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Haere mai,
Term 3 is well underway and it was wonderful to see so many of you last week for our Matariki Celebration - a week full of learning which then allowed our tamariki to showcase their efforts and you provided the authentic audience - Thank you. Special thanks to Helen Revill who led us all for this wonderful week - Ka pai Helen.
We were delighted to welcome two new families to our school, with Colette, Ethan, and Samuel joining Te Aroha Block. Please make sure you introduce yourselves to these families and welcome them into the St Anthony's whānau.
Week 2 has also been a big week with our World Cup Picture Book Competition - wonderful to see the favourite picture books being discussed and shared - the question is “Which one will be voted the favourite?’
We give a 'Shout out' to all our participants in the Eastern Zone’s Cross Country yesterday. We were so delighted to see the effort and commitment of all our runners with every single one of them showing resilience, not giving up, and completing the course. Special congratulations to those who will progress to Interzones now. Representing us will be Elise McArely, Petra Bouras, Jamie Taylor, Alina Meech, Leannie Crosbie with Zoe Bouras as the reserve. What an amazing effort from a little school.
As mentioned in the Hero Announcement, the work on the junior toilets begin tomorrow. Today we completed our first site meeting, confirming all the details for the project to commence. What you need to know is:-
- Tracer Construction Ltd who renovated Te Aroha has secured the contract
- Security fences will go up around the space between the Church, Te Ākau and junior playground to allow space for contractors to receive building materials and an area to unload
- We will be able to access both playgrounds through the junior side
- The school will be using the senior toilets for the duration of the project which is completely within the MoE ratio guidelines
- The project is estimated to take 10 - 11 weeks to complete
We are blessed that the Archdiocese has prioritised this work for us, given the amount of money that St Anthony’s has benefitted from over the past two years with our extensive renovation. Thank you for paying your Attendance Dues as this is what the money is used for as Catholic Education has to maintain all school property.
Due to our wonderful effort with Movin’March, (our average daily effort was twice more than the next school) St Anthony’s was selected to be the very first school in Wellington to have the Portable PumpTrack. Next week, either August 5th or 6th the team will be arriving to install the bike track and we have it until the end of the holidays. As we are the first to benefit from this wonderful initiative we will be holding an official launch of the PumpTrack on Tuesday, August 18th, 2 pm. Sponsors, the Pedal Ready team, local Councillors and perhaps our MP along with a few representatives from the other schools are being invited so we hope you can join us for this community celebration. Watch out for further information when it is confirmed. Please see the link below to know what the bike track is all about. https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/portable-pump-track
Many thanks for all of you who have volunteered to help in various ways - running for cross country training & supervising it, moving furniture, sorting and storing books, organising the school lunches and of course supporting us with events such as our Matariki Celebration and Grandparents Day tomorrow. You know who you are and we are extremely grateful. Please know that we appreciate your commitment.
My thanks too, to those who have taken the time to email and/or tell our teachers/staff when they are doing things well for your child/ren. We have a hardworking team here and it is wonderful when you take the time to acknowledge success on our part. Thanks too for your donations and kind words for the staff over the Lockdown effort - it was really appreciated and be assured we will enjoy the ‘shout’ that your donations have contributed to.
We look forward to seeing the wonderful book characters coming to school tomorrow, along with the celebration of our grandparents. Hopefully, you can all join us.
Ngā manaakitanga
Denise
This term our students are learning about the work Caritas does around the world. They deliver aid, support development and advocate for justice around the world, including in Aotearoa New Zealand. They work to make a difference in the lives of people living with poverty or injustice.
Our students are learning about how they have an opportunity to draw nearer to God and be transformed by the Holy Spirit. The theme is Renewed by the Spirit. Pope Francis says, ‘Let yourself be transformed. Let yourself be renewed by the Spirit... do not abandon the path of love but remain ever open to his supernatural grace, which purifies and enlightens.’ (Gaudete et Exsultate #24)
Life is a journey, with mountains, valleys, and unexpected challenges. We all need time to be renewed and transformed. God is the ultimate source of truth and love. Let us encounter the Spirit anew so that we can continue on the ‘path of love’.
As Pope Francis reminds us, ‘God wants to speak to the world by your life.’ (#24) Our own personal renewal should be the catalyst to bring further renewal in the lives of the people we meet. We can be the hands and feet of God, as his very ambassadors, on Earth.
-Caritas
Faith News
Grandparents Mass/Pōwhiri
We are looking forward to our Mass on Friday at 11am. Come and join us in celebration, there will be a book parade at 10:40 before the Mass and an opportunity to see the children’s learning and have a light lunch.
Father Ephrem’s Tuesday Visits
This term each Tuesday we are lucky to have a special time with Father Ephrem when he comes into each class to speak to us about God and Jesus. It is a time where we can ask questions to further our learning. We will be getting some more questions for next week.
Welcome to Term 3
A warm welcome to our school whānau - we hope you had a wonderful school holiday break and are enjoying the start of the term. A big thank you to everyone who joined us for our School Assembly & Celebration on the last day of Term 2, it was wonderful to see you all there.
Board meetings
A reminder to everyone that you are very welcome and encouraged to attend the Board of Trustees meetings each term. Please let the school office (e: office@stants.school.nz) know in advance if you are going to be there so we can organise a bigger room if this is required.
