IN THIS WEEK’S NEWSLETTER

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NEWS FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Kia Ora, Ni Hao, Bula Vinaka, Malo e lelei, Kia Orana, Tālofa, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Bonjour, Xin Chao, and Kumusta Whānau,

Welcome to our final newsletter of Term 2 in 2026. Next week we look forward to the celebration of Chinese Language Week. Follow this link to find the ‘5 days, 5 phrases’ challenge – a great opportunity to learn a little bit of Mandarin or Cantonese!

Parish Connect We celebrate with the wonderful Fr Terry next week as he commemorates 60 years in the priesthood. Fr Terry has devoted his life in service to our Lord through his priestly mission and we are so grateful for his unending positivity and dedication to our parish, leading with Jesus at the heart of all he does.

Please follow this link for this Sunday’s readings to read and discuss as a family.

PTA Bingo Night Last Friday night we had a brilliant time in our school hall playing bingo – the adults only evening was well attended with lots of laughs and a real competitive edge. I have never seen a hall of adults so utterly quiet as the final bonus round was called by our amazing bingo caller, Shandel Ngan Woo-Pulevaka! Huge thanks to Shandel, and to Praveena Sundram and the team for organising this fun community event.

Outdoor Table Tennis Over the last few Thursdays Dinyar from Auckland Table Tennis has come to school and worked with our Year 5 and 6 students, teaching more about the art of table tennis on the outdoor table tennis table up on the flat concrete landing pad at the top of the steps to our school field. This is a great piece of outdoor play equipment that can also be used by families outside of school hours.

Student Leaders Formation Opportunity On Tuesday our student leaders had the opportunity to work with Kelly from Thrive, learning more about being a confident speaker in front of a group and how to approach different situations within the playground with the lens of support and restorative justice. These skills are put into practice as our student leaders help to monitor the playground and provide assistance when needed.

HPPA Football Yesterday our football team has represented us at the HPPA football tournament. This tournament was modified from a two day competition into a single day shortened form due to the poor weather on Wednesday. Despite working hard in their preparation, our team came up against stiff competition, coming away from the day without a win. They did however, come away with a nail-biting 3:2 loss in their final game against Elm Park Primary. Well done to Arthur and Seb for scoring two great goals and well done to the team for their great sportsmanship! Huge thanks to Mr Peterson who coached the team, Mrs Davids for helping with coaching and subbing our boys and to Mr Campbell for taking care of them on the day.

Garin House Assembly It was great to see everyone dressed in their house colours today for our termly house assembly, hosted this term by Garin House. During the liturgy to open the assembly the school learnt more about Fr Garin and his importance in our school history as the Marist Priest who started Our Lady Star of the Sea School back in 1848 at the request of Bishop Pompallier, the first bishop of New Zealand. The house game was a great success, with Maher House taking out first place in the competition.

Looking Ahead Next week, our last week of term 2, sees our first collection for the upcoming Twilight Market, Lucky Dip Item Collection. Bring along small toys fit for a boys or girls lucky dip to help make the offerings on the night super fun and special. Our Matariki Sleepover is taking place on Friday night of the last week of term – an opportunity for whanaungatanga with shared kai, a performance by our Kapa Haka ropu and great Matariki inspired activities too. Our Kapa Haka students, and members of our Maori roll are really looking forward to this celebration.
School Holidays Monday 6th July to Friday 17th July. Mid Year Reports will be sent home on Friday 17th July.
School recommences for Term 3 on Monday 20th July with Parent, Student, Teacher Conferences scheduled for the afternoon/evening of Thursday 23rd July.

I wish you a safe and blessed last week of term and school holiday period, until we next share news and updates from our beautiful school in our next school newsletter.

Arohanui, Zhù hǎo, ‘Ofa lahi atu,  Tōfa soifua, Cordialement, Loloma levu, Fakaue lahi, 안부 인사를 전합니다 , salamat po

Louise Campbell
Tumuaki/Principal

NEWS FROM THE DRS

Encounter with Christ:
Matariki July 2026 –  Matariki is the star that signifies our connection to the environment, to each other and to the gathering of people. Matariki signifies hope. 

 The new light of Matariki has risen!
May it be to you a sign of resurrection and new life.
May it be to you a sign of hope in times of darkness.
May it be to you a sign of the wondrous mystery of Atua who loves you.
May it be to you a sign that the eyes of the Eternal One are ever upon you
and that the presence of the Holy One is ever with you.
May this be the cause of your rejoicing.
Go in peace.
Through Christ and in the perfect unity of the Holy Spirit, we pray.

Amen

Rooms 18 and 7 will lead the school through a liturgy for Matariki on the morning of Friday 3 July. You are welcome to attend. 

A message from Father Terry – The next Parish Alpha course starts on Sunday, 2 August at 6 p.m.Alpha is a gentle introduction to the Christian faith with other people who are also exploring their spirituality. Read more about it on the Parish Website, where you can also sign up.  There will be a Mandarin group and a daytime group is there is a call for it. BYO friend.

