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Newsletter Week 6, Term 3
St Michael's Catholic School, Wednesday 26 August
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PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Week 6 – A Busy and Exciting Term!
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It is hard to believe we are already halfway through the term—and what an incredibly busy term it has been!
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Our students have taken part in the Tough Kid Challenge, the MIGS Interschool Gymnastics Competition, the Central Bay of Plenty Winter Sports Day and the Amazing Race. Eden students have enjoyed Zoom sessions with the National Aquarium and Auckland Zoo, while Galilee 1 visited High Duty Plastics to explore some fascinating physics in action. Our kapa haka rōpū have also begun preparing for the Rotorua Schools Ahurei in November.
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There is plenty happening within the school grounds too. Our senior students are showing wonderful leadership by running lunchtime clubs for our younger students, including art, Lego, drama and gymnastics clubs. They are also organising the bikes so students can enjoy riding on our bike track during morning tea and lunchtime.
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Our faith remains at the heart of school life. Students have regular opportunities to grow in their relationship with God through Wednesday morning Chapel Masses at John Paul College, class Masses at St Michael’s Church, liturgies in our school chapel, and the Rosary in our chapel on Friday mornings. These special times of prayer and worship strengthen our Catholic identity and our connections with the wider parish and Catholic community.
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Our Young Vinnies group continues to grow with the support of a lovely group of students from John Paul College. Please look out for their cake stall following our school Mass this Sunday. We would love your support!
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Our children are fortunate to have teachers who understand the value of experiences beyond the classroom. These opportunities require a great deal of planning and organisation, much of which happens outside teaching hours. I am incredibly grateful to our staff for continually going above and beyond to give our tamariki such rich and memorable learning experiences.
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We have also welcomed many new students and whānau this term. It is a real blessing to see our school growing, and it is clear that word is spreading about what a fabulous little school St Michael’s is!
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With this growth, our class numbers are currently a little larger than we are accustomed to. Schools do not automatically receive another teacher when new students enrol; we must first reach a roll number set by the Ministry of Education. We hope our continued growth will enable us to employ an additional teacher in 2027, although our confirmed staffing entitlement will not be known until next term.
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In the meantime, we remain committed to ensuring our teachers and students are well supported. The Board funds a teacher aide in every classroom for most of the school day, with two teacher aides supporting The Ark. We are also fortunate to have Marion Brits, our highly experienced specialist literacy teacher, who provides targeted reading and writing support for students who need it.
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Although our classes are a little fuller, we are carefully monitoring student needs and ensuring that every child requiring specialist intervention continues to receive appropriate support. We are delighted to welcome our new families and look forward to the continued growth of our wonderful St Michael’s community.
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Te tumuaki o te kura Hato Mikaere
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A Warm Welcome!
Welcome to Our New Students and their families! We are absolutely delighted to welcome some new faces to our school community. Please join us in giving a warm welcome to:
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Vanesse Pabellan (Galilee4)
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- Amaia Wepa ( Eden 6)
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It is wonderful to have you all here with us. We know our current students and families will make our newest members feel right at home!
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Supporting Maths Learning at Home
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Thank you to all the parents and whānau who shared their ideas through our recent Whānau Voice Survey. Many of you asked for practical ways to support your child’s maths learning at home.
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The Ministry of Education has developed a free Maths Practice Tool for students in Years 3–8. It provides useful activities that children can work through at home to practise and strengthen their maths skills.
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You can learn more and access the tool here:
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We hope this will be a helpful and easy-to-use resource for supporting maths learning at home.
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Message from the DRS
The heart of our school
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Two weeks ago, I was fortunate to attend a conference in Hamilton for leaders in Catholic education. One of our keynote speakers, Father John O’Connor, spoke about something both simple and profound: relationships are the most important thing.
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He connected this to the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:20: “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
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It made me think about what makes our school special.
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It is not simply our buildings, our programmes or even the wonderful things our children achieve. At the heart of St Michael’s are people: teachers who know their students, children who care for one another, families who walk alongside us and a community that strives to live out the Gospel through kindness, service, respect and aroha.
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Relationships are where faith becomes visible.
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When a child feels known, welcomed and valued, they begin to understand something of the love of God. When we forgive, encourage, listen and make room for one another, we are living our Catholic faith in ways that need very few words.
