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 second newsletter of Term 4 in 2026. It is great to see the cultural celebration of Diwali present in our local community this week.
Thank you for the lovely messages of good wishes as I prepare to depart for medical leave – I really appreciate all the prayers. I look forward to making a full recovery and being ready to take on 2027! The school is in safe hands with Karen Noble Campbell for the remainder of the year. I know you will join me firstly in thanking her in advance for stepping up, and secondly, for your support of her as she manages the load of Principal at such a busy time of the school year.
Parish Connect The summary of the recent Parish consultation with regard to Liturgy has been made available. It is heartening to understand the value our Parish community place on celebrating the Mass, sharing Eucharist and experiences of parish community. A strong theme was present in the feedback related to music ministries for the inspiration to pray, how music encourages participation and brings the community together in worship. Other themes were connected to meaningful homilies, warm welcome and opportunities for children and youth to participate in liturgy. The summary pulled the voice into one overarching statement : our parishioners care deeply about liturgy and want our parish to continue to grow as a vibrant, prayerful, welcoming faith-filled community. Whether you had your say or not, I am sure you can see the themes shared resonating with your own expression of faith alive as members of a parish community. It is great to know our parish is listening to the voice of the community.
Watch this clip of Fr Terry reading this Sunday’s Gospel reading. I encourage you to use this reflection to talk as a family about the messages in this Sunday’s Gospel.
Year 5 and 6 classes in 2027 For many years, our Lady Star of the Sea School has operated composite Year 5 and 6 classes (two year levels in the same classroom). With the ongoing curriculum rollouts changing to curricula being delivered in year levels we have made the decision to separate our classes into straight year level classes next year. This means we will have two Year 5 classes and two Year 6 classes in operation. This is a trial for us, and we will monitor the outcomes of this change in configuration closely as the year unfolds. Thank you for your understanding of this change for 2027. If you have any questions about this please email our Year 4 to 6 Team Leader Denise Bailey dbailey@starofthesea.school.nz or our Deputy Principal Karen Noble Campbell knoblecampbell@starofthesea.school.nz.
Congratulations to past pupils who have obtained leadership roles at Sancta Maria College for 2027 We are thrilled that the following past pupils have been recognised as Year 13 prefects for next year; Ruiqi Jiang Head Girl, Drew Small Deputy Head Special Character, Blake Pennington Hokianga (House prefect), Karl Chun Kaitiakitanga, Yulia Kwon Academic, Liam Wu Arts, Winnie Zou Wellbeing. Congratulations!!!
Year 4 to 6 Athletics Despite a damp start to the day and a minor delay, we were fortunate that the weather held off yesterday and we managed to conduct our senior athletics. The event was well organised thanks to Mrs Ailsa Thorpe and the staff who helped her set up early in the morning. The day ran smoothly with the effort and preparation of our children clearly on display. See later in the newsletter for the results from the day and enjoy some images of the day below.
We will endeavour to host the Junior Run, Jump Throw event scheduled for today next week. More information to come.
Looking Back Our HPPA Zone Basketball and Touch Rugby teams had a blast at competitions last week. Read later in our newsletter for details and images.
Looking Ahead We look forward to the Year 1-3 Parent Information Evening with support from Nest Consulting next week entitled ‘Raising Safe, Confident Kids’. Those families who have registered are in for a very informative evening. We wish our School Athletics Team well as they compete at the HPPA Athletics Competition next Friday.
I wish you a safe and blessed fortnight ahead, 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:
People often talk about someone they may know who they think is a saint. Generally they are referring to someone who is very kind and ‘good’. Great qualities to have. The church refers to saints as living individuals who have dedicated themselves to the worship and service of God. All Saints Day was celebrated on the 1st of November. At this time we joined Catholics all around the world to remember and honour all the Saints in our lives. The saints we know and those we do not know. While we have information about many saints, and honour them on a specific day, there are many unknown, or unsung saints who may have been forgotten or have never been honoured specifically. On All Saints Day, we celebrated these holy men and women. When we were Baptised we promised to serve God and carry on Jesus’ work on earth, just as the Saints have done. We ask them to pray for us, and through the model of their lives, recognise how we can be a model of Christ’s love to others.
