Talofa lava

This week is Samoan Language Week with the theme of ‘Mitamita i lau gagana, maua’a lou fa’asinomaga’ which means ‘Be proud of your language and grounded in your identity’. We have enjoyed the leadership of the House Leaders as they have been working with their house groups to learn new songs ready to share at assembly tomorrow. It has been wonderful to watch our Samoan children help us pronounce things as well so faafetai tala lava | thank you very much for helping us all.   

We had fun yesterday watching our tamaiti take on the challenge of creating a waka hourua as part of their learning about Pasikifa navigation and voyaging.Now our next step is to see if they can float!

The wonderful thing about this time of learning was watching our tuakana | seniors guide and interact with our teina | juniors.

We had hoped to send all the school to the free New Zealand Symphony Orchestra but unfortunately, the lack of buses hindered us. However, Te Maunga hopped on the public bus and went into the city for this. The opportunity was to ‘help’ NZSO bake a musical cake with conductor James Judd and have fun in an interactive concert with the audience in control. Te Maunga made a day of it by including their R.E.A.L day that they had earnt so see what they did later in the newsletter. 

The word is spreading that we, St Anthony’s is 100 years old this year and the centennial plans are well underway. We thought Peter Jack was our eldest ‘old boy’ and then Dawn popped in to see us with her memorabilia to share so do we know anyone who is older than Dawn? Help the team find all our past pupils by checking out the FB Centenary Page or Instagram and tagging others in. See more details below.

Have a wonderful happy long weekend

Tofa Soifua | Goodbye

Denise

Last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday when Jesus fulfilled his promise of not leaving us by sending Te Wairua Tapu. So we spread the Good News, and the Holy Spirit will give us the gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord (Wonder). Take time to talk to your family this week about these gifts so that they understand that is by being open to Te Wairua Tapu in our lives that we will be the face and hands of Christ. As one child said it takes courage to stand up to bullies and she is right. When we use the gifts of Te Wairua Tapu then we see the fruits of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control

A prayer that summarises Pentecost beautifully is:-

‘Christ has no body now on earth but yours,

No hands but yours,

No feet but yours;

Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s compassion looks out on the world,

Yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good 

And 

Yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now. “

May we allow Te Wairua Tapu to guide us throughout our lives.

Former students, teachers, staff and community are invited to join this fantastic occasion,
reconnecting with old friends, reminiscing about cherished memories, and
celebrating the lasting bonds forged within the school's walls.

The school reunion event will take place on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 October

Our school holds a special place in the hearts of so many”, said Principal and
former student Denise Johnson “and this event will allow us to bring together
generations of alumni, teachers, and staff who have contributed to the school
success over the years. Our current school children will be working to also
add to this weekend over the next term

The reunion will feature a range of opportunities for attendees to reconnect.

Highlights
of the event include:
1. Friday 13 October - The reunion will kick off with a Meet and Greet allowing
participants to reacquaint themselves with fellow classmates and reminisce
about shared experiences.
2. Saturday 14 October – Morning Mass followed by Guided School Tours, Class
Photos and Photos; Memorabilia displays. Attendees will have the chance to
explore the school once again, discovering any changes that have been made
over the years.
3. Saturday 14 October - Dinner and Dance including an exclusive centenary
presentation
4. Sunday 15 October - Participants are encouraged to continue their catch up
with school mates
We are committed to making this reunion a memorable experience for everyone
involved, added Mrs. Johnson. It will be a chance to honour the school's legacy,
reconnect with old friends, and foster a sense of community that has always been at
the heart of St Anthony’s.
To register and for more information, go to

Watch out for an exciting event on July 26!

We are thrilled to announce an upcoming presentation designed especially for you, focusing on building resilience in our precious tamariki, managing strong emotions like anxiety, and promoting well-being.

Resilience is a superpower that helps children and adults bounce back from challenges and setbacks. It empowers us to face life's ups and downs with confidence, strength, and a positive mindset. In today's world, building resilience has become more important than ever, and we want to support you in nurturing your child and developing this essential skill.

During this informative and engaging presentation, our guest speaker, Chris Bowden an expert in child psychology and emotional well-being, will share valuable insights and practical strategies that you can use at home. You'll learn effective techniques to nurture resilience in your child and discover ways to help them manage and understand anxiety and other strong emotions.

This event is open to the wider Motu-Kairangi community and we highly encourage parents, family members, and guests to join us for this event.

So mark your calendar now for Wednesday, July 26, 7 - 8:30 pm, and get ready for an inspiring evening that will benefit both you and your child. We can't wait to see you there!

He kai kei aku ringa  | There is food at the end of my hands 

This whakatauki signifies resilience, empowerment, and hope. It refers to one’s ability to use the skills and resources they have to create success. It’s about being responsible for the resources and capabilities one needs to grow and develop.

Introducing Janine Smith, one of our parent representatives

Te Maunga had a fantastic time celebrating their R.E.A.L. day in Week 6. 

The NZSO put on an excellent ‘pick-a-path’ concert for us, with a funny storyline and lots of interaction with the audience (us!). 

We managed to avoid the downpour by filling up The Enormous Crocodile Shake Bar with 25 students ordering 25 shakes, with only 1 employee behind the counter. You might believe me when I say it took an hour for him to complete our orders! 

We ended the day burning off some energy and sugar highs at ‘Pirate Park’ in Seatoun. Thanks Te Maunga for a great day and for representing St Anthony’s well.

Friday Lunch

Tomorrow you can order pizza as part of our Friday lunch fundraiser.  Order forms should come home today with your child/ren.  If not you can find it on our school website under the FOSA section.  Thanks to our Anna Thurston and our year 6 helpers for organising this tomorrow.

Colds, flu and other respiratory illness are common in schools during winter. Here are some simple tips to prevent the spread of illness:

• Wash and dry hands thoroughly and often including after blowing your nose, coughing and sneezing, and after using the toilet.
• Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow, not your hand
• Regularly clean high touch surfaces – door handles, taps, table tops, phones, computer keyboard etc.
• Anyone who is unwell should stay at home until 24 hours after symptoms have gone.
• Get a flu vaccination NOW at your family doctor or pharmacist. It's FREE for children aged 6 months to 12 years, pregnant women and lots of other people. COVID-19 vaccination is available for all over the age of 5 years.

Seatoun Football Club is offering programming everyday afterschool for kids who would like to give it a go. This is a great opportunity for any kids who want to try the game out, do something active afterschool while parents finish up their workday, or even kids who are keen on football and just want more! The program everyday has training by professional football player and assistant captain of our womens' first team (Ellie Kabayama), free time, and indoor games and activities on weather inclement days. 

We are pleased to inform you that consultation for Wellington’s Draft Speed Management Plan is now live. Your school and your parental community can have a say on the proposed plan until Friday 30 June 2023 at www.letstalk.wellington.govt.nz/smp. 

 On this page you will find a number of great resources that help provide more information behind our approach. 

 The most relevant resources are:

• A video with more information on the safety and other benefits of lowering the speed limit which you are welcome to share with your parental community; and
• Draft Speed Management Plan.

We have also created an interactive map showing all streets across Wellington with a helpful guide of how to use the map  and a map showing schools and school walking catchment areas.

For those who want further information, additional resources include:

• Summary of Draft Speed Management Plan process
• Cost benefit analysis - approach to speed management
• Speed Management Plan Safety Summary 2012 to 2021

Matariki evening at MMCC July 8