Sunday 10 December 2017

Week 9

Week 9 Room 17 2017

Well the last week of the school year is here!

I would like to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you and many blessings to you and yours over the Christmas break.

It has been an absolute pleasure to teach your child and have the privilege of getting to know your child's strengths and personality. The children in Room 17 are unique! 
All of them have a wonderful personality and you can be very proud of their achievements this year. I have really enjoyed my time with this year's year 3 and 4's. They truely are such neat kids.
Thanks for all your support over the year and I wish you and your family safe travels, happy times and all the best for 2018.

Thank you to the Bradley's who supplied lunch last Thursday for the whole class!
Yummy!!!

You would have received your child's report if they were at school on Friday. 
Again all the best for next year and well done children!

Blessings,

Bernie Hall

This week:

School magazines are available for $5 at the office.

Schools starts for Term 2018: Wednesday 7th February.

All  books, sports uniforms and gear need to be returned this week.

9.30-10.00 am Wednesday Students visit 2018 classrooms.  Students to promptly go and line up  outside the classroom they will be in for 2018.


Monday:

  • Christmas on the Field!
At 11:00am all classes will be singing Christmas carols on the field. Please join us if you have time. Ruma Weta are singing 2nd, concert starts at 11:15am.
  • Principal Morning Tea for those students who have been invited from each class. Room 17 students are: Melody, Madeline, and Aydin.
Well done kids!
  •  
Tuesday:
  • School prize giving is at 9-10:30 in the hall.

Wednesday:

  • Ruma Weta are on the move. All gear has to be moved out of our rooms and the gear from junior classes put in. So we will have our class helping to move part of the day.
  • Junior Athletics Day on the field at 11:00am.

Thursday:

  • School Tryathalon. All students to participate and have a go at swimming, biking and running around the school grounds. All a bit of fun. Students to bring bikes, scooters.

Friday:

  • The Year 6 Missioning at 11:00 in the hall.
  • This is when we say good bye to all our year 6 students as they leave us for JPC!We remember their time, service and journey here at St Mary's School and wish them well for their next steps.
  • School finishes at 12:00 so you will need to arrange to have your child collected then.



Sunday 3 December 2017

Week 8

There are now 2 weeks to go - plenty of things happening over the next couple of weeks in Ruma Weta - Bernie.


No sausage sizzle on the last 2 Fridays of the year - finished for the year.

The whole Middle School (rooms 12, 14, 15, 16 & 17) are having an end of year picnic on Wednesday. Children to bring a plate of food to share. Children to also bring their togs, towel and a water gun if they have one. Parents are welcome to join us - picnic will start at 1.15pm on the field.

Children to wear Mufti..(sorry for late addition..only clarified today!)

SWIMMING ALL WEEK! BRING THOSE TOGS.




On Thursday we will have the poetry recital finals for the Middle School - Team Kahikatea. The children will be reading their poems in class early this week and a lucky few will go through to the finals. The children have not had long to learn them this year but it is good they get a little practice reading in front of an audience, with some expression.


We are looking for help from parents for the school’s tryathlon on Thursday 14th December. All children will be involved. Lets us know please.

The Young Vinnies are collecting for the foodbank. We will donate the goods at our Mass on Friday. Children will get House Points.

The building programme is in full swing and the concrete foundations for the new block will hopefully be completed before Christmas. Please help us by reminding children to stay away from the construction area and its many hazards. The main back driveway gate can no longer be used to enter the school, only the small side gate and through the astroturf.

Ruma Weta has been given a stack of stars or Christmas tree cutouts for children to write a prayer to Jesus on. They have been hung on the Christmas Tree in the foyer.

A reminder that children are writing letters to Santa and can even finish these at home. The children who write will get a reply from him. The red Santa letterboxes are in the student foyer.

The Christmas Parade was a great success on Saturday. We had a huge number of children who joined in the fun. It is a huge undertaking preparing for the day and I want to thank Michelle for running around collecting bales of hay, organising the building of the stable, picking up the palms, making another star for the stable and coming in on Saturday to help prepare the float for the parade and the dismantling of it. Thanks to Tom too. Thanks to Mary who stencilled and painted the Christmas designs on the hessian which went around the truck. Thanks also to Bernie who coordinated the costumes on the day and accompanied the float. And of course Shannelle who popped on her wedding dress and was on the float supervising children, dressed as an angel. THANK YOU  ALL FOR THE WORK YOU DID OVER THE WEEK.

