|
|
|
|
Newsletter Week 6, Term 1
St Michael's Catholic School, Wednesday 11 March
|
|
|
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Tēnā koutou kātoa e te whānau,
|
|
Senior Camp – A Wonderful Week of Challenge and Growth
|
|
Last week our senior students had the wonderful opportunity to attend camp, and what a fantastic experience it was for everyone involved. The children embraced every challenge with enthusiasm, courage, and perseverance. From the various activities to spending time together outside the classroom, it was inspiring to see students supporting one another, stepping outside their comfort zones, and showing such positive attitudes.
|
|
A huge thank you must go to Whaea Jenny, who did an incredible job organising the entire camp in just four weeks. Her hard work, planning, and dedication ensured that the camp ran smoothly and that our students had such a memorable and valuable experience.
|
|
I would also like to thank the parents who generously gave their time to come along and support the camp. Your help made it possible for our students to enjoy such a rich and memorable experience.
|
|
Most of all, I want to acknowledge our students. Their behaviour throughout the camp was outstanding. They represented St Michael’s with pride, demonstrating teamwork, respect, and determination in every activity. We are incredibly proud of the way they conducted themselves and the perseverance they showed when faced with new challenges.
|
Camp experiences like this help build confidence, friendships, and lasting memories. Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a successful and enjoyable week.
|
|
It was wonderful to gather together as a school community at our School Mass on Sunday. We had a very pleasing turnout, and it was lovely to see so many of our students and families coming together in faith at St Michael’s Parish.
|
|
Thank you to the families who made the effort to attend. We know that getting organised early on a Sunday morning can be a commitment, and we truly appreciate the time you took to join us in celebrating Mass as a community. It was also lovely to share a time of connection together over morning tea afterwards.
|
|
School Mass is an important part of our Catholic special character, helping our students see that faith is something we live both at school and within our parish community.
|
We hope to see even more of our school families joining us at our School Mass next term.
|
|
Te tumuaki o te kura Hato Mikaere
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lent does not shout; it whispers.
In recent weeks the world has felt unsettled. News of wars, political unrest and deep divisions reaches us daily. For many members of our school community, especially those with family and loved ones in other parts of the world, these events are not distant stories. They bring worry, uncertainty, and sometimes even fear.
It leaves us with a quiet heaviness hanging over us.
Perhaps this is why the season of Lent feels especially meaningful this year. Lent does not pretend that the world is simple or peaceful. Instead, it invites us to pause within the uncertainty. To slow down, to pray and to remember that we do not carry the weight of the world alone.
In the life of a school, hope often grows in small ways: in patience, in kindness, in forgiveness and in the care we show one another each day. These simple acts may seem small, but they are powerful signs that goodness is still alive in our world.
As we journey through Lent together, we keep our eyes gently fixed on Easter. Let us remember that even in moments of darkness, light follows.
And perhaps that is the quiet gift of Lent - helping us notice that hope is still there, waiting patiently to be found.
|
|
St Michael's Church Holy Mass Timetable
|
|
St Mary's Church Holy Mass Timetable
|
|
Community Masses -All Welcome
|
|
Miha Maori - First Saturday of the month, 5pm Vigil Mass at St Michael’s.
|
|
Tokelauan Community - Third Saturday of the month, 5pm Vigil Mass at St Michael’s.
|
|
Filipino Community - Third Friday of the month, 6pm at St Michael’s.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
School lunches available on Wednesday each week
|
You can order lunch by 8.30am on Wednesday morning and this will be delivered to the office for your child.
|
|
|
|
|
Spotlight on learning
|
Our recent school camp was more than just a break from the classroom—it was a hands-on masterclass in resilience, teamwork, and environmental science. From the early morning mist to the evening campfire, students stepped out of their comfort zones and into a world of experiential learning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upcoming events for Term 1:
- Monday 9th March-Friday 13th March- Senior Swimming Week
- Thursday 19 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
|
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
Congratulations to our latest Players of the Day for their effort and sportsmanship:
|
Movers: Lachlan Stephens & Angelina Elliott
|
|
Flyers: Lycan and Peter Elliott
|
|
Saints: Asher Carruthers & Morgan Love
|
Movers: Montana Foote and Jacob Sargent
|
|
Flyers: Zara Aislabie & Amy Ari John
|
Saints: Zion Aislabie and Adam Geyer
|
|
📸 Reminder: Send in Your Sports Photos
|
|
We love celebrating the efforts of all our players, whether they are playing here at school or achieving big goals elsewhere.