Our meetings for this term are:
- Week 3 Tuesday 4th August from 6pm
- Week 8 Tuesday 8th September from 6pm
Policy review
Each term, board members, staff, and/or parents are asked to review and comment on specific policies. This term we are reviewing the following policies:
We invite you to read these policies and provide feedback including suggestions for improvements. You can provide feedback by clicking on the green feedback icon in the top right corner of the policy:
This term, the SchoolDocs policies to be reviewed are Appointment Procedure which will be reviewed by the Board of Trustees, Child Protection which will be reviewed by the staff and board and Learning Support to be reviewed by the board, staff and the school community. To take part in the review of the Learning Support policy just follow the instructions below.
To access the SchoolDocs website, please visit:
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Enter the username (stants) and password (ludlam).
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Follow the link to the relevant policy as listed.
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Read the policy.
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Click the Policy Review button at the top right-hand corner of the page.
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Select the reviewer type "Parent".
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Enter your name (optional).
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Submit your ratings and comments.
Please see the office if you would like a printed version of the Learning Support policy to review or any of our other policies.
Thank you for your time reviewing the current policy this term.
The first week of Term 3 saw the beginning of ASB sports sessions for both juniors and seniors at St. Anthony’s. All students will get the opportunity to take part in 4 floorball sessions as well as 4 gymnastics sessions over the next few weeks. These are taught by the lovely instructors at the ASB who set up practice drills so that we can learn about technique and improve our skills, as well as gymnastic circuits for us to try out and floorball matches for us to take part in. Day one was a huge success - each group had lots of fun and everyone was eager to get involved and participate. We are excited for lots more learning and fun at the ASB on Thursday mornings this term!
"I really love how we learn some skills first and then we play a game. It's really fun" -Alice Mulhern, Year 4
"I really enjoy going to ASB because we get to do lots of fun teamwork and I like playing in the actual floorball game at the end" -Hazel Marriott, Year 4
"I really like when you can run around the ASB because it's good exercise. I also like playing floorball because it's my first time playing it and I get know floorball really well".-Ethan Tye,Year 3
Cross Country
Cross country was a really fun experience! It was at Scots College just like the year before. We started to walk over to Scots at about 9 am and left there just before lunch. The races went from year eights down to year fours, we were there for about four and a half hours.
Most people were tired after running. Some people might not have done as well as they thought they would but everyone left there knowing that they had tried their hardest, and that's all that mattered.
-Abby Johnson, Year 5
Scots College was our destination and we set off! When we arrived we had a briefing from the organiser, and then it was time for our first race! Glen took up his position to race against other Year 8 Boys. They were off! Zooming around the track...4 times! Each time the boys passed, my heart started beating faster...faster...and faster!!
My race was getting closer, closer, and closer. Then all of a sudden my race was up…
I was extremely nervous. But before I could say anything I was at the starting line with people cheering me on! I was ready, I was excited and off we went!! I kept the pace and tried my best! I passed my school team 4 times and each time their strong cheers gave me a boost. Every time I heard my classmates say, “You got this Elise!” I pushed myself to go harder, harder, and harder! Even from afar their cheers kept me going as they did not stop the whole time. Then finally it was my last lap, I heard the bell and the Year 13 Scots College boy held up a 1 sign so I started to sprint! I passed a few then was heading straight to the finish line! My legs kept going until they came to a steady stop at the finished line!
I was taken to a lady with a black permanent marker and she drew a big 8 on my hand! They cheered me on as I walked to the desk to say my number! I made it into Interzones! I was so excited!
I thanked all my school whānau for cheering me on! I was getting congratulated for coming 8th! Then within an instant, I fell to the ground with tiredness but knew that I needed to get up again and cheer on my classmates because when they did it for me...it made me feel strong and confident that I could finish the race and never to give up!
Elise McArley, Year 8.
Are you struggling financially to pay Attendance Dues?
Please contact our office as soon as possible so we can help you. We have some options available for payment plans and rebate assistance so we encourage you to please get in touch by calling us on 0800 462 725 or email dues@wn.catholic.org.nz. We look forward to being of assistance to you during this difficult time.
School Lunches
Friday school lunches are starting up again in Week 3 on Friday 7 August with pizza first on the menu.
This term's order forms can be printed at home from the document below. The order form can also be found on our school website in the Friends of St Anthony's section.
Just a note that if you are paying for your child/ren's lunch via internet banking please use the FOSA account 12-3140-0317046-00 and not the school account as this is part of our fundraising.
Thanks for your support this term.
Quiz Night - Friday 21st August, 7 pm at the Seatoun Bowling Club
Don't forget to save the date and start getting a team together. Tickets are $20 from the office and include 3 raffle tickets. Funds raised will go toward the senior playground.
Yummy Stickers
Collect the Yummy cut-out labels from bags (each cut-out label is worth 10 stickers) and individual Yummy apple stickers for your school’s share of the $200,000 free DG Sport sports gear prize pool. Yummy apples are available from New World, PAK’nSAVE and participating Four Square stores. The more you collect, the more sports gear we get so get going and start collecting your Yummy cut-out labels and stickers now!
Entertainment Books
Just a reminder that we are promoting the Entertainment Book again this year. The good news is that it is a digital membership only this year so no hard copy will come home.
If you would like to support us by purchasing a digital membership then follow the link below. Our school receives 20% from each sale. Plus if you sign up now then you will receive 2 months FREE extra membership.
St Anthony's Entertainment Book Fundraiser
In The Wings Drama Classes
