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Newsletter Week 4, Term 1
St Michael's Catholic School, Tuesday 24 February
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PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Tēnā koutou kātoa e te whānau,
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Week 4, Term 1
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Last week we enjoyed a wonderful start to the season of Lent. Our tamariki celebrated Shrove Tuesday, sharing pancakes and learning about the tradition of preparing our hearts for Lent.
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This was followed by a beautiful Ash Wednesday liturgy, thoughtfully organised by our DRS, Edith Klostermann, and supported by Deacon Joe. It was especially lovely to have a number of parents join us for the liturgy, strengthening our sense of faith and community.
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We also remind families that our School Sunday Mass will be held at 8.00am on Sunday 8 March at St Michael’s Church. As a Catholic school community, we value coming together in prayer, and parents are reminded of the commitment made to support our school’s Catholic Special Character. We ask families to make every effort to attend a School Sunday Mass once a term, as this is an important way we live our faith together.
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Looking ahead to next week, our Year 5 and 6 students will be heading to Lakes Ranch for their camp. They will enjoy three full days of activities, including horse riding, teamwork challenges, and outdoor learning experiences. Jenny Chapman and I are very much looking forward to spending time with our amazing senior students, alongside our parent helpers who generously support this experience.
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In Week 6, the senior school will take part in swimming lessons at the Aquatic Centre. We are extremely fortunate that this programme is fully sponsored, with both pool entry and bus transport provided free of charge to our students. To ensure children can make the most of this wonderful opportunity, please make sure they bring their togs and a towel every day. More information to follow.
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As always, thank you for your continued support of our school community.
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Te tumuaki o te kura Hato Mikaere
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DRS message Term 1, Week 4
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On Sunday I found myself standing in the middle of a huge sunflower field - tall stems all around, bright faces turned toward the sun, and the gentle hum of insects moving from flower to flower. It was one of those quiet moments where creation seems to speak without words. Surrounded by such beauty, it felt impossible not to pause, breathe deeply and give thanks to God.
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Sunflowers have a simple but powerful lesson for us. They turn instinctively toward the light. Even on cloudy days, they orient themselves in the direction where the sun will rise and move. Watching them, I was reminded that faith is often like that. We do not always stand in full sunshine. Some days feel uncertain, busy, or even heavy. Yet we are called, again and again, to turn ourselves toward Christ, the true light of the world.
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In our school community, we see this turning every day. We see it when a child shows kindness on the playground, when a class prays together with sincerity, when a teacher gently guides a struggling learner, or when families support one another. These small moments are like petals opening; signs that faith is growing quietly but steadily.
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Sunflowers also grow from tiny seeds into something strong and radiant. Our children are like those seeds. With care, encouragement, prayer and love, they stretch upward. As adults, we are gardeners of their faith. We cannot force growth, but we can provide the light, nourishment and example that help it flourish.
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As we move through this term, my hope and prayer for our community is simple:
May we keep turning toward the light.
May we notice the beauty of God’s creation around us.
May we nurture faith patiently in ourselves and in our children.
And may we remember that even small acts of love help the whole garden grow.
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On Sunday 8 March, we have a beautiful chance to live out that image of turning toward the light together. Just as the sunflowers gather and face the sun, we are invited as a school community to gather and turn our hearts toward Christ at Mass.
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Families, students, and staff are warmly invited to join us at 8am on Sunday 8 March at St. Michael's Church. Coming together in prayer helps strengthen the faith that is already growing among us each day at St. Michael's Catholic School, and it is a lovely way to show our children that faith is something we live not only in classrooms, but as a whole community.
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We would love to see you there.
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God bless you and your families in the weeks ahead, and may you find moments - perhaps even in an ordinary place - where creation reminds you that God is near.
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St Michael's Church Holy Mass Timetable
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St Mary's Church Holy Mass Timetable
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Community Masses -All Welcome
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Miha Maori - First Saturday of the month, 5pm Vigil Mass at St Michael’s.
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Tokelauan Community - Third Saturday of the month, 5pm Vigil Mass at St Michael’s.
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Filipino Community - Third Friday of the month, 6pm at St Michael’s.
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🥪 Monday Lunches: Community Support
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We are wonderfuly lucky to have some extra support for our tamariki this term.
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Every Monday, St Vincent de Paul and the students of John Paul College will be providing our tamariki with a healthy, delicious lunch.
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A huge thank you to both organizations for their kindness and hard work in preparing these meals. We are very grateful for their ongoing support of our school community.
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School lunches available on Wednesday each week
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You can order lunch by 8.30am on Wednesday morning and this will be delivered to the office for your child.
