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Newsletter Week 6, Term 1
St Michael's Catholic School, Wednesday 12 March
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PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
TΔnΔ koutou kΔtoa e te whΔnau,
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Welcome to Week 6 of Term 1! As we move into the second half of the term, we’re noticing the mornings are getting cooler while the afternoons remain warm. This has led to some uniform confusion, with many children wearing long pants and shoes before they are required. A reminder that we remain in our summer uniform until next term. Teachers ensure heaters are on briefly in the morning to take the chill off, so there’s no need for extra winter layers just yet!
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We have also had a lot of lost property around the playground as children remove their layers while playing. Please ensure all clothing items and footwear are clearly named so they can be easily returned.
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To support a calmer and more positive learning environment, we are trialing a new bell time schedule to help reduce playground issues that tend to occur later in the lunch hour. By adjusting our break times, we aim to provide more structured eating time and shorter, more frequent breaks to keep our tamariki settled and engaged in their learning.
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New School Bell Times
β° 8.50am – School Begins
π 10.15am - 10.45am – Morning Break
π₯ͺ 12.15pm - 12.45pm – Lunch Break
β 2.00pm - 2.15pm – Afternoon Break
π« 2.55pm – School Finishes
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We appreciate your support as we trial this new structure and will monitor its impact on student wellbeing and behaviour. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or feedback.
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As we move through Term 1, teachers have noticed a decline in respectful behaviour among some students, particularly in the playground. It seems that over the summer break, some tamariki have forgotten the importance of our St Michael’s School Values—Service, Tika, Aroha and Respect—which guide the way we treat others.
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We are especially concerned about physical behaviour and want to make it clear that hurting others will not be tolerated. To ensure the safety and well-being of all students, we have developed a new behaviour policy that involves immediate removal from the playground for those who engage in unsafe behaviour. This will allow time for reflection and discussion about making better choices.
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Our goal is to create a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment where every child feels supported and valued. We appreciate your support in reinforcing these expectations at home. Please see the new behaviour policy below.
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We are excited to be using Math Whizz to support and enhance the teaching of mathematics at St Michael’s!
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This interactive online learning programme provides students with personalised maths tutoring, adapting to their individual learning levels and helping to build confidence and skills in a fun, engaging way.
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We are incredibly grateful to the NgΔti Whakaue Education Endowment Trust for their generous support in making this programme available to our students. Their commitment to education allows us to provide high-quality resources that help accelerate learning and close gaps in mathematical understanding.
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Students will be using Math Whizz both in class and at home to reinforce key maths concepts. If you have any questions about how it works or how your child can get the most out of it, click on the link below to learn more.
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Te tumuaki o te kura Hato Mikaere
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Special Character
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βοΈ St Patrick’s Day at St Michael’s βοΈ
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St Patrick’s Day is a special celebration at St Michael’s Catholic School as we remember the Sisters of Mercy, who came from Ireland in 1958 to staff our school. St Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, is known for spreading Christianity across the country and is a key figure in the Catholic faith. His feast day is celebrated worldwide on March 17th, with a focus on faith, community, and Irish heritage.
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This year, we will be celebrating a day late on Tuesday, 18 March, as our senior students will be attending swimming sports with St Mary’s on Monday. We look forward to a day of fun, reflection, and honouring our school’s Mercy heritage.
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Stay tuned for more details on how we will celebrate together!
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Good Morning Please see below the change of Mass Times from Father Prakash for next week, 18th, 19th and 20th March
Change of Mass Timings for Three Days
Please note the following changes to our Mass schedule:
• Tuesday, 18th March – 9:00 AM Mass at St. Michael’s Church
• Wednesday, 19th March – 7:30 AM Mass at St. Mary’s Church
• Wednesday, 19th March – 12:05 PM Liturgy of the Word and Holy Communion at St. Mary’s Church
• Thursday, 20th March – 7:30 AM Mass at St. Michael’s Church
Thank you for your attention to these changes.
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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Welcome to our school community!
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We warmly welcome sisters Amelia Ari John (Eden 6) and Angelina Ari John (Galilee 1). We’re excited to have you with us!
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Reminder: @School App
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Please remember to log in to the @School app regularly to stay up to date with important notices, permission slips, and school alerts. It’s a great way to stay connected with everything happening at school!
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Thank you for staying engaged!
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Health & Safety
- Don’t forget if your child is bringing a bike, scooter, or skateboard to school, they may not ride it without a helmet. No helmet, no ride!
- Please ensure your child has their sunhat at school every day.
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Spotlight on Learning
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This week, we take a closer look at the incredible learning happening in Galilee 4! Students have been using their senses to spark creativity and write some truly interesting ideas. From sights and sounds to smells and textures, their writing brings experiences to life!
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β¨ Upcoming Events for Term 1 β¨π
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Stay informed about the exciting events happening this term!
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πΉ Thursday 13 March – Class Mass (Galilee 4 & Eden 6) @ St Michael's Church
πΉ Friday 14 March – NZ Opera (Galilee 1 & 4)
πΉ Monday 17 March – Y4/5/6 Swimming Sports @ the Aquatic Centre πΉTuesday 18 March - St Patrick Day celebrations
πΉ Wednesday 19 March – Rice Day
πΉ Thursday 20 March – GRIP Leadership Conference (Student Leaders)
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πΉ Tuesday 25 March – PTA Colour Fun Run
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πΉ Thursday 3 April – Rotorua Hikoi (The Ark & Eden)
πΉ Friday 4 April – School Dental Fluoride Visit
πΉ Wednesday 9 April – The Last Supper Liturgy
πΉ Thursday 10 April – Amazing Race (Easter)
πΉ Friday 11 April – Last Day of Term 1
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Sports News
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Expressions of Interest – Miniball & Soccer
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Expressions of interest have been sent out for Miniball and Soccer for the winter season. If your child is interested in playing, please let us know as soon as possible to help us gauge numbers.
