Dear Families,

Welcome to our second newsletter of Term 2, it is hard to believe we are already one month into our school term.

Parish Connect Many of you who attend either 8am or 9.30am Mass at our Parish on a Sunday may wonder about the two traditional songs which are regularly sung at the end of these Masses. Fr John, in his latest email out to parishioners, gives an insight into these taonga that connect us with those who have gone before us in our worship and expression of faith:
Why We Sing the REGINA CAELI (“O Queen of Heaven)  and the SALVE REGINA (“Hail, Holy Queen”)
…I think we are very lucky.  If we were on a marae our kaumatua (elders) would chant the ancient songs passed down from generation to generation and we would learn them by listening to them.  They are “taonga” or “treasures” to be shared with every succeeding generation.  It would be a great pity if,  in our “whare karakia”- house of prayer, (the Church) we lost that connection with our ancestors in the faith.  Especially in a Church like ours dedicated to Mother Mary, Our Lady Star of the Sea, it seems fitting that we learn the chants of the generations who have gone before us and sing to her as they did asking her protection and intercession.
If you are not on the Parish email list and wish to receive regular updates about the activity in our busy parish, contact the parish office on 09 534 8710 to add your email address to their list. 

The 175th Jubilee Committee would like to share the plan for celebrations across the weekend of August 11th
Friday11th August:

(1) SCHOOL IN THE OLD DAYS The children of Our Lady Star of the Sea will attend school dressed as children would in the olden days and participate in old fashioned lessons.
(2) DRINKS AND NIBBLES IN THE SCHOOL HALL from 5.00pm – 7.00pm A family-friendly start to the weekend. Come along to meet and greet, see old photos and memorabilia from School, Orphanage, and Parish

Saturday 12th August:  

 (1) MEMORIAL REQUIEM MASS at 10.00am: here in our Parish Church,  a chance to remember past parishioners, school and orphanage attendees who are no longer with us. The Mass will conclude with a Procession into our Cemetery to bless the Graves of those who lie there.

 (2) 175th ANNIVERSARY LUNCHEON:  at 12.30pm

This Luncheon for 200 will be held at the Howick Pakuranga Community Sports Centre (in Lloyd Elsmore Park).  This is a formal Lunch with Speakers suitable for Adults.  Details of Cost per Head and formal Registration (which will be compulsory) will be released in June.

 Sunday 13th August:

 (1)  ANNIVERSARY MASS at 9.00am Bishop Steve Lowe(the Bishop of Auckland) will be the Principal Celebrant of this special Anniversary Mass here in our Parish Church (which will replace the 8.00am & 9.30am Masses that day).

 (2)  175th PICNIC  and OLD SCHOOL AND ORPHANAGE WALKTHROUGH  at 12 noon,  at 29 Granger Road, Cockle Bay.    Bring a Picnic or Shared Lunch to the old School and Orphanage Site.  Enjoy the guided walks through the buildings and grounds.  A photographer will be able to take “decade photographs”  of past parishioners and students.

 Monday 14th August:  from 9.30am to 2.00pm

An Open Day at our School, 14 Oakridge Way, Northpark.  Make a visit to the School and walk through the current classrooms from 9am to 12.20pm. You are also welcome to stay on in the afternoon for ‘Star Idol’, our annual talent quest.

Tuesday 15th August:   at 11.15am

Our Lady Star of the Sea School Feast Day Mass in the Parish Church.  Join the school and parishioners at Mass in our Church to celebrate our Feast Day,  the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into Heaven. 

Click here for this Sunday’s readings.

Mother’s Day Liturgy On Monday we were blessed to have lots of our Mums, Grandmas, Aunties and other special Mother-figures in our lives come to our Mother’s Day Liturgy. We also had a lovely morning tea to celebrate afterwards which was well attended by our lovely Mums. What a gorgeous way to celebrate the gift that our Mothers are to our children, our families and our community.

Road Safety Week Road safety Week has seen classes learning alongside the Auckland Transport Facilitators, learning about road safety. Next week this journey continues with practical sessions. See later in this newsletter for further information.

Knitting Club is Under Way! We are so pleased that each Wednesday, from 12.40pm , in our Information Centre, parents, grandparents, teachers and children alike are knitting up a storm! As our current Christian Witness Outreach project, Middlemore hospital will benefit from the blankets that will be produced from the steadily building peggy squares that are being made. If you wish to join us, please do so – the more the merrier!

Pink Shirt Day Thank you to all who supported us in raising awareness against bullying today by wearing pink shirts. See later in the newsletter for photos and more information.

