School Newsletter Term 3 Week 7

Greetings, Kia ora, Kia orana, Talofa, Malo e lelei,  Namaste,

Ni Hao, Bula, Hola, Kumusta 

Dear Parents

On Monday we welcomed visiting Australian Catholic Principals to our school with a Haka Powhiri. The visitors were very impressed with our students and the depth of spirit expressed through the Papakura and School hakas, karakia, mihi and waiata. They could certainly sense a strong school culture of unity – togetherness and belonging. The Principals spent time chatting with staff and students about what it was like being part of a new school and they were very interested in aspects of the Innovative Learning Environment.  It was a very proud morning for us all as we shared our establishment journey to date!

This week was Tongan Language Week and we celebrated the tongan language at our School Assembly on Monday. Thank you to Learning Community Awa who helped lead us in prayer/liturgy. You may like to pray the the sign of the Cross in Tongan as a family this week – “I he huafa o e Tamai, mo e Alo, mo e Haumalie, ma’ oui’oni. Amene”

DRS NEWS

Social Justice Week

Each year, the Catholic Bishops of New Zealand set aside a week in September for Social Justice Week. In 2017 it runs from 10-16 September and the theme is Weaving bonds of belonging: Knowing our neighbours. During this week our children will be involved in whole school outreach projects as well as activities in their Learning Communities that teaches them to see the face of Christ in others.  We have two whole school outreach projects that we’ll be initiating, to reach out and help those in need both locally and nationally.  We will be running a Can Drive for Mercy Hospice and St Vincent de Paul and we’ll also be giving a little a helping hand to our local rest home of Lady Elizabeth in Takanini.

CAN Drive

During Social Justice Week, we’ll be collecting cans to go towards St Vincent de Paul and the Mercy Hospice.  This Can Drive involves 32 Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools who will also be running their own Can Drive at their schools.  We encourage our students and staff to bring in as many cans as they can contribute towards a good cause.  St Vincent de Paul has a long history of helping those in need through the practical works made up of mostly volunteers.  They have different projects and outreaches that help those in need both in New Zealand and around the Pacific.  The Mercy Hospice is a place where specialist community palliative care and hospice services for people facing different illnesses are cared for with gentle compassion.  These are the two organisations that will receive our “Can Drive Collection”.

Come along and see our Can Drive Wall that we will be building in Taamaua. Students will be earning points for their Whanau Grouping during the collection.

Lady Elizabeth – Our Local Outreach

To end our Social Justice Week, we’ll be having a special Mufti Day on Friday 15 September with the theme of “Crazy Socks”.  We ask that each child brings to school, a small item that will go towards our local rest home – Lady Elizabeth in Takanini.  Items can include:

• Soap
• Handwash
• Breakfast Cereal
• Snacks/Crackers

Lady Elizabeth Care facility began 30 years ago as a small Rest Home and is now a home and hospital with 55 residents.  They provide palliative care for all ages and their oldest patient is 99 years old.  We reach out to the old and the sick in our local community as they too are made in the image and likeness of God.

 

Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori

Next week is Te Wiki o Te Reo Māori – Māori Language week and to celebrate we are running some workshops with the students on Monday and Tuesday (11th and 12 Sept).

We will be focussing on:

• Tī Rākau – stick games
• Creating Harakeke Putiputi – Flax Flowers
• Learning Te Reo – the langauge
• Strengthening our School and Papakura haka

Students will be sorted into 4 groups and will rotate around the four activities. Thank you to everyone who has donated magazines for our Tī Rākau sticks.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE DUES SPONSORSHIP SCHEME

The Attendance Dues Sponsorship Scheme – has been created to assist families who may need financial support with the payment of attendance dues, for students attending Catholic schools in Auckland Diocese, both primary and secondary.

The purpose of the sponsorship scheme is to allow parents or caregivers facing financial hardship another option to seek relief where they may be reluctant to approach their school for help.

The existing financial hardship scheme – operated by your school – is also available to parents or caregivers facing hardship and we do encourage families facing financial difficulties to please contact your school office.

Application forms are available from school and parish offices, or can be down-loaded from the Catholic Schools Office Website: www.catholicschools.org.nz (go to Property and Finance / Finance / Attendance Dues)

If you have any queries or require assistance with the payment of attendance dues under the sponsorship scheme, you are invited to phone in confidence, Carol Krebs (Ph. 360 3069) at the Auckland Diocese office.

Applications to the sponsorship scheme for 2017 attendance dues will be accepted by the Auckland Common Fund Ltd up to November 2017.

Health and Safety

Please note that the school internal gates (either side of the Reception entrances) have now been replaced and are far more robust! These gates will be closed from shortly after 9:00am and reopened again from 2:30pm in preparation for the end of the day. The gates will be closed but unlocked during the day. If you are entering school after the initial start of the school day, please come through the main reception entrance to sign in through the Vistab process and to alert Office staff that you are site. Thank you.

Property Remedial Work

Remedial work will commence at school on Monday 18th September in Taamaua (Hall), the Caretaker’s Shed and the Sports Shed. These areas will be fenced off whilst the internal work is underway. Please take care when entering and exiting school entrance ways.

Coming Events

Community Events

Marist School, Mt Albert warmly invites you to join us in celebrating our 90th Birthday!!! Saturday 28th October 2017
Join us for a Champagne High Tea and a trip down memory lane from 12pm-4pm. Tickets: $35 adults, $10 children 12 and under.

To purchase tickets visit www.marist.school.nz

Sunday 29th October 2017
Celebrate Mass with us at St Mary’s Church at 10am followed by refreshments in the school hall.

 Memorabilia:  Should you have any keepsakes you wish to share with us for display such as class photos, uniforms, sports equipment or photos, school books, readers etc we would love to hear from you!

Please contact alumni@marist.school.nz