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Perhaps this is what makes our school so special: we do not teach alone, and we do not walk alone. Christ is present in the relationships we build, the people we serve and the community we create together.
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I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this community; to share in these relationships and to witness the faith, kindness and aroha that make our school so special.
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We warmly invite our St Michael’s whānau to join us for Sunday Mass on Sunday, 30 August at 8.00am at St Michael’s Church. We would love to see you there as we gather together in faith and community.
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Director of Religious Studies
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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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𝐁𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐭. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐲’𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡!
Is your child in Year 4 or above and has received their First Holy Communion? St. Mary’s Parish warmly invites them to become an Altar Server!
It is a wonderful way for young people to build confidence, make friends, and serve our community. Training is completely flexible and done by appointment to suit your family's schedule.
To register your interest, simply scan the QR code on the attached poster, or contact our coordinator, Kyree Catena, directly at altarserverrotorua@gmail.com or 027 618 4885.
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Spotlight On Learning
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Galilee 1 recently took their science lessons into the real world! We have been busy learning all about simple machines—pulleys, levers, wedges, inclined planes, wheels and axles, and screws—and how they work together to create complex machinery.
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To see these concepts in action, the class visited the High Duty Plastics workshop. The students got an up-close look at real industrial equipment, connecting what they read in the classroom to real-world applications.
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Thank you to High Duty Plastics for taking the time to show Galilee 1 around your amazing workshop and providing such a valuable hands-on learning experience.
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Online Safety Resources for Our Whānau recommended by Constable Viv
As part of the Keeping Ourselves Safe program, Constable Viv would like us to share these links with our 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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🌭 Friday Lunch Special: American Hot Dogs
We are having an American Hot Dog lunch this Friday !
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How to order: Orders are taken in class.
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Deadline: Must be ordered by 9:00 AM.
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Please remind your child to get their order in with their teacher as soon as they arrive. We unfortunately cannot fill any orders placed after 9:00 AM!
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Upcoming events for Term 3:
- Thursday 27 August- Mass Bus 8.30am- Galilee 1/The Ark / PTA Movie Character Disco
- Friday 28th August- St Vinnies Mufti and hot chocolate day
- Sunday 30th August- School Mass @ St Michael's Church 8am/ St Vinnies Cake stall afterwards
- Wednesday 2 September-4 September - PTA Fathers Day Stall
- Board Meeting - Monday 7 September at 5:30pm
- Thursday 10 September - Mass Bus 8.30am - Galilee 4/ Eden 6
- Friday 25 September - Term 3 Ends
- Monday 12th October - Start of Term 4
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Sports News
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Hockey season has wrapped up, with our Maxi team taking an impressive 4th place in their grade. A huge thank you to Coach Keiran for leading the team and guiding them through a fantastic season!
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Our talented gymnasts made us immensely proud last Friday at the MIGS (Mid Island Gym Sports) competition right here in Rotorua! They gave it their absolute all, performing with incredible grace, skill, and confidence.
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A massive congratulations to the team for taking a few individual placings and securing a few impressive podium finishes! Great job, girls!
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We extend a huge thank you to Mrs McLanachan for her dedication—giving up her lunch breaks for weeks to train the team and coaching them throughout the competition.
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Reeling in the Wins!
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Huge congratulations to junior angler Charlie Corbett for an incredible performance with the Whangamatā Ocean Sports Club! Charlie picked up multiple awards, including Heaviest Albacore (11.56 kg), 4th Tag & Release Striped Marlin, and the Most Meritorious Catch award for tagging and releasing a marlin. Awesome effort, Charlie!
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PTA News
Upcoming Term 3 Events
More details will be provided closer to each event date:
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- Disco – Thursday 27 August
- Wednesday 2 September-4 September - PTA Fathers Day Stall
- Tomato Seedlings Sale – Selling earlier this year, ready for spring planting
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Please keep an eye out for further updates throughout the term.
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Board of Trustees
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Next board meeting Date: Monday 7 September at 5:30pm
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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), Damian Flynn, Joseph Hewlett, Shania Howe (Parent Reps), Bernadette Fredrickson (Proprietor Rep), Nicky Curran (Proprietor Rep) Gary Dender (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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Letter from The Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees had a productive meeting with the ERO team during their visit this month. We are pleased to convey to parents / caregivers and whanau of St Michael’s School the following findings:
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- St Michael’s School is fortunate to have a committed principal in Rachael McLanachan who has a clear vision for the school which places the Catholic Character and Mercy values at the centre of all learning. Her leadership is grounded in creating a welcoming, supportive environment for the tamariki, staff and the wider school community. Together with a clear understanding of teaching and learning, Rachael’s leadership has been instrumental in building a cohesive, dedicated team of educators who are providing excellent learning opportunities in their classrooms. The Board wishes to publicly express our deep appreciation for all Rachael does above and beyond her role as Principal.
