St Benedict's School Pānui ā-rorohiko (Online Newsletter) Term 3, week 2, 2025

Upcoming Events from our Calendar

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Term 3, 2025

Week2
Friday 25 July Grandparents’ Mass, (11:00am) Light morning tea (staffroom 10:30am). Classes open for visits 

Week 3
Monday 28 July - 11am Rotary speaking to Year ⅞ 
Tuesday 29 July - Year 7/8 Handball Tournament Qualifying; Akau Tangi
                                 - Kauri Syndicate - Parent Camp Meeting for Makahika with Sally Duxfield 5:30pm
Wednesday 30 July - Te Reo & Kapa Haka / Year 7&8 Technology
Thursday 31 July - Class Mass - 9:00 am  / Class liturgies 9-9.45am 
Friday 01 August - Teacher Only Day - School Closed

Week 4 - Australian Maths, ICAS Digital tech, ICAS Writing exams
Tuesday 5 August - Perform education show - Maybe a miracle  9am  whole school 
                                      - Pickleball Wellington - Rooms 9 - 13
Wednesday 6 August - Te Reo & Kapa Haka / Year 7&8 Technology
                                             - BOT Meeting - 6pm
Thursday 7 August - Class Mass - 9:00 am / Class liturgies 9-9.45am               
                                         - Pickleball Wgtn - Rooms 9 - 13 - 9am - 12:30pm
Friday 8 August - ALT - Year 7/8 Handball Tournament Qualifying; Akau Tangi
                                  - FWFC DISCO

Items found in the School APP
School Notices
Teacher Messages
Documents Section
St Ben's Handbook

Widget link
Newsletter
SchoolDocs (Board Policies) 
Account information
Absences notification and rate of absences. 
School Calendar
MyKindo for lunch orders
FWFC Facebook and Instagram

School Board Elections

Hopefully you received an email last week from Schooled Election Pilot advising that nominations are now open for this year's school board election.  Our election date is 10th of September. There are three parent representative positions to be elected.  
Board Member and former Presiding Member Daniel Marks has shared some insights on what's involved in being a school board member:

The School Board’s primary responsibility is to govern the school. This includes setting the strategic direction, monitoring performance against the strategic plan, and ensuring the school supports every student in achieving their highest possible educational outcomes.

It’s important to understand that Board members are not involved in the day-to-day operations of the school—that’s the responsibility of the Principal (Tania) and her dedicated team. Instead, Board members focus on oversight and support at a governance level.

In addition to the eight formal Board meetings held annually, members also contribute through subcommittees. I have served on the Finance Committee, which supports the Board’s financial stewardship responsibilities. This includes financial planning, fixed asset management, aligning budgets with the school’s strategic goals, and working with key stakeholders (such as ADW, FWFC, and grant providers) to bring major projects to life.

I also served as the Presiding Member (Chairperson) for three years. This role was both challenging and rewarding, offering valuable opportunities to lead and support the Board and Principal through a range of initiatives and challenges.

Time commitments of being a board member include attending the 8 (2 hour) board meetings each year and 1-2 hours reviewing papers before each meeting. As a Finance Committee member, I review financial results independently and provide a monthly report, which takes approximately 1 hour.  Additional time is needed for Board-related tasks such as grant applications or preparing proposals—for example, I was closely involved in seeking funding for the Canopy Project.

There have been many highlights during my time on the board, including:

• Helping shape and monitor the School’s Strategic Plan.

• Collaborating with the Board, Principal, FWFC, ADW, and grant providers to complete the Canopy Project.

• Being involved in the recruitment of a new Principal.

• Supporting the school through formal complaints processes, which are crucial for continuous improvement at the School.

• Developing my governance and project planning skills—skills that have also benefited my professional career.

I joined the Board as a way of giving back to my daughter’s school community. A former Board member encouraged me to apply, recognising that my financial background would be an asset to the team.

After completing my initial three-year term, I felt I had more to contribute, particularly after supporting the recruitment of a new Principal and seeing the continued enthusiasm my daughters had for the school. I was happy to commit to another term.

The professional skills I’ve built over my career have been invaluable on the Board. Key ones include: stakeholder management, leadership and mentoring, organisation and time management, financial oversight and risk management, governance, and communication.

I’ve also gained deeper experience in governance and project delivery, which have strengthened both my professional and personal development.

Being part of the Board has been a fulfilling way to contribute to my daughters’ school and its wider community. It’s given me a real appreciation for the effort and passion the Principal and staff bring every day.

I encourage others to put their name forward—not only to give back, but to apply their own professional skills in a meaningful way. Your perspective and expertise can make a real difference to the school’s direction and success.

Tumuaki Korero

Tēnā koutou e te whānau ō Hato Penetika,

Welcome back to Term 3!  We hope you had a lovely few weeks without the routine of school. We have loved catching up on holiday news from your tamariki over the past few weeks.

