Kia ora e te whānau o Te Kura o Hato Karama Katarika

As we head into Week 4 of Term 2, I want to warmly welcome you all for the continued support of our school community. This coming week is a significant one for us, as we welcome the Education Review Office (ERO) to St Columba’s Catholic School.

ERO’s visit is part of a regular evaluation cycle to help ensure we are delivering quality learning experiences for all students. They will be looking closely at our teaching programmes, student progress and achievement, and our school attendance data. We’re excited to showcase the amazing work our staff and students do every day and are grateful for your ongoing partnership in supporting learning at home and school.

Today is also Support Staff Day across the Nation. It is a day to acknowledge the wonderful people who work in these roles, whether they be learning assistants, administrators, caretakers or ASC Care staff.  Schools are complex, living communities made up of many moving parts.  Support Staff are essential for the rhythm and success of our Kura. Support Staff are involved in so many aspects of school life, they support learning, manage resources, guide children through their challenges, lend a listening ear, manage the business end, are the face of the school, tend to the grounds & maintenance of our site and the list is endless.  All support staff help to make our Kura a place where every child can thrive.

On another note, seeing our winter sports teams back in action has been great! Many of our teams are now in their second week of competition, and I want to sincerely thank all the parents, whānau and volunteers who are stepping up as coaches and managers. Your time and energy help make sport possible, and what our children gain from these experiences goes far beyond the scoreboard. Teamwork, commitment, friendship, resilience and fun are the real wins, and we deeply value your role in making that happen.

A special thank you to Andrea Noakes and Karyn Rastrick, who recently took our student House Leaders to Wellington for a rich four-day leadership experience. The group visited the National War Memorial, Te Papa and Parliament, where MP Tama Potaka hosted them at the Beehive. The students also had the privilege of attending the World Vision Youth Conference, gaining insight and inspiration to bring back to our school.

Last week, we saw one of our favourite traditions — our Mums & Daughters Breakfast. Over 150 mums and daughters gathered in the hall for a beautiful morning of connection, conversation and appreciation.  These termly breakfasts are a chance to pause and celebrate the special relationships within our community. This term’s focus was on the unique bond between mothers and daughters — why we love our mums and the strengths our daughters bring to the world. Thank you to everyone who attended and helped create such a joyful and heartwarming occasion.

Lastly, a reminder that this Monday, 19 May is a Teacher Only Day and the school will be closed for instruction. We appreciate your support in allowing our teachers this time for professional development and planning.

To close, I leave you with the simple but powerful words spoken by Pope Francis in his first public address: "Peace be with you all."

Ngā manaakitanga,

Gareth Duncan
Principal
St Columba’s Catholic School

Teacher Only Day – Monday 19 May (School closed for instruction, Kids Club will be open)

King’s Birthday Weekend – Monday 2 June (School closed)

St Columba’s Day - Wednesday 11 June  - 10:15am liturgy in the Church (please note this date change)

Parish School Mass - Sunday 15 June at 10am 

School Photo Day - Wednesday 18 June 

Grandparents Day - Thursday 19 June 

Matariki - Friday 20 June (School closed)

End of Term Mass - Thursday 26 June at 9.45am

Please remember our new Pope, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV in your prayers as he begins his leadership of the universal Church. Here is a photo which you may like to print and display in your homes. It is the official portrait released from the Vatican.

Upcoming Catholic Character Dates

St Columba’s Day - Wednesday 11 June we are having a liturgy in the church at 10:15am. Please note the change in date.

Parish School Mass - Sunday 15 June at 10am 

Grandparents Day - Thursday 19 June - Mass at 12pm

End of Term Mass - Thursday 26 June at 9.45am

National Vocation Awareness Week is an annual week of the Catholic Church dedicated to promoting vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and consecrated life (that is being a Sister or Brother) through prayer and education, and to renew prayers and support for those considering these vocations. Please pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life.

Images: RNDM Sisters Profession, first vows of Sr Anna Burrowes RSM, ordination of Fr Isaac Fransen, a newly professed Br Jonathan Craven at Kopua.

We pray for young people in our community that they may respond generously with open hearts and willing spirits if the Lord calls them to the priesthood or religious life. Amen.

Loving God, we thank you for the gift of motherhood. Today, we celebrate the loving sacrifice of mothers, both biological and spiritual, who nurture and guide us in your ways. Bless them with joy, strength, and love to continue their selfless devotion. May they feel deeply appreciated and honoured not just today, but every day. Amen

This year’s Sacramental Programme will be run by the Parish of St Columba. Sessions will be taught on Sundays in Term 3 and 4 on the following dates: 

First Holy Communion and Confirmation will be celebrated on Sunday 19 October at the 8am Mass - please note the revised date. Receiving these Sacraments allows your child to have full participation in the life and faith of the Catholic Church.

 

Should your child require Baptism, please contact the Parish Office for more information via stcol.parish@xtra.co.nz

Teacher Only Day - Yes we are OPEN 7.30am to 5pm - $50 flat rate for the day.  Bookings are essential so we can roster the correct ratios for staff/children.  Kids Club will be running this day out of the Whānau Whakapono space near the front of the school due to the hall being in use for the day.    We will have the gate from the church car park unlocked for easy access. Thank you for your patience while we are in a different space.   Any questions, please text or ring Deb
on 021 586 633. 

New bookings/families - We require you to contact us and arrange a meeting and visit to our centre, before your enrolment can be confirmed.   Remember, new children to school will not be starting with us in their first two weeks at school, which provides time to settle into the long learning school days and also gives them time to have their transition visits at Kids Club before starting.   Contact Deb to make an appointment to discuss your child's needs on 021 586 633. 

Thank you for choosing SCCS Kids Club for your child while you are busy at work (a SCCS run programme which is OSCAR approved).

Regards

Deb, Kerryn, Gareth, and the SCCS Kids Club team. 

The SCCS Mini Sticks played their first hockey game of the season on Saturday, and it was an impressive start. Despite it being their first time playing together, the team demonstrated remarkable teamwork, enthusiasm, and a strong sense of team spirit. Well done to St Columba’s Mini Sticks on a fantastic effort. We look forward to seeing you back on the turf for tomorrow’s game!