Covid cases are still bubbling through the school. If your child shows symptoms of Covid please test them and keep them home. We are still finding that it can take up to four days for Covid to register on a RAT test, so, rather than testing once and sending them to school, please continue to test if your child shows symptoms. There is still a 7 day isolation requirement. If your child does test positive for Covid, please continue to let us know.

A Collective Statement from Principals You may have seen in the media that primary and area school principals who are NZEI TE Riu Roa members have voted to stop working with the Ministry of Education and to limit our work hours. We have taken this action as we believe it is necessary to highlight the significant issues that we need to address in the current round of negotiations. We are committed to continuing to lead our schools and to ensure that they are safe, healthy places where students are learning during this time. Our day-to-day work to do this will continue, but we will no longer be working with the Ministry on their education system work or to introduce or implement new initiatives. As principals we make a significant contribution of time and expertise to this work. There is little additional resource or staffing to support this which has a negative impact on us. We will continue to meet with our boards. We will not be available for work or to be contacted before 8am and after 5pm on weekdays. This includes sending or receiving digital communications. We will also not be available at all on Saturday, Sunday or public holidays. We hope to receive an acceptable offer in negotiations and will end the work ban when that happens.

Looking Back As well as our usual programmes of work and varied activities on offer, our young learners have enjoyed a trip to the Museum, the girl’s football field day, Science Roadshow, National Young Leaders Day, the writers festival and the HPPA Rugby competition over the past two weeks since our last newsletter.

Looking Ahead This Sunday 21 May, 5:30pm is our Parish Family Mass, please come along in support as our students lead the Mass and music in our Parish Church. Next Week Bike and Scooter Lessons will form the next part of our Road Safety Week campaign. I am looking forward to hosting Coffee with the Principal on Monday 22nd May from 2.15 in the Staff Room, come along for a hot drink and a chat. Buddy Masses continue on Wednesday with Room 19 and 17 celebrating Mass together in our chapel space. Our teachers continue their professional development journey with the team from Massey University around a structured approach to teaching literacy. The week of Monday 29th May will see us celebrating Samoan Language Week with lots of great activities planned with the support of our fabulous Fono Parent Group.

Wishing you all a happy and safe fortnight ahead before our next newsletter is published.

Ngā mihi nui and cǐ zhì jìng lǐ,

Louise Campbell
Principal

Before the Mission Sisters came to Howick Miss Mary Mulkere taught in the one roomed school room. The school room was located in a field which was later developed by the Howick Borough Council into Parkhill Road. At the Parkhill intersection with Picton Street were the Catholic Tennis Courts. The Sister’s House was located in Picton Street near the present Walter McDonald Street. 

We are Easter people! The Easter season continues for 50 days. We remember how Jesus spent time with the disciples, preparing them for Pentecost and for the coming of the Holy Spirit. It is a time of joy, of hope and of peace. How we can be Easter people is the question for us all.  

                                       This term’s Religious Education focus is the Our Story theme. Our Year 1 & 2 students will come to know how unique they are, how they are a gift from God and how much God loves them; Year 3 & 4 students will focus on being a member of God’s family and how through Baptism we can become part of God’s church; Year 5 & 6 will examine the connections between the parish school’s history and the place they take as an active member of this community. Each of these contexts from the new Religious Education Curriculum connects to being Easter people today in our 175th year of being part of the catholic community in Howick

One of the ways we can grow our relationship with Jesus is by participating in the Alpha programme run through  our parish. The programme will start Sunday 11 June and there is an option for both Mandarin speakers and English speakers. Contact the parish office for more information 09 534 8710

Buddy class Masses have begun. You are welcome to celebrate with us. Masses will be on Wednesday’s at 11:15am. Check the school website calendar to see when your child’s buddy class Mass is. Donations to the parish foodbank  are very welcome. Thanks to Father John and Father Terry for making themselves available each week. 

Sunday 21 May, 5:30pm is our first Family Mass. Students from our school community will lead the 5:30pm parish Mass. Please come along and support them. As it is a family Mass students may come in their home clothes. A big thanks goes to Olivia Min, Linson Yeh, Max Zhang (past pupil) and Catherine Won (Olivia’s mum) who will lead the music. 

Mea ana te atawhai haere mai i runga i te aroha me te awhi
Mercy invites us to love and to care

Prayer Intention: God of Mercy,  we pray for people in New Zealand and around the world who are rebuilding their lives after living through a natural disaster. 

Order your Lasagne today and support the school!

Yesterday you would have received a flyer about our Lasagne fundraiser.  We’d love your support.  Order forms to be returned to classroom teachers by 2 June please.