- As the newly appointed Deputy Principal, we would like to thank Jenny Chapman for her leadership together with the positive contribution she is making in her role as Special Educational Needs Coordinator – SENCO. Her expertise and knowledge in this area, creating smooth transitions for tamariki into the kura was highly commended by the ERO team. Her efforts in organising out of school activities has created valuable opportunities for students to grow and develop into resilient, confident learners.
- Edith Klostermann as the Director of Religious Studies, is to be sincerely commended for her leadership in maintaining and creatively developing the Catholic Character of St Michael’s. In collaboration with the staff, we appreciate Edith’s commitment to building a Christ centred environment.
- We would also like to highlight the dedicated, hardworking team of teachers and classroom assistants who bring so much knowledge and expertise to their learning environments. Your patience, care and knowledge of your learners continues to make a real difference in the lives of the students entrusted to your care.
- To Cristy who is the school office administrator, we value the positive contribution you give to making St Michael’s School the welcoming, caring environment it is.
- To Bruce, our caretaker. We also say thank you for all your efforts to keep the environment a special place for our staff and in particular our students.
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Finally, we would like to say a sincere THANK YOU to all our parents, caregivers, and whanau for choosing St Michael’s School for your child’s education. Your commitment, and support of St Michael’s does not go unnoticed. Therefore, as a Board, we take this opportunity to celebrate St Michael’s School as a place where your child is able to thrive and grow to be the best version God has intended for them.
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Community News
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Beginners After School Art Classes with Janet Keen enrolling NOW for remainer of Term 3 & 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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From ages from aged 5 and upwards Enquiries welcome:
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374 Clayton Road, Rotorua.
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Parenting in an Online World 101 - 23 September 6:30pm- an unmissable parent evening!
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We all want our school and community to be a safe place for our tamariki. But in a rapidly changing digital world, the risks our children face online are growing faster, more frequently, and more seriously than ever before.
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That’s why we are bringing filmmaker, author, and speaker Rob Cope—producer of the powerful documentary Our Kids Online—to Rotorua for a fast-paced, humorous, and eye-opening presentation you cannot afford to miss!
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(Note: This event is for adults only and is not suitable for children or teens to attend.)
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- Cyberbullying & Social Media: How bullies reach kids 24/7, plus the impact on mental health (FOMO, depression, and anxiety affecting 3 out of 5 kids).
- Gaming & the Developing Brain: Dopamine overload, synaptic pruning, and the impact on social skills and empathy.
- Online Predators & AI Risks: Spotting predator tactics, alongside emerging AI threats like companion bots, deepfakes, voice cloning, and radicalisation.
- The Hard Topics: Dealing with the pressure around naked selfies, as well as the realities of online porn versus healthy sexuality.
Practical Solutions You’ll Walk Away With
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- Filters & Smartphone Locks: Exactly which filters to use and how to lock down devices safely.
- The 3 Golden Rules: Simple, effective guidelines to protect your kids online.
- Boundaries & Difficult Conversations: How to talk to your kids and reconnect as a family by challenging our own phone habits.
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"We have now reached the point where it is irresponsible of us as parents, teachers, health professionals, and policymakers to continue to put these devices... in our kids’ hands and then expect them to be accountable for their own wellbeing."
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— Dr. Samantha Marsh, University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences
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FREE $99 GIFT FOR ATTENDING!
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Every ticket includes a FREE 1-year subscription to the Parenting in an Online World 101 course (valued at $99), created by Rob and Zareen Cope. This practical, no-nonsense online course is used by thousands of Kiwi families nationwide.
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(Please note: You must attend the event on the night to claim your free access!)
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"We need to tackle this as a community so that all of our kids are safe. When I protected my kids online, I also protected yours, so please, please protect your kids online so that you are also protecting mine."
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This topic is too important for us to ignore, and we strongly request at least one representative from every family attend. Secure your tickets today via Eventfinda and let's protect our tamariki together!
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