Next Week - St Mary’s Christmas on the Field!Merry Christmas! Free Stock Photo - Public Domain Pictures
To get into the spirit of Christmas we are going to have a school edition of Christmas in the Park.
This will take place on Monday 11th December (week 9) during the middle block. Each syndicate is going to prepare two or three Christmas songs to perform
We will finish the show/concert with the whole school singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas”.

Saturday 25 November 2017

Week 7

Middle School held our Book Focus this morning. All middle school teachers dressed up in costume to represent our favourite book characters.







SECRET SANTA!!
AS PART OF OUR LAST WEEK CELEBRATIONS..RUMA WETA WILL BE HAVING A SECRET SANTA. YOUR CHILD WILL NEED TO SUPPLY A GIFT WORTH NO MORE THAN $5.00. THEY WILL HAVE A NAME TO BUY FOR AND NEED TO WRITE THAT PERSONS NAME ON THE GIFT.

THANK YOU.



Today we were treated to a surprise as some of the students played a song for us!





REMINDER:

Monday is a Teacher Only Day-NO school
( see you on Tuesday!)

Monday 27 November is a Teacher Only Day. There will be NO school for our children. If you need care for your children on Monday you can contact Mary-Ann Rolling on 347 0709 or 0211 215599

AHUREI KIDS........WELL DONE TO ALL OF YOU!!
You performed wonderfully. I hope you enjoyed your night.


Heat-It is getting very hot from now on. Remind your child to apply sunscreen every day and to have lots of water at school. We have sunscreen at school they can re-apply at lunchtime. 

ADVENT LITURGY is Tuesday-Ruma Weta will be hosting it with Room 15.
Advent is the preparation time before Christ's coming!

ADVENT VIDEO-watch with your child.



Christmas Parade Saturday 2 December 2017
Dear Parents/Caregivers,
Christmas Parade – 2 December

The Christmas Parade is only a week away and here are some details for you. This year St Mary’s and St Michael’s are sharing the float. It will be great to have a Catholic presence in the parade.

We will have a donkey with Mary on it leading our float, with Joseph, Wise Men and shepherds. It would be quite nice to have a drummer boy too. If you have an appropriate costume for any of these characters please email me davidm@stmarysrotorua.school.nz

The rest of the children will be on the float which will be decorated as a stable. Children can come dressed as angels, shepherds and any clothes that might resemble people in Jesus’ era.
I will need a small group to help set up the float at school on Saturday. Once we are set up the float will be driven to Rangiuru Street and children can meet us there. I will also need people to help at the actual parade – six parents walking alongside the float and a few on board the float, dressed up of course.

The parade starts at 4.00pm so children need to be at the float by 3.15 pm. The parade will happen – wet or fine, but fortunately Saturday’s forecast is okay. Children will need lots of sunblock and a bottle of water. The parade itself should last under an hour, so children can be picked up on the Village Green from the float. All children will stay on the float until a parent collects them.

The Parade Committee is encouraging families to stay on after the parade for a family picnic. There will be an outdoor movie and other special things for children to do.
IN BRIEF:
3.30pm Children need to be at the float on Rangiuru Street
3.45pm Our donkey arrives
4.00pm Parade starts
5.00pm Approximate finish for parade on Village Green.
5.15 pm   Prizegiving
6.00pm    Movie

NEED TO BRING :
Children in costume; angel, shepherd, wise man, sheep etc.
Water bottle, Sunscreen already applied on child.
THINGS I STILL NEED :
Any spare costumes we might be able to borrow. Lots of ivy for the float.
If you need to contact me on Saturday my cellphone is 022 061 2071. I look forward to seeing you all.

Kind regards, 

David Macmillan.

........................................................................................................................................................................
Please return to school office
My child/ren will be on the float. Name(s) of child/children : .....................................................................
My children will need some Jesus’ clothing
I can supply some appropriate clothing for children
I can assist at school setting up the float 
I am available to walk alongside the float
I am available to be on float appropriately dressed
Name of Parent : ............................................................................ Phone Contact: .................................

Week 7 is book week. We have a lot of exciting activities planned for this week. We have spot prizes to give away also.




Monday 20 November 2017

Birthday's of missing children


Some children missed out on getting their photo taken for the blog because they were away or it was a weekend or holidays - so here some of the children who missed out, standing or kneeling, having their moment of glory.

