Kā mihi o te tīmataka o te tau hou kura ki a koutou katoa,

We are back in action!! Nine classes!! New teachers!! Exciting things in the pipeline!!!
Welcome back everyone and a special welcome to our new children, families and teachers. We hope you love your time at St Anne’s and find it a special place.

THE NEWSLETTER / TE NIURETA
We aim to make this newsletter as informative as possible about past and future events, this along with the Skool Loop App will be the sole place of information. This way social media does not need to be used as I know a growing amount of families are moving away from it for wellbeing reasons. Staff will no longer be using Facebook as a means of communication (photos will still be posted on the school page) and ask, if these newsletters can’t solve your questions, you message your child’s teacher, the teacher in charge (see the events calendar) or call the office on 03 3843073.

Photos of events and advertisements will be on the app or website but we are going to print without photos and in black and white to save money this year (less pages and ink). Nine classes means smaller rooms but also costs more so we will be doing bits of saving here and there. Especially good habits as we are dreaming of 10 classes in 2026.

SAMOAN UNIT / WĀHI HĀMOA
This has begun in the Mission Centre and will continue to develop. Senior students who were aiming to be in the senior Samoan room will be invited to join the class on Friday’s for Aiga Day. This will begin soon and will be an exciting day. Ateliana will be supported with another teacher with this from Term Two. Here are some photos from our new bilingual Samoan room on the first day. It was great to see the children setting up the room and getting into it.

MOBILE PHONES AND SMART WATCHES / WAEA ATAMAI ME WATI ATAMAI
If students bring a phone or smartwatch (capable of sending or receiving messages or calls) to school, they are required to place their phone or smartwatch into a designated classroom tote tray at the beginning of each day. Failure to comply with this policy will result in consequences. The government have been very clear on this and communication devices cannot be used in the school grounds! This means on entering the gate until leaving. Families have spoken of ‘school modes’ etc, however, students don’t actually need a watch during the day as we have bells, clocks and tvs with countdowns on them. This also will help them last longer as children are always playing and climbing trees where things could scratch or break them.
Thank you for your understanding here.
Photo: A box containing phones and a smart watch.

MATHEMATICS / PAKARAU
This year, mathematics achievement is a major focus for the government and it is for us too. We have two  of the suggested programmes from the government beginning to be used. We will be working hard on this subject this year and our upcoming Teacher Only Day will be working with St James, St Marys and CCC junior teachers on our mathematics implementation. Please continue to promote Mathletics at home to support and accelerate their learning.
Photos: Here’s the junior room getting stuck into Numicon.

WAITING AREA / WĀHI TATARI
We love seeing parents at pick up, however, we ask that this is no earlier that 2.40pm and you wait on the painted seats. We are finding parents in front of classes and loud
preschool siblings quite distracting for some of our children who are usually learning or finishing with prayers. Please could you wait in the waiting area in front of the office and be mindful of distracting our students. Thanks so much.
Photo: Our waiting area seats sending a message to the Crusaders. They might need it again after the pre-season game loss yesterday!

OPENING MASS AND WEEKEND MASSES / MĪHA WHAKATŪWHERA ME KĀ MĪHA WĪKENE
On Wednesday we celebrated the beginning of the school year with a Mass. Awesome job to our Acting DRS for the year Mr Halkett and to the amazing students who carried out  readings, altar serving, prayers of the faithful and offertory, they showed us all how well they could do these ministries. The dates for the once a term weekend Mass for your child is below. Please ensure you mark this and make it a priority. It was a commitment when getting your preference certificate to start at our school, that families would ensure students are at these events. Thank you for ensuring this commitment is kept.
Photo: Noah reading so well at Mass

YEAR 7 AND 8 CAMP / PUNI TAU KURA 7 ME 8
Year 7 and 8 students will be staying at Wainui Park on Banks Peninsula from Monday the 3rd of March to Wednesday the 5th of March. We ask that a contribution of $100 per child be made towards this fabulous outdoor educational experience. This goes towards bus transport, accommodation, food, and activities. This cost is heavily subsidised by the school. Payment can be made with our school’s Office Manager, Shelley Nicholson, or via the Internet to the St Anne’s School BOT bank account number 03-1599-0030146-00 Ref: ‘child’s name’. You could also start now to pay this amount off in instalments to make payment easier.
Photos: A previous camp held at Wainui. See any ex students or siblings?

