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,

I couldn’t resist taking a final opportunity to share the wonderful final two and a half days of our school year with you all and to take one
last opportunity to wish you all of God’s love and blessings for a wonderful Christmas and holiday time!
End of Year Outings please enjoy these images of our students at their end of year outings enjoyed by all on Monday of this week.
Year 6 Leavers Evening On Monday evening we had a very special leavers event. Our Year 6 families gathered for a picnic dinner together than enjoyed a liturgy and speeches. We acknowledged those families leaving our community, some after many years of association with our school as their youngest departs in Year 6 – a very special farewell indeed!
End of Year Mass Yesterday our school bussed up to our Parish Church for our end of year Mass. It was wonderful to acknowledge our school leaders and leavers as well as hear the students who will make up our student council in 2026. The candle ceremony, passing on the leadership of the school from our Year 6 leavers to our Year 5’s, soon to be next years Year 6 leaders was also a special part of our Mass Celebrations. Congratulations to our student council members of 2026:
Liturgy Team Leaders – Junia-Rose Pereira and Zeke Mascarenhas
Environmental Team Leaders – Tobiah Chan Mow and Sofie Smith
Barbier House – Emily Crouch and Caiden Pichay
Garin House – Josh Arnott and Celestine Escobal
Maher House – Jenny Maree Finau and Roseanne D’Silva
McAuley House – Layla Ieremia and Ethan Wang
Final Assembly and Guard of Honour for Our Year 6 Leavers Today we finished our school year with a lovely liturgy. At the end of this liturgy our school filed out of the hall and made a guard of honour which our Year 6 leavers walked through to cheers and claps, as they made their way up to their classrooms for the last time as Our Lady Star of the Sea pupils. We wish them all our love and all God’s blessings as they prepare to begin their Year 7 schooling at their respective intermediate departments in 2026.
School recommences in 2026 on Tuesday 3rd February.
Community Dreaming Day 2026 – Save the Date: Saturday 7th March from 2pm to 4pm please secure this date and time in your calendar. We are very much looking forward to reviewing our goals and activity over the past three years, and planning forward for activity in the next three years at this important strategic planning day – there will be food and entertainment for the children while the adults come together to share and dream big for our school. More details to come closer to the time.
I wish you a safe and blessed holiday.
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
JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE


The Jubilee Year calls us to journey, as pilgrims, in hope throughout our lives and wait, not with our hands in our pockets but by actively taking part.
“God involves us in His story, in His dreams. To hope, then, is to participate. this is a gift that God gives us.” Pope Leo XIV
Encounter with Christ:
Christmas is fast approaching. We are heading into the third week of Advent when the rose coloured candle, the candle of Joy is lit. This candle reminds us of the JOY and the excitement we feel as we move closer and closer to Christmas, the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Yet in our Catholic traditions, Christmas is more than one day. It is a season which starts with the vigil Mass on Christmas eve and goes through to the Feast of the Epiphany, traditionally January 6, when we mark the arrival of the three Kings. Christmas Day begins the story of God’s love for us all through the gift of Jesus. There are many ways we prepare for Christmas. Please mark the timetables below into your family schedule.
Sacrament of Reconciliation Rite II for Christmas:
Thursday 18 December, 7pm at St Patrick’s, Panmure.
Christmas Mass timetable for our parish:
Christmas Eve Wednesday 24 December
Carols 6:00pm
Vigil Mass 6:30pm (Family Mass)
Carols 9:00pm
Mass 9:30pm (replacing the Midnight Mass)
Christmas Day Thursday 25 December
Family Mass 9am

“We are a Christ centred community
fostering belonging (whanaungatanga)
and outreach
through selfless giving (manaakitanga)
in Mary’s Way”.
ATTENDANCE DUES
The Auckland Catholic Diocese has recently advised us of an increase to the compulsory Attendance Dues and Catholic Special Character Contribution for 2026.
A full letter of explanation will come home in February 2026, however we wish to advise the fees for 2026 will be increasing by a total of $20 to $1,088 per child per year (i.e. $272 per term).
NEWS FROM THE UNIFORM SHOP
OUR LADY STAR OF THE SEA SCHOOL
Join Our Team of Parent Volunteers!
Help Keep Our Uniform Shop Running
Can you help with one of these roles?
STOCKTAKE
3 hours every two months
Conducted during school hours and recorded on a Google Doc.
ORDERING
10 hours in May to place the major annual orders.
5 hours in September and December tracking and receipting incoming orders.
UNIFORM SHOP SHIFT – Fortnightly Thursday mornings, alternating with Olivia.
WHY VOLUNTEER?
- Support our students and school community
- Meet other wonderful parents
- Learn new skills in a fun, friendly environment
- Make a visible difference every week!
Uniform Shop (next to Room 1)
✅ Contact:
Olivia Kelly
021 661 236
[email protected]
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 |








































