St Benedict's School Pānui ā-rorohiko (Online Newsletter) Term 2, week 2, 2025

Upcoming Events from our Calendar

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Term 2, 2025

Week 3
Tuesday 13 May - NZ Cross Country 
Wednesday 14 May - Kapa Haka / Te Reo lessons
                                         -  Yrs 7 & 8 - Technology 
Thursday 15 May - Class Liturgies - Rms 3 & 4 / Class Mass 
                                     - Playhouse - The Boy who cried wolf - 9am & 11am
                                     - Swimming - Rooms 3-8
Friday 16 May - Pink Shirt Day
                             - Kids' Lit Quiz 
Week 4
Monday 19 May - Assembly - Room 9
Tuesday 20 May - Junior Invitational Cross Country - Amesbury School - Yrs 0-3
                                  - Swimming - Rooms 11-13
                                  - Kowhai visit NZ Police Museum 
Wednesday 21 May - Kapa Haka / Te Reo lessons
                                         -  Yrs 7 & 8 - Technology
                                         - Board Meeting 
Thursday 22 May - Class Mass - Rooms 8 & 9
                                     - Class Liturgies - Room 13
                                     - Swimming - Rooms 3 - 9

Tuesday 20 May - St Mary's College Open Day - 9-11am
Tuesday 27 & Thursday 29 May - St Patrick’s College Open Day - 10-11:30am & 12:30-2pm

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Tumuaki Korero

Tēnā koutou e te whānau ō Hato Penetika,

We warmly welcome the following students and their families into our school community:  Elijah, (Room 12) and Naomi, (Room 8), Keerthana, (Room 8) and Finn (Room 3).  

The new term has begun well and as most of you would have seen the courts are drawing closer to being finished. Classes are settled and the children are looking very smart in their winter uniforms.

We started the term with our Resurrection Liturgy and celebration of the Life of Pope Francis. Thanks go to Jacqui Miranda our DRS for the preparation that she and the Catholic Character Team put into this.  Education outside the classroom (EOTC) is in full swing with Mānuka Syndicate having a trip to the Portrait Gallery  (many thanks to the parent and caregiver helpers who supported the teachers on these trips).  Kōwhai Syndicate will be visiting The NZ Police Museum on Tuesday 20th May, again thank you to the parents and caregivers who have offered their support for that trip.

On Monday we ran our School Cross Country. A little different this year to past events due to the wild weather that we were faced with last week. Thank you to the parents who helped with this event and to Molly Kelly our Sports co-ordinator who planned this very smoothly run event.

Next Friday, 16th May is Pink Shirt Day, we invite everyone to wear a pink shirt that day in support standing up to stop bullying by celebrating and promoting kindness and friendship.

This term we welcome Ellie Grigg to Room 5. Ellie is completing her teacher training and in with us for 6 weeks getting some hands-on practice in the classroom.

On Friday the 16th May we will be holding a special assembly at 2pm to farewell Emma McCallum as she embarks on a new journey in her life. You are very welcome to join us at this time.

Kind regards

Cheryl Taylor

Tumuaki Tuarua (Deputy Principal)

St Mary's College Experience Day

Our Year 8 students had a half day at St Mary's College yesterday where they were able to experience the science labs, taking part in experiments and each made scrolls in the food technology room.  They had the opportunity to talk with past St Ben's students about life at the college.  We thank St Mary's for hosting this experience.

Past Student visit

Isabelle Aduna came to visit the Kauri Syndicate yesterday bringing three of her past science boards to inspire the students with their projects.  Isabelle is a Year 11 student and won the NIWA Wellington Region Science and Technology  Fair in 2024.  Today she has flown to America to represent New Zealand in Science.  

Scholastic Bookclub

Scholastic brochures were distributed last week and all orders are now due at the school office by Friday 16 May.
This year we would prefer if people paid online with a credit card, although IF NEEDED you can still order with cash (correct change, please).  Return any cash orders to the school office.
To order and pay with a credit card, go to mybookclub.scholastic.co.nz; books ordered online before May 16 will be collated and arrive at school and be distributed. Books ordered online after that date will go to your home and incur a delivery fee.
All orders earn rewards which buy books for the school library. 

Catholic Character - Sacramental Programme

Sacramental Programme 2025 have been confirmed.
The full Programme will run over Term 2 and into term three finishing on the 16th November with the First Communion Mass.
The Timetable is as follows...
Tuesday July 22, 7pm Parents Information Evening
Sunday July 27th 11.15am Reconciliation Session 1Sunday August 3rd 11.15am Reconciliation Session 2Saturday August 9th 2.00pm Reconciliation Practice Sunday August 10th 2.00pm Reconciliation
Sunday 31st August 11.15am Confirmation Session 1Sunday 7th September 11.15am Confirmation Session 2Saturday 13th September 2.00pm Confirmation Practice Sunday 14th September 2.00pm Confirmation Mass with Archbishop Paul Martin
Sunday 2nd November 11.15am Communion Session 1Sunday 9th November 11.15am Communion Session 2 Saturday 15th November 2.00pm Communion Practice Sunday 16th November 2.00pm Communion Mass
Please note that the Sunday Sessions start immediately following the Sunday Mass and all participants and their families should attend Mass before the sessions.
The Programme is being run on behalf of the Parish by Pat Collier and Natasha Telles.  
Please contact via email: sacramentalprogramme@stfrancisohariu.nz

School Cross Country

Congratulations to the students who have qualified for the Northern Zone Cross Country next week.  Thank you to our wonderful parent helpers and Ms Kelly for organising this event.

