Congratulations to our wonderful seniors who planned and executed our annual Mission Fair last week. Our tamariki had great fun fishing for ducks, throwing water bombs, and playing on go-carts. Hair colour and nail polish was also a popular stall and of course, the yummy food and drink went down a treat. After an hour of fun spending, Te Maunga were delighted to have raised $359.10 for the missions and they thank you all for supporting this important service. Ka pai te mahi Te Maunga

We are looking forward to Grandparents Liturgy and Pōwhiri next Wednesday, at 9:30 am, and hope you are all able to come along. It is such a special morning with the children loving the opportunity to show their grandparents around and we have the added joy of welcoming our new students and whānau into our school community - Justin in Te Ākau, Luka in Te Moana and Freddie in Te Maunga. Nau mai haere mai | Welcome to these families. 

As mentioned on our social media, our contingent of students who represented us at the recent Eastern Zone Athletics did us proud. The commitment and perseverance shown by all was wonderful. We especially extend our congratulations to Alina Meech, Monica Paese, Monesa Mogan, Gila Crosbie for their individual efforts and the Year 6 relay team of Monica, Monesa, Leanne Crosbie, and Brea Atkinson-Milin who have all qualified for the Interzone competition. 

Our grateful thanks to FOSA who have run some very successful events this year, allowing the community to have some fun whilst raising money for our tamariki. Special thanks to Kristy for leading the movie night last week. Now it is time for the Bazaar team to swing into action. Emma Mulhern is kindly leading this team and we ask you to watch out for the notices so that you can volunteer in the way that suits you. 

There are a busy few weeks ahead, especially for our Year 8s who graduate from St Anthonys and so of course have a number of special events to mark their farewell to their primary school years. 

Please note these in your diaries now

• Assembly - tomorrow, Friday, 2:15 Various classes are looking forward to sharing their learning with you - there are definitely some great headgear and creations to share
• Saturday - the working bee postponed from last week is on so we would love to see you all here, even if you can only do an hour. 
• Tuesday, November 29 Interzone athletics at Newtown
• Wednesday, November 30, 9:30 - 11: Grandparents Liturgy and Pōwhiri followed by time together as whānau and a morning tea for the adults
• December 8: Sailing for Years 7 & 8 - thanks to those who have responded to the notice. It is a wonderful day of learning and fun and we appreciate your support
• Also, that night (December 8) End of Year Assembly and Prizegiving is at 5:30 pm for the whole school
• December 13, 6 - 10 pm Leavers Dinner
• December 15, 9 am End of Year Mass
•                      1 pm finish for the school year 

Working Bee Saturday 26 November from 1 pm to 4 pm

Ma tini ma mano ka rapa te whai | Many hands make light work. 

Well, rain defeated us last weekend so this Saturday it’s time for our last working bee of 2022, and this time our focus is on staining the fences around the junior playground, tidying up the gardens, water blasting, and sanding away graffiti.

In case you’re wondering what a working bee is, this is an occasion where a group of volunteers come together to do work for a common purpose.  In our school, it’s a great opportunity to get to know other whanau and serve the school through an hour or two of your time and some physical effort!.

Please wear old clothes and bring any paintbrushes or drop sheets. If anyone has a couple of rakes for the bark that would be handy too. We’ll supply some of the brushes and stain like last time too. 

Ngā mihi nui to Craig and Janine Smith for organising this working bee.

As a staff, we prayed this prayer last week and thought it was one that we would like to share:-

If God were to grant me my life over again, I would do some things differently.

I would:

• trust God more;
• let go of hurts and not feed them;
• believe that all people are born good;
• not label them;
• try not to be the expert
• challenge those who drag others down;
• thank God for good health every day;
• appreciate what I have rather than what I don’t have;
• not get annoyed over the small stuff;
• not crucify;
• practice how to love, love and love more;
• swallow my pride and admit I was wrong;
• never judge another person, so as to play God;
• forgive not seven times but seven times seven thousand.

But,

As I have but one chance at life, let me not dwell or brood on the past that

      cannot be refunded;

as I have but one life, let me not turn with fear and anxious thoughts to the

      future;

as I now have this life, let me give thanks to God for it and treasure each and

      every moment;

for there is no need to live life twice if it has been lived in God’s service

      the first time.

Amen.

This Friday we have Pizza available to order again.  Order forms should have come home this week but if not please see the attachment below.  Many thanks to our parent helper Anna Thurston for helping out with this.

From 1st December 2022 through to 31st January 2023, we’re inviting the tamariki, rangatahi and pākeke of Wellington on a Summer Reading Adventure — an adventure that will take them around the city, into their own backyards, down to their local library, into the pages of more than a few books, and back home again in time for tea.

Along the way, children and teens will be reading books, drawing pictures and maps, taking videos, completing challenges, getting out into nature, and maybe fighting off the odd monster or two — all in the name of seeing who shall have the honour of being crowned Supreme Champion of Words, Books and Deeds. Along the way, our intrepid young adventurers will be earning all kinds of awesome prizes for their efforts, from collectible badges to ice-cream vouchers, free books, movie tickets, family passes to Zealandia, Wellington Zoo, and the Space Place, and much more.

This year is the first time we are running a Summer Reading Adventure for adults, and our librarians have delved deep into the book mines to come up with challenges and booklists that should satisfy readers of many tastes and sensibilities. As they review books and participate in challenges, adults will be earning digital achievements and tickets towards one of our awesome Grand Prize draws.

Children, teens and adults can visit our Summer Reading site at wcl.beanstack.org to find out more and pre-register for the Adventure, or they can download the free Beanstack Tracker app from Google Play or the iTunes Store to participate on the go.

GREAT NEWS! Bigair Gym is holding its Annual Cheerleading Trials for next years 2023 teams! NZ Cheerleading is a mix of dance, gymnastics & tumbling. Don't miss out on this opportunity to find out more by signing up today via emailing wgtn@bigairgym.co.nz! Cheerleading is a rewarding individual & team sport that young people love and adore, and continue right through and into their teens, having a positive impact on their health and development. Your cheerleader will also create friendships that last a lifetime!

BIGAIR GYMS Drop & Shop December School Holiday Programme is running Mon 19^th – Wed 21^st December 2022! Full day and half day sessions are available. This is a wonderful opportunity for kids to keep active and to learn something new during the holidays! BIGAIR GYMS January Holiday Programme will run Mon 9^th – 27^th Jan 2023. Bookings will be open on Monday 28^th Nov! Book through our online website: www.bigairgym.co.nz