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Spotlight on learning
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Big things are happening in Eden 6! Last week, our class spent time diving into the history and importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
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To bring those values into our own space, we worked together to create our very own Class Treaty. Every student "signed" their commitment to our classroom community with a colorful handprint, symbolizing our promise to work as a team. It was a wonderful day of learning, discussion, and manaakitanga!
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Check out the photos below to see our tamariki hard at work on their handprints and the final treaty display.
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Upcoming events for Term 1:
- Thursday 26 February- PTA AGM 5pm School Staff Room
- Wednesday 4th March-Friday 6th March- Year 5 & 6 Camp at Lakes Ranch
- Sunday 8th March - School Mass @ St Michael's Catholic Church @ 8am, followed by a cuppa in the crypt.
- Monday 9th March-Friday 13th March- Senior Swimming Week
- Thursday 12 March- Class mass at St Michael's Church - Galilee 4 / Eden 6
- Thursday 26 March- Class mass at St Michael's Church - Galilee 1 / The Ark
- Thursday April 2nd- Last Day of Term 1
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Sports News
Touch is underway this term! It’s been great to see our teams out on the field and putting in the hard work.
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Congratulations to our latest Players of the Day for their effort and sportsmanship:
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Saints: Mason Forster & Odelia Hayes
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📸 Reminder: Send in Your Sports Photos
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We love celebrating the efforts of all our players, whether they are playing here at school or achieving big goals elsewhere.
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If you have any photos from Touch Rugby or other sporting events, please email them to the office. We want to keep our community updated with all your action shots!
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Huge News: Kayden Off to Barcelona!
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Huge congratulations to Kayden for being selected to attend the Barça Academy Clinic in Barcelona, Spain in 2027.
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We are incredibly proud to have one of our own representing New Zealand on the world stage. Congratulations, Kayden!
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📅 You’re Invited: PTA Annual General Meeting
Thursday 26 February 2026 | 5:00pm | School Staff Room
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If you’ve been considering joining the PTA, we would love to have you on board! We strive to make our group fit the reality of everyone’s busy lives—there are no obligations to join or commit to anything. Come along to our AGM to meet a lovely group of parents and grandparents, hear about our plans for the year, and see how you might like to help. All are welcome!
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How can you help?
There are many small ways to make a big difference that don't require a lot of time:
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Event Support: Help at the BBQ or run a gift stall (Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Christmas).
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The Bakers: Supply treats for our stalls when required.
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Community Links: Donate vouchers from your business or help us connect with local sponsors.
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Idea Sharing: We are always open to new and fresh fundraising ideas!
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Whether you want to take an active role or just see what we’re about, we look forward to seeing you there.
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Board of Trustees
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Next board meeting Date: Monday 23 March
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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 board e-mail address; smcsboard@stmichaelsrotorua.school.nz or alternatively, send letters to the school in an envelope marked "Board of Trustees."
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St Michaels School Board of Trustees
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Angela Smith-Bigwood (Chair), Joe Hewlett, Thushara Jayawickrama Vithanage, Shania Howe (Parent Reps), Bernadette Fredrickson (Proprietor Rep), Nicky Curran (Proprietor Rep)
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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 Angela Smith-Bigwood (Presiding Member)
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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.
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Log on to School Docs to have your say.
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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.
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To access SchoolDocs, please visit
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schooldoc.co.nz and use the following login details:
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Username: stmichaelsrotorua
Password: community
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🌳 Help Wanted: Our School Forest Area
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Do you have a green thumb or some building skills? We are looking for volunteers to help maintain and develop the new school forest area that was planted last year.
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We would greatly appreciate any support you can offer with the following tasks:
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Maintenance: Clearing weeds from around the trees and checking/adjusting tree stakes.
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Mulching: Helping to spread mulch when our next delivery arrives.
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Building Projects: We are looking for someone to assist our caretaker with installing wooden edging or building a low-level wooden platform for our future outdoor learning space. (All materials and tools are provided).
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Flexible Timing: These jobs can be done at a time that suits you. If you are keen to provide educational support, you are also welcome to help while Whaea Adrienne is working out there with groups of children.
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How to help: If you can lend a hand, please contact the school office or Whaea Adrienne (Eden 6) directly.
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Community News
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Beginners After School Art Classes with Janet Keen enrolling NOW for Term 1, 2,3 and 4
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Drawing, Painting, Mosaics.
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Tuesdays, Wednesdays , Thursdays
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3.30pm to 4.30pm and 4.35pm to 5.35pm
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Small classes, friendly, safe, quiet, environment.
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374 Clayton Road, Rotorua.
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