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School dates 2025

The downloadable PDF  below will give you a printable calendar for your fridge. It has been updated to reflect the new MOE Maths PLD days. 

Since the Board set the dates, the Ministry of Education has announced there will be two mandated teacher only days to support the new curriculum during the year. Unfortunately we have not been able to choose our dates and have been allocated the following dates Friday 4 April 2025 and Thursday 19th of June.

Finalised school dates for 2025 are

Term 2  28 April- 27 June (Includes Matariki and Kings Birthday)
Staff call back day in school holidays Friday 11 July
Thursday 19 June MOE Mathematics PLD teacher only day. 
Term 3 s 14 July – 19 September Kāhui Ako Teacher only day  1st August
Staff call back day in school holidays Friday 3 October
Term 4  6 October- Wednesday 17 December (Includes Labour Day)

Sports Updates

Futsal Tournament

Kia ora, 

Please fill in the following FORM to register your tamaraiki for the Futsal Tournament in September.  Further details will be sent out to families who register through this form closer to the time.  We will need parent volunteers to help supervise/coach on the day.  Please note that this is the same week as the Year 7/8 camp so they will be unable to attend.  Let me know if you have any questions. 

molly.kelly@st-benedicts.school.nz


GoogleForm

Congratulations to St Ben's Celtics miniball team who won their first game 32-2 against Bellevue School.

FWFC

Kia ora e te whānau ō Hato Penetika,

Friends and Whānau Fundraising Committee 

Kia ora e te whānau,

Welcome back to Term 2! Prizes for kids from their Colour Run fundraising are due next week. Photos from that amazing term 1 event are below. 
FWFC started off the term with a really successful second hand uniform sale. Huge thanks to Chrystal O'Connor and Johanna Reidy for their leadership of the sale. We raised around $1600, which is amazing - but we think more importantly we provided affordable uniform options in a sustainable way. Thanks to those that came along! Second hand uniform items are available during school hours from the wonderful Coralie, so if you are needing anything throughout the school term, please contact her. There is a lot of winter stock still available, in particular for our younger kids. 

Mother's day shop Our kids had a great time selecting items from our Mother's day shop on Monday 5 May. Thanks to Sarah Southee for leading this event, and Tom Anderson and Jason Naylor for running the shop on the day. Wishing all our Mums and Mother figures a fantastic weekend coming up. We hope you love your treasures. Thanks everyone for the fantastic donations. 

Coming upWe are looking to have a Frosty Friday later this term - date to be confirmed. Term 3 - we are starting to plan for the school disco (date TBC) and the Father's day breakfast (5 September). We'd love some other members of our school community to lead or support with these events, so please get in touch if you are able to help. 
Please contact Sarah McCarthy for anything FWFC related: sarah.garty@hotmail.com 

Entertainment Book

'Yummy Stickers'

This promotion has now started and runs until 20 October so send in your stickers and keep munching on 'Yummy Fruit'.   

Sticker sheets can be found on the 'Yummy Sticker' website: www.yummyfruit.co.nz or just pick a sheet up from the office.

St Patrick’s College Open Day Tours

Our exciting 2025 Open Day tours are here.  

For those interested in enrolling their son at St Pat's for 2026, Open Days will
be held on: Tuesday 27 May between 10:00am to 11:30am and again from 12:30pm to 2:00pm, and
Thursday 29 May between 10:00am to 11:30am and again from 12:30pm to 2:00pm.

These tours are informative, inclusive and enlightening and give families a live snapshot of a day in the life of our College.  Online bookings are now available by signing up via a google sign-up form on the college website – www.stpats.school.nz

Online Enrolments are now open, so go to the Enrolment Tab if you would like to enrol for 2026 now. Alternatively you can download the Enrolment Form and complete the appropriate forms and return them via hand or post to the
College or send through email to admin@stpats.school.nz
Alternatively, please get in touch with the College directly at 939 3070 for further enrolment information.

Drama Lessons available at school

Parent Road Patrol Roster

NICHOLSON ROAD
(Mornings and Afternoons)
Parents: Please be present from 8:25am - 9:00am and again from 2:45am - 3:15pm

Wider Community Notices

ezlunch lunch orders

• Every parent who orders an ezlunch goes into a weekly draw to win $100 Kindo Credit for themselves AND $100 for your school. Starts Monday 10 February 2025 and runs through to Friday 11 April 2025.
• Plus, all orders automatically enter the Grand Prize Draw for a $1,000 JB Hi-Fi Voucher + $500 for their school!

 Thank you to JB Hi-Fi for making our Grand Prize rewards possible!

JB Hi-Fi has partnered with Kindo in 2025 to streamline BYOD for schools, and we appreciate their generous support.