Throughout November, Catholics around the world remember and pray for those who have died and are now in the arms of Jesus. A simple Catholic prayer for those who have died is something to pass on to your children. ‘Eternal rest grant unto them o Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace’
During this month, our school Memorial book will be included in school and class liturgies at appropriate times to honour the memory of our loved ones. If you would like to have the name of someone special to you recorded in our school memorial book, please complete the form on our school website.
Growth in Knowledge:
Currently our young learners are working through the Our Story – A Tatou Whakapapa theme. But what is ‘Our Story’? Our story is the story of the Church, who we are and how we got here. Our stories as individuals can only be told in the context of whenua, tupuna and whakapapa — the bigger story of our families, our cultures, our faith and our lands. When we tell our children the story of our own family, how we came to be here in Aotearoa New Zealand, what brought us to live in Auckland, we should also include our faith stories. Make a point of sharing your family’s faith story . What it was like going to Mass when you were a child, the prayers you shared in your own family, if you had a job or ministry in the parish you grew up in, what type of outreach activities you were involved in, who your Confirmation Saint is etc etc. Children love to hear family stories. It helps to give them a sense of belonging and connection. All of these stories will help your children to grow their identity as Catholic christians in today’s world.
Christian Witness:
This weekend we have the opportunity to exercise our democratic right to vote. Students in the senior classes are investigating the electoral process. In the lead up to the election, the Catholic Bishops of Aotearoa New Zealand, have published a statement ‘Discerning our nation’s future through a Gospel lens.’ You might like to discuss the Catholic Social Teaching elements of the document as a family.
“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 2027.
A full letter of explanation will come home in February 2027, however we wish to advise the fees for 2027 will be increasing by a total of $20 to $1,108 per child per year (i.e. $277 per term).
NEWS FROM YOUR BOARD
A Message from Your Board
The Board was pleased to receive an update on the School’s Annual Plan and the progress being made towards the strategic priorities for 2026. Despite changes in Ministry of Education requirements throughout the year, the school remains well placed to achieve its goals and deliver strong outcomes for our students.
We also acknowledge the wide range of learning support and extension programmes available across the school. Through Ministry-funded initiatives and Board-supported programmes, students receive additional support and opportunities to extend their learning. The positive impact of these programmes is evident as we continue to see students thrive and reach their full potential.
The Board extends its heartfelt congratulations to everyone involved in this year’s Twilight Market, which was once again a tremendous success. We sincerely thank the Twilight Market Committee, PTA, staff, families, sponsors, and volunteers who contributed their time, energy, and aroha. Together, we raised an outstanding $24,571 towards the new school playground. This achievement reflects the strong community spirit that makes Our Lady Star of the Sea such a special place.
We are delighted to report that planning for the new playground is progressing well. Design development continues, and we are working through the final stages of planning before construction begins later this year. The Board is excited about the opportunities this space will create for our students.
As part of the Board’s commitment to good governance and preparing the school for the future, two new policies have been adopted: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Policy and our Privacy Policy. These provide guidance for the responsible use of emerging technologies while ensuring personal information is protected. We encourage families to read these policies, available on the school’s website under Board Minutes and Documents. https://www.starofthesea.school.nz/board-minutes-and-documents/
Thank you for your continued support of our school. God bless.
On behalf of your Board,
Bernice Chiam
NEWS FROM THE PARENTS COMMITTEE
Howick Santa Parade 2026
We’re excited to announce that Our Lady Star of the Sea School will once again be taking part in the Howick Santa Parade on Sunday, 13 December 2026!
This year’s theme is the Nativity Scene, and we have costume places available for 16 children. If registrations exceed these places, students are welcome to join our walking float dressed as Shepherds or Angels in their own costumes or proudly represent our school in their uniform.
A Google Form for registrations will be shared in the coming week, so keep an eye on the newsletters and Seesaw for further details.
We look forward to seeing our students bring the Christmas story to life and proudly spread the Christmas spirit through the streets of Howick!
Leavers Picnic for Year 6’s
As we prepare to farewell our Year 6 students and celebrate their time at Our Lady Star of the Sea, we invite the families of our Year 6’s to join us for the Leavers Picnic on Monday, 14 December 2026.
The picnic will begin at 5:30pm on the school COLA, followed by the formal presentations and proceedings at 6:30pm in the School Hall.