Payment and collection information on the attached flyer.

Save the date for our next Disco!
Mark the 16 June in your diary… our school disco promises great music, pizza, glowsticks and lot’s of fun!   Held in the school hall 6-8pm.

Parents committee meeting – 12 June
It would be great to have your support at the parents committee meeting – we have some exciting things planned in the coming months and many hands make light work.  Meeting will be held in the staffroom from 7-8pm.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE DUES

Term 2 statements have been emailed out.  Due date for Term 2 payments is 10 June

If you would like to discuss a payment plan, please do contact Sue Yandell in strictest confidence:  [email protected]

On Friday 5th May, the senior team classes traveled to the Auckland Museum by bus as part of our concept learning – Our Stories. We discovered new learning about the history of the first people who arrived in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

I learnt about how Maori used greenstone or pounamu as a tool, particularly as a weapon called a Patu. Obsidian stone was also used as a tool for cutting, like a knife. The first people to come to New Zealand came from South East Asia, and from Polynesia, Hawaiki.

By Gareth McLay Room 18

At the museum, we got to hold a Moa bone artefact and we learned about how the Maori hunted it for its meat, feathers and bones. My favourite artefact to hold was the Obsidian stone. The staff told us not to drop it because it wasn’t as hard as it is in Minecraft. It was very fragile and surprisingly light.

By Micah Nathan  Room 18

The first people to arrive in New Zealand came from Polynesia and Hawaiki. They came in search of land because they were losing land to rising water. Thai was because of the glaciers melting from the ice age and raising sea levels. They sailed here in a waka but it was a very hard journey. To navigate their way, they used the stars and the sun. They also used the clouds because normally big clouds are found on top of land. Birds were also helpful to their navigation because birds would fly towards land.

By Lucian Gonzales  Room 18

Mothers Day Writing

My Mum
My Mum is like a teacher, she teaches me the most valuable and important things in life.
My mum is like a brush, sweeping away the bad things.
My Mum is like the ocean, gentle but powerful.
My Mum is like a flower, blooming in the sunshine pretty like a rose.
My Mum is like a virus, infecting everyone with compassion and love.
My Mum is like a diamond, precious and crystal clear, shining in the moonlight.
My Mum is like a guardian angel, leading me through the dark times.
My Mum is like an artist, passionate about lots of things.
Happy Mothers Day Mama.

By Nayra Bailey Room 18.

My Mum is like a chef, serving us delicious meals.
My Mum is like a shield, protecting me from harm.
My Mum is like spring, blossoming and blooming with happiness.
My Mum is like an  ocean, beautiful and warm.
My Mum is like a teddy bear, looking after me at night.
My Mum is like a comedian, making me laugh.
My Mum is like a gym teacher, making sure I am fit.
My Mum is like a dictionary, helping me with my errors.
My Mum is like a nurse, caring for me when I am hurt.

By Malachai Chan Mow Room 18.

Science Roadshow

On Wednesday 10th May, the middle and senior team attended the Science Roadshow in the hall at school.  The Roadshow provides quality interactive learning experiences in science, technology and innovation to New Zealand students. It has been doing so continuously since the first Science Roadshow ‘hit the road’ in 1988.  The programme includes live shows, hands-on exhibits and resources that broaden student knowledge and experiences connecting them with science and technology and the world around them. Twelve students were chosen to hep facilitate the exhibits and the feedback from the Science Roadshow personnel was that all the students were “conscientious, respectful, and related well to their peers”…awesome dispositional goals on display!

Today was the Science Roadshow.  It was very fun.  First we had a show about sound.  I learned that kids can hear about 20000  hertz and adults 14000 hertz.  After the exhibit time we had another show about materials which was very interesting.  During the show a flamethrower was brought out to test flamable substances or materials.  They also showed us how to coat a metal with another metal.  Altogether it was a good experience.
Ethan Ho Room 21

At the Science Roadshow my favourite part was the Absorption exhibition.  I noticed that water is the best for the jelly crystals because it dissolves the best. The science roadshow is extraordinary and has lots of science facts.
Maria Sandoval Room 15

My favourite exhibition at the Science Roadshow was the metal detector. The metal detector finds metal that you lost. You need to use a metal detector to find spoons, locks, keys and coins in the hay. The Science Roadshow was so much fun.
Isla Robb Room 15

At the Science Roadshow my favourite exhibition was the giant kaleidoscope. I noticed that when I ducked under the walls there were three mirror on the walls and when you looked in a mirror you could see a really cool mirror maze ahead of you. There are so many different and interesting things that could play with and learn from,  it is always super fun.
Rach Chun Room 15