Sunday 19 November 2017

Week 6



Swimming we have swimming this week-please bring your togs.


AHUREI FRIDAY


Best of Luck to all our performers for Friday Night.
We are certain all your practice will pay off and you will all shine!


Athletics Inter-School is Tuesday-Good Luck to Tilde and Zach for this!! Also to all the St Mary’s team who go to represent our school.
Again we know you will do well-we will be thinking of you all.






Coaches Thank You...To all our wonderful coaches-a massive THANK YOU!!

Our coaches thank you is Thursday night at school. Please do come so our wonderful sports co-ordinator and amazing Principal can thank you all in person!!








Thursday 16 November 2017

Mornings and other things

Hello Caregivers,

Today Ruma Weta students have been told that..

For the remainder of this term..'students will not be allowed in the classroom before 8:30am'.

As a school this has been the preferred practice, however it has been up to teachers to allow students in before school if they choose.

Unfortunately some students are not treating the time in class before school respectfully (bey blades inside, running in the classroom) so we have decided to cease this as an option.

Ruma Weta are expected to be in class and seated for prayer at 8:45am.

Please remind your child about this.

Further more if you have a query, question or comment about how and why we do what we do in Ruma Weta please do come and ask us about it. That way teachers can respond effectively from a Teacher's perspective.

Education and how it is delivered is in a great state of change. Teachers who embrace it (rather than bury their head in the sand)  are the ones who do care about student learning and best practice for student success. I have been teaching for almost 2 decades..so have seen a lot of change in that time. Modern learning environments are the choice at this time and endorsed by government.

Ruma Weta have a high success rate for academic achievement as seen in our overall results.
No teacher can deliver ultimate success rates for all students as we are all individuals, but as teachers we deliver the best we can in the time we have with the resources we are given.

Also if you have an incident that affects the teacher and you want them to address let us know. Information is not always passed on if there is an issue, which means we cannot address what we don't know about.

I hope this clarifies some things.

Regards,

Bernie Hall



Saturday 11 November 2017

Week 5

What a fantastic week of events!

Athletics day went really well and then Grandparents day on Friday was superb.

Thanks you for coming , helping and suporting these major school events.

We hope you enjoyed them.
 I was especially proud of the singing and the behaviour in mass on Friday. Also the way Ruma Weta showed their visitors around. 

The talent show was awesome and the photo booth was a hit. 

Check out the photos below!

This week:

Mufti Day Friday..come dressed as your favourite book character! Gold coin donation please.

Food bank appeal for Christmas. Our young Vinnies are collecting cans of food for the food bank. Children will receive house points for bringing in the cans. 


Can all Pasifika Group children please go to the hall after lunch on Monday for a special practice.

The Ahurei kapa haka event has been transferred from the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre to the Harvest Centre (on Malfroy Rd near the Netball Courts) on Friday the 24th of November at 7.30 pm. Tickets have gone on sale.
















Wednesday 8 November 2017

Grandparents Day This Friday

Grandparents Friends Day This Friday! All Welcome!

10th November: Grandparents/Friends Day
  • 9:00 Mass
Class numbers on seats for where to sit, ushers to direct your class.
New students welcomed at end of Mass and Room 9 to come forward as a group.
School to sing as they come up and receive beads, then a blessing.
  • 10:00 Back to classes to show visitors around and shared morning tea in classes. Classes to provide.
  • 10:30 Performing groups to get dressed
  • 10:30 Cuppa provided by PTA-Hall if wet or outside hall if not.
  • 11:00 Mini concert begins (5-10 mins per group)
Outside on stage if fine, otherwise in the hall.
  • 12:30 Visitors free to roam or go home.
  • This year for something different we would like to add a ‘photo booth’ opportunity. Students with visitors to have their family photo taken with a cool backdrop to remember Grandparents /Friends Day 2017!
Order-so kids in 2 groups have time to change.

1st
Gymnastics Club
2nd
Pasifika Group
3rd
Lyp Sync
4th
Filipino Group
5th
Choir
6th
Kapa Haka Middles/Seniors
7th
Kapa Haka Juniors

Sunday 5 November 2017

Week 4


Grandparents Day this Friday. Mass at 9:00 followed by classroom visits and a shared morning tea in classrooms. Our concert will begin at 11:00am outside on the field if fine otherwise in the hall. If you are able to help with the set up on the field of picnic tables before school or before 10:00 that would be wonderful!!
All most welcome.