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Check the @School app under "Permission Slips" or the school app alerts for more information. At this stage, we do not have enough players for any miniball teams, so please register your interest promptly.
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Rugby is not offered by the school. However, we can suggest Marist St Michael's, Waikite, and Kahukura as some of the local teams.
Expression of interest for hockey that is played on a Saturday morning at Smallbone Park will be sent out soon.
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Juicies on Friday
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During Term 1 the children will be able to purchase a nice cold juicie for $2.
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All orders will be taken in the classroom at 9am.
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Pita Pit Lunches available every Wednesday @ School
Cut off time for ordering is 8:30 am on Wednesday
It’s simple; all you need to do is register at www.lunchonline.co.nz
and follow 4 easy steps to get started
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1. Register an account
2. Add member/s including your name and delivery location
3. Make a payment to have funds in your account before you order
4. Select your lunch and place an order
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School Board Parent Representative – Nominations Open
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We are looking for 2 parent representatives to join our school board. This is a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the direction of our kura and support our school community.
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π Nomination forms have been sent home.
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Due date: Monday, March 24, by 12:00 noon.
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If you're interested in nominating yourself or someone else, please submit your nomination before the deadline.
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Board of Trustees
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Next board meeting Date: Monday March 24
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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 independent e-mail address; botstmichaels@gmail.com or alternatively, send letters to the school in an envelope marked "Board of Trustees."
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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 Joseph Assen (Presiding Member)
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We currently have a Parent rep position and a Proprietors rep position available. If you are feel that you can contribute to our school board, please contact Joseph Assen or Rachael McLanachan.
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St Michael's School Board of Trustees
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Joseph Assen (Presiding Member), Rachael McLanachan(Principal) Nick Horton, Shalya O'Neill (Staff Rep), Ange Smith - Bigwood (Parent Rep), Bernadette Fredericksen (Proprietor Rep)
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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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Lucky Book Club – Issue 2
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Issue 2 of the Lucky Book Club has gone home with your child. If you would like to place an order, please ensure it is submitted by Thursday, 20 March. Happy reading!
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Bread on Wednesday
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Bread is available for collection outside the office on Wednesdays.
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PTA News
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Thank you to all the parents who joined us last week for our AGM. It was wonderful to see so many new faces!
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Congratulations to our newly elected PTA members:
π€ Chairperson: Sharon Steele
π€ Vice Chairperson: Tamsyn Petersen
π° Treasurer: Angela Smith-Bigwood
π Secretary: Laken Geyer
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Our next PTA meeting will be held on Tuesday, 7 May at 4:30 pm in the staffroom. We look forward to seeing you there!
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πβοΈ Fun Run Update πβοΈ
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π 2025 Profiles Challenge Winners: THE ARK π
Congratulations to The Ark, with an impressive 82% of their class signed up! As a reward, they will get to slime Mrs. McLanachan this Thursday! If you haven’t signed up yet, there’s still time—just visit schoolfunrun.co.nz.
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π° First Target Reached:
We’ve hit our first fundraising milestone of $2,000! Teachers will let students know when they can enjoy their well-earned Mufti Day at school.
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π° Easter Gift Basket Donations π°
Please bring in an Easter-themed item by this Friday to contribute to our Fun Run Gift Baskets, which will be raffled on the day of the event.
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π Fun Run Helpers Needed! π
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We need volunteers to help make this event a success! If you can lend a hand, please complete and return the form that was sent home, or email/write a note if you've misplaced it.
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Ways you can help:
π² Set up the obstacle course (from 10:00 am)
π² Pack up the obstacle course (from 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm)
π² Help sell food (1:00 pm – 3:00 pm or 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm)
π² Help on the BBQ (2:00 pm – 4:00 pm)
π² Donate food (e.g., pot of curry, burgers, sausages)
π² Donate baking (cupcakes, slices, cookies)
π² Donate a gift basket for the raffle
π² Contribute items towards a gift basket or event costs
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All help is welcomed, as we have slip & slides, hurdles, arm nets, and much more to set up. If any dads are available, we would really appreciate help setting up and taking down the huge jumping castles.
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π This event is only possible with the support of our whΔnau. Any help is greatly appreciated!
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π Important: All food stalls and activities will be closed during the Fun Run so parents can cheer on their tamariki.
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Volunteer Details:
π Name: __________________________________
π Phone: __________________________________
π§ Email: __________________________________
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Thank you for your support—we can't wait for an exciting Fun Run! π
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Bidfood Cash Sales Delivery Account
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We are excited to share a kind offer to open a Cash Sales Delivery account with Bidfood, allowing you to order products and have them delivered directly to St. Michael’s School.
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π How to sign up:
Simply scan the QR code below or use the following link if you're on a computer:
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β Important: When placing an order, please select delivery to St. Michael’s School and not your residence. Alternatively, you can choose to collect your order from the Bidfood depot at 150 Te Huaki Crescent, Eastgate, Rotorua 3040.
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Community News
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