Mālō soifua,
Next week is an important week here at St Anne’s. It is Samoan Language Week! The theme this year is “‘E afua mai i mauga tetele manuia o le ‘nu’u – From the high mountains are the blessings of the village.”
This is a beautiful metaphor helping us all reflect on:
-Our environment is what sustains us (look after it, respect it, appreciate it).
-God (our high mountain) provides our strength and our blessings.
-Our ancestors (high mountain) provided us with wisdom, guidance and our culture.
-Our leaders (high mountain) like priests, principals, and parents, who provide opportunities for growth and blessings to occur.
In our new Samoan classrooms, they have two very important mauga (mountains) illustrated within them connecting our children to their environment. I hope when they look at them, they will be thankful of the blessings they receive from God, their environment, their ancestors and their leaders. We are certainly thankful for the blessings they bring to our school!
Please watch this video if you would like to try some Samoan basics this week. Click here
BUILDING WORK / MAHI WHAKAHOU WHARE
Here are the latest pictures of the progress to our Samoan bilingual classes. They definitely won’t be ready for Samoan Language Week but is speeding up now!!
View from Room 6’s back door.
New ceilings for better sound and better lighting.
Sensory room for those who need a quick break!
View from Room 5’s door (lights are off)
LITTER FREE LUNCH BOX REMINDER / HAI WHAKAMAHARA MŌ TE TINA RĀPIHI KORE
Parents/Caregivers, do you remember agreeing to this statement when enrolling your child?
This week we have noticed a significant increase in rubbish being left around the school after eating times. Items include juice cartons, probiotic drink containers, gladwrap, snaplock bags, chip and treat packets, and fruit peels.
As outlined in our agreement:
– Fruit peels should be taken home in the lunchbox for disposal.
– Packaging such as gladwrap, disposable drink containers, chip packets and
treat wrappers should not be brought to school where possible.
– If these foods are sent, please remove unnecessary packaging before
packing lunches.
– Drinks should be sent in reusable drink bottles that can be taken home, washed
and refilled. We strongly encourage water only at school. Please keep juice and
probiotic drinks for home consumption.
We appreciate your support in helping us keep our school environment clean and encouraging sustainable and healthy habits for our students. It is from the high mountains we receive our blessings!
HUTS AND CREATIVE PLAY / WHARE PUREI ME TE PUREI AUAHATAKA:
Johann D., Archie, Henry, Nehemiah, Johan, Lucas and James went with Mr Wichman along Steam Wharf Stream to collect sticks. With tools they sawed and broke the sticks to help make huts and teepees for our students. These sticks are for all to use, but we need to follow some simple rules:
-Sticks stay outside.
-Use sticks safely
-Huts are owned by everybody
-Be kind to plant life (i.e. no taking living branches for huts)
Mr Wichman has approved these rules and teachers will enforce these for safety’s sake.
Written by Johann, Henry and Archie
Bishop Michael led a beautiful Mīha Māori (Māori Mass) for our school and community yesterday. It was the first full Mīha for a whole primary school in this diocese. It looks and sounds different and is a unique experience. Lots of our 30 students of Māori descent were involved with responsibilities. Thanks to him for this and visiting our school after.
TRIP TO RĀPAKI / TE TIRIPI KI RĀPAKI
Thanks Ngāti Wheke for hosting our third and final group at Rāpaki. We learnt so much history and loved your hospitality. Check out these photos.
BAPTISMS / IRIIRIKA
Congratulations to those who are now members of our church through baptism. We hope you had the best day and look forward to celebrating your First Communion soon.
OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL / KAI WAHO I TE KURA
Last weekend was the 2026 Kukkiwon Cup Taekwondo event in Christchurch. Well done to one of our students, Gabby, who won Gold in the Colored belt sparring over a bigger and 10kg heavier opponent, Gabby showed courage and fought head on with a strong opponent, making her opponent concede in the third round. It was amazing how Gabby handled the sparring match under her sister’s coaching.
She also received Silver in the Poomsae event. Well done to her!!!!!
PLEASE!!REMINDER OF SCHOOL HOURS / TĒNĀ, HE WHAKAMAUHARA TĒNEI O KĀ HAORA KURA
School is open from 8.30am – 3.15pm. Students are still arriving as early as 8.00am and are not enrolled in Kidsbase. We have requested this for some time now, and with the added risk of vehicles (for our building) entering and exiting freely outside these times it is particularly important.
PŪTARINGAMOTU / DEAN’S BUSH
Earlier this week, Room 4 enjoyed a wonderful trip to Pūtaringamotu (Riccarton Bush) and Riccarton House. The visit was linked closely to our Term 1 novel study, Hunter by Joy Cowley, and gave students the opportunity to explore one of Christchurch’s most important natural and historical treasures.
Throughout the day, students learned about the significance of the native bush, local history, and the importance of conserving these special places for future generations. Pūtaringamotu is one of the last remaining areas of ancient kahikatea forest on the Canterbury Plains.
A huge thank you to Anthony Hennig, Kaituku Kōrero Mātauranga, for leading such an engaging and informative day. We would also like to thank Bryce Nicholson and Charlotte McGill for supporting our students throughout the trip.
By Mr Isherwood
CROSS COUNTRY / OMATAHORA
Two of our St Anne’s students placed at the Zones Cross Country at Ferrymead this week. Sienna in year 7 and Charlize in year 6. Now they are off to Canterburys. Well done to all of our children who gave this a go.
YOUTH GROUP / RŌPŪ Ā-TAITAMARIKI
A reminder this happens on a Friday and our students who go, love it. Please consider this for your child. NO YEAR 7/8 THIS WEEK THOUGH!
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 2 / WĀHAKA RUA (If an event is for your child and you have misplaced the notice, go the the calendar entry on the Skool Loop app for all the information you need for the day)
WEEK 7 / WIKI WHITU (SAMOAN LANGUAGE WEEK)
Students of Samoan descent or in the Samoan unit can wear cultural clothing for the week.
Monday 1 June – King’s Birthday (No school)
Tuesday -Friday – Swimming lessons for years 0-6 (named togs, towels, goggles, and bag)- Linwood Pool
Thursday 4 June – Feast Day celebration for Samoan Language Week. Bring a fork/spoon that day and we will add some food to try to your child’s lunch. mareta@stannes.co.nz
Friday 5 June – Celebration at Mapusaga mareta@stannes.co.nz
Sunday 7 June – First Communion 10.30am (lots involved, come celebrate)
WEEK 8 / WIKI WARU
Monday 8 June – Friday 12 June – Swimming for years 0-6 (named togs, towels, goggles, and bag) – Linwood Pool
Friday 12 June – Dennis Ngaha (student teacher) last day josh@stannes.co.nz
Sunday 14 June – 10.30am Junior Mass, for students in Rooms 1,2,3,4,9 jo@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 9 / WIKI IWA
Monday 15 June – Cycle Safety Year 6 students
Tuesday 16 June – Cycle Safety
Wednesday 17 June – Canterbury Cross Country palo@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 10 / WIKI TEKAU
Saturday 7 June – 16pm Senior Mass, for students in Rooms 5,7,8,10 dean@stannes.co.nz
WEEK 11 / WIKI TEKAU MĀ TAHI
Friday 3 July – 2pm Pōwhiri at Our Lady Star of the Sea for Dean Isherwood. If you would like to attend on ‘our’ side to support Dean, please let me know principal@stannes.co.nz
Te Atua te aro’a ‘ē kia manuia,
Dallas Wichman
Tumuaki / Principal / Pū ‘Āpi’i Ma’ata