St. Mary’s School

44 St. Mary’s School

138

STUDENTS

17

STAFF

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Karen Goodall

Wow it is hard to believe we have reached the end of another great year at St Mary’s School. We have enjoyed some great stability with the same teachers in the same classes and really like the way things are working at our school. We have upgraded one of our classrooms and our library and built some additional play equipment. It is always nice to look out the window and see the students playing together. We try to introduce a range of equipment so that there is always something di erent to try - pogo sticks, stilts, volleyball, skateboard ramp. This year the students took over the gardens and each class has their own area that they are developing. This helped develop the Catholic social teaching principle of Stewardship/kaitiakitanga in our community - being responsible guardians of the earth and caring for the gifts God has given us. Catholic Schools Day only happens every three years so it was a bit disappointing not to be able to join with the other Catholic schools to celebrate this day but we made the most of it and celebrated what is special about Saint Mary’s. The sta have been taking part in the Positive Behaviour for Learning programme and are enjoying the opportunity to review our school values and what they look like in the classroom and playground. We have been nishing each term with a celebration - tug of war, pyjama and movie day, house colours dress up and this always makes for a great way to head o into the holidays. Thank you to the family members who have coped so well with the changes of levels and what this means for schools. We are super grateful to our school community for all they do to support and encourage us.

Cause and E ect has been our big topic this year and the seniors have looked at the issue of Discrimination and inquired into a range of events that have causes - Tiriti o Waitangi, land marches, ANZAC Day, civil rights, Christchurch terror attacks. They also

Pet Day.

had a big focus on the science topics of physics all around us and forces and motion. The middle syndicate learnt about animals on land and in the ocean and how we can take action for our environment. They also learnt about aeroplanes and motorbikes and the technology and digital systems that they use. The juniors focused on making positive choices that a ect personal learning and social relationships. Lots of our learning this year was about teaching our students how to ask quality questions so the teachers did this through a mystery suitcase and question of the day activity. Each term we teach and reward one of the school values or competencies. This year it was aroha, work and study skills, listening skills and respect. It is always great to see the students practising and improving such important life skills and we always love an outing to the movies or 10 pin bowling for the Principal’s Day Out. This year we focused on Growing our Faith as our religious topic. We learnt about human dignity and understanding that each of us is made in God’s image which means every person has an innate human dignity - te mana o te tangata - that no one can take away. We learnt about the need to grow in compassion and empathy for those in need in our community - the call for justice in our world. Covid didn’t ruin everything for us - we still got to have Pet Day, it was just di erent with animals being at di erent places. The juniors had a great trip to Mikimiki Forest School, the middles went to Rathkeale to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and the seniors had tramps and camps to Atiwhakatu, Tauherenikau and Queenstown. We had a great year of PE with the instructors coming in regularly for Kia Hakinakina lessons with us. Ka Pai Carterton were super generous and funded dance lessons for us with FootSteps dance academy which made for a lot of fun out on the courts on Friday mornings. We also celebrated the Olympics with Brazil taking home the gold medals.

WHERE FUN AND ACHIEVEMENT JOIN TOGETHER

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to explore the joy of dance and have it enhance their life. We carefully tailor to the age & ability of students. Dance Programmes Jazz • Tap Hip Hop • Adult Classes Preschool Classes • Ballet • Contemporary Preschool Classes • Ballet • Contemporary Taking enrolments for 2022 now

Located in Carterton and Martinborough

Phone (06) 379 6004 or 027 242 3462 Email: Jacquimurraydance@xtra.co.nz www.jacquimurraydance.co.nz

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