Kia ora e te whānau,
It’s hard to believe we’re already in Week 5 of the term. The days are certainly flying by! We’ve been blessed with some beautiful autumn weather lately, and it’s been lovely to see our tamariki making the most of the sunshine during break times. There’s been a wonderful energy around the school over the past fortnight, with some very special events taking place that have reminded us of the strong sense of faith, whānau, and community that makes St Anne’s such a special place to be.
HISTORY WALL OFFICIAL OPENING/TE WHAKATŪWHERATAKA ŌKAWA O TE PĀTŪ HĪTORI
An incredibly special milestone was reached today with the official opening of our St Anne’s History Wall, located in the entrance foyer. Many of you may have already seen this beautiful display, but if you haven’t yet had the chance, I warmly encourage you to pop in and take a look. The History Wall is a proud celebration of our land, our faith, and our school – a visual reminder of where we’ve come from, who we are, and what we stand for. Our students have learnt how to respect this taonga, recognising it as more than just a display – it’s a reflection of our identity as a Catholic school dedicated to God.
The opening ceremony was a heartfelt and moving event. Mr Halkett welcomed us in te reo Māori, followed by a powerful waiata led by Matua Sonny and our Kapa Haka Rōpū. Fr Tang offered a blessing and opening prayer, grounding the event in faith. I had the privilege of speaking alongside two of our senior students, Ben and Kalista, who shared their thoughts with grace and confidence. Despite being on sabbatical, Mr Wichman returned to deliver a touching reflection that reminded us of the strength of our St Anne’s story. We were also treated to a beautiful Samoan siva and song, thoughtfully prepared by Mrs T. Clara Fleming spoke on behalf of Cathy French and Marian Jones, reflecting on the process and meaning behind the project. The ribbon was then cut by Cathy and Marian – two key people behind this incredible achievement – before everyone walked through the display, accompanied by background music from Matua Sonny and the rōpū. We closed the celebration with drinks and nibbles, sharing kai and conversation in the true spirit of community. It was a moment to remember and one we hope you’ll come and experience for yourself.
CONFIRMATION/WHAKAŪKA
Our Parish’s Confirmation programme is for students who are 12 years old or older and have already received the Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist.
Register online: https://forms.gle/Nii8Bi9TdNybABGc6
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS DAY/TE RĀ O KĀ KURA KATORIKA
Wednesday marked Catholic Schools Day in true St Anne’s style! While the official day fell on Wednesday, our senior students were off-site enjoying Catholic Cathedral College’s fantastic production of The Addams Family, so we shifted our celebrations to today. Earlier in the week, students created heartfelt cards for their parents, expressing gratitude for choosing a Catholic education and sharing what they love about being part of the St Anne’s whānau. These cards also included a special invitation for parents to join their child’s class for end-of-day prayers today. The Faith Team visited classrooms that afternoon to help lead a short prayer service reflecting on the importance of Catholic schools. To wrap up the day, Mr Halkett organised a fun and engaging scavenger hunt that had students searching the school for signs of our Catholic identity – from spotting a prayer table in Room 7 to finding a statue of St Anne, and even locating a student who’s been baptised.
CROSS COUNTRY TRAINING/WHAKANGUNGU RĒHI ROA
On Thursday, the 15th of May, some of our Year 5 to 8 students took part in the Heathcote Valley School Cross Country at Ferrymead Park. They were fantastic—motivated, proud, and showing great determination! We’re thrilled to announce that a few of our students have qualified for the upcoming Zones Cross Country. What an achievement! A huge thank you to all the parents who came along to support and help on the day; your involvement made the event a great success. Thank you to Mr Shanahan for his organisation.
STUDENT SUCCESS/PIKI ĀKOKA
As stated last fortnight, we love celebrating the achievements of our students, both inside and outside of school!
Congratulations to two students this fortnight. Firstly, congratulations to Prue Halkett from Room 7. Prue competed at the Mackenzie A & P Show last weekend and was awarded first place in her age group! Well done, Prue!
Secondly, congratulations Sienna Fuataga-Aukusitino from Room 7. Sienna competed in the NZ U14 Pony Scurry at Riccarton Racecourse last month. She was the youngest rider in the race! Koia, Sienna!
If your child has achieved something amazing outside of school, please email your child’s classroom teacher
CELLPHONES REMINDER/MAUMAHARA WAEA PŪKORO
A friendly reminder to all whānau that students who bring cellphones to school are required to hand them in to their classroom teacher upon arrival each morning. Phones will be safely stored and returned at the end of the day. Thank you for your support!
KING’S BIRTHDAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY
Monday 2 June – No school!
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 2 / WĀHAKA RUA
WEEK 6 / WIKI ONO
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
Samoan Language Week
Monday 2 June – King’s Birthday Public Holiday – No school
Wednesday 4 June – South Zone Cross Country palo@stannes.co.nz
Thursday 5 June – Catholic Cathedral College Open Evening https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DQmgd58pA/
Sunday 8 June – Pentecost Sunday
– First Communion Lesson 9.30-11.30am
WEEK 7 / WIKI WHITU
Thursday 12 June- First Reconciliation janette@stellamarisparish.org.nz
WEEK 8 / WIKI WARU
Friday 20 June – Matariki Public Holiday – No school
WEEK 9 / WIKI IWA
Monday 23 June – Zone Basketball Tournament palo@stannes.co.nz
Friday 27 June – Last day of Term 2, 2.50pm finish
Sunday 29 June – First Holy Communion Celebration
TERM 3 / WĀHAKA TORU
WEEK 1 / WIKI TAHI
Monday 14 July – 9am start for first day back
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
God bless,
Dean Isherwood
Acting Principal
Coming up for kids and families at the Isaac Theatre Royal in June
Matariki Glow Show
On Sunday 8 June, the Matariki Glow Show will light up the stage with its giant-scale, glow-in-the-dark puppetry. This year, the show tells the magical story of Matariki, sharing the magic behind the Māori New Year. The Matariki Glow Show brings the mythical tale to life with its unique puppets, which glow under UV lights in a black box theatre.
The performance is told in both te reo Māori and English, weaving together themes of whakawhanaungatanga, friendship, and family. It offers a truly uplifting and positive experience for all, making it a must-see event for children and families.
website.www.isaactheatreroyal.co.nz