CYCLE SAFETY YEAR 6 / HAUMARU EKE PAIHIKARA TAU KURA 6
As part of our Health and Physical Education Curriculum, our Year 6 students will be participating in the Cycle Safety Programme facilitated by the Christchurch City Council later this term (dates below). The programme is delivered by trained instructors and involves a range of activities both inside the classroom and through outdoor practical cycling. The key purpose of this programme is to support a cycling culture in Christchurch by producing confident, safe and responsible lifelong cycling citizens.
Photos: Previous cycle safety sessions

TECHNOLOGY LESSONS FOR YEARS 7 AND 8 / KĀ AKORAKA HAKARUA MĀ TAU KURA 7 ME 8
From Wednesday the 12th of February, all Year 7 & 8 students will travel to Te Aratai Tech Centre at 11.00am. They will need hair ties if they have long hair, covered shoes for safety, and at times containers.
Photos: Some very old photos from technology  (all I could find)

BED / RARA
If you are after a good single bed but can’t afford one at the moment, we have one with three drawers underneath and a good mattress that you can have, just make contact at the office. Note: Must be able to receive it today or tomorrow. Dallas

POLICIES / KĀ HERE
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 1 / WĀHAKA TAHI
WEEK 3 / WIKI TORU
Monday 10 February– Staff First Aid training #1 at 3pm sharp (if you need to see a teacher afterschool Monday, please see them before school Monday or Tuesday as they need to be there at 3pm, thank you for your understanding)
Tuesday 11 February – Kapa Haka starts 2pm (Juniors Term 1) 
Wednesday 12 February – 11am-12.30pm Technology (Years 7 and 8) dean@stannes.co.nz
Thursday 13 February – 2pm Pasifika Performance Group (Open to all Years 5-8 and Samoan Bilingual Class) ateliana@stannes.co.nz
Friday 14 February – New Families’ Welcome and Meeting 8.45am-11am principal@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 4 / WIKI WHĀ
Monday 17 February– Staff First Aid training #2 at 3pm sharp (if you need to see a teacher afterschool Monday, please see them before school Monday or Tuesday as they need to be there at 3pm, thank you for your understanding)
Tuesday 18 February – Kapa Haka starts 2pm (Juniors Term 1) 
Wednesday 19 February – 11am-12.30pm Technology (Years 7 and 8) dean@stannes.co.nz
Thursday 20 February – 2pm Pasifika Performance Group (Open to all Years 5-8 and Samoan Bilingual Class) ateliana@stannes.co.nz
Thursday 20 February – Commissioning Mass for staff (FYI staff will need to leave early again this day)
Saturday 22 February – 6pm Senior School Mass (this is for all students in Years 5-8 and it is important to remind families that it was a commitment when getting preference certificates to our school that families would ensure students are at these events. Thank you for making it a priority, it is appreciated) josh@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 5 / WIKI RIMA
Tuesday 25 February – PALs Physical Activity Leaders Training Day palo@stannes.co.nz
Friday 28 February – Teacher Only Day – NO SCHOOL
WEEK 6 / WIKI ONO
Monday 3 March – Wednesday 5 March – Wainui Camp Years 7-8 dean@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 7 / WIKI WHITU
No important events as yet
WEEK 8 / WIKI WARU
Wednesday 19 March – Thursday 20 March – Dallas at NZPPA Fono in Auckland, Dean Isherwood Acting Principal
WEEK 9 / WIKI IWA
Tuesday 25 March – East Hub Kāhui Sports Competition Years 5-6 dean@stannes.co.nz
Wednesday 26 March – East Hub Kāhui Sports Competition Years 7-8 dean@stannes.co.nz
Sunday 30 March – Junior School Mass (this is for all students in Years 0-4 and it is important to remind families that it was a commitment when getting preference certificates to our school that families would ensure students are at these events. Thank you for making it a priority, it is appreciated) josh@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 10 / WIKI TEKAU
Thursday 3 April – Wednesday 4 April – Cycle Safety Year 6 dean@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 11 / WIKI TEKAU MĀ TAHI
Tuesday 8 April – Canterbury Rugby League Tournament Years 5-8 principal@stannes.co.nz

TERM 2 / WĀHAKA RUA (DALLAS ON SABBATICAL)
WEEK 1 / WIKI TAHI
Monday 28 April – 9am start for first day back

TERM 3 / WĀHAKA TORU
WEEK 1 / WIKI TAHI
Monday 14 July – 9am start for first day back

TERM 4 / WĀHAKA WHĀ
WEEK 1 / WIKI TAHI
Monday 6 October – 9am start for first day back

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