The PTA will be providing a free sausage sizzle and ice creams at the event to help make this a memorable occasion for our graduating students and their families. We look forward to celebrating this special milestone together.
PTA AGM Monday 2 November 2026
Our Annual AGM was a wonderful success, giving us the opportunity to reflect on the achievements and memorable events of 2026.
This year’s AGM was led by Lara Teixeira, marking her final AGM as PTA Chairperson. Lara shared a heartfelt reflection on her time in the role and the many successes achieved over the past few years.
On behalf of the school and PTA, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Lara Teixeira for her outstanding dedication, leadership, and commitment. Her hard work has made a lasting impact on our school community, and she leaves behind some very big shoes to fill. We are incredibly grateful for all she has contributed and wish her every success in her future endeavours.
We are also pleased to announce the PTA Officers for 2027:
Co-Chairs: Michelle Espinosa and Samisha Chopra
Secretary: Paola Garcia
Co-Treasurers: Jenna Morsink and Praveena Sundram
We look forward to another successful year ahead and thank all our PTA members and volunteers for their continued support of our school community.
Final PTA Meeting for 2026
The PTA warmly invites all parents and caregivers to attend our final PTA meeting for 2026, to be held on Monday, 30 November 2026 at 7:00pm in the Staff Room.
As we look ahead to 2027, this meeting will focus on planning next year’s events, fundraising initiatives, and activities that support our school community. It is a great opportunity to share ideas, get involved, and help shape another successful year for our students and families.
Whether you are a current PTA member, a regular volunteer, or simply interested in finding out more, we would love to see you there. New faces are always welcome, and every contribution, big or small, makes a difference to our school community. We look forward to seeing you there!
Please email us if you have any questions at pta@starofthesea.school.nz
NEWS FROM OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM
A slam dunk of a day at the HPPA Basketball
In late October ten very keen Year 5 and 6 boys took on the challenge of competing in the inaugural HPPA Basketball competition. This was held at Bruce Pulman Arena in Papakura. The boys were very keen to give it their best effort against the other 23 schools who had entered. The day was lots of fun. Over the course of the day the boys played 8 games and of the 8 they won 6. Our school ended up placing 17th out of 24. Each player reflected our Star of the Sea values and displayed sportsmanship throughout the day. All of the players connected as a team and supported one another to achieve. We are very proud of their efforts. Special thanks to Oliver Chiang and Damian Peterson who helped out on the day with coaching and scoring and Aimee Jina who helped out with transport. Mr Campbell helped coach the boys prior to the tournament, sharing his basketball knowledge with the new to basketball players. All the boys agreed that this is a competition we need to keep attending each year.
The Winning Touch! Throws and Thrills at the HPPA Touch Tournament
The day after the basketball competition, a talented team of year 5 and 6 students took on the HPPA Touch tournament at Lloyd Elsmore Park. The team had been training since last term and worked really hard under the coaching of Aria’s dad, Dayne. We thank him for giving up his time to come into school 2-3 times a week to train our children.
We had so much fun! Our team won most of our games, only losing two. Unfortunately, we just missed going through to the quarter finals on countback.
Congratulations team on learning from mistakes, showing team work and always being humble in our wins. We look forward to competing again next year!
A Whole Lotta Rock ‘n’ Roll! Rock n Roll Revival Club
East Auckland’s City of Sails Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival Club recorded strong results at the combined National Championships in Wellington over Labour Weekend.
Hosted by the Wellington Rock ‘n’ Roll Revival Club, the three-day event attracted about 800 attendees and competitors from 30 New Zealand and Australian Rock ‘n’ Roll clubs.
Past and present Our Lady Star of the Seas students, Isla Frankle, Xavier Smith, Erika Yeh and Maia Smith, made their Nationals debut in the novice, restricted and triples sections.
Competitors are judged in Best Dressed and Dancing categories. In the dancing competition, couples perform to one slow and one fast song selected from the National Play List, which features agreed original recordings or their best-known versions from 1951 to 1966. Competitors do not know which songs they will be dancing to until they take to the dance floor.
Preparation for the championships involved months of training as well as sourcing matching costumes, shoes, petticoats and accessories. The junior team trained throughout the year and gained valuable competition experience at events in Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga, as well as performing club and school demonstrations.
