Newsletter Week 10, Term 1

April 2025 Edition

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Tēnā koutou kātoa e te whānau,

As we head into the final week of Term One, we also enter a very special time in the Church calendar—Holy Week, which begins this Sunday with Palm Sunday. This is the most important time of the year for Catholics, as we remember and reflect on the final days of Jesus’ life, His death, and His resurrection on Easter Sunday. Easter is at the heart of our faith—reminding us of the hope, love, and new life that Jesus brings.

This week at school, we marked Holy Week with three significant events:

The Washing of the Feet: This powerful act reminded us of how Jesus humbled himself to serve others. At the Last Supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples, teaching them (and us) the importance of love, service, and humility.
The Last Supper: This took place today, when we reflected on Jesus’ final meal with His disciples. Children dressed in clothes from Jesus’ time and brought along food to share.
The Amazing Race: Tomorrow Thursday 10 April, we’ll finish the term with our Amazing Race: Stations of the Cross Edition! Students will work in their House groups to complete fun challenges that help them collect and reflect on the different parts of the Stations of the Cross. Children are encouraged to come to school dressed in their house colours for this fun and meaningful day.

Winter Uniform

As we move into the cooler months, students may begin wearing their winter uniform from the start of Term 2. This includes:
– Navy cargo pants and black shoes
– On colder days, children may wear a polyprop top under their school T-shirt
– Girls can wear tights under their skorts
We kindly ask that juniors wear velcro shoes, as teachers have limited time during the day to tie laces.

What’s Coming Up in Term 2

Whole School Hamilton Zoo Trip – We’re excited to announce a school-wide trip to the Hamilton Zoo on Wednesday 7 May (Week 2). We’ll be travelling by private car and bus, and parent help will be needed on the day. If you are able to help, please let your child’s teacher know. It will be a fantastic day of learning and fun!
Life Education Visit – The Life Ed van will be with us in Week 1, bringing engaging lessons about health and wellbeing.
Winter Sports – Many winter sports begin in Term 2! If your child is interested in playing a winter sport such as soccer, hockey, or miniball, please contact the school office before the end of term for more information. Teams will need to be registered before the end of this term.

Thank you for all your support throughout Term 1. Have a joyful, safe, and blessed Easter with your whānau. We look forward to seeing everyone back, ready for an exciting Term ahead!

Ma te Atua koutou e manaaki,

Rachael McLanachan
Tumuaki/ Principal

Welcome to our school community!

A warm welcome to Piper Hall and family to Galilee 1! We are delighted to have you as part of our school community and look forward to getting to know you.

Stay Connected with @School App!

It’s important for everyone to log into the @School app to stay updated with important notices, events, and communications. The app is our main platform for sharing essential school information, so make sure you’re set up and ready to go!

For a step-by-step guide on how to set up the app and learn more about its features, click here: Setup Guide.

If you have not received the email or are experiencing any issues, please let us know so we can assist you.

Don’t miss out—stay informed and connected!

Board of Trustees

Next board meeting Date: Monday 19 May

At each BOT meeting - twice a term - policies are reviewed. If you would like to communicate with the BOT, you are welcome to email our independent e-mail address; botstmichaels@gmail.com or alternatively, send letters to the school in an envelope marked "Board of Trustees."

You are also welcome to attend any meeting, however, if you would like to have speaking rights, you need to request this from the chair using the email address. This email address can be accessed by Joseph Assen (Presiding Member).

St Michael's School Board of Trustees

Joseph Assen (Presiding Member/Proprietor Rep), Rachael McLanachan(Principal) , Shalya O'Neill (Staff Rep),Joe Hewlett, Nick Horton, Ange Smith - Bigwood, Thushara Jayawickrama Vithanage (Parent Rep), Bernadette Fredericksen (Proprietor Rep)

SchoolDocs

Each term, the whole school community is invited to review and comment on specific policies and procedures. This feedback is captured using the review button on topics that are under review.

Log on to School Docs to have your say.

SchoolDocs is an online platform that provides access to our school policies, procedures, and guidelines. It serves as a valuable tool for staying informed and ensuring that we are all on the same page.

To access SchoolDocs, please visit

schooldoc.co.nz and use the following login details:

Username: stmichaelsrotorua
Password: community