Week two

Welcome to a new week and the beginning of November.
A notice concerning camp went home today. We would appreciate these to be filled in and returned to school as soon as possible.
There is a school Mass tomorrow; All Saints' Day. Everyone is of course welcome to join us at 12 noon.
The Room 5 students have been enjoying debating over the last week. It was very amusing to see mixed teams debating the topic: 'that girls talk more than boys'. Naomi summed it up well for her team stating 'that the topic is sexist anyway and neither boys nor girls talk more' Tomorrow the topic under discussion is the desirability of school uniforms. Sadly for some it won't make any difference to St Mary's policy on school uniforms.
The annual year 8 versus the teachers netball game is taking place, weather permitting, on Friday lunch time. There has been sharpening of claws taking place secretly. Both sides are quite confident of winning. No fools like old fools. But who knows........ We promise there will be no eye gouging!

I hope your week goes well,

Regards and God bless

Kathleen Bradley


- Posted by Mrs Bradley

- Posted by Mrs Bradley


Michelle tells us about being in the Special Choir

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Claudia gets a special Principal's award for being a superb leader.

- Posted by Mrs Bradley

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Room 1 concentrating with all their might


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Assembly this morning

Claudia Shweta and Mikaela taking the school singing at assembly

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A Fantastic Music Festival

Weren't our students awesome! It was great to see all 2000 school students so enthusiastic and happy at the Music Festival last night. Everyone thought the excitement generated by such a variety of music made it a wonderful experience for both performers and audience. It's interesting and rather flattering to heat people comment on 'the wonderful behavior of the students from Catholic schools' it's nice to know we're being noticed for such positive things.

Congratulations to Junior and Michelle. We're so proud of you for representing our great school in the Special Choir.

Room 5 are learning how to debate this week. It's really tricky trying to convince your friends to agree with your side of the argument.

I was especially proud of some of our year 8s today. They realized that Mr O'Neill had not yet made a roster for leading assembly this term and took it upon themselves to do it and get things organized for tomorrow morning, leading the Rosary as well as taking assembly. These are the skills that are not examined or itemised in the school curriculum that are invaluable and will make our school students exemplary citizens and leaders of the future.

Hoping your days are happy and filled with smiles

Kathleen Bradley


- Posted by Mrs Bradley

Welcome back

I hope everyone had a super break and you are all ready for the final weeks of the school year. They promise as always to be very busy. This week, on Wednesday, of course we have the Music Festival. I am sending a note home with the tickets tomorrow(Tuesday ) about where to meet etc. It should be a thrilling concert. We have a rehearsal on Wednesday morning so students need to be at school by 8.45 that day.
Other dates to watch for this term are: 1st November All Saints Mass 12 noon. 8th Nov school photos.20th Nov First communion Mass. 23rd 25th Nov Room 5 camp.
As always if you have any queries or concerns please feel free to pop in and see me.

And of course didn't the All Blacks do brilliantly AND so did the Silver Ferns!!
I'm to refrain from saying 'we'.

God Bless
Kathleen Bradley

- Posted by Mrs Bradley

Have a wonderful holiday

I hope you all have a great break. Keep well and stay safe. Come back refreshed and full of life for an awesome term 4. Thank you, parents, for getting the payments in for the MusicFestival. Every single dollar was paid. We really appreciate that. The tickets will come home with the students on Tuesday 25th Oct for the concert the next evening. There will also be a notice about pick up places and times at the Arena.
All the best see you in a couple of weeks,

Kathleen Bradley


- Posted by Mrs Bradley

The Teachers

For ALL the St Mary's teachers! THANK YOU!!!

Mrs Mac Donald in room one
Always made learning
Heaps of fun!

And also Miss Williamson too
Helped us learn the sounds for
The words like choose!

In room two
Miss Madden was there
With her nice long, blonde hair!

Mrs Anthony in room three
Had to leave halfway through
To have a baby!

Mrs Wilkens in room four
Always has a smile
When she walks through the door!

Finally in room five Mrs Bradley
Stands with pride, as she farewells us
After completing a job well done!

And also not to forget the princepal
Of the school, Mr O' Neill who takes
Us on camp and brings Mr Whippy to school!

By: Zoe Rodricks

Teachers

For ALL the teachers!

You've helped us
Every step of the way
From room one shaping us
into the people we've become today.
It's awesome how you've helped
Every single one of us
Through all the good times
and the rough!
I guess what I am trying to say
Is thank you for helping us
Become who we are today!

By:Zoe Rodricks

Toys

TOYS

As soon as I go to bed
After all my toys are put away
They always come out to play again!
Once they're sure everyones asleep
They'll run and jump all around
Managing not to drop anything down.
They'll play some tricks on my dad
And maybe even tie up Tad.( my little brother)
But then when a ray of sunlight sparkles on in
They all fall asleep
Even if they're in the cookie tin!

So if the next day
Your solar system's in a spin
You'll know the toys are out of the box
And it's going to be hard to get them back in!

By: Zoe Rodricks

Cameron

My culture
Kia Ora bro, my name is Cameron, and this is my culture. My culture is Maori/European. My mum is Maori and my dad is British. I was born and raised right here in Christchurch. My mums family have been living here in new Zealand for generations. But on my dads side I am a first generation kiwi. That is my culture, and I'm proud of it !

Skateboarding

Room 5(and James) having a wonderful time skateboarding this afternoon. There were a few bangs and bumps but most were convinced it was worth it.

- Posted by Mrs Bradley


Tsuyoshi, Daniel and Cameron getting fitted out.


Zoe,Claudia,Olivia and Shweta making sure their wrists are protected.


Maria putting her boots on.


Almost mastered the skill!!!!


Perhaps a video would have captured the speed better.


James ready for action.


Bobby Jo attempts the ramp.


Oh dear!


Alice takes off with confidence.

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The boys frantically finishing work before school. Lots of shared learning going on here!

Naomi

I was born and raised right here in New Zealand. I speak English and know no other language. What's so special about my family's culture you ask, well we may not go to Mass regularly, say our prayers every night or bless our food in the making but we still have a strong Catholic belief,
My family is much the same as any and we certainly do not have any cultural rules or any foreign culture at all.






My father doesn't have any beliefs. He has been to church once in his whole life and both his parents are from New Zealand. Well his adoptive parents are anyway, but he still respects the fact that my mother and I are Catholic.
My siblings on the other hand are still too young to understand about what we believe as Catholics. They can both speak fluent Maori and try to teach us as much Te Reo as possible.
My family is diverse in so many ways and we are proud to call New Zealand home.
Naomi Cole

Welcome to our blog for the last week of term

It's hard to believe it's October already but isn't the weather getting more beautiful every day.(it'll probably rain now that I said that).
This week will be another busy one; I am testing the students in both Reading and Maths using the asTtle tests and I while I am away on Tuesday updating my First Aid certificate Room 5 will be the capable hands of Mrs Moyle.
The festival choir sang some of the songs at assembly on Friday and although they said they were nervous it sounded really great. I must pass on too the complimentary comment the Press photographer made about the confident and meaningful way our senior students conducted the assembly. It is so wonderful that they are able to do this each week with such maturity and so gain the respect of the younger students at school.
I hope your week is an enjoyable one and that you achieve all you have planned.
God Bless

- Posted by Mrs Bradley