Fakaalofa lahi atu ki a mutolu oti,
(Greetings everyone in Niuean)

What a start to the last term of the year we have had! Week 1 was Fijian Language Week and it was always nice to hear ‘Bula Mr Wichman’ from children as they walked by! We also had some trips and formally welcomed our new families to the school. This week has been all about the Cultural Festival. Next week is Niuean Language Week, Diwali celebrations will be happening from Saturday to Wednesday and there looks to be a ‘Strike’. Busy times!

POROTŪ / STRIKE 
You would have seen that it is very likely a strike will happen this Thursday 23 October. The majority of staff are union members. This government does not like unions because it gives them less control. I’m proud to be an NZEI member and happily pay them a proportion of my pay every fortnight. I have done this since starting teaching. I do this because, NZEI work hard not only for staff conditions, but for our children. For years and years NZEI has fought to improve our education system to be where we are. Whilst the conditions are still not perfect, I know education systems around the world that are far worse. If my money can make gains in the education system for staff and children in New Zealand, that is money well spent. Some people say “NZEI aren’t strong enough, I don’t want to be part of it.” I have even said it in the past. However my reply now is that some of my best friends are very high up in NZEI. I know they fight so hard for our children, I didn’t realise how hard. The problem is, the outcomes they fight for which will make such a difference for ethnic minorities, and low income families are not priorities to this government. I know how much fighting they do, and it needs to be done whether the government cares or not. Education and Health must be a priority for our future.
Thank you for your understanding if this strike goes ahead. We all hope it will be short term pain, for hopefully a long term gain for your children and their children in the future.
I have already had some parents offering to help as others can’t take time off work.  Please talk to parents of your child’s friends to see if we can help each other. Our staff will be off trying to push the point to this government. Pray for us!

HE MIHI KI KĀ WHĀNAU HŌU / NEW FAMILIES WELCOME
A big welcome to all of our new families to St Anne’s! We loved welcoming you to St Anne’s (some have already started, others yet to start) last week. It was beautiful to hear Māori, Cook Islands Māori, Samoan, French and English spoken in the official part of the ceremony. It was also great to spend some time with the parents all introducing themselves to other new parents to make those initial connections.

WOOLSTON GALA
This should be a fun event, please come down and help make it a success.

TALANOA 
We would like to extend an invite out to our parent community to gather with us and have a discussion about the naming of our new Samoan unit here at St Anne’s. Your contribution/participation is very important to our school as your family are part of this journey. Please bring ideas for names to inspire us. Once the talanoa has happened, the leadership will decide on a name and begin to design a logo with our designer. Hopefully, ready for 2026.
Date: This week coming!!! Week 3 Wednesday 22 October, starting 3pm

TE PAE KAHURAKI
The last day of term three was super busy. We had a Time Capsule opening and Mr Isherwood, Mr Shanahan took some amazing students to celebrate Mr Chiron completing the Te Pae Kahuraki, a term long Māori immersion programme. Well done Mr Chiron, we are happy to have you back this term.
I tino pukumahi te rā mutuka o te wāhaka tuatoru. I a mātou tētahi ‘Whakatūwhera Kiriwaho Wā’, ā, ka haere a Matua Dean rātou ko Matua Palo, ko ēnei tamariki rawe hai whakanui i te whakaoti i te hōtaka ‘Te Pae Kahuraki’, he hōtaka reo Māori anake mō tētahi wāhaka katoa. Ka pai Matua Jean, kai te hiamo mātou, kua hoki mai koe i tēnei wāhaka.
CULTURAL FESTIVAL
What a success! Being the last official kāhui cultural festival due to the withdrawal of this collaborative network, thanks to our government, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the workers of the kāhui, the across school teachers, Josh Halkett and Dean Isherwood and the within school teachers for making these and all of our exciting events possible. Josh and Dean worked so hard to make this event a success and to bring the videos to you so quickly. They organised writers workshops, storytelling competitions, novel study competitions, sports events, amazing resources and the list goes on!
Also to our instructors of Kapa Haka, Tagata Mai Saute and our Pupu Kūki ‘Āirani have helped our children to grow in knowledge, skill, and confidence through the gifting of songs and dance, and then helping them to learn them to such a high level. Our instructors have helped sort uniforms and are always there when needed. They teach and support with kindness and love of the language and culture they are working with. Here are the links to the videos, photos will come at some point.
Videos:
St Annes
St Marys
St James
CCC

KIRIWAHO TĀIMA / TIME CAPSULE
After 25 years of living beneath the statue of Mary, the time capsules were brought back into the light! Starting with Mass, then moving to a blessing of the area by Fr Dan, who put them in 25 years ago. Mr Halkett then saved the day by getting them out, as everyone else was scared of the spider webs. They were taken to the library where speeches were made by the ex-Principal, Peter Calanan, and then some students of St Anne’s who told the congregation what they thought life was like 25 years ago. This was quite entertaining. Kai followed whilst Mr Isherwood, and Fr Tang figured out how to get into the capsules as they were glued tight. There was lots of reading, looking and laughing. Now it’s our turn, we are starting to think about what we should put back for the next jubilee year in 25 years. A term four mission for us.

WERUWERU KURA RAUMATI / SUMMER SCHOOL UNIFORM
We use the beginning of the new term as the time to wear hats again. Already the burn time is 36 minutes. We are having a special on our hats in the office from Monday until they are gone, for $5 if you need one. Please bring cash or do a bank deposit with your child’s name clearly there as a reference.