Grandparents Day
We are looking forward to celebrating the wonderful Grandparents of the St Benedict's School community tomorrow. We are holding a morning tea in their honour at 10:30am, before the Grandparents Bus Service leaves at 11am for mass, all whānau accompanying Grandparents can catch the bus. Tamariki will travel with their classes. The school gates will be open for parking on the school court. Grandparents are welcome to visit classes throughout the day. 

School Dates 2026
The Ministry of Education (MoE) have allocated two school days for delivering the new mathematics curriculum in 2026. Our Professional Learning and Development (PLD) days have been allocated at the beginning of the school year and subsequently make our start for 2026 a bit unusual.  The School Board have approved the following dates for 2026.

Please note there are two Teacher Only Days that are yet to be allocated in Terms 2-4, we will confirm these once they are allocated:

Thursday 29th and Friday 30th of January Whānau teacher Meetings
Term 1 starts
Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd of February MoE Mathematics PLD Staff only 
Wednesday 4th of February Tamariki start school - Thursday 2 April end of term 1 
Term 2
Monday 20 April- Friday 3 July end of term 2
Term 3 
Monday 20 July - Friday 25 September end of term 3
Term 4
Monday 12 October-Tuesday  15 December end of term 4. 

Congratulations
Congratulations to Erika (Agustin, Anna and Andy's Mum) on the opening of a new dental practice in Ngaio. Thank you for the lovely offer to our staff and school community which can be found further down in our newsletter. 

Wet lunchtime
We are really starting to reap the benefits of having the canopy on rainy days. This has made a significant difference to play and lunchtimes for our tamariki. On wet days our tamariki have the option of being under the canopy or inside their classrooms.  One teacher is on duty moving through the classrooms and  one is down under the canopy.  There will still be the odd occasion where the weather, particularly the wind, means all tamariki need to be inside.

Playground Rubbish
To support the longevity of the turf and cut down on rubbish blowing around in our school we have identified areas where tamariki can eat their food in the playground,  after the supervised eating time is complete. These areas are under the shade sail or on the tiered seating next to the stage. On rainy days our tamariki eat inside the classrooms. We are particularly focusing on decreasing package rubbish within the school. We encourage you to think of ways you can reduce the packaging that comes to school, this makes a big difference to Sokry’s day to day tasks.

Can you help us?
We are looking for volunteers to support the preparation of new resources and the ongoing upkeep of our library. These tasks are perfect for a quick 20-40 minutes in the morning or prior to pick up and are toddler friendly. It doesn’t need to be each week, just when you have the time to help.  We will even provide hot drinks!

Change in Communication
Over the past four years we have used a school mobile number to send reminder text for events the evening or morning of.  Unfortunately, our mobile provider has upgraded their system and is now charging us 50c per number in a group text – averaging $47 per message. Further investigation has found that all mobile providers are now doing this.  As this is not an ongoing cost we can maintain we will now use the mobile text for emergency communication only. Please make sure you have signed up, accessed and have notifications turned on for our school app. Most of our messages come out through this medium and a duplicate email, if you have chosen this preference, is sent. Please be aware that some email providers change their filtering systems regularly and these messages can suddenly be classified as bulk emails or spam and get sent to your spam folder. We also use the parent what’s app groups to share more time pressured information on occasion so please make sure you are a member of your Tamariki class groups.

Influenza B and RSV
We have seen an upsurge in influenza B and RSV within the school community. It is now possible to get a combined test for Influenza/COVID/RSV at your doctor or at some pharmacies. If you do test positive, please let us know so we can implement an extra clean of high touch areas in those classes.

Sympathy on the Death of a former teacher at St Benedict’s School Khandallah
Mrs Heather McMillan taught at St Benedict’s School, Khandallah from the late 1980’s until she moved back to her homeland in Australia after many years of faithful service at the school.
Heather died on Sunday morning 29th June.  Please remember her in your prayers.  May she rest in peace.
Any messages can be forwarded to her family by Natalie Brockie (natalie.brockie@icloud.com)

We warmly welcome the following students and their families into our school community: Harrison, Andres, Iggy, (brother of Everest), Room 2.  Arthur, Room 4, Frank and Shaun, Room 9.

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

Special Dental Care Offer

Special Dental Care Offer for St Benedict's Staff and Parents

Capital Dental is delighted to announce the grand opening of our new practice in Ngaio!  
We are proud to have Dr. Erika Schurig, member of the Capital Dental team and a mother of three within the 
St Benedict’s community, leading this exciting initiative. 
In appreciation of the staff and parents of St Benedict's School, Dr. Schurig is pleased to offer an exclusive 
special on dental care services. Our goal is to provide you with top-quality, personalized dental care that meets 
your unique needs. We look forward to welcoming you to our new practice!

Offer Details
**Free Check-Up for First-Time Patients**  
- As a first-time patient, you will receive:
- A comprehensive dental examination conducted by Dr. Erika Schurig
- Two X-rays for treatment planning purposes

Our professional team is dedicated to ensuring you feel calm and relaxed from the moment you arrive.