Growth in Knowledge:
The Good News theme for Religious Education lessons draw to a conclusion this week. Expect to see your child’s Religious Education workbook coming home next week. As always, there will be a response sheet for parents to complete after going through the learning with your child. Please ask your child to share their learning with you. A copy of the whanau page was sent home via Seesaw earlier in the term and is glued into most workbooks. You might like to refer to that when you  complete the parent response form, highlighting the aspects of learning your child shares with you.  Their workbooks will need to be returned to school by the end of next week.  Thank you for your support with this. 

Christian Witness:
Celebration of Faith – This coming week, Fr Terry will be celebrating a huge milestone  – 60 years of priestly ministry. Father Terry shares the light of Christ with humility and generosity. He has been a presence in our parish school community for many years, as parish priest, and now as priest in residence. On Sunday 5 July after the 9am Mass we will gather in the parish centre to celebrate this wonderful man. Please bring a plate of food to share.

Knitting Club – 26 blankets will have been created this term for the Middlemore Foundation. A huge achievement. We thank the adults who have supported the group – the ones who arrive each week to support the children,  the ones who send in squares and strips to be made into blankets, and the ones who support their child’s knitting skills at home.  

“We are a Christ centred community fostering belonging (whanaungatanga)
and outreach through selfless giving (manaakitanga)
in Mary’s Way”.

ATTENDANCE DUES

Statements have been emailed this week. A reminder that unless you are paying regular instalments or direct debit, the term 2 fees should be fully paid by now.  The term 3 amounts are due by 25 August.   If you would like to discuss your account in confidence, please contact Sue Yandell – syandell@starofthesea.school.nz and make a time to discuss your account.

NEWS FROM THE PARENTS COMMITTEE

What a Successful Bingo Night!

Once again, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the parents who attended our Bingo Night with their friends and families, helping make it a truly outstanding success. It was a wonderful evening filled with fun, excitement, and plenty of laughter.

We are especially grateful to our dedicated volunteers for their invaluable support and commitment. It is always a pleasure to witness our community come together and contribute so positively, making each event enjoyable and memorable for everyone involved.

A special mention goes to our bingo caller for the evening, Shandel. Thank you for your engaging presence, enthusiasm, and wonderful sense of humour, which brought energy to the room and kept everyone entertained throughout the night.

The NZ General Knowledge-A-Thon is Coming!

Get ready for an exciting and engaging learning challenge! This year, with the wonderful support of our PTA, our school will be hosting a General Knowledge-A-Thon during Weeks 1 and 2 of Term 3, with testing taking place in Week 3.

Students from each year level will be given a set of questions to learn at the beginning of Week 1. Each group will have a tailored number of questions designed to suit their level, making this a fun and achievable challenge for everyone.

We encourage students to seek sponsorship from family and friends during Weeks 1 and 2.

Sponsors can choose to support students either:

  • Per correct answer, or
  • By making a fixed donation.

After the testing in Week 3, students will have two weeks to collect their sponsorship funds. Contributions can be returned to the school or deposited directly into the PTA bank account.

This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to build knowledge, confidence, and a love of learning—while also supporting a meaningful cause. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference. Even $5–$10 per child will go a long way in helping us develop and enhance our field and play spaces for all students to enjoy.

Let’s come together as a community to make this event a fun, rewarding, and successful experience for everyone involved!

Stay tuned—more details will be shared soon!

Book Week is Almost Here!

The countdown is on for an exciting Book Week in Week 2 next term, featuring our much-loved Book Fair, open before and after school. We are looking for two volunteers per session to help make this event a success.

Special Event – Grandparents Day Friday 24 July | 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM

We need at least 3 helpers for this special celebration. Book Fair Volunteer Shifts:

Monday 27 July – Thursday 30 July
Morning: 8:20 – 9:00 AM
Afternoon: 2:30 – 3:00 PM
Friday 31 July
Morning: 8:20 – 9:00 AM

We’re looking for 2 helpers per shift. If you’re able to lend a hand, please click the link below and enter your details. Your support helps create a wonderful experience for our students and families!
Link- Book Week Helpers

Thank you for being part of our vibrant school community—we can’t wait to celebrate Book Week together!

Parents’ Evening Invitation

The PTA warmly invites all parents and caregivers to attend our upcoming Parents’ Evening.

Date: Monday, 3 August 2026
Time: 7:00pm
Venue: Staffroom

This meeting is particularly important, as we will be finalising the PTA constitution. We kindly encourage as many parents as possible to attend, as your presence is needed to review and formally sign the constitution.

Your support and participation are greatly valued, and we look forward to working together to strengthen our school community.

Please email us if you have any questions at pta@starofthesea.school.nz

NEWS FROM THE TWILIGHT MARKET COMMITTEE

Twilight Market

Save the date: Friday 16th October 5-8pm

Planning is well underway for our upcoming Twilight Market, and we are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support and generosity of our wonderful school community. Events like these simply wouldn’t be possible without the help of our amazing families.