Ruma Weta will perform their Lyp Sync again for grandparents day so can students please bring their clothes they wore to the assembly.

Swimming for Ruma Weta this week.

Athletics Day Thursday 9th November, weather permitting - any adults able to help on the day would be appreciated. All students to be in PE gear or house colours and arrive at the stadium by 8:45 am. Please see the notice that went home last week for more detailed information or check the newsletter.

Thanks to those parents who turned up for the student led conferences last week. It was great to see so many children able to talk about their learning with parents.

Mrs Pinfold had her morning tea with her PPP children last week. We need to acknowledge the awesome progress the children made. Thanks to Mrs Pinfold and her reading tutor helpers for their work with our children.


Mr Bach will be taking 10 Ruma Weta children to the Hands on Water Expo on Wednesday at Rainbow Farm Paengaroa. I nearly have all of the permission forms back from those children attending.


Have a great week!

Mrs Hall

Friday 3 November 2017

All Saints /Souls Day Liturgy

Once again Ruma Weta hosted a delightful Liturgy. Well done kids..all involved.









Athletics postponed today

Athletics Day postponed until Thursday next week. 
School as usual.

Sunday 29 October 2017

Week 3, Term 4









Week 3, Room 17


Ruma Weta’s assembly went really well last Friday. Thanks to Mrs Hall for running the practices for the lip sync show and to the children for their excellent performances.

Well Done Class!!! You performed extremely well in front of a large audience!
Great risk taking!
Congratulations to Lilly and Markus for very deserving Principal’s awards.

Important Update:
We have some students experiencing skin rashes and skin infections. Please remind your child to wash their hands and keep their nails short. With so many students in one space it is easy for bugs to pass on!!
Please be vigilent!!


Click on the link for Religious Education reminders from Mrs Hall for RE
Grandparents/Friends Mass and Picnic is week 4 Friday 10th November. 
Starts with Mass at 9:00, then refreshments at the school, then a mini concert from our various school groups. Weather permitting it will be outside on the field. Newbies welcomed also-Room 10.

All Souls/Saint Liturgy is this Thursday at 10:00 in the hall. Please can you invite your students to write names of their loved ones who have died. Bring the names to the liturgy and place in the basket as you enter. These names will be taken to the Church where they will continue to be prayed for. Let your kids know this:-)

Emmaus Icon Visits St Mary's Church this Thursday. The icon is travelling around the Diocese as part of Bishop Steve's 'Hearts Burning' focus. Father has invited and urged for classes and families to visit it while it is here and say a short prayer before it. 
Classes only need visit for a 15 minute slot sometime during the day. 
Encourage families to view it maybe before school at drop off or at pick up time at the end of the day!

Thursday 2nd November at 10:00am All Souls Liturgy in the hall - all welcome.

Thursday 2nd November at 10:00am HPP and PPP reading children’s celebration in the staffroom.

Calendar Art fundraiser and ScentCO fundraising for scented pens - last day for orders was 27th but orders will now be accepted until Monday 30th October.


Thank you to all parents, caregivers, grandparents and children that helped out at the Working Bee last Saturday. There was so much community help that lots of jobs were able to be completed.


Student Led Conferences:
Student Led Conferences are being held on Tuesday 31 October 3.15pm to 6.00pm.
Please make your booking as all children in Rooms 16 & 17 (Ruma Weta) are expected to participate.
HERE IS HOW PARENTS BOOK:
To book an interview please follow this process -
parent/teacher interview school bookings
event code hmm6n
*Please note that bookings are at 5 minute intervals - expect the Student Led Conference to take approximately 15 minutes. If you wish to discuss any other aspects of your child's performance at length, please make an appointment with the class teacher for another time.
* Please note that if you make a booking and are no longer able to attend, please follow the Reschedule and/or cancel a booking process as outlined on the School Interview website.


School Athletics for Year 3-6:       
Year 3-6 Inter House Athletics is this Friday 3rd November 8:45-2:30pm
We are still looking for parents to assist us on the day. If you are able to help please email Lorna Dobson in Room 6. lornad@stmarysrotorua.school.nz
If your child requires a sausage and juicy lunch they will need to be ordered on Thursday with their teacher.
It would be wonderful to have you spend the day with us.









Ngawai's Holiday Pics!!