The preparation was reflected in the club’s excellent results. Xavier Smith and Isla Frankle placed second in the novice final, while Erika Yeh and her dance partner Eddie Sparks secured the 2026 National Novice title. Xavier, Isla and Erika also came second to some very experienced dancers in the junior triples.
The City of Sails junior team would like to acknowledge Our Lady Star of the Sea School, which kindly allowed the group to use their facilities for training. Huge appreciation to their amazing coaches, John Henry Smith, Karen Frankle and James Sparks, for all the patience, dedication, and genuine love they have for Rock n Roll.
Want to give Rock ‘n’ Roll a go? New members are always welcome! Check out the City of Sails website: cityofsails.org.nz
A Dazzling Diwali Performance!
On Thursday Kristelle had the wonderful privilege of performing her Diwali dance at the Bruce McLaren Retirement Village. She felt like a real celebrity! You are a star in our eyes Kristelle!
All Saints Day – a Saint-sational Celebration
Celebrating All Saints’ Day at church wherein Jake and Kristelle Jinomon were dressed as Saints Dominic Savio and Mother Theresa.
BMXcellence at Its Best!
Come and Give THRIVE a Go!
FREE Thrive Programme Have a Go Day!
Wednesday 25 November 2026
During the school day | 30-minute lessons
Ever wondered what Thrive is all about?
We’re holding a special FREE Have a Go Day so students can experience a Thrive lesson and see if they’d like to join us in 2027!
What to expect
Students will take part in a fun, interactive 30-minute lesson in our usual small groups of just 4–6 children.
Through drama games, creative activities and speaking challenges, children will have the opportunity to:
- Build confidence and self-esteem
- Develop speaking and communication skills
- Explore creativity and imagination
- Practise expressing ideas and opinions
- Have fun and make new friends!
Small groups. Big confidence!
At Thrive, we’re passionate about helping children find their voice! Our fun, supportive lessons develop important communication skills that children use every day, both in the classroom and beyond.
Come along, give Thrive a go and see what we’re all about!
Interested in joining Thrive in 2027?
Fill in our Expression of Interest form to register your child for a FREE Have a Go lesson!
Spaces are limited to keep our groups small.
Athletics Day Results
Well done to everyone who participated in Athletics Day – a special congratulations to all our super star place getters!
| OVERALL | YEAR 4 BOYS OVERALL | YEAR 4 GIRLS OVERALL |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Eli Baird | Anya O’Meara |
| 2nd | Logan O’Callaghan | Tillie Koloamatangi |
| 3rd | Damien George | Olivia Davies |
| OVERALL | YEAR 5 BOYS OVERALL | YEAR 5 GIRLS OVERALL |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | James Roughton | Jenabel Lo |
| 2nd | Bennett Lai | Isabella Griffen |
| 3rd | Gabriel Kettoola | Kiara Sasa, Isabella Bastian, Dakota Edwins |
| OVERALL | YEAR 6 BOYS OVERALL | YEAR 6 GIRLS OVERALL |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Liam Yu | Amelia Davies |
| 2nd | Josh Arnott | Sofie Smith |
| 3rd | Jynn Liu | Gardenia Afano |
| HIGH JUMP | YEAR 4 BOYS HIGH JUMP | YEAR 4 GIRLS HIGH JUMP |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Eli Baird | Anya O’Meara |
| 2nd | Logan O’Callaghan | Caitlyn Li/Tillie Koloamatangi |
| 3rd | Damien George | Olivia Davies |
| HIGH JUMP | YEAR 5 BOYS HIGH JUMP | YEAR 5 GIRLS HIGH JUMP |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | James Roughton | Jenabel Lo |
| 2nd | Bennett Lai | Aria Beeston |
| 3rd | Conor Pilkington | Dakota Edwins |
| HIGH JUMP | YEAR 6 BOYS HIGH JUMP | YEAR 6 GIRLS HIGH JUMP |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jynn Liu | Amelia Davies |