Over the coming weeks, we will be holding collection days for donations and would love your support. We will be seeking items such as:
• Lucky dip prizes
• Second-hand toys
• King-sized chocolate bars (Mufti Day)
• Non-perishable grocery items
• Bottled items

We are also looking for raffle prizes and would greatly appreciate any goods, services, vouchers, or financial contributions from families or local businesses.
If you have something you’d like to donate, would like to contribute towards raffle prizes, or are interested in having a stall at the Twilight Market, please get in touch with the team at twilightmarket@starofthesea.school.nz.

Thank you for helping us create another fantastic community event. We are so fortunate to have such supportive school whānau, and we truly appreciate every contribution, big or small.

Keep an eye on upcoming school communications for collection dates and further details.

Please email us if you have any questions at pta@starofthesea.school.nz.

NEWS FROM OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Discover, Create and Participate! Extra Curricular Activities for Term 3

Did you know we offer a range of fun and educational extra curricular activities for students to enjoy in Term 3?

After School Art Class Drawing, sketching, oil pastels, poster painting on Tuesdays 2:50 – 3:50pm. Contact Janet 027 655 5574 janeto@xtra.co.nz

After School Basketball Shoot for the stars on Thursdays 3 – 4pm. For years 4 – 6. Contact Blake info@swishedon.co.nz

Plus5 After School Sports Sessions An exciting sports skills class designed for kids to build confidence, coordination, and teamwork through fun games and activities! Contact www.plus5.co.nz

Chess Coaching Fun brain-boosting lessons for years 3 – 6 on Thursdays 12:15 – 1:15pm. Contact Paul paul@chesspower.co.nz

After School Chinese Lessons Mondays and Tuesdays 2:45pm to 4pm. Contact Anya language.anya@gmail.com

Thrive Speech and Drama helps children grow into confident speakers, Thursdays and Fridays. www.thrive.school.nz. Contact Kelly@thrive.school.nz

Piano Lessons Build confidence, creativity and musical skills in a fun and supportive environment. For Y 3-6, 30min lessons during class time. Contact 09 524 4119 lewiseady.co.nz/music-school

Click the arrows to view more information on our extra curricular opportunities:

NEWS FROM THE INFORMATION CENTRE

Book Week 2026 

Week 2 Term 3 27th – 31st July

Scholastic Book Fair – all week!

The Book Fair will be open in the library with a wide range of exciting books.

  • Friday 24th July – The Book Fair will be open after the Grandparents Day liturgy. Children are welcome to come and look around the Book Fair with their grandparents, book sales will be open!
  • Monday 27th – Friday 31st morning 8.20 – 9.00am
  • Monday 27th – Thursday 30th afternoon 2.30 – 3.00pm

Payment by EFTPOS or cash. 

Every purchase made helps to provide the school with books and resources for the library and classrooms – thank you for your support!

All purchases will go in the daily prize draw.

Two award winning NZ authors will be coming to visit

  • Wednesday 29th July: Sally Sutton

We are excited to welcome Sally Sutton to our school for Book Week.
She will speak to children in years 1- 4. Sally writes picture books, junior fiction and School productions for HīHā. We were the first school to perform her Birds of a feather production in 2022. We loved Sally’s last visit to us and can’t wait to welcome her back.

  • Thursday 30th July: Des Hunt

Our senior children are in for a treat when Des Hunt visits us for the third time. He writes gripping, eco-adventure mystery novels set in a New Zealand landscape. Now well into his 80s, former High School science teacher Des, will captivate our children by using the medium of his beloved chemistry and physics to show what makes a good story and how to write a great story that people will want to read. Things will definitely go off with a bang!

Des will have some of his books available for sale. We will send information home about this next term.

Book Character Dress-up Parade

  • Friday 31st July 9am in the hall 

The last day of Book Week is a celebration of our favourite book characters. Get your thinking hats on – who will you dress up as this year? 

Get creative! The following links might give you some inspiration:

30 Last Minute World Book Day costumes to make without a needle:
www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/30-last-minute-world-book-10976213

82 Last minute easy World Book costumes: www.madeformums.com/toddler-and-preschool/last-minute-easy-world-book-day-costumes/ 

Extra activities:

  • Competitions!
  • Quizzes!
  • Arts & crafts!
  • Buddy reading around the school!
  • Fun classroom activities!

NEWS FROM THE UNIFORM SHOP

KEY DATES

TERM DATES

Term 1 Starts Tuesday 3 February 2026
Term 1 Finishes Thursday, 2 April 2026
Term 2 Starts Monday, 20 April 2026
Term 2 Finishes Friday, 3 July 2026
Term 3 Starts Monday, 20 July 2026
Term 3 Finishes Friday, 25 September 2026
Term 4 Starts Monday, 12 October 2026
Term 4 Finishes Wednesday, 16 December 2026

COMMUNITY NOTICES

There are plenty of community messages to explore! Click the arrows to view all notices.

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