I went to the Science Roadshow. I was excited to see what was going to happen. They got out a balloon and I saw them getting a plastic cover in front of the balloon. They stuck some fabric at the bottom of the balloon. They put the fire on the fabric. “POP!” goes the first one. The other one didn’t pop because it was made out of special fabric.
Layla Ieremia Room 16

Firstly I gazed at a New Zealand Map. But not a paper one. It was magnetic. The New Zealand map had all the places and a light next to it. You had to put the magnetic words in the right place. Each bit of the map glowed when it was in the right place. It had lots of detail. “So fascinating,” I thought. It twinkled. I was amazed. I loved it. Hope we can go again next time.
Roseanne D’Silva Room 16

National Young Leaders Day

On Thursday the 11th of May 24 of our Year 6 badge holders who lead a group of students headed to the Dew Drop events centre for National Young Leaders Day.

The theme of the day was “Leading the Self”.

We listened to five inspirational speakers; Brad Smeele, Julia Grace, Graci Kim, DJ Forbes and Georgia Lines, each of which spoke about their journey of leading themselves through challenges to achieve success.

Our young leaders took away valuable messages around leadership such as:

‘Failure is necessary to gain success’
‘Look for the things that need doing and do them without being asked’
‘Be kind to yourself’
‘Recognise how you are feeling and let others know’
‘Have people in your life that can be your support when needed’
‘Become curious so you can discover even more about the world and its limitless possibilities’
‘Use the weapon of kindness to overcome those that challenge you’
‘Practice resilience until you succeed’
‘Leaders have PADS; Passion, Attitude, Discipline and Sacrifice’
‘Leaders are BRAVE; They demonstrate the correct Behaviour, they are Relatable, they are Adaptable, they have and show their Values, they circulate in the right Environments’
‘Control only the things you can control’
‘Navigate your own disappointment’

Each of the children that attended took away messages that connected with themselves. It was a privilege to attend NYLD and be amongst approximately 1200 other leaders all taking away messages of importance to them.

Special thanks to Mrs Debbie Geor and Mr Paul Naylor who gave up their time to help us out on the day and the amazing parents who transported us all to and from the event.

Auckland Writers Festival

On Wednesday 17th May eight talented writers from year 5 and 6 headed to the Aotea Centre in Auckland City to listen to some inspirational writers speak about their journey to success. Each writer shared some of their highs and lows, reiterating

the need to stay positive, be resilient and listen to feedback.

Each writer shared tips and tricks to becoming a good writer and entertained us with their personal journey.

All of the students that attended took away something to help them on their writing journey. From this experience they will be working hard throughout the year to create their own messages to enter into competitions or submit to publishers in the hope of getting their work published.

Thanks to our Information Centre leader Mrs Bell, for making this opportunity possible and reorganising her work schedule to join us on the day.

Road Safety Week

As you will be aware this week is Road Safety week. On Monday we had Claudine and Jacob in from Auckland Transport to teach the students in Years 1-4 about being safe on and around roads. They shared some great messages that hopefully your child has shared with you.

Next week all students in Years 2-6 will have class lessons on bike and scooter safety.

As adults, setting an example to our students about safe road use is important.

Here are some important messages from our Road Safety team

• Please try to use the patrolled crossing area when it is in operation. Crossing on the corner is not safe as drivers do not have 100m vision.
• At the back gate please use the pram crossing area to cross on – there is good viability for drivers when you use this section
• Please don’t double park at the back gate – this congests the road and blocks other drivers
• Getting your children out on the road side as opposed to the kerb side is also unsafe. Please try to encourage your child to get out on the kerb side to keep them safe.
• Please do not do U Turns on Oakridge Way – this blocks the flow of traffic and congests the road for people who are crossing.
• Please try to encourage walking to school by dropping your child off on Orangewood Drive and getting them to walk the short distance into school.
• Please do not park on yellow lines outside the school entrances to drop your children off
• Please be aware there are specific no parking spaces on the roads outside our school these are marked by the signs displayed in the pictures below

Thank you so much for helping to keep our students safe by using the road in a safe way. We would hate to have an accident occur around our school gates because of unsafe road use.

Date to diary for next term

Book week

‘I’ve got a story to tell’

Term 2 Week 10

Fun activities, competitions, Scholastic Book Fair, author visits, Playhouse Theatre and our wonderful costume parade!

More details to follow in the next few weeks.

The Auckland Writers Festival have amazing fun family activities organised this Saturday and Sunday. 

Click here to find out more about Pukapuka Adventures.

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