Conditions
- Validity: From July 21st, 2025, to November 10th, 2025.
- Eligibility: Available exclusively to St. Benedict’s staff and parents who provide the Booking code 
**ESchurig962** when booking
- Valid for new patients of Dr. Erika Schurig at Capital Dental only.

Usage
  - Bookings are essential and subject to availability
  - Valid at our Wellington location: 42 Ottawa Road, Ngaio
  - Cannot be used on statutory holidays
  - X-rays are for treatment planning only; additional charges apply for copies.

Cancellation Policy
  - 48-hour notice required for cancellations or changes to booking
  - No refunds unless required by law
  - No cashback or use in conjunction with any other offers

Additionally:
If you have children under 18 years old, they may qualify for free dental care at Capital Dental, subsidized by 
the Government. This is a fantastic opportunity to address the dental needs of your entire family while enjoying 
this exclusive offer!

We look forward to welcoming you to Capital Dental and supporting your dental health journey!

**For bookings or further inquiries, please contact:**  
Capital Dental Ngaio.
Address: 42 Ottawa Road, Ngaio.
Ph: 04 830 1366
Email: ngaio@capitaldental.co.nz

Currently available on Tuesdays from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM. However, as the practice grows, we anticipate 
adding more days and afternoon hours in the future.   

Remember to mention the booking code **ESchurig962** when booking to access this special offer!

Student Celebrations

Congratulations to the students who received awards at Assembly recently.

Egyptian National Day
A fun day was had at the Egyptian National Day recently.  Thank you to Valerie, Natalie I, Joelle, Haidy and Natalie H for sharing these photos with us.

K-Culture Festival - Term 2

Well done to Jina, Room 9, who played Pokarekare Ana on the violin at the K-Culture Festival in June.  You can watch this in the first  link and also watch Jina dancing in the second link.  Well done Jina!

Pulse vs Tactix netball game

Maddie had a great birthday, together with her buddies watching the Pulse vs the Tactix game and was very lucky to get a picture with Ms Watson, who was her Room 2 Teacher last year.  

Our students continue to be EPIC

Catholic Character

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 1
                  Sunday August 3rd 11.15am Reconciliation Session 2
                 Saturday  August 9th 2.00pm Reconciliation Practice
                 Sunday August 10th 2.00pm Reconciliation
                Sunday 31st August 11.15am Confirmation Session 1
               Sunday 7th September 11.15am Confirmation Session 2
                Saturday 13th September 2.00pm Confirmation Practice
                Sunday 14th September 2.00pm Confirmation Mass with Archbishop Paul Martin
                Sunday 2nd November 11.15am Communion Session 1
               Sunday 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

ASC Highlights

Safe Speed Limits Outside Our School

Safe Speed Limits Outside Our School 

Wellington City Council is rolling out safe speed limits outside schools across the city, including ours. 
As part of this programme, a new variable speed limit of 30km/h will operate during school travel times on roads outside our school gates. This change will apply within 150 metres of the school gates, helping to create a safer environment for our whānau as they arrive and leave each day. 

The consultation period is now open – you are invited to give feedback from now until 5pm 28^th July by sending an email to variablespeedlimit@wcc.govt.nz 

You can find more information about the project, including which schools are included and when the changes are expected to happen, on the Council’s website: �� http://wellington.govt.nz/safe-speed-limits-outside-schools

School dates 2025

School dates for 2025 
Term 3  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)

FWFC

Kia ora e te whānau ō Hato Penetika,

Friends and Whānau Fundraising Committee 

Kia ora e te whānau,

Friends and Whānau Fundraising Committee (FWFC) update: 

The St Benedict’s School Disco is coming up!! 
When: Friday 8th August 2025Years 0-4: 5.30 - 7pm | Years 5-8: 7.30 - 9pm
Where: The Village Church Hall, Ganges Road, Khandallah
Please RSVP to register details of the children who will be coming to the disco, and let us know how you can help on the night.

Cost
Disco tickets are $10 per child, or $30 total for families with three or more children attending. A ticket includes entry to the disco, pizza, and unlimited water. 
Fizzy drinks, lolly bags, candy floss, popcorn and merchandise will be available to purchase. There will be a face painter at the early session, and an Instax photo booth at the later session.  Everything will be $1 - $4, so bring your gold coins!

So we can plan our catering & merchandise, RSVP & payment is required by Friday 2 August 2025. Please pay into the HOK account (12-3141-0352804-00), referencing your child's/children's name/s and room number/s.https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScPSYSBS0fm7lTHwmkGyB8cdjLGxzSIUPj9ITzPe8P7MxyZ9Q/viewform 

Please contact Sarah or anything FWFC related: sarah.garty@hotmail.com 

Entertainment Book

Scholastic Book Orders

Scholastic brochures were distributed last week and all orders are now due at the school office by Friday 25 July.
Please pay 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 by 25 July 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. 

'Yummy Stickers'

Keep saving your stickers.  We now have 1000 stickers.

This promotion 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.

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