|
|
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!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PTA News
|
PTA Annual General Meeting – 26 February 2026
|
Congratulations to our 2026 PTA Committee members, who were elected by unanimous vote:
|
- Chairperson: Tamsyn Petersen
- Treasurer: Angela Smith-Bigwood
- Secretary: Tamsyn Petersen
Thank you to everyone who attended the AGM and continues to support the PTA and our school community.
|
We are currently looking for Treasurer and Secretary volunteers to take over these roles from next year. If you are interested in getting involved, please email the PTA as soon as possible. Training and support will be provided throughout this year to help prepare you before stepping into the role in 2027.
|
If you think the Chairperson role might be something you would like to take on in the future, we would also love to hear from you. We are looking to appoint a Vice Chairperson who can learn and grow into the Chairperson role over the next two years.
|
|
Thank you to all those families who have already brought in items for our Easter Raffle. Raffle books will be sent home with children in this week.
|
|
Week 1: 02 - 06 March - Box of something e.g.Crackers, Jelly
|
|
Week 2: 09 - 13 March - Packets e.g. Lollies, Chips
|
|
Week 3: 16 - 20 March - Cans and/or something to do with Easter
|
Week 4: 23 - 27 March - Easter Week
|
|
The family who sells the most tickets will win a $50 Food Voucher
|
Raffles will be drawn at school on the 31 March 2026
|
The PTA will be running our chocolate fundraiser in term 2. More details to come
|
Our annual Mother’s Day Stall will be held on 6th, 7th & 8th May
All gifts will be $3.00 each
|
Let your child make Mother’s Day extra special by choosing a small gift to say, “Thank you, Mum.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
Board of Trustees
|
Next board meeting Date: Monday 23 March
|
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."
|
|
St Michaels School Board of Trustees
|
Angela Smith-Bigwood (Chair), Joe Hewlett, Thushara Jayawickrama Vithanage, Shania Howe (Parent Reps), Bernadette Fredrickson (Proprietor Rep), Nicky Curran (Proprietor Rep)
|
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)
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
🌳 Help Wanted: Our School Forest Area
|
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.
|
We would greatly appreciate any support you can offer with the following tasks:
|
-
|
Maintenance: Clearing weeds from around the trees and checking/adjusting tree stakes.
|
-
|
Mulching: Helping to spread mulch when our next delivery arrives.
|
-
|
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).
|
|
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.
|
|
How to help: If you can lend a hand, please contact the school office or Whaea Adrienne (Eden 6) directly.
|
|
|
|
Community News
Team Member Wanted – Hands-On Role with Growth Opportunity
|
We’re looking for a motivated and reliable person to join our small, supportive team in a practical, hands-on role involving minor building and maintenance work.
|
- Have experience using general hand tools
- Be organised, dependable, and take pride in their work
- Have strong problem-solving skills
- Be confident stepping up and showing leadership
- Hold a full driver’s licence
- Competitive pay (based on experience)
- One-on-one training and ongoing support
- Family-friendly hours with flexibility
- Full-time, weekday work (very occasional weekend work for commercial jobs, but rare)
- Tools and vehicle provided
- Opportunity to grow into a management role Long-term pathway, including potential business buy-in for the right person.
This role suits someone who enjoys variety, working independently, and taking ownership of their work. Based in Rotorua, with daily travel across Rotorua, Taupō and Whakatāne.
|
|
If interested, please send us an email with your resume and a bit about yourself and we will get in touch with full details and a confidential chat.
|
|
Beginners After School Art Classes with Janet Keen enrolling NOW for Term 1, 2,3 and 4
|
|
Drawing, Painting, Mosaics.
|
|
Tuesdays, Wednesdays , Thursdays
|
|
3.30pm to 4.30pm and 4.35pm to 5.35pm
|
|
Small classes, friendly, safe, quiet, environment.
|
|
374 Clayton Road, Rotorua.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
