St Benedict's School Celebrations over past weeks

Upcoming Events from our Calendar

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Term 2, 2025

Week 5
Monday 26 May Catholic Schools Day  Years 5-8 to St Brigid's Y1-4 at St Bens 
Tuesday 27 May Catholic Schools Intermediate Netball tournament 
                                 St Patrick’s College Open Day - 10-11:30am & 12:30-2pm
                                 Swimming - Rooms 9 - 13 - Keith Spry
                                  Jubilee Planning meeting - 7-8pm
Thursday 29 May Swimming - Rooms 2 - 8 - Keith Spry
                                   Feast of  the Ascension
                                   St Patrick’s College Open Day - 10-11:30am & 12:30-2pm

Week 6
Monday 2 June King’s Birthday – Public Holiday school closed
Tuesday 3 June Blessing of new courts 11am - please RSVP to office
                                Swimming - Rooms 9 - 13 - Keith Spry
Thursday 5 June  8am-10am Kapa Haka Performance Group  performing for New Zealand Catholic Primary                                                    Principals Conference
                                  Swimming - Rooms 2 - 8 - Keith Spry

Future Dates:
Wednesday 18th June Matariki Day celebration  (see details in newsletter)
Thursday 19 June MOE PLD Maths TOD- School closed for instruction
Friday 20 Matariki Public Holiday - school closed
Tuesday 24 June Science Fair Prize Giving 

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Tumuaki Korero

Tēnā koutou e te whānau ō Hato Penetika,

St Brigid’s and St Benedict’s had a wonderful time coming together to celebrate Catholic Schools Day.

Students in Years 1-4 gathered at St Benedict’s, while Years 5-8 were based at St Brigid’s. The day began with liturgies centered on the theme E tīaho ana koe hei rama i te ao – Shine like stars in the world.

Ākonga took part in a variety of engaging activities, including designing personal and faith-based flags, creating mandala art, navigating a Sphero obstacle course, making dream catchers, taking on a Catholic trivia quiz, going on a treasure hunt, and solving an escape room challenge.

It was a special day of celebration, connection, and community. Ākonga enjoyed building friendships across the parish, sharing an ice block treat, and most importantly, having fun!

Thank you to all the teachers who planned the activities at both schools and our tamariki who shared their schools with each other. 

Jennifer Ioannou and Tania Savage

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Yesterday we were able to open the courts up to our tamariki. The beginning of the day was interrupted with an announcement over our intercom to join Mrs Savage under the canopy - which was met with a cheer reverberating around our school. Thank you so much to FWFC, our Board, the the Mary and Stephen Vella Trust and the Archdiocese  of Wellington for this amazing new resource. 

Our blessing is this coming Tuesday, please let Coralie know if you can attend. 

Mā te Atua koutou e manaaki,
May God bless and care for you. 
Tania Savage - Principal

Farewell to Emma

On Friday 16th May  we farewelled Emma McCallum. Emma has been our finance administrator  for 20 years, and part of our school community for even longer as both Emma's children have attended St Benedict's.

Emma, in her usual self-effacing way, decided not to attend her farewell saying 'While I am grateful for the acknowledgement of my service, I feel it is best for me to step away quietly as I bring this chapter to a close. Please pass on my thanks to the wider school community for their support and kindness over the years'. 

We still wanted to provide an opportunity for our school community to share their  gratitude and love  for Emma's  contribution to St Benedict's. In Emma's special assembly, Emma received a special acknowledgement from the Archdiocese of Wellington for her length of  service. The award states "Education is a vital part of the teaching mission of the church. We acknowledge with pride and gratitude your significant contribution to this mission for two decades through your financial administration, and in particular your enduring commitment and service to St Benedict’s Primary School Khandallah". We recorded the special assembly for Emma - capturing speeches and songs to farewell her.  Our Tamariki also created a lovely book for Emma and these items, along with the gifts you delivered have been given to Emma. 

Principal's speech:

Dear Emma. Thank you for the years of service you have provided to generations of the St Benedict’s Community. From being a parent and trusting your children to our school to working with four principals over twenty years,   to being part of our After School Care team. Thank you for your pastoral care to our whānau and the wonderful support you have given to our tamariki sorting lunches, fixing cuts and bruises, and noticing when tamariki might need support in the play ground. Thank you for your skills of balancing budgets and monitoring resources. 

To have worked in a school for 20 years is an amazing achievement and the  Archdiocese of Wellington wishes to acknowledge this service with a long service award. The award says "Education is a vital part of the teaching mission of the church. We acknowledge with pride and gratitude your significant contribution to this mission for two decades through your financial administration, and in particular your enduring commitment and service to St Benedict’s Primary School Khandallah". 

 Our staff have all loved working with you and can’t wait to visit you in you new home up the Kapiti Coast! We wanted to honour you, and we know you love an opportunity to sing and dance so they have creatively made a song for you and will perform this now.

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Presiding chair speech at the farewell: 
Thank you all for being here to celebrate someone who has been at the heart of this school for so many years.  Emma I know you've chosen to step away from St Ben's  quietly. However, we can't let you go without recognising your long service and dedication. These are reflections  a parent, as well as the board's presiding chair. 
For 20 years Emma's quiet presence,  steady hand behind the scenes has  kept our finances running smoothly. Emma's work in finance often went unnoticed—but without it nothing would function as well as it has done.  Beyond the numbers, Emma has made a huge impact through after-school care; supporting students with afternoon teas, keeping them happy and occupied until pick up time.  
Through her whole time here Emma's been a familiar, friendly face in reception, her beautiful smile greeting and reassuring children and parents alike in a low key way.  
I remember when our first daughter Rosa was a new entrant and was  understandably anxious about going to school during her first term. One day drop-off had been particularly unsettled, for everyone. Students in the room may find it hard to believe but we parents don't just drop you and run. While we're away we wonder how you are going and if you've having a happy day. Anyway, that morning I rang to check on Rosa. Emma went to check in the classroom and rang me back reassuring me that everything was fine. And then she paused and asked what was probably the real question: ' And how are you?'  
Thank you, Emma, for your commitment, your care, and the legacy you leave behind. You'll be remembered.  You'll be the kind of person children here today will tell their grandchildren about.  When asked: 'What was it like at school when you were a kid ? They'll say "When I was at school, there was this lovely lady called Emma..." and then they'll recount how you touched their lives.  
Farewell Emma and may God bless you and keep you.   You'll always be part of this school’s story. On behalf of the board I'd like to wish you the best of happiness and health for your next adventures in the next chapter of your life on the Kapiti Coast. 

ASC Holiday Programme

Kia ora ASC Whānau,

We’re excited to invite you to register your child for our upcoming Holiday Programme at St. Benedict's!

It will be a fun-filled school break packed with engaging activities to keep tamariki active, creative, and connected in a safe and supportive environment.

 Programme Dates: 30 June to 11 July

 Time: 8:30am to 5:30pm

 Last Day to Book: Wednesday, 12 June 2025

Below you’ll find:

 The programme brochure – includes the full schedule and activity highlights

 The registration form – you can complete it by clicking the link below or scanning the QR code found on the brochure
https://forms.gle/aP3hzPv1DPHB5PnZA

 Spaces are limited, so we encourage you to book early to secure your child’s place.

If you have any questions or need help with the registration process, please don’t hesitate to email me at asc@st-benedicts.school.nz

We look forward to welcoming your child to an awesome school holiday experience!

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