NOHO MAI, TĀKARO MAI / STAY AND PLAY
New Term 4 Event: Stay and Play!
Kia ora whānau! We’re excited to launch a fun new initiative happening every Wednesday afternoon from 3pm during Term 4 -Stay and Play!
This is a chance for our school community to come together, unwind, and enjoy some awesome games and activities after school. Whether you’re keen to join in or just watch the fun, we’d love to see you there!
Rule: Parents stay with students (not left unsupervised)
Special Guest Alert!
For the first four weeks, we’re thrilled to have Softball Canterbury joining us to help get the ball rolling – literally!
To celebrate the launch, we’ll be firing up a sausage sizzle on the first Wednesday. Come hungry and ready for fun!
In the future, if any of our amazing community members would like to host or share a game or sport, that would be awesome! Let’s make this a vibrant, shared space for play and connection.
Where: School grounds
When: Wednesdays @ 3pm (Term 4)

Ko tēnei Wenerei, e te tīma!!!
He Kaupapa Hou mō wāhaka kura tuawhā: Noho mai, tākaro mai!
Kia ora whanau! Kai te hiamo mātou ki te whakatū i tētahi kaupapa hou ia Wenerei, mai i te 3pm -Noho mai, tākaro mai!
He āheika tēnei mō te hapori kura ki te huihui, ki te whakatā, ki te whai wāhi ki ētahi kēmu me kā mahi rawe i muri i te kura. Ahakoa kai te piraki koe ki te whakauru mai, ki te mātakitaki noa rānei i te ngahau, ka pai ki a mātou kia kite i a koe i reira!
Ture: Ka noho mai kā mātua ki kā tamariki (kāore kā tamariki anake)
Mataara Manuhiri Motuhake!
Mō kā wiki e whā tuatahi, kai te hiamo mātou mō Softball Canterbury ki te āwhina kia timata!
Hai whakanui i te tīmataka, ka whakakātia e mātou te rorerore i te Wenerei tuatahi. Haere hiakai, haere kua reri mō te ngahau!
Hai te anamata, mēnā ka piraki ētahi o kā mema o tō tātau hapori whakamiharo ki te manaaki tētahi kēmu, hākinakina rānei, he rawe tērā! Me tīmata i tētahi wāhi hai wāhi tohatoha, tākaro, honoka hoki.
Kai hea: Te whīra o te kura
Āhea: Wenerei @ 3pm (Wāhaka 4)

KĀ HERE / POLICIES
A reminder, if you are interested and would like to take part in our termly reviews of policies, or are interested in any, they can be found here. Please follow the link and then have a look around!
He mea maumahara tēnei, mēnā tō hiahia, tirohia kā here, mahia kā arotake hoki. Kai konei kā here. Whāia te honoka, kātahi, tirohia!

UPCOMING EVENTS / KĀ TAIOPEKA E HAERE MAI ANA
If you have any questions, please email or talk to the person whose email address follows the reminder. If there is no email address, it is just something to be aware of.
Mēnā he pātai āhau, īmēra atu te īmēra kua tuhia, kōrerotia ki te takata kua whakaikoatia. Mehemea kāhore he īmēra, he mea hai whakamōhio noa iho.

TERM 4 / WĀHAKA WHĀ (More info on the Skool Loop calendar)
WEEK 3 / WIKI TORU (Niuean Language Week)
Tuesday 21 October – Room 1 beach trip december@stannes.co.nz jo@stannes.co.nz
Tuesday 21 October – Tamai Touch Rugby starts 3.30pm/4pm/4.30pm – palo@stannes.co.nz
Wednesday 22 October – 3pm Talanoa (Mission Centre) mareta@stannes.co.nz
Wednesday 22 October – Stay and Play – Softball 3pm (caregivers must stay and supervise their own children) palo@stannes.co.nz
Thursday 23 October – STRIKE DAY (please prepare for no school this day, it is highly likely unless an offer is given from the government)
Thursday 23 October – Miniball 4.30pm (see Skool Loop app calendar for more details) palo@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 4 / WIKI WHĀ (Tokelau Language Week)
Monday 27 October – Labour Day (NO SCHOOL)
Tuesday 28 October – Rooms 7 and 8 ‘Waste Trip’ (please go to Skool Loop calendar for requirements to go) josh@stannes.co.nz palo@stannes.co.nz
Wednesday 29 October – Stay and Play – Softball 3pm (caregivers must stay and supervise their own children) palo@stannes.co.nz
Thursday 30 October – Miniball 3.30pm (see Skool Loop app calendar for more details) palo@stannes.co.nz
Friday 31 October – All Saints Day Celebration (since it is on the Saturday). Dress up as your favourite saint. josh@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 5 / WIKI RIMA”
Monday 3 November – Dallas away at a conference (Dean Isherwood Acting Principal)
Tuesday 4 November – Dallas away at a conference (Dean Isherwood Acting Principal)
Saturday 8 November – Woolston Gala 12pm-3pm
WEEK 6 / WIKI ONO
Friday 14 November – Show Day (NO SCHOOL)
WEEK 7 / WIKI WHITU
WEEK 8 / WIKI WARU (Solomon Islands Pidgin Language Week)
Tuesday 24 November – Last day of Tamai Touch Rugby starts 3.30pm/4pm/4.30pm – palo@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 9 / WIKI IWA
WEEK 10 / WIKI TEKAU
Monday 8 December – 5.30pm Prizegiving @ Catholic Cathedral College
Friday 12 December – 12.30pm finish

Te Atua te aro’a ‘ē kia manuia,
Dallas Wichman
Tumuaki / Principal / Pū ‘Āpi’i Ma’ata