Kia Ora

We shared such a lovely morning together last Wednesday, welcoming our new tamariki and whānau with a Pōwhiri and celebrating our Grandparents with mass and a morning tea. It was special to take the time out to celebrate the important role Grandparents play in our lives. Have a look further down to see the recounts from He Atawhai. 

Last term, our Year 5-8 students participated in the Student Wellbeing Survey. The survey covers different aspects of school life and asks students to respond how they feel about it on a scale based system e.g. agree, disagree. Many schools within New Zealand take part in this survey. Student identified extremely positive results under the 'school wide climate and practices,' 'community partnerships,' 'teaching and learning,' and 'pro-social student culture and strategies.' From this survey we have identified that our greatest need for our tamariki is to continue to develop resilience strategies with them. Under this section the survey showed how they are less willing to take risks in their learning. Kaiako have identified the following areas to continue to focus on in class to help with this:

Resilience strategies

• Teaching around what resilience is
• Having strategies for resilience built into teaching programmes. 
• More active teaching around Growth Mindset, problem solving, emotional regulation skills and positive self talk

Next week the much anticipated camp will finally arrive for Te Maunga. We set off on the ferry early on Monday morning ready for a week full of activities, team building and fun. 

Ngā mihi nui,

Francesca

• Friday 8th August - He Atawhai Assembly 2:15pm
• Monday 11 August - Friday 15th - Te Maunga Camp
• Tuesday 12th August - Kāhui Ako Junior Cultural Celebration
• Wednesday 13th August - Eastern Zones Netball
• Friday 15th August -  Feast of the Assumption
• Week 5 - ICAS English Test
• Friday 22nd August -  Te Maunga Assembly 2:15pm

Next Friday is the Feast of the Assumption, a significant day in the Catholic Church. It commemorates the belief that at the end of her life on earth, the Virgin Mary was "assumed" body and soul into heaven. This means that instead of experiencing the normal process of death and burial, her physical body was preserved and she was taken directly into the presence of God.

This feast is important for several reasons. It honors Mary as the mother of Jesus and highlights her unique role in God's plan for salvation. It also serves as a powerful symbol of hope for all Christians, as it foreshadows the resurrection and eternal life that is promised to those who follow Christ. The Assumption reminds us of our own ultimate destiny—to be with God in heaven, body and soul. For many, it's a day for special prayers, Mass attendance, and reflecting on Mary's faithfulness and her example of living a life dedicated to God.

Kia orāna kōtou kātoatoa, greetings to you all and happy Cook Islands language week (Te au reo ‘ō te Kūki ‘Airani)

Board elections – Have your say!

Our upcoming School Board elections will be held on 17 September 2025. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to be part of shaping the future direction of our kura. Whether you’re passionate about supporting student achievement, community engagement, or governance, we encourage you to consider standing for election or nominating someone else who could make a meaningful contribution.

To learn more about what being on the board involves, visit:
[https://www.tewhakaroputanga.org.nz/advice-and-support/information-for-board-members](https://www.tewhakaroputanga.org.nz/advice-and-support/information-for-board-members)

The returning officer for the school elections is Kirsten Bouras.  Please contact her on office@stants.school.nz  for nomination forms.

Our school board meetings are public and all whānau are warmly invited to attend. They’re a great way to stay informed and engaged. Our next meeting will be held at St Anthony’s School at 6pm on Tuesday 2nd September.

Welcome back Miss von Lanthen

This term we were delighted to welcome back Miss Francesca von Lanthen, who returned at the start of Term 3 after a year of teaching and travelling in the United Kingdom. Now into Week 4, Francesca has quickly settled into her role as Acting Principal, bringing fresh energy and insight to our kura.

Together with Mrs Sam Cripps, who remains as Acting Deputy Principal, they are providing strong, steady leadership with a shared focus on the learning, wellbeing, and growth of our tamariki and wider school community.

We also send our thoughts and prayers to Mrs Denise Johnson for a successful sabbatical. Her focus is on exploring inclusive practices and strengthening whakawhanaungatanga and kaitiakitanga. We look forward to hearing about her experiences when she returns in Term 4.

Good luck campers!

Best wishes to our Year 7 and 8 students, their teachers and the parent helpers as they head off to camp at Teapot Valley in Brightwater, Nelson. School camp is a memorable and rewarding experience – full of adventure, new friendships, and personal growth. We know they’ll represent our school with pride and have a fantastic time.

Ngā mihi nui to the parents and caregivers for their fundraising and support of the school camp.

Something new is coming…

We’re excited to announce that a brand-new school website is on the way. With improved navigation, updated content, and a fresh look, it will be a one-stop hub for all things St Anthony’s. Watch this space!

We’re on the airwaves!

Have you heard our school’s radio ads? They’re a celebration of our students, our values, and our vibrant school life.  Our Te Maunga students created and produced their adverts as part of their writing programme after visiting The Hits radio during their Friday morning outings in town.

You can catch a sneak peek and stay connected by following us on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/stantsschool/ 

‘Aere atu rā, until next time, farewell.

Maths: Volume and Capacity Baking

To finish off our unit learning about Volume and Capacity, we made cupcakes! We learned that capacity is the maximum amount that something can contain - so when we measured using cups, we knew we had to fill it right to the top! Volume is the amount of space occupied by something - we used a measuring jug to measure out 80ml of milk. Our cupcakes were so yummy and fun to make!

Grandparents Day Recounts:

Last Wednesday my grandparents came to school. My Grandma is a teacher. I showed them around. My mum came too. She brought food, there were cookies! My grandpa works for a car shop and he sells them. My grandma wears glasses. 

• Leo Beaumont

Last Wednesday it was Grandparent's Day. My grandparents came. We had a Mass and it started with everyone sitting down. Then the boys did the haka and said some prayers. Soon after that I carried the bread to Father Bill. Then we sang songs and the mass was over. 

• Margaret Sparks.  

Last Wednesday it was Grandparent’s Day and my mum and dad called my grandma. I went to mass. It started with everyone sitting down, then the boys did the haka and we said some prayers. I said “Te Atua, please look after the sick and dying”. I was the third one. Then we sang songs and after mass we went back to class with our families. I showed my grandma my work over the phone. It was a good day!

• Lourde Oshana

The Disco Recounts:

The disco had face paint, spiders and a dancing room. It had balloons in it, and there was an eating room too where we could eat our pizza! It was my best night!

• Hugo Campbell

I went to the disco. I danced with my friends. I got pizza!

• Ryan Moinfar

At the disco I straight away went to the disco area. I saw Cadyn at the pizza table, then got some sprite. I also got cotton candy! Then we played Ring Around the Rosy and we went home. It was really fun!

• Nikodimos Assefa 

School Lunches Starting Back Up - Starting Friday, 8 August

The Education Review Office is carrying out some research to learn more about how ‘Phones away for the day’ is going. They want to hear your thoughts on what’s working, what’s not working, and what could make it better. Take 5–10 minutes to share your thoughts in this quick survey — your input really makes a difference.

Whānau/Parent/Caregiver Survey