| 2nd | Josh Arnott | Sofie Smith |
| 3rd | Liam Yu | Layla Ieremia |
| LONG JUMP | YEAR 4 BOYS LONG JUMP | YEAR 4 GIRLS LONG JUMP |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Eli Baird | Anya O’Meara |
| 2nd | Logan O’Callaghan | Olivia Davies |
| 3rd | Jian Kim | Caitlyn Li |
| LONG JUMP | YEAR 5 BOYS LONG JUMP | YEAR 5 GIRLS LONG JUMP |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Elden Zshornack | Jenabel Lo |
| 2nd | Garbriel Kettoola | Dakota Edwins |
| 3rd | Joshua Park/James Roughton | Isabella Griffen |
| LONG JUMP | YEAR 6 BOYS LONG JUMP | YEAR 6 GIRLS LONG JUMP |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Liam Yu | Amelia Davies |
| 2nd | Josh Arnott | Gardenia Afano |
| 3rd | Tyler Chiang/Jensen O’Meara | Alexiss Fisasi |
| SHOT PUT | YEAR 4 BOYS SHOT PUT | YEAR 4 GIRLS SHOT PUT |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Damien George | Tillie Koloamatangi |
| 2nd | Jian Kim | Anya O’Meara |
| 3rd | Rupert Chiong | Olivia Davies |
| SHOT PUT | YEAR 5 BOYS SHOT PUT | YEAR 5 GIRLS SHOT PUT |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Lavi Lameta | Kiara Sasa |
| 2nd | Barry Wang | Isabella Griffen |
| 3rd | Nathan Beazley/Bennett Lai | Maria Tonga |
| SHOT PUT | YEAR 6 BOYS SHOT PUT | YEAR 6 GIRLS SHOT PUT |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Liam Yu | Georjia Pou-Edwards |
| 2nd | Odion Petelo | Amelia Davies |
| 3rd | Tyler Chiang | Gardenia Afano |
| 70m | YEAR 4 BOYS 70m | YEAR 4 GIRLS 70m |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Eli Baird | Anya O’Meara |
| 2nd | Logan O’Callaghan | Tillie Koloamatangi |
| 3rd | Damien George | Olivia Davies |
| 70m | YEAR 5 BOYS 70m | YEAR 5 GIRLS 70m |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | James Roughton | Jenabel Lo |
| 2nd | Bennett Lai | Isabella Bastian |
| 3rd | Gabriel Kettoola | Kayla Wong |
| 70m | YEAR 6 BOYS 70m | YEAR 6 GIRLS 70m |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Josh Arnott | Amelia Davies |
| 2nd | Liam Yu | Sofie Smith |
| 3rd | Lucas Sirilan | Layla Ieremia |
| 100m | YEAR 4 BOYS 100m | YEAR 4 GIRLS 100m |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Eli Baird | Anya O’Meara |
| 2nd | Logan O’Callaghan | Tillie Koloamatangi |
| 3rd | Damien George | Olivia Davies |
| 100m | YEAR 5 BOYS 100m | YEAR 5 GIRLS 100m |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | James Roughton | Jenabel Lo |
| 2nd | Gabriel Kettoola | Taliah Dang |
| 3rd | Bennett Lai | Isabella Bastian/Isabella Griffen |
| 100m | YEAR 6 BOYS 100m | YEAR 6 GIRLS 100m |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Josh Arnott | Amelia Davies |
| 2nd | Liam Yu | Georjia Pou-Edwards |
| 3rd | Lucas Sirilan | Sofie Smith |
NEWS FROM THE UNIFORM SHOP
QUICK REFERENCE
KEY DATES
TERM DATES
Term 4 2026 Ends Wednesday 16th December 12.00 midday.
| Term 1 Starts | Wednesday, 3 February 2027 |
| Term 1 Finishes | Friday, 9 April 2027 |
| Term 2 Starts | Tuesday, 27 April 2027 |
| Term 2 Finishes | Friday, 2 July 2027 |
| Term 3 Starts | Monday, 19 July 2027 |
| Term 3 Finishes | Friday, 24 September 2027 |
| Term 4 Starts | Monday, 11 October 2027 |
| Term 4 Finishes | Wednesday, 15 December 2027 |
COMMUNITY NOTICES
There are plenty of community messages to explore! Click the arrows to view all notices.
Free table tennis near you
Auckland Table Tennis Association’s Tables in Communities project puts free table tennis tables in parks, schools, libraries and community centres across Auckland.
There are now 119 tables at 87 venues.
Find your nearest free table on the Seekapong app: https://qrco.de/seekapong
Our aim is simple: remove the cost and travel that stop people staying active, so everyone can play close to home.
These summer holidays, grab a bat, bring the family and come and play!
See below flyer for more information.
