maori Netball Tournament
Juniors: U13 and U15 grades:
- Saturday, 28th November 2009
Registrations commence: 9.30am
Papakura Netball Centre, 90 Walters Rd, Papakura
- Trial No. 2
Sunday, 5th December 2009
Registrations commence: 9.30am
Pukekohe Netball Centre, Bledisloe Park,
Upper Queen St, Pukekohe
Seniors: U17, U19 and Senior Premier grades:
- Saturday, 28th November 2009
Registrations commence: 12.30pm
Papakura Netball Centre, 90 Walters Rd, Papakura
- Sunday, 5th December 2009
Registrations commence: 12.30pm
Pukekohe Netball Centre, Bledisloe Park,
Upper Queen St, Pukekohe
SUPPORT OUR SPORT 2010
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, and umpiring/refereeing. We can offer training in these areas, so if you would like to offer help please phone the Jan Cummings (Sports Coordinator) on 2744081 x 217
LIBRARY
All Library books need to be returned for our end of year stock take by this Friday 27th November. Thank you for your support in finding any outstanding books.
Mrs. Karon Horne, Teacher Librarian
AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Blind athlete, Rob Matthews who inspired our students and staff in 2007 when he spoke to the school has written his autobiography Running Blind. It tells the story of how Rob came to terms with losing his eyesight during childhood and went onto become an international runner setting 22 World Records. Rob now lives in New Zealand and often runs with David Lear as his guide. Rob has now moved onto competing for New Zealand in triathlons and cycling. Running Blind is available at all good bookstores
ST LUKE’S FLAT BUSH CATHOLIC COMMUNITY GALA
WHEN: Saturday 12 December
WHERE: Sancta Maria College Sports Ground
TIME: 10am – 5.00pm
For more information contact:
Edward Millward on 021 676 773 or
John Muni on 021 059 2024
Come and support the Church Building Fundraising Programme. All welcome
LANGUAGE SURVEY
As a result of requests from students and parents we are surveying Middle School students regarding the second language opportunities at Sancta Maria College. Currently we offer French and Japanese. The questionnaire will focus on Te Reo, but will also give the opportunity to offer suggestions for other languages for consideration. Please talk to your child about the survey and respond accordingly. Please understand that this is an initial survey. We will consider numbers and impact on other subjects before considering any changes for 2010. Staffing any new language may also be difficult.
SCHOOL FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
A reminder that all school financial contributions need to be paid in full no later than 10 December to have all accounts reconciled before the end of the school year. A reminder also that with the increase in the school financial contributions next year that all current automatic payments will need to be increased to take this into account. If for any reason you will not have your account cleared at year end please ring either Mrs Blewett or Mrs Littlejohn to discuss arrangements.
KEY DATES
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Thursday
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03 December
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Senior School Clearance Day
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Thursday
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03 December
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Leavers Mass – 5.30pm
Leavers Dinner
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Friday
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04 December
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Tabloid Sports – 1.15pm – 3.15pm
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Tuesday
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08 December
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Middle School Prize Giving at 12.45pm
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Wednesday
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09 December
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Newsletter Distributed
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Thursday
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10 December
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End of Term 4
School closes at mid day
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Saturday
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12 December
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St Luke’s Flat Bush Catholic
Community GALA
10am – 5.00pm (School Grounds)
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Tuesday
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02 February
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Senior School (Yrs 11-13)
10am – 12 noon
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Wednesday
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03 February
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Year 7 – 10am – 3.15pm
Years 8, 9, 10 – 11am - 3.15pm
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Thursday
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04 February
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All year levels report at 8.40am for normal school day
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